Page 23 of His Obsession Her Cure

Pepper

A fter a shower and a little cuddling, we ended up back downstairs with the others.

I refused for Ma to catch me and Gunner in bed together.

We all woke up in the family room the next morning tangled in blankets and pillows from the fort Alestar and Aren made for us.

I heard Ma sneaking in around five this morning.

She had the biggest smile when she looked in on us before she headed upstairs to sleep for a few more hours.

It was a little after ten when we all got up.

After stretching and some more hygiene we came downstairs to find the guys had put the pillows and blankets we used last night.

Once we had cleaned up the sunroom we headed to the kitchen for some breakfast. We sat in silence over plates of fruit, beef bacon, waffles and eggs as the guys told us about the inheritance they received from their grandfather.

I watched almost in tears when Gunner assured Ma and Char that they would forever be taken care of.

We weren’t surprised when Ma turned down their many attempts to give her money.

From what I gathered being around was that Ma was already well off but that didn’t stop her boys from wanting to spoil her and Char.

They both deserved it so much. Char was already talking about new cars and a shopping spree.

After we dressed, Alestar suggested we go shopping for last-minute school supplies and other things we might need before having lunch wherever we liked.

I was hesitant because I was on a budget but of course Gunner wouldn’t take no for an answer.

We grabbed our things and hopped into Alestar’s Suburban.

I loved this truck so much. It was my dream car.

We ended up at an upscale mall not too far from the house.

I had no idea what they thought I could afford in this mall.

So, I just went with it. I would just window shop and get a Walmart delivery for the things I would need later.

As we walked into the mall I tried to hang back, but Gunner must have noticed it and pulled me close to him.

The first store we walked into was Saks Fifth Avenue and Char and Ma quickly started picking up things that caught their eye while I just stayed next to Gunner and watched them.

“Lil baby what are you doing?” He asked, looking down at me.

“Um, nothing, why?”

“You don’t see anything in here you like?" He asked me.

“Sure, it’s a lot of nice things in here but I can’t afford to shop here Gunner.” I told him.

“Listen I’m gonna need you to let your man do nice shit for you which includes taking care of your wants and needs. If I got it, you got it. Now go pick out some things or I’ll do it for you.”

I hesitated and stood looking up at him, trying to figure out where a man like Gunner came from.

Instead of waiting for me to move he grabbed my hand and led me to the sofa that Ma and Char were sitting on looking at items they had selected.

He stopped a sales associate and had her bring out all of this season's bags, sandals and dresses in our sizes. The first thing that caught my eye was a high neck tear drop rhinestone maxi dress in olive green. It was sexy and revealing and I couldn’t wait to try it on.

“Lil baby, try that one on for me. I know you would look so fuckin good in that.” He said softly in my ear.

Without another word I took the dress from the associates hands before following her to the changing rooms. The dress hugged my body like it had been sewn for me, the deep olive fabric sliding over my curves in a way that made me feel sexy.

I turned side to side, smoothing my hands over my hips, picturing Gunner’s face when he saw me in this.

“ Yes bitch, daddy’s gon’ lose his mind when he sees us.”

“Damn.” A deep voice said, but it was Gunner.

I stiffened, glancing to the side to find a man leaning casually against the fitting room doorway, his smile was bold enough to make my skin prickle.

“That dress was made for you, beautiful,” he said, giving me a slow once-over that lingered too long on my thighs.

“If we wanted your opinion we’d buy it. Like that cheap cologne you sampled but couldn’t afford. Nigga over here smelling like a stripper. Tell his ass to move before he fucks up our lungs.

“I’m good, thank you,” I said, flat but polite, turning back to the mirror.

But he stood there smiling, clearly not taking the hint.

“You here alone?” His asked, looking around for something.

His tone was slick and confident, like he was used to women giggling when he talked to them.

Before I could shut him down a second time, the air changed around us, going heavy and sharp, like the moment right before lightning strikes.

