Free Metal & Lace (An Opposites Attract Novel Book 1) by Lena Black Page B

really thoughtful of you, Gunn.”
    He smiles faintly at me. “It was nothing.”
    He begins taking the lids off, revealing the steaming, mouth-watering contents, linguini with a white clam sauce, spaghetti with meatballs, and extra cheesy chicken parmesan.
    “Yum! Italian!” Gwen exclaims, clapping her hands together. She’s a sucker when it comes to Italian food.
    We take the containers, plates, and wine into the living room, chowing down until we’re stuffed and groaning. Once Gwen heads off to bed, too tired to keep her eyes open after the button-busting meal, Gunnar and I settle back into the couch with a glass of wine.
    “I wouldn’t take you for a wine-drinker,” I comment.
    “I’m not. I’m more of a whiskey double type guy.” He takes a sip and winces slightly.
    Definitely not a wine guy, I laugh to myself.
    There’s so much I don’t know about him. Like, everything. I figure it couldn’t hurt to find out about the man I intend to let into my bed.
    “Gunn, will you tell me something about yourself?”
    “What do you want to know?”
    There’s only one thing that pops in my head. “You have bad reputation with women. How much is true?”
    “I enjoy fucking, Lace.” He grasps his hand onto my thigh, rubbing it with his thumb. “I don’t hide that.”
    “I know I’m new to all this, but…Where do we stand if I choose to go through with our, for lack of a better word, relationship?” I inquire, even though I may not get the answer I want.
    “Do you mean, will I still fuck other women?” He tilts his head to the side, searching my face for my response.
    “Yeah.”
    “I hadn’t really thought about it.” He pushes his bottom lip out into a pout as he ponders this thought. “I don’t have intentions of fucking anyone else. Do you?”
    “I don’t know. Would it be a problem if I did?”
    “Yes, it would.” The expression on his face goes from thoughtful to stone cold in a flash. “What’s mine is mine.”
    “Do you have, like, regulars?”
    “Two,” with the hand not firmly glued to my leg, he pops his long fingers up into a peace sign, signifying the number, “but it’s complicated with both of them.”
    Suddenly, a horrifying thought strikes me. “Gunnar, have you been with anyone since we met?”
    He looks down at his lap, removing his callous hand from my lap. “Some questions shouldn’t be asked, Lace.”
    I feel a burning mass form in the pit of my stomach.
    “I thought you said you didn’t get with that groupie.” The hurt in my voice is evident.
    “And I didn’t.”
    I don’t like this. I don’t like this at all. I mean, sure, we aren’t technically together…Hell, we aren’t even together in theory, but it still stings.
    “When did this happen?” I ask, again, not sure I want to know the truth. I guess I’m just a fucking emotional masochist.
    “Baby, does it really matter? If you tell me you want me, I’m yours. Isn’t that enough?”
    No. It’s the least. But, seriously, what do I expect from the guy? He’s probably had more ass than a subway seat.
    “Yes, I suppose,” I reply with little conviction.
    “Would you want me to lie to you?”
    “No, I want honesty. But it doesn’t make it hurt less.” The idea that he fucked someone else, since this became more than just an article, feels like a knife of betrayal has just been plunged into my chest. But if it wasn’t the groupie skank… “Who was it?”
    I can tell he’s uncomfortable. But I don’t know if it’s the subject or me hindering him from telling me. When he finally opens his mouth, I stiffen up, bracing myself for the knockout. “Callie.”
    “Callie? You screwed your manager?” I inquire, disgusted.
    “Yes,” he says, annoyed by my reaction, “and now it’s over between us, her and I.”
    A sharp snort escapes my nose. “Yeah, until you leave for your tour.”
    “Lace, you have to lighten the fuck up. We aren’t together like that.” Uh, hurtful. “And it’s more