The humid night air around the restaurant was thick with the scent of expensive cologne and the damp concrete of a passing storm. The "bubble zone" created by the private security felt like a physical wall, pressing back the city's ambient noise to create a vacuum of silence for the elite group standing under the darkening sky.
A strobe-like flash tore through the darkness from across the street, shattering the private oasis.
The shift in energy was instantaneous. The security guards on the perimeter moved like well-oiled machinery, their silhouettes sharp against the streetlights as they pivoted toward the source of the light.
Brennan adjusted his cuffs, his expression a mix of weary habit and genuine apology. "I'm sorry, guys," he said, the flash still burned into his retinas. "I get harassed by the paparazzi no matter where I go."
Koda didn't miss a beat, waving a hand through the air as if brushing away a fly. "It's not a big deal!" He knew that the photo would never see the light of day.
However, Ashley didn't look bothered at all. Her chin tilted just a fraction of a degree—finding her light—and her smile widened. She wasn't just tolerating the camera; she was performing for it, hoping the lens had captured the perfect angle of her cheekbones.
Vivian didn't share the sentiment. She felt a prickle of unease, her fingers grazing the expensive wool of Gunner's sleeve. "Isn't this bad for you?" she whispered.
Gunner remained in the shadows of the streetlight, his face a mask of stony indifference. As the son of a major weapons developer, his anonymity wasn't just a preference—it was a survival tactic. In a circle of public figures, he was the ghost, the only one whose face was a liability to him. If people knew his face, his life would constantly be in far more danger.
"Don't worry about it," Gunner told her, his voice dropping an octave, to reassure her.
Vivian didn't look away from the street until she saw a shadow move with predatory speed—one of her newest security members. The guard intercepted the photographer with firm, silent efficiency, taking the camera and guiding the man into the darkness away from the street.
The arrival of the valet broke the tension. "Here you are, sir," the man said, handing the keys of the sleek Mercedes to Brennan.
"Thank you." Brennan turned to the group, his eyes lingering on Vivian. "I had a good time. Thank you for the invite, Koda. I'll text you." His last words were meant for Vivian.
Stepped forward Vivian, offering a brief hug. "We will talk later," she promised. But as she pulled away, she felt a heavy, possessive weight—Gunner's large palm resting on her lower back, anchoring her to him as if he were surgically glued there.
"Bye!" Darla chirped, blowing kisses to the group before pulling open Brennan's passenger door and sliding inside.
Brennan blinked, staring at her through the window before getting in the car himself. "Did you need a ride?" His voice was slow and filled with confusion.
"Drive, Brennan," she commanded, her eyes fixed on the rearview mirror where her own security detail was already piling into a follow-car.
Koda whistled, looking thoroughly impressed as the Mercedes pulled away. "Damn, she's bold!"
"Darla definitely doesn't take no for an answer." Gunner grinned, glad that the actor would be occupied.
"He doesn't stand a chance," Vivian agreed, though her attention was diverted as Ashley looped an arm through hers, physically pulling her away from Gunner's side.
"We didn't get to talk much," Ashley chuckled, her voice dripping with a practiced, inauthentic charm. "You and your boyfriend were making heart eyes all night, I couldn't bare to interrupt."
Vivian gave a non-committal shrug. She could see through the model's performance; Ashley was navigating the conversation like a social climber with a map. "At a large table, it's hard to speak to everyone."
"I get it! I'm the new girl," Ashley said, shrugging uncaringly. "I have to soften the villagers." She laughed, flashing her charming smile.
As the street began to clear, Gunner shared a fist-bump with Koda. "Hey man, good looking out tonight."
"Best wingman in Springbrook," Koda joked. As a Lincoln Town Car pulled to the curb, and Koda saw Ashley to the door. After a quick, performative kiss from the model, Koda turned back to Vivian and Gunner with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"She's a piece of work," Vivian muttered.
"Right? She perfect?" Koda laughed. "A girlfriend will keep my parents off my back for a month or two." He gave Vivian a quick hug, then leaned in with a parting word. "Don't let the parents see you guys so cozy. You'll end up married next." Though he said it as if it were a joke, he was serious. A fun little flirtation, or even a one-night stand or two, could turn into something very serious if they weren't careful.
Before she could call him out for cursing them, he had already gone back inside the residence. But her mind caught on to the words he had said: married next.
Her sharp gaze turned to Gunner, wondering if he had picked up on what she had. "Who is he talking about? Is someone engaged on the hill?" She couldn't help the curiosity and excitement leaching into her voice.
Gunner's lips thinned. He knew the rumors, and he knew Koda wasn't talking about them—which meant the social landscape of the hill was shifting under their feet.
Nala and Ji-ho were the last to emerge from the restaurant. "Where is everyone?" Nala asked, looking at the nearly empty sidewalk.
