Chapter 33 - Road Trip

Zelena.

I think I've been awake for about ten minutes now, but Gunner is still asleep holding me and I don't want to wake him yet. I rolled over as carefully as possible so that I was facing him. He looks so young when he's sleeping. I know he's eighteen, but to me I've always seen him as this big, tall strong and protective man. But right now, with his cheek squished on the pillow and his mouth partly open, he is baby cute. I leaned my head forward and kissed him on his soft lips. He stirred a little and smiled but didn't wake up.

I lay still and watched him sleep for a while, but couldn't hold still any longer. I reached out and traced my finger from his forehead over his nose and lips and down along his chest, all the way to his belly button, and then back up again. He moaned a little and rolled onto his back. I was enjoying teasing him in his sleep, so I pulled myself up and planted little kisses around his neck and ear.

"Why?" he moaned without opening his eyes.

I tickled my finger over his chest, tracing around his nipples and belly button. He grabbed my hand and held it still.

"That tickles" he groaned.

I jumped up and sat on his lap straddling him. I rested my hands on his shoulders and leaned down kissing his lips.

"It's time to wake up now" I whispered as I planted more kisses on his cheeks.

"We're going shopping today" I sung and kissed more of his face.

I went to sit back up but he grabbed my face and kissed my lips one time more.

"I like waking up like this" he grinned opening his eyes.

"Get used to it mister, because you're mine now" I leaned down and gave him another kiss. I then got up and sat down on the floor with my three bags of clothes to pick out and outfit.

"I'm so excited"

"I know, you told me five times last night"

"I've never been shopping before"

"I know, you told me that too"

"Are you sure you want to give me money? I feel really weird about it" I said turning on the floor to face him.

He was now laying on his side with his hand propped under his head.

"Of course I do, you are part of the pack now, and you're my Mate, so it's your money too" he said with a smile.

"Okay, I'm having a quick shower".

I jumped up and put my clothes on the end of the bed and ducked into the shower. I picked up the body wash on the floor and examined it. I might even get myself some nice body wash and decent shampoo I thought. I got out of the shower and wrapped my towel around me and walked back out to the bedroom. Gunner was standing by the dresser with just his jeans on, he turned his head to look at me, lowered his chin and growled.

In a blink he had me up against the wall, lifting my legs up around his waist. He pushed his hips into my hips and held me there, smashing his lips against mine. I opened my mouth and rubbed my tongue along his. God, he tastes so good. I put my hand around his neck grabbing hold of a hand full of hair. My other arm was holding up my towel. He kissed down my neck to the top of my shoulder where he left his mark. He sunk his teeth into the same place, a small burst of pain shot through my skin around his bite, but it quickly transformed to pleasure. I moaned pulling his hair and dropping my towel, letting it fall to my belly and exposing my breasts. He released his jaw and slowly moved his lips down my collar bone to my chest, kissing and licking along the way, he grabbed my breast and squeezed it gently. He traced his tongue around my nipple, flicking it a little before taking it in his mouth, sucking and biting softly. I lifted my head back and groaned.

"Oh shit" I breathed wanting more.

We both jumped, startled by a bang on the door.

"Zelena, you need to come with me" Nat's voiced called through. Gunner let me go, putting his hands on the wall either side of my head. I grabbed my towel to keep it from falling any lower.

"Zelena, are you awake?" she yelled again still banging.

"I'll be out in a sec, just got out the shower" I called back.

What the fuck Nat seriously, things were just getting good. Gunner was shaking his head and mumbling,

"Fucking Nat, always with the perfect timing".

He stood up straight gazing at my body with a smile. I pulled the towel up over my breasts and he frowned leaning forward and kissing me again on the mouth, and then kissing my shoulder where he bit.

"You better go see her before she breaks the door down" he grumbled.

I dropped my bottom lip and put on my best puppy dog eyes. He kissed me again and smacked my butt.

"Don't tease me or we'll miss your shopping trip".

