Desired (Wanted 6)

She shot me a frown.

My heart was racing. If Ellie only knew how much I didn’t want to argue with Ari. How much I wanted to tell her how smart I thought she was. How she was the most beautiful woman in the world besides Ellie. I wanted to tell her Ari was the last person I thought of when I closed my eyes and the first person when I opened them.

But I couldn’t. I couldn’t risk losing her.

Turning, I headed to my bedroom again but paused. “Where’s Gunner?”

A blush rushed into Ellie’s cheeks again. “I mentioned I was hungry, and he pretty much darted out the door to go get food. He said he would be back in a few minutes.” Ellie sat down on the sofa and turned on the TV.

I let out a round of laughter. “Damn, Ellie! You’ve got the boy going every which way but loose!”

She drew her brows in. “What are you talking about? He said he was hungry too. Sheesh, Jefferson, you act like he was jumping off a bridge for me or something.”

Shaking my head, I walked over and sat down next to her. “You don’t see, do you?” I bumped her shoulder gently. Was my sister really that naïve that she couldn’t see the way Gunner looked at her? The way he smiled at her?

“See what? What are you going on about?”

“Ellie, I’ve known Gunner for three years now. I’ve never seen him with the same girl more than a few times. He is so focused on football and school, he pretty much has never given a girl more than five minutes of his attention. Don’t get me wrong; he likes girls and treats them with respect,” I said with a chuckle.

She snarled her lip.

“I can honestly say I’ve never seen Gunner run and fetch dinner for someone. Honey, I know you just had this whole thing with Ryan the douchebag this morning and you believe that bullshit Mom fed you years ago, but Gunner is attracted to you, princess. He’s a good guy, but . . .”

Ellie sat up straighter, anticipating my conclusion.

“But what?” she asked.

“I want you to know I would trust my life and yours with Gunner. I trust him, but this is you we’re talking about. I don’t want him to break your heart or hurt you, Ellie. I really don’t want you to jump into something you’re not ready for, honey. Promise me you’ll be careful.” I took her good hand and brought it up to my mouth and kissed the back of it.

I wasn’t expecting her to bust out laughing. “What’s so funny?”

She couldn’t stop laughing. “Oh my gosh! You’re what’s so funny! I mean, come on, Jefferson! I hardly think that Gunner is interested in me of all people! I’m sure he is only being nice to me because of you!”

She was still laughing when I stood. “You’re beautiful, inside and out. You’re very desirable, princess, and trust me when I say this: Gunner is interested and not because you’re my sister.”

Chapter Twenty-Four – Gunner

Cars was playing on the TV, and the only thing I could think about was how close my body was to Ellie’s. She was lying down on the sofa, her legs over me, with a small pillow the only thing keeping her body from my dick.

I glanced over to Ellie. She’d taken a pain pill, and I was hoping she would fall asleep and rest some. She was frowning, though, lost in thought.

“Hey, what are you frowning about over there? Do you want me to change the movie? Cars not doing it for you, sweetheart?” I stroked my hand up and down her leg. I was aware it was probably too intimate to do, but I had to touch her, or I was going to combust.

She pressed her lips together like she was in pain. “No, it’s fine. I was just thinking about the whole Ryan thing today. I’m sorry.”

My smile vanished at the mention of that prick’s name. I hated that she was thinking of him while I touched her. I stopped stroking her leg and pushed my hands through my hair.

Damn. Maybe both Jeff and I were reading this wrong. Maybe Ellie wasn’t attracted to me, and she was really still hung up on Ryan.

“Hey, Gunner, may I ask you something?” she said, sitting up a little.

I grinned. “Always.”

Her head tilted sideways. “Why do you keep calling me ‘sweetheart’?”

“I didn’t realize I was saying it a lot. I’m sorry. If you want me to stop or it bothers you, I’ll try to be more aware of it.”

I turned my gaze away from her and focused it on the TV. Yeah, Ellie Johnson wasn’t the least bit attracted to me in that way.