Page 66 of Reaper

Years ago, members were allowed to have houses or apartments outside the club grounds. Though, there were some, like Odin and Mama Astrid, who already had houses they’d built on clubhouse grounds. Unfortunately, being so spread out greatly lowered our response times to issues or attacks from other clubs and gangs. That had us rethinking the living situations. Especially after that attack years ago where we would have suffered heavy damage, as well as loss of lives, if it hadn’t been for Loki’s vision. After that, we, as well as the rest of the Steel Archangel’s chapters, took a vote. It was decided that members would live on clubhouse grounds. No one wanted a repeat of what happened, or to have something worse happen.

Will Lark ever be comfortable enough to move in with me? Will she ever love my home as much as she loves her home?

Lark shifts, bringing me out of my thoughts. Her body melts into mine as I hold her and soon, I can feel her tears staining my shirt. Even though she doesn’t say a word, I know her mind is running a million miles a second.

After a few minutes, she looks up at me. “Will you stay?”

Cupping her jaw, I caress her cheek. “Always, Darlin’.”

However, all I’ll be doing is holding her. There’s no way I’m having sex with my woman for the first time while her grandmother is awake downstairs.

Chapter 27

Reaper

GlancingaroundLark’sroom,I wince internally when I realize she normally sleeps on the left side of the bed.

The side that faces the door.

A surge of protectiveness rises in me. Fuck I hope she’s going to be okay with this.

“What?” she asks as she looks up at me, a puzzled look on her face.

Shit. Maybe I didn’t hide my reaction as well as I thought.

Clearing my throat, I glance over at the bed again and then back down at her. “Is… Is it okay if I’m on the left?”

Her forehead creases as she frowns, and she looks over her shoulder at the bed. Then a look of understanding comes over her as her mouth drops into an ‘o’. My dick twitches at the sight, but I force the image to the back of my mind. Lark turns back toward me, cocking an eyebrow as she shoots me a saucy grin, but I can tell she’s fighting not to smile.

“Is this a macho ‘I will defend you’ kind of thing?”

I huff and shake my head as I pull her back into my arms. Her hands wrap around my waist again and a feeling of relief comes over me that I can finally hold her like this. Though, I might have been able to hold her sooner if I’d gotten my head out of my ass months ago.

“Yeah, Darlin’, it is. I’m your last line of defense so to speak.” I pause, cocking my head to the side. “Well, last ‘human’ line of defense since I’m almost positive you’ve got a gun stashed somewhere around the bed or in your nightstand. Or both. Maybe even more than that.”

She smirks and kisses my chest. “One in the nightstand, one in a secret compartment of my bedframe up by my head, one in my closet and one under the bathroom sink. And that’s not counting the gun safe in the hallway closet.”

My cock hardens even further at that, which I didn’t think was possible.

“Fuck, Darlin’.” Leaning down I kiss her and rest my forehead against hers, closing my eyes as I thank every deity that she forgave my stupid ass. “You’re perfect.”

When I open my eyes, I’m surprised to see a mix of emotions playing across her face. Confusion. Disbelief. Relief. I frown and then grit my teeth when I realize where her mind went.

“Let me guess. Cunt licker was against you having any of that in here?”

The use of Miracle’s nickname for Aiden has her lips tugging up in a smile as some of her worries ease, just like I’d intended.

She nods and then frowns before she purses her lips, anger flaring in her eyes. “He hated that I wanted to keep them nearby, but I think part of that is because he’s never fired a gun before. When I offered to teach him, he blew me off. Told me that if he ever was going to learn, he’d hire someone, aprofessional, to teach him.”

“What a fucking prick,” I mumble as I scrub my hand over my face. Looking back down at Lark, I cup her chin and make her look back up at me. “You are always allowed to arm yourself around me. All I ask is that I know where everything is and what you might have on your person. Also, for the gun safes, if I can have the codes or get my own access code, I’d appreciate it. When you’re at my house, I’ll show you where I keep mine hidden and give you access to the safe codes as well.”

Lark smiles widely and nods as the rest of the tension in her body seems to ease. “Later today, I’ll get you set up with everything and show you a few other places where I have weapons stashed. Then, before we open, I’ll take you to the tavern and supper club to show you where they are there as well. I’ve always had the philosophy of ‘better safe than sorry’. Especially after what almost happened to Rob, Miracle’s dad.”

I’d heard the story about the bar fight that happened back when we were kids. The fight that almost killed Rob and a few others if Rob and the other bartender hadn’t had weapons stashed behind the bar and a panic button that alerted the cops to the problem.

“Sounds good, Darlin’.” Pausing, I hesitate, once again feeling a niggling of insecurity bubbling up in me, but Lark silences me by putting a finger to my lips.

“Yes, Reaper, I want you to stay. I want you to hold me in your arms tonight.” She leans up on her toes and kisses me before stepping out of my arms. “I’m going to get ready for bed. Feel free to put your stuff wherever. I’ll move things around later so that this will always be your side when you’re here.”