Page 36 of Reaper

Chapter 16

Lark

Afewhourslater,I wearily walk over to Ma’s car with Reaper at my side. With the help of everyone in his club, the firefighters, as well as a few of our friends from town, we were able to get everything that was salvageable out of the house. We’ll tackle the supper club in a couple of days.

Only in three of the rooms did I spend a lot of time. My woodworking room, my brewing room, and my bedroom. I took tons of notes to be able to properly recreate them, and Reaper helped by taking tons of pictures and videos of everything that remained. He then went a step further and took more pictures and videos of the rest of the rooms in the house.

As I reach out to open the back door of our car, I pause, my hand on the handle as his words once again tumble around in my head.

That he wants to be with me. Scars and all.

My heart wants to believe that he’ll be different. That he won’t be like my dad or Aiden. Or my previous boyfriends as well.However, I still have an issue with the bunnies. Not to mention when the club has a party and all the women that flock to their clubhouse to try to snag a biker.

Is he really a guy that can resist that temptation?

I’m pretty plain in the looks department compared to other women, not to mention curvier than them. When you add on the fact that I’m already thirty-three, that definitely doesn’t help things either. Most guys I meet want someone younger, thinner, and prettier. I’m more comfortable in jeans, a T-shirt, boots, and if it’s cold, a hoodie. I don’t like to dress up in fancy clothes, slather on a ton of make-up, always have my hair styled and my nails impeccably manicured.

“Stop, Darlin’.”

I look up at him in question and my jaw drops at him staring down at me with a look filled with compassion and... love? Surely it can’t be love... He barely knows me.

“I can see your mind going a million miles a second, Darlin’. I meant everything I said, and I will continue to prove it to you. Until you say no, consider me yours. I have been ever since that night in May.”

I stare at him in shock. He can’t mean what I think he means... Can he?

Reaper nods. “I’m yours, Lark, even if you aren’t ready for me. Now, I can tell you’re about five minutes from passing out, and I’m betting you’re in a lot of pain. I’ll stop by once we’ve been able to clean some of this stuff. Your mom mentioned you guys are staying at your friend Khloe’s place. Is that still your plan?”

Blinking, I shake myself internally. “Y-Yes. She lives on the other side of town. She’s letting us stay with her until we’re able to get our house rebuilt. I mean, we’ll move in as soon as we’re able to, even if it isn’t fully finished.” I pause as I swallow thickly. “This is our home, and it kills me that I have to leave.”

Tears prick my eyes as my throat tightens. I can’t quite explain what it means to me to not live here for a while. I’ve never lived anywhere else. Ever since my parents brought me home from the hospital, I’ve lived here.

Dad’s parting words come back to me. Maybe I am being foolish. I thought my partner would be okay with living here with me, but maybe I need to use this time to break my crutch. This will always be my home, but maybe my future isn’t here...

Glancing up, a look I can’t decipher passes over Reaper’s face and he leans down, kissing me on my forehead. My skin tingles at the contact and I have the urge to tell him to kiss me, but I bite my tongue. I wasn’t lying earlier when I said my head was in a fucked-up place. I need to get back to me before I can start a relationship with anyone. It’s just... I’m afraid that if I say yes to Reaper right now, it would be unfair to burden him with all of my baggage. If anything, it will probably drive him away, and I don’t want that. I like him. Likereallylike him, and if I want any chance to make things work with him, I need to work on me first.

Reaper grunts. “I agree with part of that, but none of your baggage would push me away, Lark. I’m already half-in love with you as it is.”

My face flames as I realize I said that, or part of it, out loud.

Fuck...

How much did I say aloud???

Reaper chuckles. “It’s okay, Darlin’, seriously. You do whatever it is you feel you need to do. If you want me there for support, I’ll be there. If you need my help, I’ll be there. And even though it’ll nearly kill me, if you need time, no matter how long, before we take the next step, I’ll give you all the time you need, Darlin’.”

He leans down again and reaches out, gently cupping my uninjured cheek, and his thumb caresses my cheek, almost grazing my lip. Not being able to help it, I lean into his hand. Histhumb caresses my lower lip this time and an almost strangled noise escapes him before his lips are suddenly on mine.

It’s a light, gentle kiss that’s filled with passion, and yet, I know he’s holding back, afraid of hurting me. While, yes, I do hurt, he isn’t hurting me in the least. That thought has me kissing him back harder. I feel the vibrations from Reaper’s chest as he growls and pushes me back slightly until my back is pressed against the car.

Reaper’s hand grasps my uninjured hip, and when he steps closer, I moan as I feel his hard length pressing into me. Fuck, he feels thick and huge. A whimper escapes me as my pussy clamps with need and I press my thighs together, trying to get some sort of friction.

“Fuck, Darlin’,” he all but growls and a shiver runs down my spine as tingles continue to spread through me. His voice is raw with need, and his blue-gray eyes have darkened as he stares down at me with hooded eyes. His thumb caresses my lower lip and I whimper again. “I promised myself I was going to go slow.”

Licking my lips, I ask the question that’s been rolling around in my brain ever since he said it. “Did you really mean it? You haven’t been with anyone since that night?”

His lips kick up a little at the corner and I bite my lip as another current of need zaps through me. “Yeah, I meant it, Darlin’. It’s just been my right hand since that day, and it will continue to be that way until we’re together. However, I knew you needed time. The ironic thing is, the last time I saw you before the fire, I’d decided I was going to ask you out that weekend.”

“If the fire wouldn’t have happened, I would have said yes,” I whisper and he kisses me again, but this one only lasts a few seconds before he pulls away again.