When his hand cupped my cheek and he leaned closer, I forgot all about my anger at his disappearance and instead debated if I could get away with dragging him to my bed. Probably not, because he weighed twice as much as I did, and he had about three times the amount of muscles. Hard to do any dragging in that scenario.
I was surprised we hadn’t been interrupted yet. My scream wasn’t loud, but I wouldn’t put it past my brothers to take turns watching my room, making sure I didn’t sneak out.
My door was locked, but that wouldn’t keep them out for long. They’d either just pick the lock or kick it in. My guess was on the latter. They had no consideration for other people’s things.
“I’m glad you feel that way. Because you’re mine, and I’m not letting you go.”
My heart jumped in glee at his words. I hadn’t been making it all up.
I stepped into him, putting my hands on his chest.
Heaven.
Feeling him, breathing him in, I felt I was back where I belonged. He didn’t hesitate putting his arms around me and pulling me against him.
“I missed you,” I said into his chest, closing my eyes at the onslaught of emotions. He had the power to obliterate me. I only hoped he wouldn’t wield that power.
“Not as much as I missed you,” he whispered into my hair.
I dipped my head back and he leaned down, meeting my lips with his in a hungry kiss.
I brushed my tongue against his, melting into his embrace.
“You want to get out of here?” he asked, nodding to the window.
I raised a brow at him. “I’m not climbing a tree or jumping out a window.”
He grinned as if he was excited at the prospect of using the front door. “Then I guess we’ll have to get past your brothers.”
He didn’t seem worried even though he should have been. They fought dirty. And while I knew Gunner could take care of himself, he was severely outnumbered. Not only by my brothers but all the guys patrolling the grounds.
And even though my dad was approaching sixty, he was still fit and could inflict some damage if he wanted to.
“Let me pack my stuff. The suitcase is heavy and might buy us a few seconds to get out if I have to throw it at my hardheaded brothers.”
Gunner chuckled and took my hand, then kissed it. “I’ll get us out. Don’t worry, spitfire.”
“I’m not worried,” I said, then closed my suitcase. I hadn’t even unpacked anything except my toiletries, which I hastily threw back in.
Gunner took my suitcase in one hand and held my hand with the other.
We went out into the silent hallway and made our way down the marble staircase. The silence didn’t mean we’d get out unnoticed. It was more of an indication that my brothers were up to something.
I expected them to be waiting, if not outside my door, then at the foot of the stairs. But there was nobody there. The front door and freedom were within my grasp.
“Are you not even going to say goodbye?” my dad called out from his office that was conveniently located just down the long hallway past the stairs.
I looked at Gunner, and he squeezed my hand. “We’ll have to do this eventually. Might as well do it now.”
We walked the few steps to my dad’s office in silence. I’d never liked it when he summoned me to his office. It usually meant I was in trouble.
When we turned into the room, I was met with three sets of accusing eyes and one set of warm brown ones that belonged to my dad.
I stopped at the door and tilted my chin up in defiance. I was a grown woman. They couldn’t possibly think they still had a right to tell me what to do and who to see.
“You could have just used the front door,” my dad said, and I looked at Gunner with anI told you soexpression.
Gunner grunted in response. I guess his words were all used up for today. We had a good run.