Gunner’s reflection appeared behind me in the mirror, his big frame filling the doorway, and his dark eyes locked on the man.

“Step away,” Gunner said, his voice calm but carrying that edge that meant he was seconds from snapping.

The guy hesitated, glancing between us, maybe thinking Gunner was bluffing. But any fool could see he wasn’t. Gunner took one step forward, and the guy immediately took three back with his hands up in surrender.

“Hey, my bad, man…”

“Not your man,” Gunner cut in, his voice dropping to something lethal. “And if you ever look at her again, I’ll make sure you don’t have eyes left to look with.”

The man didn’t wait for him to say it twice. He turned fast as hell, damn near tripping over a display table as he left. I turned too, pussy throbbing as I watched Gunner’s jaw work as he glared after the guy like he wanted to follow him out and finish what he started.

“Fuck I want us to have his babies. Ask him to take your IUD out.”

“You okay?” he asked finally, his gaze softening when it landed on me.

“I’m fine,” I said, trying to calm the way my pulse was racing.

Gunner stepped closer, his hand sliding over my hip, turning me back to the mirror so I was facing my own reflection. He pressed in close standing right behind me.

“Pretty,” he said, his voice low and dangerous in a different way now. “But next time you try on something like this, I better be the only one looking.”

The way he said it made me squeeze my thighs together to stop the throbbing.

“Yes, Daddy.” I moaned.

He smirked, satisfied, and kissed the side of my neck, his eyes meeting mine in the mirror.

“Good girl.”

We stood there for a moment watching each other before I stepped away into the changing room to get out of the dress. But before I could close the door, Gunner’s hand closed around my wrist and pushed in behind me.

“I’m comin’ in,” he said, his voice low, leaving no room for argument.

My pulse spiked as he pushed the door shut behind us, locking it with a click. The huge room suddenly felt too small.

“Gunner…”

He turned me, pressing me against the wall, his chest against my back. His reflection in the mirror behind me was pure danger as his eyes blazed.

“You looked too good out there,” he said, his hands sliding down my hips, bunching the dress up around my waist. “Had some random thinking he could look at what’s mine. Had him thinking he could talk to you. Touch you.”

“He didn’t…”

“He thought about it,” Gunner snapped, his hand gripping the side of my throat, tilting my head just enough so our eyes met in the mirror. “That’s enough for me.”

My breath hitched as he pressed hard dick against my ass.

“You want this dress?” he asked, his voice dropping lower.

I nodded.

“Good, then I’ll get you another after I ruin this one.”

Before I could speak, his hand was between my thighs, pulling my panties to the side and sliding his fingers inside me.

“Already wet,” he growled, a wicked smile curling his lips. “You like when I get like this, hih lil baby?”

“Yes,” I breathed, heat flooding me.

“Good. Hold still.”

He didn’t bother undressing me. Instead he pushed the dress up over my ass and ripped my panties before he freed his dick and pushed inside me in one deep thrust that made me bite my lip to keep from crying out.

“That’s it,” he grunted, setting a fast, rough rhythm that made the dress ride higher with every thrust. “Let them hear you if they’re close enough. Let them know exactly who you belong to.”

I couldn’t hold back my moan this time, and his hand tightened on my throat. His eyes locked on mine in the mirror as he drove into me harder, each thrust possessive and relentless.

“Say it,” he demanded.

“I’m yours,” I gasped, my words tumbling out as I clenched around him.

“That’s right.” He said, his pace quickening causing his thick dick to hit my spot over and over.

He thrust until he finally stilled, impaling me as he spilled into me with a low, vicious groan, his body pressing me against the wall until neither of us could breathe.

When he finally pulled out of me, he cleaned us up with my shirt from the bench.

Once we were clean he smoothed the dress down over my hips, his touch gentle and sweet.

“Pretty as hell,” he murmured, kissing the back of my neck.

