Page 47

Chloe

I wake up the next morning with a smile on my face.

I glance at my phone, not at all surprised to see that it’s after ten.

Gunner and I didn’t get home until after two, and that was after a late dinner at a diner with Stephanie, Seb, Amber, and Rico.

And that was after we went out and got food for Aiden and Bri.

Gunner convinced me to sleep in his guest room.

I’ll be honest; it didn’t take a whole lot of convincing.

I have no plans of ever sleeping in my house again.

I’ll be selling it as soon as possible.

Gunner told me I can stay with him for as long as I need.

I don’t plan to take him up on it for long—just until I can find a new place to rent until I decide what to do next.

Since I still haven’t been to my house for clothes with everything that happened, I wore Gunner’s shirt to bed last night.

I throw the covers back, ready to find some coffee.

Thankfully, it’s Saturday; and there’s no game tonight.

We can get caught up on some rest.

I open the door and listen but don’t hear him.

I figure he’s still sleeping.

I know from experience it takes him a while to come down from his games.

His door is still closed, so I make my way to the kitchen, looking forward to a cup of coffee.

I can’t wait to try the oat milk creamer he had in his refrigerator.

I make it two steps into the kitchen and stop because Gunner is not asleep.

Nope.

He’s standing in his kitchen, holding a cup of coffee.

His cup freezes halfway to his mouth, and his eyes slowly run the length of me from my head all the way to my toes and back up.

He straightens from where he was leaning against the stove.

I make a mental note to tell the girls they were right.

He puts his mug down and stalks towards me, and I don’t move a muscle.

“Did you just walk into my kitchen wearing only my shirt?” His words are low and deliciously raspy.

I meet his gaze head-on.

“I did. In my defense, I don’t have any other clothes yet.”

He frowns.

“I’ll take you to your house today to get all your stuff.” His eyes run over me again.

“Maybe.”

I lift an eyebrow.

“Maybe?”

He grabs ahold of the shirt and tugs me forward.

“I don’t know. I could get used to you wearing my shirts.”

I reach out and put my hand on his muscled chest.

“I’m going to need clothes, Gunner.” I run my hand up his chest and onto his shoulder, smiling wickedly when I see that I’m visibly affecting him.

“I have to be able to go out in public, and I can’t go out in this.”

“No, you can’t,” he rumbles.

“As good as this looks on me, I have to wear my clothes,” I say with a laugh.

“It would look even better on the floor,” he mutters as he tugs me into his arms.

I go willingly, smiling.

“That’s not going to happen.”

“A man can dream,” he mumbles as he drops his head to my neck.

My eyes drift shut as he kisses my neck and trails a path of kisses from my shoulder to my ear.

One strong arm wraps around my waist and pulls me close as he continues to kiss me.

I gasp when he kisses the sensitive spot right below my ear.

He stills for a moment.

“You like that.”

I don’t respond; I don’t think I’m capable.

He continues with his trail of kisses, and my legs feel like they’re going to fail me.

He pulls back and looks into my eyes.

“Is this okay?”

“Yes.” My voice is breathless, and he smiles before taking a step back and pulling me with him.

He sits in the kitchen chair and pulls me between his legs.

“You tell me if it’s too much, or if you want me to stop.” He tugs me down onto his lap, so that my legs are straddling his.

In this position, we’re almost at eye level.

He stares into my eyes for a moment, and I get lost in his.

Then I run my hands over his shoulders, looking to take control, even if it’s only for a moment.

I lean towards him, and he braces himself with his hands on my thighs.

I connect my lips to his neck, and he hisses.

Feeling braver now, I kiss him again on his neck, just like he did to me.

I trail kisses along his shoulder and neck and work my way back towards his ear.

He groans and reaches up and puts his hands on either side of my face as he locks eyes with me.

“I need to taste you again” he says almost desperately.

He consumes me in a kiss so deep, I can’t catch my breath.

His tongue plunges into my mouth and wars with mine.

I give as good as I get, wanting him with every fiber of my being.

He runs his hand through my hair and wraps it around his hand, giving it a good tug and deepening the kiss in that same motion.

Distantly, I hear a sound; but I don’t let it bother me.

I can’t help the moan that escapes as he pulls me closer and deepens the kiss.

Too soon, he pulls back.

“I think somebody’s at the door,” he says in a raspy voice.

“Oh.” I glance over my shoulder but don’t move to get up.

He kisses me one last time and then wraps his hands around my waist and lifts me to my feet.

“Let me get rid of whoever’s at the door; I’ll be right back.” He leaves me in the kitchen, and I drop into the nearest chair, trying to get my breath and my sanity back.

