The Look of Love (26 page)

Gunnar gripped her thighs, keeping her legs apart as he continued to extract her essence. When she screamed, Gunnar held his mouth over her until her body settled.

When Eboni relaxed against his bed, Gunnar sat up on his knees and opened a condom package. He rolled it down the length of him.

For as passionately as he’d pulled her to bed, he became very gentle when he entered her. Fully seated, he held himself there, staring into her eyes and making that connection that broke her.

His long, slow strokes gave her time to enjoy him, enjoy his body. Eboni held on to his shoulder with one hand and gripped his firm ass cheek in the other. When he kissed her, she even liked the taste of herself on his lips. The briny flavor reminded her of what he’d done for her.

Eboni tried to get the big man to roll over. When he didn’t budge, she said, “I want you on your back.”

Gunnar rolled without argument and positioned her on top of him. He’d done so much for her. She wanted to give him pleasure.

Eboni’s body undulated as she braced her hands on his chest. He held her hips. She ran her hands up her body to her newly shorn hair. It felt even softer after Gunnar’s treatment.

She continued riding him, increasing her speed. Her thighs burned, but she couldn’t stop.

“So good.” She nodded her head. “Beautiful. Sexy.”

Gunnar cupped her breasts and massaged them in his hands.

“Yes! Yes!” She gripped his wrists.

Eboni’s body stiffened as she came. Before she had time to relax, Gunnar sat up, wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her down. He lifted his ass from the mattress and drove himself in her.

This time, she felt him shaking. “Give it to me.”

Gunnar growled and stopped for a moment as he climaxed. He gave her a couple of thrusts before settling back on the bed. “I swore to myself that I wouldn’t have sex with you tonight.”

Eboni laughed. “I’m glad you did. I wondered as you were taking out my tracks if you or any man would find me attractive without my hair.”

“Oh honey. If you had a bald head, you would still be the sexiest thing on two legs.” To prove his point, he kissed her hard enough that she knew her lips would be swollen.

She didn’t care. Eboni started to like herself more. Once she unburdened herself from all things holding her back, she would know freedom.

* * * *

The morning came earlier than Eboni thought. She awakened when she heard a buzzing sound. Out of instinct, she reached over to the clock next to the bed. When she discovered that it hadn’t been set, she sat up. Glancing around, she immediately noticed Gunnar had left the bed.

She crept out of the bed and slipped on one of his oversized T-shirts. As she approached the bathroom, the buzzing sound became louder and louder.

She pushed the door open and found Gunnar at the mirror shaving his head. Piles of his long, blond locks littered the floor around his massive feet.

Eboni covered her mouth with her hand. “Gunny, you didn’t have to shave your head because of me.”

“This is has been long overdue.” He rubbed his hand over his head. “But not for the reason you think.”

Even without his long hair, he looked sexy. “What do you mean?”

“I did something when I was younger that I’m not proud of.” Before Gunnar could explain, he turned and showed a greenish tattoo etched in the back of his head.

Eboni didn’t need to get close to him to see the familiar symbol of an equal sign with a slash through it. She’d seen lots of those around the community center, tagged by a local gang.

Gunnar had been bound and determined never to let a soul look at the shame his hair covered. If Eboni had been brave enough to cut her hair and expose herself, he could do the same. When he caught her horrified look, he questioned his decision.

“What the hell?” Eboni pointed to him and backed out of the bathroom. “You were a No Equal? I knew you hung around some bad people back in the day, but I didn’t know you were part of a gang.”

Gunnar ran his hand over his head. “I was hanging out with a bad group of kids a few years after I first moved in with my mom. They accepted me, warts and all, or so I thought. So to show my allegiance, I got the tattoo. Aside from leaving you, this was the worst mistake I’ve ever made. I didn’t want to come home and be reminded of all the mistakes I had made. I kept my hair long to cover it. But I can’t keep hiding.”

“So what are you going to do?”

“I want it gone. I know the removal process is painful, but I want it off my head.” He rubbed his head. When Eboni remained quiet, Gunnar felt compelled to fill the void. “I don’t feel anything for what this disgusting symbol means. I wish I had never gotten it.”

