Untamed Hearts (BBW Biker Werewolf Romance) by Catherine Vale Page A

never trusted anyone before. Why is that?”
    “I don’t know.” He was quiet for a minute. “I have a confession to make. I lied.”
    She struggled against his weight to sit up. He rose up on one arm, letting her squirm out from beneath him. “Wait, what? You lied? About what?”
    “About liking you.”
    “You’re kidding.” Her face went numb. This wasn’t really happening. Not now, not with Gunner. She sat up against the head of the bed, pulling her knees to her chest.
    “The truth?” He swung his legs over the edge of the bed, resting his elbows on his knees, looking at the floor.
    She managed to nod.
    “It’s more than just this...” He waved his hand over the bed. “I mean I like the sex.” He glanced over at her, and she swore he was blushing.
    “I guess I didn’t want to scare you. Or myself.”
    “Well, you did. So this is more than just liking me for the sex?” She flushed, her face growing hot.
    “I’m a smart ass, in case you hadn’t noticed.” He shifted restlessly. “Things get uncomfortable, I crack wise.”
    “So it’s really you who needs the practice with your words?”
    He gave her a wry smile. “Yeah. Something like that.” He reached out, fingers brushing against her cheek.
    “Truth is...if I had to put a name to it, I think I love you, Claire.”
    Her heart skipped a beat, then sped up. “Oh. Well...”
    He leaned forward, kissing her softly. “And I don’t expect a declaration of love from you...unless you want to. Really. I’m not that needy.”
    But in his eyes, she did see a need, and her heart swelled with emotion. “I think it’s possible I might love you, too. It’s not just the outrageous sex either.”
    He smiled and then grabbed her around the waist, pulling her down to the bed. He leaned over her, pinning her to the mattress.
    “So if we have more outrageous sex, will that help you make up your mind? Change that ‘I might’ to an ‘I do’?”
    She reached up, tracing the curve of his cheek, as he rose above her. “There’s no harm in trying.”
    * * *
    G unner had shaken her awake the next morning, sitting on the bed. He was freshly showered and dressed. She rubbed her eyes groggily, squinting against the bright sun that filled the cabin.
    “What time is it?” Her voice was husky with sleep.
    “Still early, but later than I wanted it to be. We need to get going. Adrian may be sick and wounded, but he’s still dangerous. You’ve got time for a shower and a cup of coffee, then we need to hit the road.”
    The mention of Adrian’s name cleared the fog from Claire’s head. She climbed out of bed, grabbed a change of clothes, and hit the shower. True to his word, Gunner had a cup of steaming coffee waiting for her.
    “Where are we going?” She took a sip of coffee, then turned to pack her few belongings in her duffel. The leather satchel was where she’d dropped it and she compulsively opened it, rifling through the contents. She latched it, breathing out a sigh. When she raised her head, she found Gunner looking at her, one eyebrow raised.
    “What’s in the bag?”
    “Bits and pieces of my former life, I guess.” She shrugged. “The only pictures I have of my mom and dad, old friends...some letters I got, back before I knew better than to let someone know where I was.”
    Gunner nodded, then pointed across the room to a small shelf.
    “The only pictures I have of my dad.” He gave her a smile filled with memories. “Most of them I took when I was a kid, so he’s lopsided, or I’d cut off the top of his head.” The smile faded. “But they’re all I have left of him.”
    “None of your mom?”
    Gunner’s eyes dropped and he turned away, looking out the big window. She winced. Obviously she’d hit a nerve.
    “I’m sorry, Gunner.”
    He shrugged. “I never knew her. No one talked about her much, including my dad. She wasn’t part of my life.”
    Claire set down the leather satchel and closed the distance between them. She slid