Gunner_Northern Grizzlies MC_Book 3

by M. Merin

  The word Love echoes in my mind. I push her back from my chest to search her eyes again, can she teach me how to love? To trust? I know I want her like I’ve never wanted anything, but love? Fuck.

  A hand touches my shoulder and I nearly strike without thinking, pushing Riley against the wall, I stop just short of hitting the waiter. He stutters something about a shift change, throws the bill on the table and hightails it back to the kitchen. I now notice that in between the lunch and dinner shift, the restaurant is nearly deserted so I throw some bills down as Riley excuses herself for the bathroom.

  Meeting her near the entrance, I noticed the weather has taken a turn from the sun and clear skies that made for nice riding earlier. Going back will be slower.

  “Where to, Gunner?” Riley asks, sliding her arm around my waist.

  “Come to my shop,” I say without thinking.

  “You have a store?” She asks in surprise.

  “Not yet, I have a workspace where I build custom furniture but I’m working towards getting a store. Flint, he’s kinda the Chairman now, his kid built a website for me and taught me a bit about social media, so orders come in through there or from locals or people who vacation here.” She has raised her eyebrows and is smirking at me as she secures her helmet. “Yeah, I’m not really social media savvy yet,” I admit.

  “But you want a store?” She pushes. I nod, getting on the bike.

  “That’s a little way off, I think.” Pulling back on the road home, Riley is initially nervous again but quickly relaxes and snuggles into my back.

  The next twenty minutes are bliss; the cold air hitting me helps me clear my mind and keeps my wood in check. It wasn’t until we’re turning off onto the driveway that I realize she had left her gloves behind and I drag her inside to run her hands under warm water.

  “Shit, Riley! Why didn’t you signal to me?”

  Between chattering teeth, “I guess I left them in the booth, I just didn’t think and then I didn’t want to bother you on the way here.” Pulling our jackets off, I quickly wipe her wet hands off on my shirt then stick them under it, up against my chest to warm them.

  “Sweetheart, we’ll get you a good pair and keep them in the saddlebag, ok? Next time you need me to stop, tug twice on my jacket and I’ll pull off as soon as it’s safe.” I hold her as her shivers ease and she leans back.

  “I’m sor…” My mouth descends roughly on hers before she can apologize.

  “What did I tell you about saying ‘sorry’?” I ask, pulling myself away from her sweet mouth.

  “How are you going to punish me?” She asks, rolling her eyes that are filled with laughter. Now is a good a time as any to show her what I like, so I spin her around and bend her over a console table I finished last week.

  Ignoring her startled gasp, one hand firmly pushing on her back and the other rubbing circles on her ass, I say ‘count’ before drawing my right hand back and spanking her firmly. When nothing but a soft cry escapes her lips, I reach up to gather her hair in my left hand while gently rubbing the spot where I spanked her.

  “I told you to count, Sweetheart. Don’t make me start over.” I whisper, getting a soft moan in response this time.

  “One.” She finally says. Taking this as permission, I continue; bringing her up to a five-count before pulling her lips up to my mouth while rubbing her ass and trying not to lose control and fuck her on the floor of my shop.

  Chapter 7

  Riley

  At first, all I could think was that my ass is on fire, then that heat spread to the front and I know that I’m soaked. If this is what he wants of me, I’m in.

  As Gunner tries to ease back from our kiss, I hold tighter behind his neck and brace myself as I slide first one leg then the other up around his hips. My legs secure around his waist, I’ve locked us together and he deepens the kiss; turning and pushing my back against a wall. Thrusting his cock against me, I drop my hands, trying to get his belt open to reach the prize beneath.

  “No, no, no.” He starts to chant into my mouth before breaking away. “Not now. There’s no going back for you once we start. I won’t let you go.”

  “Don’t stop,” I beg, I don’t recognize who I am right now, and all I can feel is this burning need to be possessed by him. “Please don’t stop.”

  “Sweetheart, look at me. Come on.” He places feather light kisses around my face and I concede, sliding my legs back to the floor but moving into his chest. Sighing against him, his next words rumble against me. “I need to know, I need you to tell me, did you like that?”

