Chapter 29
Reaper
Someone shifts next to me and my muscles go taut before I remember where I am.
I’m at Lark’s.
And I just had the best night of sleep of my life since the kidnapping in June.
Instantly, I relax and when Lark shifts in my arms, I open my eyes.
“Good morning,” she says, her raspy voice husky with sleep. After the fire, her voice never really lost the raspy edge to it from all the smoke. I loved the sound of her voice before, but I love her raspy voice even more.
“Morning, Darlin’.” Leaning forward, I give her a chaste kiss. “Do you have to work later today?”
She shakes her head as she bites her lip. Fuck, the sight sends a shock straight down to my cock which twitches and she gives me a saucy grin.
“No, this is my weekend off, so I don’t have to go in until Tuesday. Ma usually stops in a couple of times and checks in with my head bartender on the weekends that I’m off to make sure everything is running smoothly. What about you?”
I shake my head. “Nah. The garage is closed on the weekends unless we need to work overtime to catch up.” Pausing, I brush a lock of hair off her face and tuck it behind her ear. My chest tightens and I try to push my nerves aside as I consider my next words. “Come stay with me.”
A look of shock crosses her face and she blinks a few times.
“You… You want me to stay over with you at your house?” she asks, and I frown when I see confusion marring her face.
Realization slams into me like a freight train and I grit my teeth as I force my muscles not to react, though judging by her increased confusion, I may not have been successful.
“Did he never let you come over to his house before?”
Slowly she shakes her head, frowning.
“Yes, well, also no. He lives in a wing in his parent’s house.
He knew how uncomfortable I was around Richard, so we only had dinner there a handful of times with his parents while we were dating and then three times when we were engaged.
He never brought me to his area of the house, even when I asked.
He made excuses that he was remodeling and redecorating and didn’t want me to be exposed to all of that.
Other times he’d say that he hadn’t picked up, which I knew was bullshit because his father has butlers and maids.
” She pauses, her face hardens and her eyes light up in anger.
“Later I found out it was because Kelly had moved in a few months prior to our engagement and he didn’t want me to see her or her stuff there.
All that remodeling and redecoration was true, but it wasn’t in preparation for me to move in. It was for her.”
Hurt etches her features and I run my thumb across her jaw soothingly as I lean forward, kissing her forehead. Internally, I’m fuming at how that cunt licker treated Lark.
Pulling back, I lightly grasp her chin and make her look up at me. A single tear slips down her cheek and I gently wipe it away.
“I’m not him, Darlin’. Like I said before I want you as my woman, and when you’re ready, as my Old Lady.
” I pause, the nervous pit in my stomach growing at what I need to say next.
I’m not sure how Lark will react to it. “I want you in my life which also means, when you’re ready, I’d like you to move in with me. ”
She blinks a few times at me in surprise, and I lean forward, kissing her.
“You don’t have to say anything now about the long term, but I want you to think on it. Okay?”
Her cheeks tinge pink, though she still looks surprised, and she nods slightly. “Okay.”
“What do you think about this weekend?”
Her blush intensifies and a shy, but happy look comes over her. “Sure, I’d like to spend more time with you.” She pauses and her forehead creases. “What about Void?”
“You can bring him if you want. Igor’s pretty laid back, so I doubt having a cat around would be an issue with him.
Once again, she gives me a surprised look but it quickly fades as she smiles. “Sounds like a plan, Hercules.”
I huff but can’t stop my smile. I lean down to kiss her and hear her stomach growl as the sounds of cooking filter through the door.
Her cheeks heat for a different reason, but I ignore it.
I give her another chaste kiss. “Why don’t you hop in the shower, Darlin’? I’ll take one when you’re done.”
“Okay.”
She gives me a quick kiss and flips off the covers before sliding out of bed and padding over to her closet. I bite my tongue as my cock twitches at seeing her gorgeous ass hugged tightly by her sleep shorts. Lark picks out some clothes and with a sheepish look, she closes the bathroom door.
Closing my eyes, I will my cock to go down, but then I hear the shower turn on and I groan at the mental image of Lark naked and wet.
Purring has me opening my eyes and as I look down at the foot of the bed, I realize Void must have slept with us last night.
I pat the bed and hold out my hand, inviting him to sniff me.
