My hands clumsily unbuttoned every button before I reached for his pants. The zipper echoed around the room. I pushed his pants down his narrow hips, over his muscular thighs, and finally, he was gloriously naked in front of me.
I finally understood why older ladies called men dishes. Gunner Gentry was scrumptious. He knelt before me, sliding my dress and panties to the floor as he spread my legs, hooking them over his shoulders. I fell back on the bed, clasping a hand over my mouth to stay quiet as he slowly licked my pussy and slid a finger inside me. He added a second finger and my neck arched. My body was tingling.
My hands wandered to my breasts, plucking my nipples. I looked down my body and straight into Gunner’s fiery gaze. And with just one look from the man I had fallen for, I toppled over the edge into an orgasm. He lapped and sucked, wringing out each wave.
He prowled up my body, weaving his fingers in my hair and kissing me. His tongue moved inside my mouth, consuming me as thoroughly as he had the spot between my legs.
My nails raked against his back as he slid inside me with one long, deep stroke. His groan was guttural. “I’ll never get enough.”
He flipped us and grabbed my hips, digging his fingers into my flesh, and I rode him. With every downward stroke, my clit met his pelvis and I arched into him for more.
His hands wandered down my ass, squeezing each globe. I raked my teeth down the side of his neck. His hips met mine, hitting that place inside me over and over. Each thrust sent my mind reeling and left me gasping for breath until we came together.
I collapsed on his chest and he wrapped his arms around me, kissing the top of my head. I’d never forget this day. After we cleaned up he held me and we drifted off to sleep whispering, “I love you.”
Chapter 33
Delilah
Colt was in front of my house leaning against his police cruiser. He pushed his aviator sunglasses to the top of his head as we pulled up to the house. It was a brisk morning, and I’d been riding a high all morning after waking in Gunner’s arms.
Tuck launched himself out of the SUV and straight toward Colt. “I hit the ball so hard, Uncle Colt. It was almost a home run! At the Rattler stadium! Gunner said we can visit him at Spring Training. It sucks he leaves soon, but I can meet the guys! He said so!”
Gunner grinned as he helped me and his mom out of the car. Tuck was still telling stories about yesterday. I wasn’t happy Gunner would be leaving for a month and a half, but we’d visit. He’d be back before we knew it, and I was praying his mom would have news of remission by the time he returned.
I’d been planning how to make time to be her chemo buddy since Gunner would be gone. I needed to have a meeting with the staff and rearrange some schedules. We’d only been back for two minutes, and my mind was already headed toward my to-do lists for the kitchen.
“Gunner, will you take Tuck to the field?” Colt said. “I need to talk with D.”
Gunner glanced at me and I nodded.
“I’m going to nap,” Jenna said and headed toward Gunner’s cabin. “Don’t even ask, Gunner. I’m fine, just need a little rest.”
Gunner’s jaw tightened. I knew he was worried, and I was glad he’d been able to enjoy the day yesterday. He leaned down, kissing me on the lips. “Love you, buttercup.”
“Love you too, handsome.”
“Yuck!” Tuck said.
“Agreed, kid.” Colt made a gagging face and covered his eyes. “I told you I didn’t want to see that shit.”
“Come on, Tuck. Let’s go hit some balls. Got to keep up the practice if you’re going to be on the next generation of the Rattlers!”
Tucker sprinted ahead of Gunner, and Gunner jogged after him. I returned my attention to Colt. His palm rested on the back of his neck, one of his tells.
“What’s going on?”
“I saw Shayla yesterday.”
“What? Why didn’t you call me?”
“Come on, sis. Y’all were celebrating the day. I wasn’t going to call with some shitty news.”
I froze, my spine stiffening. I hadn’t heard from Shayla since the day she told me she was sober. She’d never called to meet and talk things through. And I’d kept my word. I didn’t go after her. I wouldn’t. I’d promised myself I would give her a little time and then I would hire the best damn lawyer out there to get Tuck’s adoption finalized, even without her consent. I didn’t know how, but I’d find the sharkiest lawyer and make it happen.
“Shitty news?” I asked.
“The county was working together on a drug bust that crossed over several towns. I was staking out a place on Old Mills Road and saw her coming out of a drug house.”
I sighed, defeated.
“Was she arrested?”
“No, I had no proof she’d bought anything.”
My immediate reaction was to jump to her defense and say maybe she was there for something else. I didn’t do that though. I thought back to every interaction we’d had since I’d known she was back in town. Most of them had been laced with threats of burning my whole world to the ground. Only one had been positive. “She told me she was sober,” I whispered.
“Did you expect her to stay sober?”
“For Tucker? Yes.” I raised my voice. “I expected Tucker’s mother to stay sober so she could get to know him. Or at least have the opportunity to meet her son. Who wouldn’t want to meet him? He’s everything. I wish every day he were my biological son, but he isn’t—he’s hers! She promised she’d try!”
“I’m getting a restraining order in place. If she contacts you again, she’s going to jail and we will be done with her.”
“Shayla’s Tucker’s mother,” I hissed.
“You’re my mom.” His voice broke over the last whispered word, and I whipped my head around. Gunner was jogging down the path but hadn’t made it yet. What was Tucker doing here? Colt had asked Gunner to watch him, and this was why.
Why was he back?
“Tucker,” I said and stepped toward him. My heart splintered into a thousand pieces as he stepped away from me.
Gunner skidded to a halt. “What’s wrong?” He looked at me, with tears tracking down my cheeks. I didn’t answer or even look at him. He wasn’t my focus right now.
Only the little boy in front of me. My son. It didn’t matter that he hadn’t grown in my belly. It didn’t matter that I hadn’t given birth to him. I’d raised him. I loved him. I’d loved him every day. I’d give my life just so he could have one extra breath on this Earth. He was my son.
“You’re not my mom?” Tucker tilted his head and tears welled in his eyes.
Gunner sucked in a breath, completely taken aback by what Tucker had accidentally stumbled into when he should’ve been at the field.
“Delilah,” he said. I didn’t look at him. Only at my son.
“She is your mom,” Colt said.
“I heard her,” Tucker whispered, taking another step away from me and hitting Gunner’s chest. Gunner placed a hand on his shoulder but he whipped it off. “I heard her. Shayla is my real mom.”