Chapter Seven
Savannah stared at her reflection in the full-length mirror, biting her lip in frustration. The soft blue blouse she’d chosen hung on her frame all wrong, or maybe it was her nerves making her feel that way. She huffed, tugging it off and tossing it onto the growing pile of discarded outfits on her bed.
“ Why is this so hard? ” she muttered, rifling through her closet again.
It wasn’t as if Reaper would care. He didn’t strike her as the type of man who paid much attention to fashion. But tonight felt different. After three days of replaying their moments together, after the way he’d taken care of her when she was sick, Savannah had decided to take a chance on him, on whatever this thing between them could become.
She pulled out a soft cream sweater, sliding it over her head before grabbing a pair of her favorite jeans. It was casual but comfortable, and she felt like herself in it.
“ Okay, this ’ll do,” she said with a nod, smoothing her hands over the fabric.
As she reached for her makeup bag, her stomach fluttered. The truth was, she hadn’t been on a proper date in, well, longer than she cared to admit. Not since everything had fallen apart. The thought made her pause, the familiar ache creeping into her chest. She shoved it aside and focused on the present. On Reaper.
By the time she finished applying a touch of blush and her favorite lipstick, the doorbell rang. Her heart leaped, and she quickly checked her reflection one last time.
“ You ’ve got this,” she told herself, then headed to the door.
When she opened it, the sight of Reaper stole her breath. He stood there in his dark leather jacket, a bouquet of red roses in his hand. His intense gaze softened when it landed on her, and for a moment, neither of them spoke.
“ Hey, ” she finally said, her voice a little shaky.
“ You look gorgeous tonight, ” he said, his voice low and sincere.
Heat rose to her cheeks. She wasn’t the blushing type, but something about the way he looked at her—like she was the only thing in the world that mattered—made her pulse race.
“ Thank you, ” she murmured, taking the roses from him. “ These are beautiful. ”
She stepped back, motioning for him to come inside while she found a vase. As she arranged the flowers, she could feel his eyes on her, and it sent a thrill down her spine.
“ Ready to go? ” he asked when she returned to the entryway.
She nodded, grabbing her coat. “ Ready. ”
Reaper surprised her by taking her to the small Italian restaurant tucked away in the heart of town. It was her favorite, though she’d only mentioned it in passing once.
“ How did you— ” she started to ask as they were seated, but he cut her off with a smirk.
“ Had a feeling you ’d like it,” he said simply, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
She couldn’t help but smile, warmth spreading through her. The restaurant was cozy, with dim lighting and the rich scent of garlic and herbs wafting through the air. They ordered wine, and Savannah found herself relaxing as they talked. Reaper was easy to be around, his deep voice grounding her, his sharp wit making her laugh.
Over plates of fettuccine and chicken parmesan, the conversation deepened. He shared stories from his years in the MC, surprising her with how much he’d seen, how much he’d endured.
And he listened, really listened, as she talked about her childhood, skirting around the darker parts of her past but letting him see pieces of the girl she used to be.
When dessert came—a shared slice of tiramisu—Savannah was already feeling the warmth of wine and his company. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt this light, this alive.
Reaper slid the plate closer to her, his fork held out. “ Ladies first. ”
She smirked, taking a bite. The creamy sweetness melted on her tongue, and she let out a soft hum of approval. “ This is amazing. ”
He chuckled, his eyes never leaving her. “ You ’ve got a little...” He gestured to the corner of his own mouth.
Before she could wipe it away, he reached over and gently brushed his thumb across her lip. The touch was brief, but it sent a spark through her, and suddenly the air between them felt charged.
“ Thanks, ” she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
He didn’t pull his hand away immediately, his thumb lingering against her jaw for a moment longer than necessary. “ Anytime. ”
****
Savannah stepped out of the restaurant with Reaper beside her, his hand warm and steady on the small of her back. The night air cooled her flushed cheeks, but the warmth inside her chest didn’t fade. The evening had been perfect—the meal, the laughter, the way Reaper’s dark eyes softened whenever he looked at her—but an ache tugged at her heart. She didn’t want it to be over yet.
Reaper glanced down at her, his gaze searching. “You okay?”
She swallowed, tightening her fingers slightly on the strap of her purse. The words hovered on the tip of her tongue, ready to disappear if she hesitated too long.
Finally, she let them out in a whisper. “ I don ’t want the night to end yet.”
Reaper curled his lips into a slow smile that made her knees weak. He nodded toward his motorcycle parked by the curb. “How about another ride?”
Relief bloomed in her chest, and she found herself smiling back. “ Yeah, I ’d like that.”
He led her to the bike, the chrome gleaming under the streetlights. As he handed her a helmet, his fingers brushed hers, sending a current of heat up her arm. She tried to ignore the way her heart raced as she slid the helmet on and climbed onto the bike behind him. She wrapped her arms around his waist, feeling the solid strength beneath his leather jacket. His warmth seeped into her, grounding her in a way she hadn’t felt in years.
He started the engine, the low rumble vibrating through her. They took off into the night, the wind whipping past them and carrying away her fears and doubts.
Savannah rested her cheek against his back, her eyes half-closed as the world blurred around them. Streetlights melted into golden streaks, and the stars above seemed to dance with every turn they took. She should’ve been afraid of how natural this felt, but instead, it felt right. Safe.
Reaper guided the bike away from the main streets, taking winding back roads that twisted and climbed into the hills above Steelhaven. The town below grew smaller, its lights twinkling like distant stars. Finally, he pulled off onto a gravel path, the crunch of tires the only sound besides the whispering wind.