“You got it when you were younger. How did you hide this from your mother?”

“I was clever back then. At least I thought I was. I would leave the house early for school. I would always face my mother. Kept my collar up high. As soon as I left the house, I wore hats. My brothers knew. They hated it. Deep down, I think my mom knew. She never said anything to me, although I did notice that we went to church a whole lot more.”

Gunnar couldn’t look at himself in the mirror. Even though he’d started the process of correcting his past mistakes, he still couldn’t shake the disappointment he felt. He rubbed his head and kept his hand over the back of it, covering the tattoo.

“We were together. I don’t remember it.” Eboni studied him.

He snickered. “For what we used to do, you never got the chance to see the back of my head, except for when I left to train. By then, I had already started growing my hair out and it was covered.”

“You’re not going to work with that showing, are you?”

“Not during the day today.” He shook his head. “I’ll have to wear hats, which my mother will hate. But I’m tired of covering it up. When the shop closes, I’ll get everyone together to talk about it. I will have to tell my mother first.” He glanced at Eboni. “Second.”

Eboni offered a small smile, which lightened the mood.

Gunnar knew more than anyone the magnitude of what he’d done to himself. The fact that Eboni hadn’t run when she’d seen the horrific symbol encouraged him.

“Will you do me a favor?” He stayed in his spot. He didn’t want to crowd her space.

Eboni approached him. She placed a hand to the side of his face. “Anything.”

Gunnar turned his head and kissed her palm. “Will you take Queen with you to the salon? I’m going to see if I can see someone today about getting this removed.”

Standing on her tiptoes, Eboni gave him the sweetest kiss on his lips. “Of course.”

Gunnar held her around her waist. If he could stay in the apartment with her all day, he would be happy.

“Now will you do me a favor?” Eboni asked as she placed her hand on his chest.

“Anything.” He smiled.

“Help me do something with my hair.”

Gunnar scooped her into his arms. “I knew eventually you would admit that I’m a better stylist than you.”

She gave him a playful punch to his arm. “Never.”

Gunnar took another joint shower with Eboni. As he rubbed soap down her body, he decided he never wanted to leave that space. With them both exposed, he felt closer to her than even before. With her, he had nothing to hide. In front of his mother, that would be a different story.

Gunnar had no idea what Queen Elizabeth would think of his old but new-to-her head art. He kind of hoped that she already knew about it and wanted him to show her and explain. He would, but he wanted to see a doctor first.

With them both showered, dressed, and newly coifed, Gunnar walked Eboni over to the main house. As soon as his mother spied them, her eyes became wide.

“What in the world? You two look so different.” Queen first touched Eboni’s hair, which Gunnar had added some pomade and hair gel to give it a glistening, curly look. Then she headed to her son.

Gunnar made sure to face her. She reached up and brushed her hand against his stubble.

“Happy now, Mom?” He smiled.

“I didn’t think you would go this drastic, but I like it. Let me see it all the way around.” She twirled her red fingernail in the air.

Gunnar threw a baseball cap on his head. “I would model for you right now, but I have to go. After my appointment, I’ll need to discuss something with you.” He kissed her on her cheek. “Eboni will take you to work.” He leaned over to Eboni and gave her a long kiss to let her know how much he cared for her. “Thanks for staying with me last night.” He meant that.

The beginning of the night, when he’d held her until they both slept had been the best sleep he’d had in a long time. He could see his life with Eboni in it. Did she see that though?

“I’ll see you both later.” He walked toward the back door.

“Where are you going?” his mother asked.

“I have to see someone this morning. But I’ll be in the salon later. Love you.” Thankfully, Gunnar managed to escape without a lot of questions.

He scraped off his vehicle and then did Eboni’s before he went to a doctor’s office he’d found online that specialized in tattoo removal. He hoped the doctor would be able to fit him in and even do something today. Gunnar wanted to start his life fresh. This would do it.

* * * *

“What the hell?” Monica exclaimed as soon as Eboni and Queen Elizabeth strolled through the back door. “You cut off all of your hair.”

Eboni hadn’t felt self-conscious about her decision until that point. She reached up and touched her hair. Gunnar had done a great job of styling it for her.