He looks at my hand for a moment before he gets up, stretches, and walks up to me.
He sniffs my fingers before leaning into my hand.
His purring increases as I scratch around his jowls and throat.
“You remember me, huh?”
A moment later, he lays down against my side and I continue to pet him.
Thinking back to that day, I was still surprised that Void had shown back up here after the fire.
It was a few days after Lark had come to her house for the first time.
I’d been here with a few of the guys to gather the last of Lark’s stuff to take out to Khloe’s house for them and was carrying a box to the truck when I heard a meow coming from the bushes.
Knowing that Lark was still fretting over Void’s absence, I set the box down and went to investigate.
I was worried it was a stray, but thankfully, it was Void that I’d found.
He didn’t look too worse for wear, but his fur was a bit matted and muddy in some areas.
It took a bit of coaxing, but eventually, I’d got him to come out to me.
He didn’t seem too malnourished, though he readily drank some water we’d put out for him for a long time.
After that, I’d called Lark and met her at the vet’s office.
She wanted to have him looked over since he’d been gone for a month.
Thankfully, Void got a clean bill of health. After leaving the vet, I went with Lark to the pet store as she hadn’t rebought any of his stuff yet and helped her get it all set up at Khloe’s house. All the women were relieved that he’d made it out of the fire unscathed.
Grabbing my phone off the nightstand, I check my messages while still petting Void, and let Devil know that we’ll be back later this afternoon. That done, I scroll through my feed as I wait.
About ten minutes later, Lark comes out of the bathroom carrying a couple of small bags.
She’s changed into jeans and a long-sleeved button-up casual shirt with what looks like a tank top underneath it.
She left her long brown hair down and I make a mental note to make sure she brings some hair ties because one of my goals for this weekend is getting Lark on the back of my bike. Fuck, I need to get her some gear.
“Aww,” Lark coos and I look up, realizing that she’s noticed Void curled up against my hip. She sits down on the bed and joins me in petting him. “Bathroom’s yours. I left a new toothbrush on the counter for you,” she says and I give Void one more scritch before I get up.
“Thanks, Darlin’.”
I grab my clothes off the dresser and take a quick shower. Thankfully, Lark had set out some generic travel supplies so I was actually able to freshen up a bit.
When I’m done, I head back into the bedroom and my chest warms as I see Lark put a few bags on her bed. She blushes when she looks up at me, and I’m about to kiss her when I hear her stomach rumble again.
“Let’s get you fed, Darlin’.”
Taking her hand, we head downstairs.
“Good morning,” Emma calls out when we come into the kitchen. “Have a seat, breakfast is almost ready.”
Lark walks over to a cabinet and pulls out two coffee mugs. “Coffee, Anthony?” She pauses and a look of panic crosses her face. “Crap. Is calling you Anthony for just when we’re alone, as in just us two, or is it okay when Ma and Granny are around as well?”
“In regards to coffee, yes please, and black. And Anthony’s fine, Darlin’.
” Seeing confusion on Emma’s and Granny’s faces as they look between us, I gesture to my patch that has my road name on it.
“It’s a club thing. When we’re around the club, we call each other by our road names, so I would appreciate you calling me Reaper at those times.
However, when we aren’t around them, like now, you all can call me Tony or Anthony or you can continue to call me Reaper.
Whichever is fine by me.” Then again, if Lark and I do eventually marry, that will change.
I don’t care if family calls me Anthony or Tony around the club.
They both nod in understanding as they smile.
“Well, then, Anthony, eat up,” Granny says as she puts a plate of eggs, bacon, and pancakes down in front of me and then she sits down with her own breakfast while Emma brings plates over for Lark and herself.
“What’s on your agenda today, Honey?” Emma asks Lark and she blushes again as her gaze flicks to me for a moment before she looks over at her mom.
“Well, Anthony asked if I’d spend the rest of my weekend with him and I said yes.” She pauses and her blush deepens. “I was going to take Void with me to introduce him to Igor, Anthony’s french bulldog.”
Both Emma and Lottie’s eyes light up at the mention of Igor.
“You’ll have to bring Igor here sometime as well. I’ve been contemplating getting a dog myself. Maybe even a cat,” Emma comments and I smile.
“I’ll bring him along the next time I come over.”
“Did you get him from a shelter or a breeder?” Granny asks.