  I swear I’ll forever be beet red around this man! “I did,” I whisper, shy again and look up at him to see him smile widely down at me. “That’s a thing with you? You’ll want to…do that, regularly?” I burst out, trying to figure out what I’m in for with him.

  “Yeah, that’s one of my ‘things’. I’m gonna go slow with you, but I’m not a gentle man.” He murmurs in his rough voice while kissing my forehead. “I won’t ever harm you though, you understand me, Riley?”

  I reach up to sooth the crease that has formed between his brows and start to answer, until I register our surroundings. Wood furniture is neatly stacked or hung from hooks on the wall and the first pieces that catch my eye can only be described as art.

  Diverted, I move around him to start playing with a coffee table that seems more like a puzzle box, it’s in a similar dark wood shade to the table where he spanked me and I’m in awe.

  “Gunner! Will you sell me this table?” I squeal in excitement. I know how I’ll furnish my new apartment.

  Looking up at him, he seems to have become the shy one now. “You like it, Sweetheart? Take what you like.”

  “What! No! I want to buy it, oh – I need more furniture actually.” I hadn’t gotten around to telling him about the present from my Gram. I wasn’t sure what to say, as I don’t want to come across as completely spoiled. “I’m moving into an apartment in town. I think I can take my bed from home, but I haven’t told my parents about it yet, so that might be weird. Right?”

  “Slow down; what do you mean moving?” He pulls a chair from a hook on the wall, moving it close to me he sits and pulls me up onto his lap in one motion.

  “It was kind of a surprise from Gram. It’s over on Beckett near Main? It has two bedrooms; I’ve got to figure out changing over the electric, gas, and everything tomorrow but I’ll need furniture. I’ve been saving up my allowance forever anyway, so I will pay you – you’ve worked hard on this.”

  “Mrs. R just happened to give you your own place, did she? Right ahead of an expected blow up with your folks about your major? And me?”

  “I had told her about changing my major and YOU had filled her in about us, you know, maybe dating, or whatever, so she had a bit of time to think it out, I guess,” I reply, following the swirl of his tattoo up his wrist. He grips my hand, stopping the progression and trying to keep us on track this time. Standing to further explore his work, I tug on his hand to join me. “What about you, do you live here or at the clubhouse?” Silently praying it’s the former.

  “I have a couch, bathroom, and small kitchenette here but live at the club. Have since I Patched up, most of the single guys do. Bought this land about four years ago, this workshop was already here; this plus three acres.”

  I groan. I can’t help it. I knew I was going to have to go back to the clubhouse to get my truck, but to possibly sleep there with him? Ew.

  Understanding what I’m thinking, he comes up with an easy, temporary solution. “My truck is out back, we’ll switch to that then run by the clubhouse so I can grab a change of clothes and your SUV; I’ll follow you into town and we’ll stay at a hotel. You do want to stay with me tonight, Sweetheart?”

  I love how he says ‘Sweetheart’, almost as much as the look he’s giving me; filled with promises. “Yes, I, um, just not there, not the clubhouse.” As he lifts my chin up with his finger, I notice the crease between his eyebrows has returned.r />
  “You get a pass today, Riley; but those are my Brothers and that is my home. I haven’t touched the Girlies or anyone else since we made our deal, I can’t change the past and I will not apologize for it. It’s part of what comes with me.”

  “What do you mean, exactly, when you say ‘Girlies’? And you mentioned Flint earlier, can you tell me more?” He’s made references to both and I’m not entirely certain of any of it.

  Moving to the back room with me wrapped around him like my weight is insignificant; he grabs two beers from a small fridge and motions me to the couch. “What’s your tolerance level like, Sweetheart?” He smirks, handing me a bottle.

  “I’ve never had beer before!” I reply, sending him into a choking fit over his first sip. “I’ve had wine with my family, then I went to a frat party last year and there was some kind of punch; not that it had any juice in it.”

  “Jesus Christ, I forget how young you are!” He says before launching into a breakdown of the Club. Jasper, the current President and his wife, Emma; Flint and Bree, and so on until all the names are jumbled together. Then on to what I wanted to know.