He killed the engine, and silence wrapped around them like a cocoon. Savannah slid off the bike and removed her helmet, her breath catching as she took in the view. The entire town sprawled out below, bathed in the soft glow of streetlights and windows. The sky above was endless and clear, a sea of stars twinkling against the blackness.
“ Wow, ” she whispered, her voice barely more than a breath.
Reaper stepped beside her, his gaze fixed on the horizon. “Used to come up here when I needed to clear my head.”
She laughed softly, the sound tinged with nostalgia. “I heard this is where teenagers come to make out.”
His low chuckle rumbled through the air. “ That too. ”
She turned to him, her heart pounding. The moonlight carved shadows across his face, emphasizing the rugged lines and the glint of something deeper in his eyes. Standing there, she felt like a teenager again—giddy, hopeful, and a little reckless.
Reaper looked at her then, his eyes dark and intense. “ Savannah... ” He said her name like it meant something, like she was something precious.
She stepped closer, the distance between them shrinking until their bodies almost touched. “ Yeah? ”
He reached up, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. His fingers lingered on her cheek, rough and warm. The world faded away until all that existed was his touch, his breath, his eyes dropping to her lips. She closed her eyes, waiting for the kiss she’d been craving since the night they met.
But then the low, unmistakable rumble of motorcycle engines shattered the moment.
Savannah opened her eyes. Reaper dropped his hand from her face, and his body shifted in front of hers, shielding her.
His shoulders tensed, his posture hardening into pure defense. Her stomach knotted as two motorcycles pulled up, their headlights cutting through the darkness. The riders dismounted, their silhouettes illuminated just enough for her to see the patches on their leather jackets—Ravagers. Ice slid down her spine.
Reaper’s hand drifted to his belt, his fingers flexing around the grip of his gun.
“ Stay behind me, ” he murmured.
She nodded, her fingers trembling as they found the cold metal inside her purse. The riders walked forward, boots crunching on gravel.
The tall one had greasy blond hair, a twisted smile plastered on his face. The other was stocky, his neck covered in tattoos that looked like dark snakes under the moonlight. Then she recognized the tall one. Her heart stopped. Slim. Raker’s buddy. The last time she’d seen him, she’d been running for her life.
Slim’s lips curled into a cruel grin. “ Well, well. Look what we have here. ” His gaze landed on her, and his smile widened. “ Been a while, Savannah. ”
Her throat tightened. Memories clawed at the edges of her mind, but she shoved them down, locking them away. Reaper’s body shifted protectively in front of her, his gun steady.
“This is Iron Sentinels territory,” Reaper said, his voice cold as steel. “You’re trespassing.”
Slim’s companion laughed, the sound sharp and mocking. “ Didn ’t realize the Sentinels were babysitting strays.”
Anger flared inside her, momentarily overpowering the fear. Her fingers tightened around her gun. Reaper didn’t move, his stance unwavering.
“ You ’re outnumbered, Sentinel,” the stocky man sneered.
Without hesitation, Savannah pulled the gun from her purse and clicked off the safety. The sound was loud in the night air.
Slim’s eyes narrowed, his grin faltering. “ Still full of surprises, I see, ” he muttered.
“ Get out of here, ” Reaper warned. “ Last chance. ”
Slim held up his hands in mock surrender. “Relax. No harm done.” But as he turned to leave, his eyes met Savannah’s, cold and calculating. “Raker misses you.”
The words hit her like a punch to the gut. She barely registered the sound of their engines roaring away. Her arms shook, the adrenaline draining out of her, leaving her cold and hollow.
Reaper’s arm wrapped around her shoulders, pulling her into his warmth. “ Hey, ” he whispered, his voice gentle now. “ They ’re gone. It’s okay.”
She turned into him, her forehead against his chest, and let out a shaky breath. Her hands trembled, the gun forgotten now. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, the words slipping out before she could stop them.
He pulled back just enough to look into her eyes. His thumb brushed a tear from her cheek. “ Don ’t apologize. None of this is your fault.”
Her chest ached, but the steady warmth of his gaze anchored her. He cupped her face, his touch firm and reassuring.
“ I ’m here,” he said softly. “ I ’m not going anywhere.”
****
The ride back to her apartment was quiet, the silence between them humming with unspoken tension. When they reached her door, she turned to him, her heart pounding in her chest.
“Thank you for tonight,” she said, her voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions inside her. “It was perfect … until those bastards showed up.”
“ It is perfect, ” he said, his eyes locking onto hers.
She kept waiting for Reaper to press her about her past, but he never did. He was going to wait until she was ready, like always, and that touched her immensely.
For a moment, they stood there, the world around them fading away. Savannah wasn’t sure who moved first, but suddenly she was stepping closer, brushing her hands against his chest.
He leaned down, his breath warm against her skin, and then his lips were on hers. The kiss was slow at first, tentative, as if they were both testing the waters. But it quickly deepened, and he slid his hand to her waist, pulling her closer. Savannah speared her fingers through his hair, and she sighed against his mouth, losing herself in the heat of him.
When they finally pulled apart, her cheeks were flushed, her lips tingling. He rested his forehead against hers, his breath ragged.
“Savannah,” he murmured, her name like a promise on his lips.
“ Reaper, ” she whispered back, her heart full and racing all at once.
She took a step back, her hand lingering on his arm. “Would you … like to come inside?” she asked him.
“I would,” he said again, smiling.
Savannah closed the door behind them, pulse racing.