Page 13 of A Reaper’s Devotion (The Reapers #2)

“I like her,” Mary said , stepping into the kitchen.

Cyrus looked toward his mom. “Seriously? You doubted it?”

“You’ve never shown an interest in that girl before now. What was I supposed to think?” His mother waved her hand at him in disappointment. “But I like her, and of course, her mother was a sweetheart. Rest her soul.” She crossed her fingers over her chest.

“Bethany was a good woman.”

“Your dad likes her as well,” Mary said. “He said you’re different around her.”

Cyrus shrugged. He was not going to tell his mom he had every intention of marrying Willow. Last night, she spent the whole night in his house, and it had been fucking incredible having her there.

There was a lot Willow didn’t know. Like the fact he’d wanted her for a long time and had every intention of being with her.

When it came to the house, he suddenly realized last night that he’d been making that house for her. It sounded so damn far-fetched, but it wasn’t. He realized Willow was the woman for him, and he’d waited for her.

He’d gotten them a house ready. The few times he would see her, he would have swatches in his hand, and he’d talk to her, get her advice.

He would have her choose her favorite colors, whatever theme for the cabinets.

He’d seen her reaction to the house. The furniture might not have been perfect, and there might have been a few things not to her liking, but he knew she loved the place.

His parents also loved her.

“I’m not different,” Cyrus said.

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but your father believes you’re less angry. She calms you, in a good way.” His mother put a hand on his arm. “Now, help me get these dishes to the table, because I am starving.”

He stepped into the dining room and looked to see his woman sitting close to his dad, and when he saw what they were looking at, he couldn’t help but frown. “Dad, seriously, the photograph albums? You couldn’t think of something better?”

“What would be better than your cute baby ass?” his dad asked.

Willow laughed. “You do have a very cute baby butt.”

Cyrus was not going to be embarrassed. He moved closer and saw the picture he’d seen a thousand times.

His mom had told him he didn’t want to get changed into his church clothes, so he’d snatched the towel, run around the house naked, and shook his butt from side to side, saying they couldn’t catch him.

His dad did catch him, and he was dressed in his church clothes.

The threat of a spank meant he was a good boy in church. It was a lot of fun.

There was no stopping Dad once he got started, and the only way to do so was to get the food on the table, which he did in a hurry. He didn’t want Willow seeing too many embarrassing pictures.

He hadn’t even asked her to marry him, and their relationship was so new.

All it took was several more dishes, and his mother had gone all out. There was a large roast beef on the table, mashed potatoes, roast potatoes, vegetables galore, and he had no doubt none of this food would be wasted.

His mother loved to cook leftovers. She would come up with any excuse to make a big dinner, and then the challenge was how to make meals with those leftovers other people wanted to eat. His dad was the guinea pig, or him, or his brother, when Ray was around.

The meal went by without another picture being shown. His parents adored Willow, but Cyrus knew in a strange change of circumstances that he did, in fact, miss his brother. Ray was a pain in the ass, but he was still his brother.

Getting to his feet, he excused himself from the table and made a quick call to Old Sheriff Billy.

He wanted him to run a check to find Ray.

He was not going to bring him home, but he certainly would check to see if he was okay.

Once that was done, when he got back to the table, dessert was being set.

His mother was already trying to make arrangements for another Sunday, but Cyrus was able to get them both out of there before more drinks and more photographs.

“Your parents are amazing,” Willow said, climbing into his truck, and he helped her inside.

“They adore you,” he said.

“Are you sure? Do you think so?” Willow asked. She nibbled her lip and looked cute as she did so.

“Yeah, I am sure, and yes, I think so.” He turned the ignition over in his truck, and then he pulled out of his parents’ driveway but didn’t go to Willow’s house. He went to his own—the home he hoped would one day be theirs.

This time, as he got to the gate, he put the car in “park,” but Willow was already climbing out to open the gate. He watched her, then drove through, letting her close the gate and come to join him.

“So, can I ask you a question?” Willow asked. “It is a very important question, and you might have to think of the answer.”

“Just ask,” he said.

“When are you going to put up Halloween decorations?” she asked.

