Page 15 of A Reaper’s Devotion (The Reapers #2)

R ay lived in the city . He also worked at a gym, had a nice small apartment. It wasn’t the best place he could live, but it also wasn’t the worst. It had been a year since he had been gone.

Cyrus didn’t wait for an invitation, as he worked the lock and let himself inside. He didn’t know what he expected to find. A trash heap. Boxes of used pizza. Empty beer cans.

The place was spotless.

There was a single sofa, no television, no video games. Nothing. There were a couple of books, and as he lifted them up and opened them, he saw they were from the library. This surprised him. Ray never read a book, as he considered them for nerds.

Moving to the small kitchen, it had a single cooktop and a small stove. Opening the fridge, he didn’t see any beer, but a small carton of milk, orange juice, and the fridge was stacked with fruits, vegetables, and meat.

This couldn’t be his brother’s house.

“You know, the polite thing is to knock and wait when someone is not home. Not let yourself in,” Ray said.

Cyrus stood and turned around.

His overweight brother was no longer overweight. He was clean-shaven. His protruding stomach was gone, and he wore a tight-fitting thermal shirt.

“Ray?” Cyrus asked.

His brother appeared to have cleaned up his act.

“Cyrus,” Ray said. “What’s the matter?”

“I came to see how you’re doing.”

Ray laughed. “You mean, you came to see how badly I was fucking up?”

Cyrus looked at his brother, and he was not even going to change it. There was no point. Ray was a fuckup. The man before him didn’t look anything like his brother.

“Yeah, trust me, I know how badly I fucked up. I don’t know if it was when I realized you stopped the Reapers from killing my ass, or when Dad threw money in my face and told me how disappointed he was.

I did think he was going to kill me. He drove me out of Lost Creek, and that was it.

He abandoned me. Told me I was on my own. ”

“Do you want me to feel guilty?” Cyrus asked.

“Fuck, no. Don’t get me wrong, at first, I was pissed and blaming everyone, then, .

.. I don’t know. I hitched a ride, and got robbed along the way by a guy who looked like me.

Left me in the middle of nowhere. Took all my shit, and I don’t know.

I looked in the bathroom mirror, as we’d stopped for the toilet, and I looked at myself.

Realized I couldn’t make any excuses. I was in this mess, because I fucked up.

I fell for easy pussy and the easy life. Something had to change.”

This was a shock.

“I made it to the city, working on jobs, cash in hand, that kind of thing. Got here and found a gym not too far from here. Told the owner, Jim, that I had to work on myself. He didn’t believe me, but I think he had some kind of bet going or something.

Next thing you know, a year had passed, I’d lost a lot of weight, and gained muscle. ”

“Some things haven’t changed, you still tell a good fucking story,” Cyrus said.

Ray burst out laughing. “I’m filling you in on my last year. You want to tell me what you’re up to? What brings you to me, because it won’t be for Reaper stuff. I didn’t make it, remember?”

“Yeah, I remember. You think you’d make it now?” Cyrus asked.

“Don’t know. I can take a beating, trust me. I help Jim out when his guys are sparring. He has some fighters he likes to train. Hardcore motherfuckers as well.” Ray shrugged. “I’m no longer afraid of a punch.”

“Do you miss Lost Creek?” Cyrus asked.

“You’re asking me all these questions, and I’ve asked you what has happened in the last year.” Ray laughed. “I’m making a salad with steak. You want some?”

Cyrus had already called Willow and let her know he’d be back late. He wanted to ask her to move in with him.

“Bethany Evans passed away,” Cyrus said.

“Fuck me, seriously? Damn, that woman...” Ray shook his head. “She was a good woman. Even put up with my sorry ass complaining. How’s Willow?”

“She’s mine,” Cyrus said.

Ray smiled. “About damn time. I always used to see you watching her.”

“What?” Cyrus asked.

Ray rolled his eyes. “I did do my job from time to time, and I saw the way you were always looking in her direction. You’ve always had a thing for Willow Evans. About time you acted on it. What else?”

“Willow got your job. She caught a girl giving that hand signal.” Cyrus flashed his hand. “Turns out the guy had kidnapped two additional women.” He gave him the details as he knew them.

