Page 18 of Gentleman Wanted
Chapter Eight
Gent
“So you and Gem?” Ruin was trying hard to sound casual. Trying and failing. Slowly I turned to him. “What do you mean?” I knew exactly what he meant. He was worried about me sliding into the role of daddy to his half brother. He also seemed to have forgotten that I was the one who had watched Bobby come into this world.
“Rumour has it you two are a couple.” There was no hesitation in his voice this time. “That you have moved in with her.”
Moved in? I frowned. Sure, I had spent every night there with her body against mine, driving me insane. But seeing as she wouldn’t let me do anything but kiss her, I wasn’t sure if I could say we were a couple.
I wanted to take things to the next level. And she was dragging her heels. Something was holding her back. I just didn’t know what it was.
“I stay there sometimes.” I sipped my beer non committedly. Truth was, I didn’t even want it. “That’s all.”
None of this was any of their business. It was none of the club’s business what went on between Gem and me.
“You sharing her bed?” Ruin’s eyebrow arched into his hairline.
“Look, Ruin, none of this is any of your business, but we are taking it slow.” Glacial slow, I added silently.
“I see.” He turned away. “Just don’t hurt her. If you aren’t sure what you want, then…”
My hand curled into a fist at my side. “Then what?” My voice came out through gritted teeth. “My relationship with Gem has nothing to do with you, Ruin. Maybe you should concentrate on your own relationship and leave my family alone.”
“That’s the problem. Bobby is my family.”
“I love Bobby…”
“So you’re with her because of the kid? You know he’s not yours, right?”
I moved without thinking, launching myself from the barstool and into him. My fists rained down on his face.
“Fuck you, Ruin.” One final time I let my fist fly down. “Fuck you. Bobby is mine because I want him to be mine. Same as I want Gemma to be mine.” Spittle flew from my lips as I lifted myself away, holding my hands up to the crowd who were gathering to pull me away. My eyes blazed as I held my hands up. “It’s fine. It’s done.” With a groan, I got to my feet. “Don’t interfere with my family again, Ruin. Gemma isn’t your fucking concern anymore. She’s mine. My woman, my family. Stay the fuck out of my business.”
***
“Let me clean up your hand.”
Gemma didn’t even bother to say hello. Instead, she met me at the door, capturing my wrist as soon as I walked through it.
She studied my split knuckles intently.
“Someone called you?” I wanted to rip my hand away. To storm off and be allowed to wallow in my own anger. But I couldn’t do any of that with her small soft hand gently playing over mine.
“What happened?” Finally, her eyes rose, half hidden under wayward blonde strands. Strands I caught in my fingers, twirling them.
“Fucking Ruin, butting into our business.”
Her blue eyes widened. “He was asking about me?”
“About us. He seems to think it’s his right to ask questions that are none of his business when…” I froze as she pressed her body against mine. Her breasts crushed against me.
It took my breath away - the feel of her so close to me. Grabbing at her, I clutched her even closer.
“What are you doing?”
I didn’t move as her hands slid down my chest. She yanked at my belt buckle. Her movements were jerky and impatient.
“Hopefully, taking your mind off of things.” A tiny line appeared between her eyebrows as she concentrated. “I don’t like you fighting. Especially not about me. I know things have been slow, and you are frustrated.”