"Everyone's gone," Vivian shrugged.
"Oh...!" Nala said, a little crestfallen before she could turn to say goodbye, prepared to stay at her brother's condo back inside.
Ji-ho's Ferrari roared to life at the curb. He guided Nala inside with a gentle hand. "I'll bring you home."
Unable to refuse, Nala waved her goodbyes to Gunner and Vivian, and allowed Ji-ho to take her back to the Hill Estates.
As they drove off, Vivian looked up at the towering condo building behind them absent-mindedly. "Do you think it's them?" she asked quietly.
"Probably," Gunner replied.
"Adorable," Vivian shrugged. "Well... I am practically home. Just an elevator ride up."
Now that it was just the two of them, the atmosphere felt charged. His car still hadn't come to the curb. She decided it was safer to just go back up to her condo.
"I'll bring you home first," Gunner smirked, guiding her back inside the condo building through its main entrance.
Waiting by the elevators was Mr. Smart. With practiced efficiency, he tapped a key card against the sensor, the doors sliding open instantly. He then extended the card to Vivian, a silent acknowledgment of her habit of forgetting it on her way out. She accepted it with a grateful nod, tapping the button for the Penthouse.
The ride in the elevator was quiet, but the air was thick with unrestrained tension. When the doors dinged, the walk to her door was quick. She tapped the card, and the door opened with ease. She left it open behind her, dropping the key card on the entry table as she stepped into the foyer.
Gunner didn't need any more invitation than that. The tightly coiled restraint he had been holding back all night snapped.
He followed after her, his hands gripping her waist and pulling her back against his frame. He tilted her head back, his lips crashing against hers as he devoured her mouth. They stumbled backward together in a blur of heat until her back hit the solid frame of the wooden console.
With ease, he lifted her by her waist, settling her onto the wood. He stepped between her thighs, his presence overwhelming. Gunner expertly pulled down the front of her dress until the silk pooled at her waist, leaving her bare chest exposed. Her tight pink nipples were already hardened peaks in the cool air of the room. He pinched one, watching her eyes flutter as she let out a slight hiss of pain that melted into a moan.
His teeth began to nibble on the exposed column of her neck while his free hand curled deep into her hair, tilting her head exactly where he wanted it. He thrust his hips forward, the growing bulge in his trousers pressing hard against her. Even through the thin fabric of her panties, Vivian could feel his heat radiating into her.
Vivian moaned into his mouth, quivering with a need that made her feel heady. Her trembling fingers reached for the belt around his waist, unclasping it while his tongue trailed a wet, scorching path up her throat.
A loud, insistent ringing of a phone cut through the haze of lust. Gunner froze, his breath hitching in his chest.
"Ignore it," Vivian ordered, her voice a low command as she pulled his belt free and began unzipping his pants.
"Fuck... fuck! Fuck!" Gunner groaned, the sound vibrating against her skin. He checked the ID. It was his mother. She only called about one thing: his son.
He looked down at Vivian, his eyes dark with conflict. Vivian met his gaze with a sultry, questioning smile, her fingers tightening around his length inside his trousers, squeezing ever so gently. The temptation was agonizing. His hips twitched instinctively in her hand, his body screaming at him to stay.
He leaned down, his lips crashing against hers one more time in a head-spinning, heart-stopping kiss that lasted just a second too long for someone planning to leave. Leaning down his teeth nipped at her breast, a final, desperate mark of possession, before he finally forced himself to step away.
"What?" he snapped into the phone, his voice rushed and thick with frustration.
"Did you not read your caller ID? I am your mother. What's with the attitude?!"
Gunner felt his erection withering with every syllable of his mother's voice, yet his eyes stayed locked on Vivian. He watched as she leaned back, intentionally pushing the silk dress the rest of the way down until she was left in nothing but black panties, high heels, and smudged red lipstick. The sight was enough to make him want to hang up and take the consequences later.
"Hunter's running a little bit of a fever," his mother continued, oblivious to the scene she was interrupting. "He's not feeling very well. He wants you. You should come home."
"Uh... fuck. Okay. I'm on my way. Bye, Mom!" He ended the call before she could say another word.
Vivian chuckled, watching Gunner pull at his hair in pure frustration. She looked entirely too comfortable in her state of undress. "I now see why you're celibate," she laughed. "Good night, Westbrook."
She slid off the console and kicked off her heels, giving him a playful wave over her shoulder as she strolled toward her bedroom.
"This is not fair!" Gunner complained to the empty air. He snatched her key card off the entry table on his way out—he was definitely coming back for more.
Author's note:
I'm running out of time, and I have to go to my mom's house. She's like 2 hours away. So the next two chapters will come out in a couple of hours.