Heartless (Steel Demons MC #6) - Crystal Ash Page 0,32

and we went to our separate rooms, the bed somehow felt extra empty with only three people in it.

I couldn’t sleep a wink, but a sigh of relief left me as I heard Gunner’s motorcycle pull up outside. He entered the bedroom with the sounds of someone who was drunk enough to be clumsy, but not stumbling and sloppy.

Thankfully he had enough coordination to undress and slip into the open spot in bed quietly. I rolled over immediately, nuzzling into his skin that was still cool from the night air.

“Where have you been?” I whispered, dragging lazy kisses over his chest and throat.

“Baby girl,” he sighed, wrapping around me. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” My hands slid around to his back, rubbing up and down to warm him.

“Were you really pissed about me not coming to breakfast tomorrow?” He mumbled the words out, lips moving on my forehead.

I sighed deeply, resting my head on his shoulder. “Yes, love. I wish you could be there. Reap’s still trying to talk Noelle into bringing Larkan another time.”

Gunner let out a soft noise, sounding relieved as he wrapped around me. “I knew you would never shut me out.”

“Never, love.” I kissed him more insistently, finding his lips in the darkness. “I want all of my men with me. But it’s not my house or my rules.” My fingers stroked the locks of hair falling down his back. “I’m actually really nervous. And I know you being there would make me feel better.”

“I love being with you.” His voice grew sleepier and more mumbly every time he spoke. “You make me feel like I matter. I must’ve told T-Bone that like twenty times, but he kept pouring me shots so it wasn’t my fault.”

I grinned, unable to hold back my chuckle at his confession. “You do matter, love. So much.” I pressed a kiss to his Adam’s apple. “You keep me safe.” A kiss under his chin. “You make my fears disappear.” A kiss to his lips. “You make me the strongest version of myself.”

He didn’t reply, but his chest rose and fell with the steady, even breaths of sleep. Smiling, I turned in his arms and settled on my side.

“There you are, looking all dolled-up and sexy.”

I smiled at Gunner’s reflection in the vanity mirror, leaning against the door jam with his forearm raised above his head.

“Is it too sexy for the in-laws?” I pulled at the neckline of my dress, hoping it wasn’t so low that it was inappropriate.

“Nah.” Gunner took a few steps into the room, blue eyes following the lines of my backside. “Not anywhere close.”

“And how long have you been spying on me?” I closed my compact and started putting my makeup away.

“Long enough. I like watching you get all made up.” He moved the hair draped against my upper back, caressing my neck as he dropped a kiss to my head. “Not that you need it.”

“I’m just nervous,” I admitted, reaching back for his hand. “Scared shitless, if I’m going to be completely honest.”

“For shit’s sake, why?” He ran both hands over my neck and shoulders now, massaging the nerves right out of my muscles. “They’ll love you, baby girl. As much as we do.”

“It’s been years since I’ve met the parents of a guy I’m with, and it’s never been as serious as my husband’s parents. Holy shit, they’re already my in-laws!”

“Relax.” Gunner’s lips rested in my hair, his hands sweeping luxuriously over my shoulders and upper back.

“I wish you were coming,” I sighed, melting under his touch.

“Mm.” He pressed another kiss into my hair. “You’ve got this in the bag, you don’t need me. Reap’s already talked you up a ton to his dad. I bet they’re excited to meet their daughter-in-law.”

“That scares me even more,” I groaned. “What if I don’t live up to the hype?”

“It’s not hype, it’s truth.” His hands came over the front of my shoulders, smoothing down my chest and tracing the edges of my dress. “What do I gotta do to make you believe me, huh?”

His touch dipped inside my neckline, a warm palm finding my breast and pulling a gasp from my mouth. “Gunner…”

“What do I gotta do?” he groaned, lowering his mouth to my ear as his other hand wandered down the side of my hip, pulling the fabric up my thighs. “To make you see how perfect you are for all of us?”

“Gun.” I turned my head, catching his hungry mouth as it searched for a