He walked back to the dresser and pulled on a maroon shirt. Agh! I quickly got dressed and walked to Nat's room, at the other side of the pack house. The door was open, but I knocked anyway, I've not been in Nat's room before.

"Hey" I called out for her.

She came out of the walk-in robe dressed like a magazine model. She had subtle makeup on, and her hair was straight and shiny. She had on big beige wedges and blue jeans, with a striped crop top that was tied in the front. She looked gorgeous, I would love to be able to wear clothes like that, but I just couldn't pull it off.

"Finally, I need to do your hair and makeup" she exclaimed, grabbing my shoulder and sitting me down in a pink fluffy chair at a desk that was covered in makeup.

"Aren't we just going to the shopping center?" I asked.

I was honestly a bit taken back by the spread of beauty products in front of me.

"Yes, but there's no harm in looking fabulous. Now hold still, I've been wanting to do this for days".

She started with my hair, pulling the top and side parts up leaving only the back part down, and then made it wavy. She turned me away from the mirror so I couldn't see what she was doing. She had a little pink sponge and lots of different brushes. After a few minutes, and lots of poking and stroking and brushing, she spun the chair around,

"Voila, my masterpiece" she exclaimed proudly.

I examined the face in the mirror looking back at me, I couldn't recognize myself. I had pink rose cheeks and gold glimmery eyes with long black lashes. My skin looked soft and smooth, my lips were pink and full. I look kind of nice, for the first time ever I don't hate what I see in the mirror. No scars, no bruises, no cuts and scabs. I can finally see it, what Gunner has been telling me all this time. I'm actually kind of pretty.

"Wow" was all I could manage to say. Nat laughed.

"I'm not ugly" I said touching my face.

"You've never been ugly, you just didn't know where your beauty was hiding" she smiled and half hugged me over the back of the chair.

"Thank you so much" I smiled brightly.

"Anytime, now let's go".

Nat grabbed a small handbag and took my hand, we walked down the stairs together and onto the porch. Gunner, Cole and Smith were standing at the bottom of the steps waiting for us. Of course, he would never go anywhere without his boys. I stepped down the first step and Smith's mouth dropped open, Cole turned around and lifted his brows with a surprised look. As I got to the bottom step, Gunner turned around. He froze and stared at me. His eyes wide and mouth open.

"Holy shit" he breathed tilting his head to the side.

He walked to me putting his hands on my hips,

"You are positively the most beautiful thing to walk this earth" he whispered and kissed me.

"You like it?" I asked shyly.

"I fucking love it" he beamed,

"Do we have to go shopping, or can we just take our clothes off and go back to bed?" he smirked, kissing me again.

I hit him on the chest and walked past him,

"Yes, we're going".

I looked around the clearing, they weren't expecting to run there were they?

"How are we getting there?" I asked.

"We drive of course" Nat said grabbing my hand and leading me towards the back of the house.

As we came around the side, I saw a row of cars lined up. Not just beat down rust buckets either, they were shiny fancy rich people cars. Exactly how rich are these guys.

"We're taking the SUV" Gunner called from behind us.

"Shotgun" yelled Smith,

"Not a chance" I giggled opening the front passenger door.

Gunner climbed into the driver's side, and the others piled into the back, with Smith in the middle. Gunner started the car and Nat stuck her head through the middle of the seats,

"Don't forget the epic road trip jams" she said plugging in her phone and turning up the volume.

A soft pop song started to play, I hadn't heard it before, but then again, I haven't heard a lot of songs before. We headed off down the dirt driveway, it was long and winding, zigzagging through the trees. We came out onto the main road and sped up towards the city. I was gazing out the window at the forest, as Smith and Nat sang along to the songs on the stereo. Gunner took my hand and lifted it to his lips, kissing it and then held onto it, resting our hands on his lap. I turned around and looked at Nat, she smiled back, still singing, Smith was doing a little air guitar and Cole sat quietly looking out his window.