“Hey, Mom,” I hear Gunner say rather loudly.

I spring to my feet and dart back to the bedroom, but I don’t make it there in time.

“Chloe.”

I freeze, wondering if it would be terribly rude to pretend I don’t hear her.

“I told her we should call first, but she didn’t listen.”

I close my eyes at the sound of Gunner’s brother.

Realizing there’s no way out of this, I turn around and force a smile to my face.

“Good morning.” I don’t get another word out of my mouth before Gunner’s in front of me.

“We’ll be right back,” he calls out over his shoulder.

He turns me around and pushes me down the hallway.

I can’t stop my laugh.

“What are we doing?” I whisper.

“Getting your sexy body out of eyesight of my brother,” he grunts back.

He opens his bedroom door and urges me inside.

Before I can say anything, he pushes me against the door.

“And I need to finish what we started.” His hungry mouth finds mine a moment later, and all thoughts cease.

An urgent need to be nearer to him nearly takes over me.

And when he pulls away, I can’t stop myself.

“Gunner,” I say desperately, or maybe I moan it.

His arms tighten around me, and his thumb rubs a circle over my hip bone.

He groans and drops his head against mine.

“I love my mom and my brother, but I really wish they weren't here.” His bright eyes meet mine, and he reaches his thumb up to stroke my cheek. “Do you have any idea how long I’ve waited for you to say my name like that?”

Clarity hits me as his words settle over me. “You deserve to wait a whole lot longer, Coftman. Do you have any idea how long I’ve waited for you to even notice me?” I return, impressed that I can even form a cognitive thought after that kiss.

“I’ve noticed you, Chloe. Every moment of every day for four long years.”

“Mmhmmm.”

He smirks at me. “Do you want more convincing?”

I laugh. “As much as I’d enjoy that, I need to get presentable. Your mom and brother are waiting for us.”

He tugs me back to him. “Let them wait.”

I spin out of his arms. “Not so fast, Coftman. I need to get dressed. Speaking of, I really need to figure out my life. I have no clothes. I need to go back to my house and get my stuff, but I don’t want to stay there a moment longer than necessary. I’m going to sell it as soon as I can. Do you think that’s crazy?”

“No. If you want to sell it, sell it. You can stay with me for as long as you need. You can stay forever if you want.”

“Gunner, don’t talk like that.”

He frowns in confusion. “Why not?”

“Because you can’t just throw stuff like that out. It’s confusing.”

I start to walk towards his bedroom door, but he stops me by wrapping a long arm around me and pulling my back to his chest. “I’m not trying to confuse you, Chloe.” He puts his large hands on my shoulders and turns me around gently. “Let me be crystal clear. That ring I put on your finger was nothing but a precursor to me putting it on your finger to stay. You’re going to end up here with me eventually, or whatever house you choose for us. You can fight it; but it’s going to happen. So, you may as well just accept it now.” He tucks a hair behind my ear. ”You and I were made for each other. There is no other woman out there for me; you’re it. If you choose to have me in return, we will make this thing between us official.” He gives me a small kiss on my forehead. “It may be too early for you to hear this, but...” he pauses and looks me in the eye. “I love you, Chloe Liessman. I have for a while; it just took me a while to get around to seeing it or maybe acknowledging it.” I think I forget how to breathe. He chuckles softly. “Breathe, Love.” I don’t know what to say, and the panic must show on my face. “Don’t say anything; that’s not what I was going for. I just wanted you to know.” He turns away from me and walks over to his dresser. “I’ll take you tonight to get some clothes, but for now, see if this will work.” He hands me a Green Thunder t-shirt.

“Thanks, and I already have a pair of your sweatpants. I’ll change real quick and be out.”

“Take your time. Use my shower if you want.” At the door, he turns back. “You know, you don’t have to go back to your house at all. We can get all new clothes and never look back.”

“Spoken by a rich person,” I mutter. He grins and leaves the room. After a quick shower, I do the best I can to make myself look presentable in Gunner’s clothes and make my way out to the living room.

Gunner’s eyes lock in on me before I’ve even stepped into the living room. I force my gaze away and smile at his mom and brother. “Hi, Mrs. Coftman. Greyson.”

Greyson stands to his feet and wraps me in a warm hug. “Back off, Greyson,” Gunner rumbles. “She’s mine.”

“Is she now?” Greyson asks with eyes dancing.

I shrug. “That’s news to me,” I tell Greyson with a straight face. Greyson disappears from in front of me, and Gunner stands in his place a moment later.

His eyes lock on mine. “She’s mine, and I don’t share.”