“I think it looks great.” Tisha smiled.

“Yeah, it makes you look, I don’t know, younger, prettier. You can see your face.” Tillman waved his hand in front of his own face to illustrate his point.

“Thanks, guys. I was ready for something new. Going natural would do it. Got rid of the weave and had Gunnar cut off my relaxed ends.” She headed toward the office to put away her coat and purse.

“Did anything else get relaxed in the end?” Monica cackled at her own lewd joke.

“Let’s just get the salon open and go on with the day.” Eboni glanced over at Shay’s station. “Anyone seen or heard from Shay?”

They each shook their heads.

Eboni turned to Queen. “Maybe Gunnar is right. Maybe we do need to talk about letting her go. If she can’t come in on time to work, then--”

“No.” Elizabeth shook her head. “You let me worry about Shay. If I need to work a station, I will.”

“Oh, no, you won’t,” Eboni, Tisha, and Tillman all said in unison.

“You’re probably not even supposed to be here.” Tisha shook her head.

“Where’s Gunnar?” Tillman asked.

“He had an appointment this morning,” Eboni quickly supplied. “He’ll be in later.”

Eboni had to stop fighting her feelings. She found she couldn’t wait to see him all the time. Hearing his name mentioned had her heart fluttering.

When he’d mentioned to her about leaving the state, giving up her job, her family, and the center, her heart had stopped. Could she turn her back on everything for him?

By lunchtime, Gunnar showed up, still with his hat on his head but with a scowl on his face.

“Hey, Guns!” Tillman waved to the big man as he strolled through the salon.

“Do you have time to do my baby’s hair?” Marc asked as he held his squiggly child on his lap.

Gunnar waved to the two of them on his way to the office, where Eboni knew he would give his mother kiss on her cheek. Eboni’s aunt had always said if Eboni wanted to know if a man would treat her right, she had to see him with his mother. Gunnar would treat her like a queen judging by the way he treated Queen Elizabeth.

After getting her client under a heated bonnet, Eboni headed to the office when Gunnar didn’t reemerge.

“Did everything go okay?” Eboni asked him.

From the tension floating between him and Queen, Eboni felt like she’d stepped into a lion’s den.

“No. But it will be.” Gunnar gave Eboni a quick peck.

“Son, just tell me where you were so I don’t worry. That’s all I’m asking.” Queen remained seated behind her desk but didn’t break her stare from Gunnar.

“Not now. I’ll tell you later.”

“And take off that hat. You’re in a building.”

Ignoring her request, he headed out to the main salon.

Queen shook her head. “I don’t like when Gunnar keeps secrets from me. It reminds me of when he was younger. That was not a good time. I can’t go through that again.”

Eboni knew what plagued him, but she couldn’t betray his trust and tell his mother. “I’ll see if I can get him to talk.”

After scanning the main salon, she ducked behind the curtain to the back. She found Gunnar in the bathroom. He’d left the door open and braced his hands on the sink.

“It didn’t go well today?” Eboni leaned against the doorframe.

Gunnar turned to her. “I went to three different places. They all looked at it. The good news is that because it’s a homemade tattoo, it won’t take as long to remove. But I have to do it in sessions.”

Eboni nodded, trying to see this as a positive thing. “Okay, it sounds like it’s at least possible.”

“Yeah, but I have to wait between four to six weeks in between sessions.” He shook his head. “I don’t have that kind of time.”

“You didn’t know that before you went to the appointment?”

He shook his head. “I knew the removal would take a few sessions. I didn’t know I would have to wait that long between sessions. You’re talking to a man who was fine with having long hair.”

“You blame me for you cutting your hair?” She took a step back from him.

He furrowed his eyebrows before answering. “God, of course not. I’m kicking myself for being stupid so many years ago. Now I’ll have to find a place in Vegas that can do the work just in case.”

Eboni swallowed. “I thought you wanted to give up fighting.”

He turned to her. “I do. But I have to defend my title first before I can walk away. I know I have to have one fight before I can completely end it.”

That one fight had Eboni more nervous than his entire career. She had no desire to see Gunnar fighting.

Eboni peered up. “I can cover that with makeup if you want.”