  “The Girlies, they’re affiliated with us but not like the Ol’ Ladies. They’re not with any one guy, not to say that sometimes they don’t become someone’s Ol’ Lady. We protect them, they party with us, most work in one of the businesses we run and a few take care of the cleaning and cooking at the clubhouse. They are also ‘available’ to take care of any Brother who has an itch to scratch. I think there are about eight or ten now. Then there are honey holes, women who come in to party but aren’t affiliated with the Club.”

  “And an ‘Ol’ Lady’ is a wife?” I’m still not sure of the title.

  “Sometimes. When someone takes an Ol’ Lady, they announce it to the group at a gathering then Flint, Jasper, or Vice have to approve it. That means you trust her to put the Club first, that she’s yours alone and completely under your protection; that if she missteps, you’ll take the heat for it. None of the other guys ever lay a finger on her, and faithfulness usually comes with it too. How can you trust a woman to protect you if she’s pissed at you for sticking your cock other places? The Girlies usually stay clear ‘cause the Ol’ Ladies can get them cut off, so they don’t want the aggravation.” Taking a swig, he presses on.

  “It’s not a marriage though. Jasper and Emma did get married, Flint’s engaged to Bree, but some of the guys, like Wrench has been with his Ol’ Lady a decade or so and they have three kids together but never married. Like anywhere else, I guess. You coming to the clubhouse today was tricky. Coming in like that is what girls do when they want to party, y’know? Get some action? You came alone, so you were considered open season for whomever.”

  “Shit.” Now it’s my turn at taking a swig of beer, once I realized how stupid my ‘surprise’ was. “What will happen with you and that guy?”

  “Frank? He’s an asshole anyway, but as Sergeant at Arms, I’ll have to make it right. I can’t go swinging at guys who don’t see anything out of the ordinary about their actions.” He shrugs. “The Club is the closest, we’ll go there first; want to show me your new place next? We can measure areas to see what will fit?”

  “You’ll help me? I hadn’t even thought of that.” I admit, feeling more and more my age. “And I am paying you for whatever furniture I pick, or I won’t take anything. Got it?”

  He shrugs again then tells me to grab my coat while he digs out a measuring tape. Taking my time walking back through the shop, I really am impressed by the quality of the work. Slipping on my jacket, he quickly steps in to help guide my arm into the second sleeve; kissing my ear and reaching around the front to zipper me up. “Want me to warm the truck up before you come out, Sweetheart?”

  Regardless of his scar, I really cannot believe this man is single. He’s so thoughtful. “No, I’ll be fine now. I’m just sad I can’t sit wrapped around you for this ride.”

  He laughs at my admission, but I really mean it. With his bike secured, we head over to his Explorer then go back to the clubhouse. Once there, he parks near my SUV and tells me to sit tight. Halfway out the door, he turns back and grabbing me behind the neck pulls me in for another kiss, taking absolute possession of my mouth then releasing me before I can muster a thought.

  “No running off with any bikers now, Sweetheart!” He laughs as he gets out. “You’re all mine.”

  A few minutes after he disappears inside, a Silverado pulls into the lot. I’m not at the right angle to see much more than her auburn hair, most of which is under a large cowl scarf. I’d kill for that color hair, mine is just plain brown although my mother mentioned me getting highlights to ‘look more appealing’, I’ve never actually done it. Looking back over her shoulder she catches a glimpse of me, then stares at the truck again. When she looks back to me, I give her a little wave not knowing what else to do.

  That seems to have made up her mind and she heads over to the passenger side door. I open it on her approach and smiling she asks, “Are you with Gunner?”

  Suddenly unsure of myself, and not wanting to put Gunner in another awkward position, I go with: “I’m waiting for him, yes; and I’m absolutely not pulling any trains.”

  She bursts out laughing uncontrollably and I know instantly we’ll be friends. Looking at her from the seat of his truck, I can see that she’s old enough to be my mother. Although her hair looks natural with her coloring, the lines around her eyes and mouth as she laughs give her away. “I’m Bree, are you Riley?”

