by C. A. Harms
The Gunther name alone speaks volumes, which is the reason I chose an alias when I intertwined myself in the life of Blair Wilkerson. Had I introduced myself as Cyrus Gunther, she would have run away faster than I could have stopped her. It was the reaction I got from most people when they found out who my father is. No one in their right mind willingly enters the life I lead.
What should have been a quick task has proven to be one of the hardest I’ve set out to complete. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine a girl like Blair could have been wrapped up with a scumbag like Nate.
That guy was a fuckup at all angles, dirty, conniving and a cheat.
I’d watched him weasel his way into our inner circle with the help of my brother, Gabe. I’d watched Nate snort more lines than he paid for, fuck girls he barely knew, and during all those events he had a sweet girl like Blair waiting for him at home. None of it made sense to me. I would kill for a life like that, a life where I had someone like her to share my days and nights with.
I was given one more week to push her for answers, for any clue that would lead us to Nate. If I couldn’t get what they needed, then they would turn the task over to my weasel brother. Only over my fucking dead body would I allow Gabe within ten feet of her. In my eyes, he is worse than Nate. He’d stop at nothing; it didn’t matter to him if he resorted to violence. He’d gain the answers my father sought. My brother had proven long ago to be an asset to my father, but he is also a menace. His lack of control creates more complications for my father than he hopes for. When things go awry, when things get messy, that’s when Gabe is set loose. I can’t let him anywhere near Blair.
Each time I look at her and she gives me that heated stare, it takes all I have not to push her up against the wall and give her exactly what I know she wants. The girl is fucking amazing and the craziest part is she doesn’t even realize it. I want to take advantage of the things that I know run through her mind; I want to be selfish.
I won’t pretend I’m innocent, that I don’t have a warped mind of my own, because I’m as fucked as the rest of them. I’ve partaken in the perks of being a Gunther over the years. I had no way out, so why not participate on occasion? There was no need to make my life any more difficult than it already was.
But Blair doesn’t deserve the kind of life I have; she’s too sweet.
I want to take things slow, be as delicate as I can in the process of seeking answers. I want to know the girl behind the image Nate has already managed to paint. He made her seem as though she too was strung out and a person we couldn’t trust. The problem is those needing answers on the whereabouts of her ex don’t give a shit. Get the answers no matter what it takes or who you destroy in the process—those were my instructions. Blair just happens to be the one person in that line of destruction I can’t seem to plow through.
Whenever she looks at me, that small trace of a smile tugging at her lips makes me feel like a weak little adolescent boy. She makes me forget where I come from and gives me hope that my life can be different. I want her more than I can seem to control. Those sweet lips, that perfect body, I want to claim it all. That creates a huge problem in the plan. A problem that is fucking with my head, and with each day that passes, I find myself falling farther and farther into her depths.
Tonight is no different, even though I told myself it would be. I can’t seem to stop my heart from racing whenever she is near. I stand off to the side of the bar as I watch her move around with ease. Only moments ago she stood before me, her shoulders rising and falling as she looked to the floor. I’m sure it was to hide the embarrassment she felt by her friend's declaration or my words that followed. I’d give just about anything to be the man who made her toes curl as I buried myself inside her over and over. I want nothing more than to feel her fall apart in my arms and scream out my name. I dream so desperately for that very thing.
Just the idea of another man touching her as she begs for more makes my blood boil. I know I don’t have the right to feel possessive over her, but it is a reaction I can’t seem to control. A huge part of me wants to just grab hold of her and pin her to the bar while I claim her in front of every man here.
My phone vibrates in my pocket and I reach for it. My hand starts to shake when I see who the message is from.
Gabe: Finish it or I will.
I lift my gaze and scan the bar, feeling my body still the second I connect with eyes resembling my own. Eyes we also share with our father. He leans against the pool table, cue stick in hand as he smiles, showing off his missing front tooth. He lost it in a brawl a few months back and wears the gap like a badge of honor instead of having it fixed. He is trouble; he oozes it, lives for it.
I watch him look back down at the phone he holds and type out something just before mine vibrates once more.
Gabe: She is a sweet little piece, brother, I’ll enjoy breaking her walls down. I can almost hear her begging for me to stop already.
My shoulders grow tense. Standing tall, I round the end of the bar, feeling my entire body shake with anger. He sees me coming and doesn’t even flinch. The fucker knows I won’t cause a scene; I can’t compromise my position in this whole fucked up mess. My father would surely make me pay for that mistake. I pause and fist my phone so tight in my hand I feel it dig into my palm.
I allow myself to find Blair once more just as she tips her head backward in laughter. She is unbelievable, so innocent and pure. Taking in one deep calming breath after another I again look down at my phone. Pressing the button to wake it I keep her face in my mind. I carefully type out a message that instantly makes me feel sick, but I know I have no other choice.
Me: Tonight is the night, brother, I’ll get the answers no matter what it takes.