He laughed. “Funny you should ask that, because I am thinking we do it today?”

“You’re serious? You’re not joking around?” she asked.

“No, if you want to help me, now is a good time to do it.”

She looked so damn excited. He climbed out of his truck. They didn’t need to worry about food, as his mom had filled them more than sufficiently.

He went to the barn he had converted to a storage shed, complete with no mice or rats.

It had taken a long time to get this place up to scratch, but he had done it without even realizing it was for Willow .

.. for them. Even now, as he unlocked the bolt, he couldn’t help but imagine kids all around him, wanting to help. Their excitement a joy to witness.

He got the large boxes down, and Willow was already opening them up. Over the years he had collected a lot of Halloween decorations, and he did not believe in throwing them away. Some of the stuff was from when he’d moved out and gotten his first apartment.

“Wow,” Willow said. “I am impressed.”

And that was what he was all about—impressing his woman.

They got to work in getting his home decorated. He got the chance to hold Willow as she put the lights up in hooks he left in the side of the house all year long. He did paint around them and clean the hooks regularly. He happened to enjoy maintaining his and Willow’s home.

He couldn’t get that out of his head. His and Willow’s home .

Willow helped him set up the graveyard outside the front of the house, and she also insisted on lights around the main gate. It took them several hours, a hot chocolate break, and a candy break for them to be completely finished.

He would not say it was a masterpiece, but it was cute and it was a lot of fun. Also, they were both sweating, even though it was cold out.

Willow ran ahead, going to the bathroom. Cyrus made sure the house was secure, and then followed her. She was already getting undressed, and he pulled off his sweater, tossing it to the floor.

Willow turned to look at him, and he didn’t know what came over him. He just knew, in that moment, he needed to be balls-deep inside her, and he wanted that now.

****

S omething was different .

Willow couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but the way Cyrus looked at her, it was like he was hungry, and the only way he would be satisfied was with her.

Before they had even stepped into the shower, they clashed.

She ran her hands all over him, and Cyrus tore the last clothes from her body.

Once they were in the shower, he pushed her up against the wall and pressed the water on.

She had no doubt the cold water had splashed onto his back, and it couldn’t have been comfortable, but he seemed to grit his teeth and accept it.

He broke the kiss, but he trailed his lips down her neck, nipping at that point at her neck that made her gasp. She moaned his name, whimpered, and he went down, going toward her nipples. Sinking her fingers into his hair, she moaned his name, not wanting him to stop.

He grabbed her hips, and then started to kiss down her body, going toward her pussy. He lifted one of her legs up, and it was poised over his shoulder. Within seconds, his mouth was on her, and she whimpered his name, not wanting him to stop, as his tongue traced across her clit.

He suckled her clit into his mouth, and the pleasure heightened her need for him. She was so close to her orgasm, but he held her back, not allowing her to go over the edge until he was ready.

Cyrus was a master of her body. All she could do was wait, and she loved what he was doing to her. She didn’t want him to stop, it felt so good.

Willow didn’t know what to expect, but when he pushed her over the edge, thrusting her into orgasm that took her by surprise, he held her throughout.

He didn’t let her go, and she moaned his name.

She expected him to want something but as she reached out to him, he took hold of her hands and stopped her.

“Not yet.” He grabbed a bar of soap, lathering up his hands, and then he put them on her body. The moment he touched her, she was like fire in his arms, and she didn’t want to stop. Even as he washed her body with the soap, her skin felt so sensitive. Each touch seemed to go straight to her pussy.

When it was her turn, she explored his body, and his cock was so long and thick, but he didn’t allow her to touch him for long.

He grabbed the shampoo and conditioner and they seemed to speed through that. Cyrus turned off the shower, and Willow was a little disappointed that it was over. Only, she should have known better.

It was not over.

Not yet.

As he dried her body, this time it was different. Willow didn’t know for sure why, but he was gentle and attentive.

He picked her up in his arms, which caused her to let out a squeal as she wasn’t expecting him to hold her like this. He carried her straight through to the bedroom. When he placed her on the bed, they hadn’t spoken about this, but Willow knew.