“Dammmmn bitch he fucked the shit our of us.”

True to his word Gunner bought the dress he had just fucked me in and another the same color along with a new shirt for me since he ruined them both.

Along with a pile of other things. By the time we left I had a new book bag, two purses, four pairs of sandals, and four sundresses.

I think Gunner had a thing for me in sundresses.

We stopped in a few more stores and grabbed shoes, a couple more outfits, underwear and bras and some lingerie that Gunner picked out for me himself.

After shopping we had a nice lunch at a new Mexican restaurant in town.

I had birria tacos and some frozen margaritas.

This was by far one of the best days I’ve had.

It seemed like this would be a normal occurrence with my new family.

Gunner carried all my new things up to my room, where I received another surprise.

On my bed was a brand new iPad pro with the keyboard and pencil, an apple watch, and iPhone 16 PRO Max with a green floral case.

And on top there was a school gift card.

I turned and looked up at Gunner with my eyes brimming with tears, this is too much.

“I can’t accept these things from you. You got me so many things already." I rushed out.

“Ain’t nothing too much for you lil baby. I just want to see a smile on that pretty face of yours,” he said, walking over to me and placing a tender kiss on my lips, taking my breath away. He pulled away and wiped the tears that had fallen on cheeks.

“I told you that you’re gonna be my wife, it's nothing you can’t ask for that I won’t provide for you.” He said to me, and I could hear the sincerity in every word.

“Thank you so much,” I said. I wanted to give in and fall head over heels for this man. Only time would tell if I would keep standing in my own way letting past hurts dictate my future. But I had to make sure that the past stayed dead and didn’t come back to haunt me.

The branch outside my window scratched the glass of my bedroom window faintly in the night wind.

Gunner had been gone for a few hours, and it was hard keeping my focus on my work when all I wanted to think about was him.

I sat at the edge of my bed, textbooks sprawled around me, medical terminology blurring on the page.

My eyes burned from another marathon of studying and straining my eyes.

The view from my window overlooked the backyard that was currently blanketed on low lights and shadow.

And it was in one of those shadows that I saw him.

A man stood just beyond the treeline mostly hidden in shadows. But he was there, his broad shoulders, and tilt of his head was familiar and wrong. Something about the way he stood made my breath catch in my throat and my anki clatter to the floor.

“Taye…” I whispered.

It couldn’t be. His face was hidden by the shadow of the trees, his skin was pale and distorted, but his silhouette was still unmistakable. And then he stepped forward just an inch and bloody mouth moving soundlessly, like he was still gagged.

Just then my stomach lurched, and my skin went cold. “No. You’re dead. I... I killed you.”

“Stop it. He’s not there, Pepper. He’s gone. We buried that piece of shit in screams and blood. You’re just tired. Too much studying, too much pressure. You’re seeing things.”

“But he’s…” My voice cracked, trembling. “He’s right there, Nyx. Staring at me.” I said, closing my eyes.

“You’re letting the stress get in your head. Gunner. Med school. Us. All of it. You think ghosts are real now? Please. You’re stronger than that. We are not crazy. So, stop acting like it.”

“But I saw…” What exactly? In the time it took me to blink the ghostly figure was gone. I was losing it like everyone said I was cracking up. It was a fact that ghosts did not exist and that Taye was gone and never coming back. So, why was I seeing him now?

I pressed my face to the window again, harder this time. But there was nothing as if he had melted back into the night. I wrapped my arms around myself, suddenly cold.

“Ignore it. Focus. He’s not haunting you, Pepper. That new feeling in the pit of your stomach is just your guilt trying to crawl in. Don’t give it power. It will ruin you. He’s gone for a reason. We’re free.”

I nodded, but my eyes stayed locked on the glass of my window trying to shake the new emotions that have been plaguing me since moving here. And for the first time since his death, I wasn’t sure if Nyx was protecting me… or hiding the truth from me.