My stomach aches with the knowledge that tonight has to be the night. I’ll set aside my feelings that have developed for Blair and I’ll do what I have to do. The only way to keep her safe is for me to shut off everything I feel inside. I have to be a Gunther, cold and callous. I have to forget about the part of me that wants to grab on tight and hold onto her forever. I know with the life I lead those luxuries aren’t possible. Because with Zeke and Gabe Gunther, nothing is sacred and nothing is safe.
There was no place for shame or guilt in what I was sent in to do. I just have to remember the stakes. It will be either me or Gabe who will get what our father needs. I just had to remember that though my heart was screaming out no, it was better that I be the asshole than for Gabe to get anywhere near her.
Chapter Three
Blair
“My feet are killing me,” I groan as I hop up onto the bar top and take off one shoe at a time. Flexing my feet over and over, I attempt to relieve the ache in the arch. I should know better than to wear a pair of shoes that aren’t already broken in. But they were too cute to pass up and now as I look down at the strappy heels, I can’t seem to remember what was so appealing about them. I blame the blisters forming on my toes for my now tainted view.
It’s almost three in the morning and Jake and I just finished cleaning the bar. I am exhausted from the nonstop shuffle that hit right around eleven. It would seem every drunk in the city of Chicago had decided Miller’s was the happening place. Jake and I both ran around the bar in overdrive. I quite enjoyed the gentle touches here and there he would offer when we were forced to pass one another in the small space we share. He’s been more flirty, more forward tonight. But more so after Sadie so openly announced the whole toe-curling comment.
I look up when I hear the sound of the back door shutting just in time to see Jake step behind the bar once more. He had just taken the last bag of garbage out before we could finally call it a night. When our eyes meet I find I’m unable to look away. He stands only a few feet away with one hand bracing the side of the bar, squeezing it so tight the muscles in his arm seem to stand out even more than normal. The dark brown orbs that always manage to capture me are staring intensely back at me. It’s almost as if he’s fighting something.
> “What?” I finally ask, looking down at myself then back at him, my mind racing with the possibilities of what he might be thinking. Self-doubt and nervous energy rush through me when I allow myself to imagine how I must look—like an obvious wreck.
He doesn’t answer me but instead moves across the bar until he stands before me, bracing his hands on either side of my legs. His chest rises then falls with one deep breath after another. He remains in that position, one palm resting on either side of my thighs, for a few minutes. Just as I am about to speak he moves closer, suddenly surprising me as he grips my hips, pulling me forward. I’m taken aback by his closeness, but definitely not disappointed.
We’ve been skating around this tension between us all night. Longer than that, actually, if I am being truthful. Jake and I have shared various touches and comments with hidden innuendos for weeks. But it has never been more than that, until now.
It’s only us; everyone else has gone home for the night.
Here we are, still staring at each other, still saying nothing. With the way he’s watching me, continuing to breathe deep, his strong arms caging me in, I feel my heart rate spike with eagerness. There’s no fear, only curiosity and desire pooling between us.
“Tell me to walk away,” he says as his eyes rake over my chest and then back up to meet my gaze. “Tell me you’re not interested in anything more than two people working together inside some grungy bar.”
I almost laugh. Is he serious?
“No,” I say. My eyes lock on his heated stare. “I don’t lie.”
He flinches at my words, before recovering quickly.
“We shouldn’t cross that line,” he states but his expression says something completely different. The way his hands still grip my hips and the way he has somehow without me noticing positioned his body between my parted thighs are all opposite reactions to his words. “I shouldn’t—”
I stop him by hooking my legs around his waist and using them to pull him even closer toward me.
“You should,” I correct him with more confidence than I have ever felt before and he smiles in return. His smile alone can do some real damage to a girl’s panties. I should know; I’ve been at the receiving end of it for weeks.
“Things could get messy,” he says as he leans in and skims his lips over my jaw. My mind grows hazy as I decide that I really like the way that feels. Really like.
“God, I hope so.” My words fall from my lips in a breathy whisper and he chuckles.
I’ve wanted this guy so desperately that at this point I’m willing to do just about anything to have him. I’m willing to face the awkward morning after or the odd moment when you both realize you may have taken things too far. I just don’t care at this point, I’ve lived in solitude for months now, playing it safe, doing what’s right. But now there’s nothing I want more than a night of mind-blowing sex with a man like Jake Gunner and the rest I’ll think about later.
“Let’s get out of here.” I suddenly feel disappointment fill me, inflicted by his words. That is until he finishes that thought. “I’m staying at your place tonight.”
Oh, hell yes!
The ride to my apartment is fueled by sexual tension. It’s so thick I can almost feel the pressure of it pushing against my chest. It feels like a heavy fog that makes it impossible to breathe evenly.
As I fumble with my keys attempting to unlock my apartment door, Jake stands so close behind me I can feel his warm breath blowing across my neck. Nothing has prepared me for the force of this man. Nothing warned me that he would be so consuming.
Once the door to my place is open he’s on me like a second skin. I can feel him everywhere.
