Page 108 of The Closed Off Captain

With a final word of congratulations, Gunner and I head out. Aiden follows us. “Thank you, Chloe.” He doesn’t say more than that, but from Aiden; that’s everything.

“You’re welcome.”

Gunner and Aiden shake hands one last time. “See you on the ice, Dad.”

With a last smirk, Aiden heads back into the room with his wife and baby. Gunner takes my hand again and leads me out to the waiting room.

Chapter 47

Chloe

I wake up the next morning with a smile on my face. I glance at my phone, not at all surprised to see that it’s after ten. Gunner and I didn’t get home until after two, and that was after a late dinner at a diner with Stephanie, Seb, Amber, and Rico. And that was after we went out and got food for Aiden and Bri. Gunner convinced me to sleep in his guest room. I’ll be honest; it didn’t take a whole lot of convincing. I have no plans of ever sleeping in my house again. I’ll be selling it as soon as possible. Gunner told me I can stay with him for as long as I need. I don’t plan to take him up on it for long—just until I can find a new place to rent until I decide what to do next.

Since I still haven’t been to my house for clothes with everything that happened, I wore Gunner’s shirt to bed last night. I throw the covers back, ready to find some coffee. Thankfully, it’s Saturday; and there’s no game tonight. We can get caught up on some rest. I open the door and listen but don’t hear him. I figure he’s still sleeping. I know from experience it takes him a while to come down from his games. His door is still closed, so I make my way to the kitchen, looking forward to a cup of coffee. I can’t wait to try the oat milk creamer he had in his refrigerator. I make it two steps into the kitchen and stop because Gunner is not asleep. Nope. He’s standing in his kitchen, holding a cup of coffee. His cup freezes halfway to his mouth, and his eyes slowly run the length of me from my head all the way to my toes and back up. He straightens from where he was leaning against the stove. I make a mental note to tell the girls they were right. He puts his mug down and stalkstowards me, and I don’t move a muscle. “Did you just walk into my kitchen wearing only my shirt?” His words are low and deliciously raspy.

I meet his gaze head-on. “I did. In my defense, I don’t have any other clothes yet.”

He frowns. “I’ll take you to your house today to get all your stuff.” His eyes run over me again. “Maybe.”

I lift an eyebrow. “Maybe?”

He grabs ahold of the shirt and tugs me forward. “I don’t know. I could get used to you wearing my shirts.”

I reach out and put my hand on his muscled chest. “I’m going to need clothes, Gunner.” I run my hand up his chest and onto his shoulder, smiling wickedly when I see that I’m visibly affecting him. “I have to be able to go out in public, and I can’t go out in this.”

“No, you can’t,” he rumbles.

“As good as this looks on me, I have to wear my clothes,” I say with a laugh.

“It would look even better on the floor,” he mutters as he tugs me into his arms. I go willingly, smiling.

“That’s not going to happen.”

“A man can dream,” he mumbles as he drops his head to my neck. My eyes drift shut as he kisses my neck and trails a path of kisses from my shoulder to my ear. One strong arm wraps around my waist and pulls me close as he continues to kiss me. I gasp when he kisses the sensitive spot right below my ear. He stills for a moment. “You like that.”

I don’t respond; I don’t think I’m capable. He continues with his trail of kisses, and my legs feel like they’re going to fail me. He pulls back and looks into my eyes. “Is this okay?”

“Yes.” My voice is breathless, and he smiles before taking a step back and pulling me with him. He sits in the kitchen chair and pulls me between his legs.

“You tell me if it’s too much, or if you want me to stop.” He tugs me down onto his lap, so that my legs are straddling his. In this position, we’re almost at eye level. He stares into my eyes for a moment, and I get lost in his. Then I run my hands over his shoulders, looking to take control, even if it’s only for a moment. I lean towards him, and he braces himself with his hands on my thighs. I connect my lips to his neck, and he hisses. Feeling braver now, I kiss him again on his neck, just like he did to me. I trail kisses along his shoulder and neck and work my way back towards his ear. He groans and reaches up and puts his hands on either side of my face as he locks eyes with me. “I need to taste you again” he says almost desperately. He consumes me in a kiss so deep, I can’t catch my breath. His tongue plunges into my mouth and wars with mine. I give as good as I get, wanting him with every fiber of my being. He runs his hand through my hair and wraps it around his hand, giving it a good tug and deepening the kiss in that same motion.

Distantly, I hear a sound; but I don’t let it bother me. I can’t help the moan that escapes as he pulls me closer and deepens the kiss. Too soon, he pulls back. “I think somebody’s at the door,” he says in a raspy voice.

“Oh.” I glance over my shoulder but don’t move to get up.

He kisses me one last time and then wraps his hands around my waist and lifts me to my feet. “Let me get rid of whoever’s at the door; I’ll be right back.” He leaves me in the kitchen, and I drop into the nearest chair, trying to get my breath and my sanity back.

“Hey, Mom,” I hear Gunner say rather loudly.

I spring to my feet and dart back to the bedroom, but I don’t make it there in time. “Chloe.”

I freeze, wondering if it would be terribly rude to pretend I don’t hear her. “I told her we should call first, but she didn’t listen.”

I close my eyes at the sound of Gunner’s brother. Realizing there’s no way out of this, I turn around and force a smile to my face. “Good morning.” I don’t get another word out of my mouth before Gunner’s in front of me.

“We’ll be right back,” he calls out over his shoulder. He turns me around and pushes me down the hallway.

I can’t stop my laugh. “What are we doing?” I whisper.

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