Queen held Eboni's hand.

When she did that, Eboni broke from her guard duty to address her. "How do you manage to remain so calm?"

"Oh, honey, when the boys were younger, they put many a gray hair on my head. Thanks to Miss Clairol, you don't see that."

Eboni smiled.

Queen continued. "Through the years, I've found that I have raised really good men. All of them are so responsible. I don't worry about Gunnar because he has never given me a reason to worry." She thought about her statement and quickly added, "As an adult. You'll see when you get married and have children."

Eboni took in the weight of her words. She didn't think the anxiousness that riddled her body would go away if she married Gunnar, especially if she had children.

As soon as she saw a flash of headlights beam into the living room, Eboni darted to her feet and ran toward the back door.

"Eboni, a lady never runs," Elizabeth called after her.

Eboni didn't care. She burst through the door.

As soon as Gunnar stepped out of the truck, she jumped on him and wrapped her arms around his body.

"Whoa! I've only been tackled like this in the ring. What gives?" Gunnar laughed and held her.

"I didn't like that guy." When her body trembled, Gunnar held her closer. "He gave me the creeps."

"I told you I would be okay. We talked. That's it. I do all of my fighting in the ring now." He ran his hand up and down her back. "Let's get you inside. You're shivering." He slammed his truck door and walked her back into the house.

"Is that guy gone?" Eboni asked.

"I told him to go back to Las Vegas and that I would call him when I'm ready to work again." Gunnar walked into the living room where his mother sat. "Right now, I'm not ready to go back to work." He leaned over Queen Elizabeth and gave her a kiss on her forehead. "How are you doing, Ma?"

"I would be better if you hadn't scared the pudding out of this girl." She wagged her finger at Eboni. "Tell her you're okay."

"I did." Gunnar took off his jacket and hung it in the closet.

"Do it again so that I can see it."

Gunnar smiled and faced Eboni. "I'm sorry for--"

Elizabeth cleared her throat.

"Oh, that's right. I apologize for making you worry about me. I'm fine."

"Now kiss her."

When Gunnar said, "Ma!" Eboni exclaimed, "Queen!"

"Oh, come on. I know you two had sex. It's obvious." She turned to Eboni. "You wouldn't be so worried about him if you hadn't."

"I don't know what you're talking about. Gunnar and I are just--"

Before Eboni could finish her statement, Gunnar wrapped his arm around her waist, held her face and pressed his lips against hers. She closed her eyes and fell into the sensual expression.

When he pulled back, Eboni opened her eyes. She found Gunnar staring at her.

"Mama knows best." He helped her to a chair. "I'll get dinner started. Any preference?"

"Pasta." Elizabeth smiled.

He nodded and headed to the kitchen.

Elizabeth leaned over toward Eboni. "It's all he knows how to make really well."

Eboni laughed. She found that the more she hung out with Gunnar, the more she realized how much he had changed. Why was she pushing so hard to keep their relationship hidden? She put her hand over her heart. Since she'd given him permission to leave, starting anything with him again would break her heart in a million pieces.

Gunnar poked his head out of the kitchen. "Next Sunday is the Super Bowl."

Elizabeth clapped. "We need to have a viewing party." She pointed down. "It needs to be here at the house with everyone from the salon and the flower shop. We have to support Gideon."

Gunnar's face looked tight at his mother's suggestion.

"Lighten up, grumpy bear. It won't kill you to be hospitable for a day."

He growled before saying, "Yes, ma'am."

Elizabeth held Eboni's hand. "Will you help me plan it?"

"Of course." She glanced at Gunnar. "I would do anything for you and Gunnar."

He smiled before disappearing back into the kitchen. Eboni hoped he knew that about her. She shouldn't have had sex with him. Now she wanted to figure out a way to keep him homewith her.

After dinner and a few card games, Gunnar's mother started yawning more and more.

"You want me to help you upstairs to your bedroom?" He held her hand.

"No. It may take me a while, but I'll get there." She stood from the table. "You two don't stay up too late. You both have early days tomorrow, right?"

Both Gunnar and Eboni said at the same time, "Yes, ma'am."

"But once I get to sleep, I won't hear anything. You could scream and shout, and I won't catch any of that."

"Mom!" Gunnar bolted to his feet.

"Good night, baby." She smiled as she crept up the steps.

Gunnar didn't know about Eboni, but his face felt like flames surrounded it. He finally glanced down at her and found her looking serene with a cat-that-ate-the-canary smile.

"She teased me about us too." Eboni motioned between herself and Gunnar.

"I'm chalking it up to the medication the hospital gave her." Gunnar returned the playing cards to the junk drawer in the kitchen.

"Then it has been a while since you've been home." Eboni stood. She sauntered into the living room and grabbed her coat.

At the sight of her getting her coat and purse, Gunnar's heart sank. He hadn't really expected a repeat performance of last nightalthough in his head he'd prayed several times over for it to happen.

Gunnar approached her and helped her put on her coat. "You want me to warm up your car for you?" He could still be a gentleman despite the fact that he hated to see her go.

"Why? Are you pulling my car around to the back of the house?" She smiled and headed to the back door. She hit the door opener to the garage. "See you in your apartment."