“Wow,” Ray said.

Cyrus looked at his brother. Willow had been right. He didn’t realize how much he had missed his brother, but he saw it was also for the best. Ray had changed, a lot.

“Do you want me to give you a twirl?” Ray asked.

“I’m sorry. You look great.”

“Yeah, I’ve still got a lot of work to do. It does take a smack in the face at times to wake you the fuck up,” Ray said.

“And you miss home?”

“Yeah, the city life is fine, but it’s not home. It’s not Lost Creek. Besides, I owe Daniel and Amy for ... taking that thousand bucks.” Ray shook his head. He closed his fridge and moved across the floor, disappearing into the far room.

Cyrus waited, and seconds later, Ray came out.

“Could you give this to Daniel and Amy. Tell them I’m sorry.”

He took the envelope Ray offered and looked inside, shocked to see the money. There was close to five thousand.

“Ray, what the fuck?” Cyrus asked. “How did you get this?”

“I entered a few fights. Won them all and got the money. I’m collecting it so I can give it to Amy and Daniel for what happened to her café. That shit shouldn’t have happened. I’m learning. I’m accepting responsibility and I’m growing up. It’s what I’ve got to do.”

Cyrus was shocked. “No,” he said.

“Dude, come on. You’re going back to town.”

“And you should give this to them. Not me. You did this, and I will not take credit for it. Damn, Ray, you’ve worked hard, and I know if you want to come home, there’s always a place for you.”

Ray sighed. “What I did—”

“You fucked up, and yes, it was a big deal, but you’ve changed. I can see that. You are different. You want to come back home, then come back home. I know Mom and Dad miss you.”

“Please, Dad was happy to get me the fuck out of there.”

“To protect you, Ray. There was only so much he could do, but he didn’t kill you, and he didn’t leave you without the means to take care of yourself.

” Cyrus ran fingers through his hair. “I was pissed at you, but you’re still my brother, and I don’t want anything bad to happen.

Yeah, I lost my temper, and I said shit I didn’t mean.

Well, I meant it at the time, but you’re my brother.

We can say shit to each other we don’t mean. ”

Ray laughed. “I’ll think about it. Are you going to stay for dinner?”

He looked at his brother. “Are you a better cook than the last time? That chicken you served me gave me food poisoning.”

Ray burst out laughing. “I am a better cook now. Trust me, vomiting and shitting yourself, you learn to cook. Anyway, how is Willow, is she as good a cook as her mother?”

“Oh, yeah.”

“Man, you hit the jackpot. Are you going to marry her?”

“You’re damn right I am.”

Ray nodded.

This felt good. He sat with his brother, and much to his surprise, Ray had turned into an even better cook as well.

****

“D o you think he’s going to come back?” Willow asked.

“I don’t know. He has some money he wants to give to Daniel and Amy, but I don’t know if he will do it, or mail it. He’s like a totally different guy.” Cyrus reached out and grabbed his cell phone, bringing up the picture he had taken of Ray.

Willow saw the two brothers and they looked so happy. It was in a selfie-type pose. Ray was different. He had a smile on his face, which already made him different from the man she remembered.

“He looks happy.”

“He is but he misses home.” Cyrus sighed. “I’ve not even shown our parents yet.”

Willow crawled up the bed and pressed a kiss to his lips. “He will come back when he is ready.”

He ran his hand down her back. They had already made love. They were at her place. It had been close to ten when he arrived, and Willow had been about to go to bed. She was glad she hadn’t gone to bed, otherwise she would have missed this. The sex was incredible, but the snuggling was even better.

Cyrus suddenly grabbed her hips and moved her into place, putting her right over his cock.

She let out a giggle that quickly turned into a moan, as his cock pressed against her core.

He lifted her up, and she gripped his shoulders, following his lead, then sinking down onto his length and moaning as she did.

Inch by inch, he filled her up. Cyrus started with holding onto his length, and once a couple of inches were inside her, he went to her hips, holding onto them and pulling her down, until she slapped onto his pelvis.

His cock so hard and deep inside her. It was at the point of pain, yet it felt so good.