  I nod, surprised she knows my name and reach my hand out to shake her offered hand. I pictured someone closer to my age when Gunner spoke of her earlier and am suddenly intimidated by how confident she is.

  “I’m going to kill Gunner. I told him to let me know when he’d bring you here, I wanted to, well Hell – watch out for you a bit. It can be a little crazy.” She shrugs and I quickly nod my head in agreement.

  “He wasn’t expecting me today, but it’s my birthday and I didn’t want to wait until tomorrow.”

  “Happy Birthday then! Considering your talk of pulling trains, I’m sure you had an interesting welcome?!” Again nodding in reply, I’m now certain I’m going to like her. “Gunner’s a quiet one,” she continues, “but he had a few drinks the other night and told me about you. I kept it between us like he wanted, oh, here he comes; quick program my number in your phone!”

  She’s reaching for it the moment I take it out. “Anytime you need to talk, any questions I can answer, ok?”

  “What are you doing, Bree?” Gunner yells out when he’s about ten feet from us. She slides my phone back to me.

  “You appointed me the welcoming committee when you confided in me the other night, just holding up my end.” She winks at me, “Flint’ll be here soon, you may want to head out before you get dragged back inside. You be good to her, Gunner. Nice meeting you, Riley!”

  Without waiting for any replies she heads towards the door to the clubhouse and I turn to Gunner; “I like her! Follow me to the apartment, ok?” Taking a page from Bree, I jump out and go to my car without waiting for his reply.

  Gunner

  I had basically run through the front room of the club and shoved items at random into a duffle. Heading back through, I let Connal know to text me if I’m needed but that I won’t be around otherwise. He smirks and makes a comment about me losing my virginity tonight. I walk away thinking, not tonight Brother.

  After close to a year, the label feels about right but I don’t want to rush this. It’s not like fucking Christmas morning; that always sucked. Months of getting excited over the build-up then Wham! It’s done. No, I’m going to fucking earn her cherry and then savor the hell outta it.

  Stepping back into the cold, I see that the passenger side door of my truck is open. With the interior light on, I can see Riley smiling but, suddenly anxious, I move faster until I realize she’s speaking to Bree. Thank fuck. Riley looks awed and amused by her, which I can completely understand. B
ree had Flint chasing after her from the moment he laid eyes on her.

  Riley quickly gets in her SUV, and after Bree’s warning that Flint is close, I pull out behind her as she heads towards town. Curious to see this apartment that Mrs. R gifted her, I grin to myself remembering the look on Riley’s face as she inspected my furniture. Seeing how much she loved the puzzle coffee table, I decide to create other pieces for her that will tie into that.

  Pulling alongside the curb, directly behind Riley’s Jeep; we park in front of a two-story red brick building. The ground floor is an empty storefront with a large window that wraps around the corner of the building, then an entrance for the store and another next to that, which Riley is heading towards.

  Reaching over for the measuring tape, I quickly catch up to her and pause to enjoy the view of her ass while she heads upstairs before I lock the lower door behind me. I’m pleased that she has another door to unlock before entering her place. The sun has set by the time we enter, so by the light on her cell, she wanders around hitting switches for overhead lights.

  This building is easily eighty to a hundred years old but the apartment looks new and not cheaply done. A birthday present fit for Mrs. R’s granddaughter, I think, shaking my head at her family. Newly sanded wood floors flow through a great room that would have been unheard of during the time the building was constructed, a bay window at one end and a new kitchen with an island at the other.

  “Come on!” She grabs my hand excitedly, pulling me past a guest room and hallway bath, back to a large master suite. It’s larger than the ensuite I call home and I know instantly what her housewarming gift will be. A California King will fit nicely against the long wall, a luxury that I don’t have room for at the clubhouse but have already built a bed platform for. I can only gape at the bathroom, never been in anything like it. It has heated floors, a large shower with multiple shower heads and a separate Jacuzzi tub with space for two. Then back through her room, she opens a door that leads to a private deck. I walk across it to make sure that the gate at the top of the stairs leading down to the parking spaces is well secured. It is. Mrs. R’s people wouldn’t have overlooked that.