Gunnar felt like Eboni had thrown him a sucker punch with her brazen attitude. He wasted no time before joining her. After making sure to secure his mother's house, he strolled over to the garage, trying his damnedest to look cool. His insides jumped up and down like a sixteen-year-old kid's.

He locked up the downstairs garage before taking the steps by twos up to the apartment. He found the living room and kitchen areas dark. He did notice a light coming from his bedroom under the closed door.

Gunnar approached the door and pushed it open. Inside, he found Eboni sitting on the side of his bed wearing nothing but one of his fight T-shirts. For several reasons, he had to get that shirt off her body.

"I didn't think you would want to come over here with Queen Elizabeth next door." Gunnar stood in front of her but refrained from removing any clothing. Not just yet.

"She pretty much knows how we feel about each other." Eboni crossed her long legs.

"How's that?"

She stood. "We fit. We have history." She ran her hands up his chest.

Gunnar arrested her wandering hands by holding her wrists. When she brought her attention to his eyes, he asked, "Nothing more than that?"

"I don't know. Is there anything more?" she baited.

Unable or rather unwilling to answer the question, he silenced her by brushing his lips against hers. When he pressed them against hers more firmly, Eboni moaned. The vibration of her lips sent a ripple down his spine.

Gunnar broke from the kiss long enough to say, "I didn't want you to think that all I want from you is your body. I do respect you."

Eboni nodded. "I know." She took a step back from him and removed his T-shirt. "You still want my body?"

Gunnar tossed the shirt to the floor. "What do you think?" he asked as he stalked her.

She reached for his jeans and started undoing them. "I think if I don't get you naked in a few seconds, I'll be shredding your clothes with my fingernails."

"Can't have that, can we?" Gunnar opened his dresser drawer for his condoms.

As Eboni reached in his boxers to pull out his erect cock, he opened a package. He found that his hands had a steadier touch than Eboni's, which shook as she touched him. After rolling the thin membrane over his shaft, Gunnar scooped Eboni under her firm ass and placed her on top of the dresser.

Eboni pulled down her thong panties and kicked them to the floor. He pushed his jeans and boxers down to his knees and hooked one arm under her leg as he guided the head of his dick to her awaiting, wet channel. Before plunging himself inside, Gunnar teased her, rubbing the tip up and down her slick nether lips. The sound of her wetness cut in between their panting breaths.

Eboni stared directly into his eyes. She embedded her fingernails into his shoulder. She used her other hand to remove the ponytail holder keeping his hair back. His hair fell around his face. As long as it didn't block his view, he didn't care.

He eased himself inside so slowly he thought he'd stopped breathing for a moment. He enjoyed every titillating inch he managed to slide into her. From the way her legs coiled around his body, Eboni must have liked it as well.

She moved the hand she had on his shoulder down to his ass cheek, squeezed it and held him close, as though anything could have pulled him back from her at this point. Gunnar braced one hand on the top of the dresser as he gave her slow and easy thrusts. Although they'd started kind of franticly, he wanted to make this experience last.

Gunnar cupped her breast. Still keeping his stare on her, he rotated his thumb around her nipple, which caused her legs to thrash.

"So good." Eboni kissed the side of his neck.

He felt her slick channel constrict around his shaft, which prompted him to increase his speed until he heard the telltale hitch in her breath. Eboni clutched his shoulders and released a cry that she tried muffling against his arm.

For that, Gunnar couldn't help but laugh. "I don't think you were loud enough for my mom to hear you."

Eboni smiled. "Then don't stop until all of Virginia Beach can hear me."

Gunnar, still inside of her tight core, lifted her from the dresser and carried her to his bed. "Don't dare me." He placed her on her back while staying nestled between her succulent thighs.

If she could just break away from what held her here in Virginia Beach, Gunnar would love her to be with him.

"I love--" The words choked in Eboni's throat.

Gunnar's heart raced as he stared into her eyes.

She continued. "I love the way you make me feel."

His heart broke into a million pieces as he plastered a fake smile on his face. "Then let's not stop."

Gunnar didn't just mean for the night. For now, he would take that.

Chapter 14.

Eboni had hoped to get away from Gunnar, get away from his bed, his apartment, his intense hold over her and her heart, without him noticing. In the still of the night, just snowflakes dancing over the windows, she lifted his sizable arm from around her body and scooted to the edge of the bed.

No time for a shower, she threw on her discarded clothing that had landed on various parts of the floor. By the time she pulled on her sweater, a voice stopped her in her tracks.

"I know you weren't going to leave without saying good-bye."

Eboni didn't want to jump, but she did. She turned around and saw Gunnar propped up on his elbow.

"I have to get home." She continued on her quest to find her personal items. As she slipped on her coat, she said, "I can't leave my aunt two days in a row." She turned to him. "I'm sure you understand."

Gunnar moved to the edge of the bed. Even in the darkness of the room, and with his blond hair twisting wildly over his head, he looked sexy. Damn. She had to get away from him or she would strip down again and let him have her.

"I do understand. But if you think I'm going to let you go out in this weather alone, you're crazy." He stood.

In the small apartment, he appeared so immense.