Vidalia
⊱✿ ✿⊰
Gunnar looks like a swaddled baby when I wake up next to him. He’s so tightly wrapped in the blanket that I can only see his handsome face and one of his strong hands.
After watching him sleep for a few minutes, I slide out of bed and do what I should have done yesterday.
After a quick shower, I dress in the clothes I wore the day Gunnar brought me here. Throwing a load in the wash, I want to make sure his mom’s clothes are clean when she returns. Next, I wipe down the kitchen and both bathrooms, sweep the floors, and even scrub the toilets. My goal is for the house to be as clean as when I arrived. Almost as if I’d never been here at all.
Gunnar eventually stumbles out of the bedroom, looking still asleep despite having his eyes open a crack. He mumbles a hello and heads straight for the bathroom. I remain on the couch, fully dressed and ready to leave.
Almost ten minutes later, Gunnar appears from the bathroom. He smells clean and masculine and seductive enough to tempt me into kicking off my shoes and tossing aside my pride.
“Did you clean the house?” he asks, joining me on the couch and cuddling against my tense body.
“Yes, and your mom’s clothes are folded on her dresser.”
When Gunnar’s lips caress my forehead for a long time, I think he’s still too sleepy to realize the change in mood. I might need to throw icy water on him if I ever want to move along the conversation.
“I want you to drive me home,” I say when he rests his head on the back of the couch and looks ready to zonk out.
Frowning, Gunnar blinks rapidly. “Why?” he asks and looks around. “Is it because you had to clean?”
I stand up and scowl at him. “I know you lied about that guy in the alley. I want to go home now.”
“Wait, Vidalia,” he says and starts to stand.
“No, I won’t wait. As much as I like you, Gunnar, you lied, and I can’t get past how weird that makes you. Now get your shoes and drive me home.”
Gunnar stares at me for an unbearably long time before sighing.
“You weren’t going to give me a chance. What else could I do?”
“That’s not my problem. Take me home, or I’ll call my brother to get me.”
Gunnar stands up and looms over me. I refuse to allow his natural intimidation tactic to sway my resolve. Staring up at him, I won’t flinch.
Besides, his power over me has nothing to do with his size. No, his sad eyes are what claimed my heart and now beg me to relent to his needs. Putting him first and making us both happy was something I tried last night, but I remain on edge in a way only distance from Gunnar can fix.
“Are you taking me home?” I ask and retrieve my phone.
“My parents won’t be back for another day. Can’t you stay until then?”
“No.”
Gunnar looks around the room, still hoping to prevent me from leaving. After all, he wants me to stay, and his needs come first.
“I love you,” he says as a last-ditch effort to make me stay.
“I’ve fallen in love with you too, but that doesn’t change how we got to this moment and how I want to go home. For the last time, are you taking me or am I calling my brother?”
Broad shoulders sagging, Gunnar sighs deeply. “I’ll take you.”
The moment he turns away, I exhale unsteadily. I hadn’t been certain my resolve would hold. As uneasy as I feel about his lies and how I shared my body with someone I can’t trust, I did love these last few days with Gunnar. I hadn’t felt so safe and comfortable since my dad’s accident, and my family’s faults bubbled to the surface.
Gunnar appears wearing his sloppily tied work boots. He reminds me of a spoiled kid half-assing every little thing. There are times when I struggle to accept that my soft and sometimes silly Gunnar is an enforcer for a biker club. Or that he made extra cash beating on men. He is one sexy contradiction, but I fight my smile. No doubt he’ll take any warmth as an invitation to keep me here.
We walk outside to where his Harley sat unloved for the last few days. I can barely remember riding it here. I do recall how afraid I’d been when we arrived. Terrified based on a lie, I remind myself.
Gunnar helps me climb on behind him and sighs full of melancholy when I wrap my arms around his waist.
“Want to get breakfast on the way?” he asks, refusing to give up on winning.
“No, thank you. Please, just take me home.”
Shoulders drooping again, Gunnar starts the Harley. The roar of the bike forces me to tighten my grip on him. I’m scared of falling off, something I didn’t consider the last time I was on the Harley. After wrapping my fingers in his shirt, I hide my face against his back and hold on painfully tight for the entire ride. I don’t look up until he stops and turns off the engine.
My house looks tiny now, and I frown at the sight of it. How would Gunnar fit in such a little home? A question without the need of an answer since he’ll never come inside.
I climb off the Harley and steady my footing by holding onto his arm. Gunnar watches me, and I struggle not to bend to his will when those eyes stare at me so sadly.
“Can I see you later today?”
“I’ll call you,” I say, letting go of his arm after holding it for too long.
“When?”
“Soon.”
Stepping back, I nearly trip over the curb. I am torn between rushing back into his dangerous arms and running to the safe boredom of my house. Gunnar only watches me, begging for me to give him what he wants.
“Thank you,” I say, ready to turn and run inside.
Gunnar’s confused frown stops me, and we stare at one another for so long that I’m startled by the neighbor’s garage door opening.
Without thinking, I hurry to the Harley and whisper, “One kiss and then I’ll go.”
My lips meet his, taking what I need. Gunnar’s hands reach for me, craving more than what I offer. He could easily wrap me into an embrace and force me back into his life and away from mine. Sensing he might try, I end the kiss and slip out of his reach.
Then I’m gone. Running to the front door as if the devil himself is chasing me, I don’t dare look back. If I do, I’ll see Gunnar’s sad eyes and sweet lips, and I’ll want to return to him. I can’t chance falling under his spell again.
Not until I’m strong enough to set ground rules, so he isn’t the only one calling the shots