I don’t care that the walls are so thin every neighbor can most likely hear each whimper I make. Right there in the doorway of my apartment, Jake slides his hand into the front of my jeans and within seconds has me screaming out his name.
I have no shame. I am nothing more than a desperate hussy and I am okay with that. I own it.
All I feel is complete oblivion.
I’m a sloppy mess of need, so lost to the point that if he chooses to fuck me there too, I most likely will help him take off my pants to speed up the process.
But instead, he moves to the bedroom where he proceeds to make me lose every last ounce of control. He’s an energy I’m not prepared for, consuming and strong. With each touch he provides I feel myself getting lost in a heavy haze of lust. I’ve never been this hungry for contact, this desperate for release, but Jake has me forgetting every doubt I may have had lingering in my mind and all I feel is him…us.
As I lie there feeling like it’s only seconds later, with my stomach pressing firmly into the mattress beneath me, I smile. The weight of his naked body, still covering mine, almost cages me in. Not one single part of me doesn’t feel the after effects of his touch. I swear to it, even my hair is tingling with the ripples of pleasure that still shake me. Jake was like an animal unleashed and he had just devoured me.
Even when I reached what I felt was the peak of my pleasure, he proved me wrong and showed me that I could take more. It was all a whirlwind, clothes flying, loud cries of more, and deep moans of pleasure. I’ve never felt anything so erotically beautiful in my life. I could see in his eyes he felt it too. More than once I found him looking back at me as if there was something he wanted to say, only he couldn’t form the words.
In that very moment, as his body still covered mine, I know the thoughts I had earlier of being able to move past this and work side by side with him without feeling awkward were now an afterthought.
Jake Gunner is a man who I know without a doubt I can’t walk away from. I don’t want to, either.
Chapter Four
Jake
“Tell me you got your in, boy,” my father’s voice demands as I sit in the chair opposite his.
“Oh, he got in all right.” Gabe whistles and it strikes a nerve inside me. “Look at his face, he fucked her.” I move faster than my younger brother can register and I slam him against the wall, my hand fisting his shirt.
My father doesn’t even flinch at my act of anger toward my brother. He only remains seated at his desk, with his glass of whiskey in one hand and a smug grin on his face.
“I’m just messing with you, Cy.” Gabe tries to backpedal. “You don’t have to get all fired up over some girl. She’s just a job.”
I want to tell him he’s wrong, but I choose to release my hold on him and step back. I’m afraid if I unleash on him, I won’t be able to stop. I have to refrain from showing that anything regarding Blair bothers me; they can only use it against me later.
“Enough wasting my time,” my father complains, finally tiring of us. “Tell me you got some information for me.”
“She trusts me,” I assure him as I once again take a seat in the chair opposite his desk. “I’m in, and the place isn’t big so if there is something there, I’ll find it.”
“You told me you could handle this. Should I doubt you?” My father is a prick. He doesn’t give a shit about his boys; we are just a means to gather money and clean up his shit for him.
“I said I got it.” I stare back at the man I strongly resemble yet despise.
“That boyfriend of hers had to leave some kind of trail behind. He stole from us, Cyrus.” I hate hearing that name. He is the only one who calls me by my first name and I cringe each time. He leans forward and places his elbows on his desk, linking his hands together. “I want him found, and I want what he took from me returned. Either you find me those answers, or I’ll send Gabe in to finish the job. And we both know his antics are a lot less gentle than yours.”
I chance a glance in my brother’s direction only to find him smiling proudly. I want nothing more than to wipe that smile off his face. He’s dirty, morally corrupt, and there is no fucking way I will give him the chance to get near Blair.
“I said I got it.” My nostrils flare with anger from the visions that are running through my mind. “Me
sitting here shooting the fucking shit with you ain’t getting the job done, so are we finished?” I try to rein in my irritation and tuck away my desire to break the two of them; it would only get in the way of keeping Blair safe.
I hate nothing more than being tied to these two men. I hate that I’m trapped in this family. I’ve been able to lay low, keeping my nose clean in the past, intertwining myself as minimally as possible, but this time my father failed. Gabe failed because it was his fault Nate got as close as he had in the first place. Now I’ve been called in to retrieve what he’d stolen so easily.
My father threatening me with my weasel brother was just his way of ensuring I’d come through. The bastard knows I have a conscience; it's my worst enemy. He knows I wouldn’t want my brother to touch Blair, with or without me being involved with her.
But as I stare into my father’s eyes, I slip up and I know the moment he notices. A grin covers his lips as he lifts his drink and takes a slow, drawn out pull of the amber liquid. A sucking sound follows as he drags out the torture. I do my best to recover, but if there is one thing about him, he doesn’t miss an opportunity to prove he is in control. He can see right through me; the asshole knows without a doubt that I hold feelings for her. He also knows that he now has me by the balls.
“By all means, son,” the smug look on his face is like a knife to the gut, “don’t let me keep you any longer.”
I leave the warehouse where my father does all his shady operations and pull my phone from my pocket as I walk toward my car. After tapping out the number I pause next to my Charger waiting for the call to connect.