Page 117 of Reaper

“Well, it’s just that when Erik told me about that bit of news, my mind immediately went to three people.”

“Who?” Devil asks and it’s then that I realize the other guys sitting around us had clued in on our conversation.

“My stalker, Zac, and Dr. Ashcroft. Khloe doesn’t know this but a few months before Aiden and I got together, Zac had been trying to get me to go out with him. Each time, I told him no. After a few weeks of that, I finally had had enough. I told him that he was a nice guy, but that I wasn’t interested in him that way. A few months after Aiden and I started dating, Zac andKhloe got together. Whenever he was around me, even if Khloe was there, I could feel him watching me. Periodically he’d make some comments towards me like, I shouldn’t eat takeout and that I should eat something healthier. Or he’d say I shouldn’t do something because it was dangerous or that what I was doing wasn’t something I should focus on.”

I huff and shake my head, remembering once when I really went off on him.

“He hated that I did things that he thought were meant for men and not women. To name a few, he hated that I like to hunt, both with both a gun and a bow, that I like to build things, do wood carving, and make beer. Both Khloe and I lit into him big time for that conversation, and I avoided him for a long time after that. After the fire, he got worse, and I think part of it is because he was the one that carried me out of the fire after Erik got hurt. Khloe thinks it’s because he felt responsible for me, but I knew it wasn’t that. However, I didn’t know how to tell her without hurting her.

“Then when you went radio silent on me for a while, I think Zac thought he might have another chance, because he started that same bullshit up again. After that argument in the bar the night we officially got together, that seemed to be a trigger for him. From what Khloe told me, he got even more demanding, controlling, and manipulative. Not too long after that, she dumped him.

“As you know, I’d always kind of thought Zac could possibly be my stalker, but it wasn’t until Erik told me the rest of the details of the fire that I think he really could be my stalker. The only other person I can think of that might also be my stalker is Dr. Ashcroft, and well, I’m sure you remember my panic attack and what I told you afterward.”

I pause as a shiver runs through me as I think back to that therapy session, but I try and push those memories away. Licking my lips, I continue.

“What if someone was intent on erasing my past so that they could dictate or try and control my future? To try and shape me into how they wanted me to be shaped? If they did mean for me to be trapped as well as erasing my past, what if they set the fires and tampered with all the windows, stairs, and doors in the hopes that they could be the one to ‘rescue’ me? To be the one to help me ‘become whole’ again?”

Reaper’s arms tighten around me as he breathes heavily. Fuck. Maybe I shouldn’t have dumped all of this on him before he was about to leave.

Chapter 43

Lark

Reaperplacesakissto my temple, but his muscles are still tense around and under me.

“We’ll look into both of them more. Fuck, I hate that I need to leave you today. If I wasn’t needed in the garage next week, I’d switch with one of the guys and go down later.”

I shift and wrap my arms around his neck, hugging him. Placing a kiss to his neck, I breath in his spicy scent that’s mixed with the smell of leather from his cut. “I didn’t mean to dump that all on you now. It’s just stuff that’s been tumbling around in my mind and when Erik told me all that, some stuff just made more sense. I’ll be careful and keep my head on a swivel. I’ve got all the guys on speed dial, and I’ll get Erik’s number, too.”

Leaning back, I can still tell he’s visibly torn between being here for me and leaving to help support Patch, Mary, and her kids. Selfishly, I want him here with me, but I can’t be selfish right now. I give him another kiss, one that ends far too quicklyin my opinion, but we don’t have much time left before he has to leave.

“It’ll be okay, Anthony,” I whisper. “Just come back safely to me.”

Finally, his muscles lose a bit of their tension. He kisses me softly, but soon it turns heated, and I can’t stop my moan. I feel his chest rumble with a growl and then I’m picked up as he repositions me so that my legs go around him.

Then he’s moving.

Someone whistles but I could care less because Anthony’s hands are on my ass, kneading it and his fingers are dangerously close to where I need them.

A door shuts and then he lays me down on something soft.

I moan again when he grinds his hips against me.

“I need you,” I pant as I desperately try to take off his cut and shirt. I need to feel his skin against mine.

“And you have me. Always.”

The way he says that has my hands freezing as my gaze snaps to his. The love I find there has my body damn near melting into a puddle. Then, his eyes darken with desire and my core tightens in anticipation.

He takes my hands and places them above my head. “Grab the headboard, Darlin’.”

A shiver runs through me at his commanding tone, and I do as he says.

He runs his hands down my arms and teases my breasts through my shirt. With each movement, his grip slowly tightens until it’s just the right amount of pain mixed with pleasure.

“Anthony,” I beg as I try to tilt my hips, needing some friction, but with his weight against me like it is, I can barely move.

His hands move lower down my stomach and I whimper when he runs his fingers along the seam of my pants in between my legs. Slowly, he drags his fingers up my jeans until he reachesthe button and pops it open before lowering the zipper just as slowly. His fingers dance lightly over my panties in a teasing manner as he lowers my jeans.