“I will.” A sudden thought hit her. “Um, Keegan's not back yet, is he?”
“Why, yes. In fact, I thought I saw him headed to the gym earlier.”
“Hell.” Ava quickly rose and winced as she headed for the door. “I don't suppose you know where Gunnar is?”
“I believe he's working out with the others.”
“In the gym?”
“Yes.”
Ava sighed. “I was afraid you were going to say that.” She quickly made her way downstairs to the gym. Outside the open double doors, Jules, Jesse, Lonnie, Kisho, Morgan, and James Foreman were taking bets.
“That's gonna leave a mark.” James shook his head. “I told him to leave well enough alone. Who the hell would think goading Tersch is a smart thing?”
“Hey, I like Keegan. See how he's using those twenty-pound weights to knock into that idiot?” Morgan pointed to the gym. “That's smart thinking.”
“We really should break them up.” At least Lonnie had the sense to stop the mindless fighting. “Tersch is ahead by two hits, so I win. Now let's stop them before one of them really gets hurt.”
James frowned. “Now, Admiral, I need to make back my money. Double or nothing says Keegan slams him in the head with that barbell.” She'd heard enough. “Okay, fellas. Show's over.” The group turned to stare at her, and Ava realized she should have taken a moment to dress in more than Gunnar's large T-shirt.
Jules grinned and moved back from the door. “Please, Ava. After you.” She sniffed and walked through the small crowd.
“Ten says Ava stops the fight,” she heard Morgan say.
She rolled her eyes and advanced on the testosterone-laden fools before her.
Keegan looked damn good in nothing but a pair of shorts. Too bad her heart was already taken.
“Okay. Break it up, boys.”
Gunnar turned to glare at her, and Keegan took advantage. A large black iron disk hit her mate in the gut and took him down.
“That's now one hit ahead. I win,” Jules said from the doorway.
“Out! All of you,” she shouted and ignored the muttered laughter. “Keegan, leave.”
“You sure, Ava?” Keegan drawled. “Because if this big lug is giving you a hassle, I could—”
He choked off the rest of what he'd meant to say when Gunnar's large hands wrapped around his throat.
Ava licked her lips, taken with so much raw power. “Gunnar, let him go. We need to talk.”
He shook Keegan before dropping him to the floor and advancing on her. In seconds, he had her wrapped under a large arm. “See this, Keegan? This is mine.
Touch her again, and I'll kill you.”
Keegan turned a confused gaze to Ava as he rubbed his throat. “What's he talking about?”
She sighed. “My Neanderthal boyfriend—”
“Mate.”
“Mate, is convinced you want to have sex with me.” Keegan grinned. “Well, sure.”
“Keegan,” she growled. “Tell him we never had sex. Even when we were dating.”
He frowned. “Well, it wasn't for lack of trying. Fool woman was playing hard to get.” He had a twinkle in his eye. “But hey, if you want to try me on for size, I'm game.”
Gunnar snorted. “Dream on. You couldn't handle her.” Keegan laughed and stood. “You might be right.”
Gunnar relaxed by her side.
“I'll let you two talk. But no sex in the gym. Some things just ain't right,” Keegan warned and left them alone. He closed the doors behind him.
Before Ava could say anything, Gunnar turned to her with a scowl. “What the fuck are you doing?”
“Excuse me?”
“Parading that body around the others? You trying to make me crazy?” His eyes narrowed. “Or maybe you like being mauled by the monster inside me. You want it back? Want me to rape you again? Talk about kink.” She flushed. “Gunnar, stop. I was worried about you.” He opened his mouth to retort and froze. “Worried about me?” Ava grabbed his arm to keep him from moving away. “Let's get something straight. I'm fine. You didn't rape me. And you need to stop denying who you are.
You're a beast, man, berserker. Everything. So stop rejecting that part of yourself.”
“You and your grandmother can think what you want. I know I claimed you last night. That's it. We're not playing with that monster again. The next time we have sex, you're using that suppressant on me. I won't hurt you, baby. I don't like knowing I made you bleed.”
“Yet you're hard just talking about it.” She glanced at his erection with a raised brow.
He turned around, giving her his back. “I'm a freak, all right? But I love you. I can't help being this way, but I don't want to be. I like being with you.” He turned around to face her again, his body once again under his control. “As a man or beast, I can handle that. I can't stomach hurting you.”
“Oh, Gunnar.” She hugged him tight, content when he hugged her back. “You don't understand yourself. Just because you have certain sexual needs doesn't make you a freak. I'd be surprised if you didn't have control issues in the bedroom. You're a berserker. So strong, you're naturally endowed to be dominant. But you're also a Circ, a part of a team, and you're subservient to Jules. You give and take. And with me, your mate, you can have it all.”
He looked so hopeful yet wary. It made her heart hurt to see him in such conflict.
“Ava, I'll try. But until I'm sure I won't hurt you, I think we need to use the suppressant.”
“Ah, about that.” Damn, she hadn't wanted to discuss this yet, but the timing was right.
“What about it?”
“I don't have one. I used a placebo before, so you'd think you couldn't hurt me.
And it worked,” she said in a rush when he would have argued.
“You little witch.”
“I couldn't agree more,” Robert Anderson said from the doorway. He had a smug look on his face and a gun pointed in their direction. “Now why don't we join Alicia and the others in her study? I have so very much to share with you all.” Ava looked down at herself, wondering how she managed to find herself in these situations. “Could I get dressed first?”
Gunnar growled and stepped in front of her.
“Why bother when you look just beautiful as you are, my dear?” Anderson smiled, though the expression didn't reach his eyes.
Ava sighed. “This is so not my day.”
Chapter Eleven
Alicia stared at the men invading her study. Sitting with Lonnie, sharing a cup of tea and old times, made everything that had passed the last few weeks feel like a bad dream. Yet once again, Robert Anderson tried to come between her and those she loved.
Jules, Jesse, and Kisho preceded four rogue Circs into the office. Jules looked less than pleased. Kisho's face wore no expression.
“Sorry, Mrs. Sharpe. They’re holding Morgan, Keegan, and James hostage so we’ll cooperate. Jules warned us not to do anything until we talked to you.” Jesse announced on a Dawn Endeavor broadcast. Even Lonnie heard the news, but like the others, he didn't react.
“Ava and Gunnar?” she asked.
“Together in the gym. With Anderson.”
She had a bad feeling about that.
“So this is the bitch,” one of the rogues muttered. “Doesn't look so shit-hot powerful to me.”
“Smells powerful, though,” another said.
The rogues were clad in a dark black material that looked formidable.
“The new Kevlar weave, hmm?” Lonnie said. “I just outfitted my team with those.”
The obnoxious rogue nodded.
“Where are the others?” she asked, knowing this team would have knowledge of all the occupants in residence.