“Fuck, that feels good,” he said.

She closed her eyes, feeling every pulse of his cock.

“I know how it is going to feel even better.”

She opened her eyes and watched as he licked his fingers, then reached toward her clit.

He touched her nub, and that made her gasp.

He had already had an orgasm from her, but it would seem Cyrus wanted more.

She knew he would always get what he wanted.

He knew what buttons to press on her body to get what he wanted, and all she could do was fall against him. It felt so good.

He stroked her clit, and it started to light a fire in a way she wasn’t prepared for.

This felt different with his thick cock balls-deep inside her.

She couldn’t wriggle away from the pleasure, but as she did wriggle, she ground herself onto his dick, and it made her ache for more.

He was already so deep, it was close to bordering on pain and pleasure.

“Come for me, Willow.”

There was no point in arguing. He was the master. She was his servant.

He heightened her arousal, and she felt the change within her body as he pushed her higher and higher, and she went catapulting off the edge. She couldn’t think. Only feel.

She held onto him, and Cyrus continued to tease her clit throughout and he didn’t stop.

She closed her eyes, and only when she couldn’t take anymore did Cyrus stop.

He returned his grip to her hips, and even before her release was over, he started to show her what he wanted.

He held her, and she rode up and down his length, following his lead.

He pulled her down onto his length, and she watched as he groaned. He looked so aroused.

He moved his hands from her hips and circled them around to her ass.

She cried out as he gripped the flesh of her ass.

It felt so good. She arched up, riding his length, and then he took one of her tits into his mouth and started to suckle on the nipple.

The moment he did this, she felt the pleasure straight through her body.

“You feel so fucking good,” he said.

Willow could only moan as he began to run his hands all over her body. She didn’t want him to stop. The pleasure was intense. Consuming. She gripped his shoulders, grinding down on his length, and then cried out as he growled.

All too soon, she felt the sudden kick of his cock as he started to pulse deep inside her. Wave upon wave of his cum.

One of his hands went to the back of her neck, gripping her tightly and pulling her down to take possession of her lips.

“You drive me fucking crazy,” he said.

She couldn’t help but laugh. “I drive you crazy?”

“That you do.”

He kissed her again, and with his cock still inside her, he rolled her to the bed, so they were still connected, but she would be more comfortable. Willow didn’t know how he had the strength, but she wasn’t going to question it.

“You know, there is something we haven’t talked about and I think it’s time we do,” Cyrus said.

Willow had a feeling it was going to be about the fact they were not being careful. The first time, she kind of understood, but she also believed him when he said they were together for life.

“Halloween,” he said.

“Halloween?” This made her frown. Halloween was not going to stop her from being pregnant.

“Yeah, it’s not far away now, and I think we should dress up. You and me, going together as a couple.”

This was unexpected. She knew he went to the Halloween party every single year. She hadn’t because she had hung out with her mother, and they watched Halloween movies, nothing scary. Just, animated, fun, and childish.

“Uh, okay,” Willow said.

“What is it?” he asked.

“Nothing. It’s nothing.”

“I don’t know. I thought you might be excited. I know you’ve not been to one of the parties in quite some time. I thought that might be your thing.”

“It is,” she said. “I don’t know, I just don’t worry about it. It is all fine and good.” She forced a smile to her lips. She wanted to go to this party after all, and there was no way she was going to put any kind of pressure on Cyrus. They had a good thing going.

“Good, so what do you think?” he asked.

“We could go as doctor and nurse.” It was the first one that came to mind.

“Nah, that has been done.”

“Frankenstein and his wife?” Willow asked.

“Is there something you have always wanted to dress up as?”

Willow shook her head. “Not that I can think of.” She shrugged. “It’s Halloween, so anything fun.”

“What about you dress up as a dead cheerleader and I go as the dead jock?”

She couldn’t help but laugh.

“Okay, that sounds like it would work. I think it would work.”

“Are you sure?” Cyrus asked.

Willow sighed. “In all honesty, Cyrus, I’m just happy to be going with you. I don’t need anything else.” And with that, she leaned in close and kissed him. “You’re all I need.”