Chapter 18
DELANEY
As I woke slowly in Soren’s bed, the compound felt lighter. And filled with hope.
For the first time since I’d been taken, no heavy weight of fear pressed on my chest. Peace washed over me because I knew when Soren walked in that door late last night, it was going to be okay.
I didn’t have the gory details, but I didn’t really need them. I had no doubt that I never had to worry about Dr. Kinghorn again. He was gone. Whatever kind of justice Soren dispensed was fine by me after all the atrocities he’d committed against innocent women. The nightmare was finally over.
I stretched beneath the sheets before turning in his hold, and the tension I’d been living with was completely gone. The fear that had ruled me for so long had finally loosened its grip. I no longer felt like I was hiding from the world.
I was exactly where I belonged. Right here, with this man I’d fallen completely in love with. Who’d most likely killed to keep me safe.
Almost as if he could sense me thinking about him, his pale eyes opened.
When he’d come back last night, he’d looked tired but whole. I had only gotten a little time with him before exhaustion pulled him under. I’d quickly followed, sleeping more peacefully than I had since my ordeal.
His arm tightened, pulling me tight against his chest. “Morning, angel.”
I grinned up at him. “Good morning.”
“It is now,” he murmured before tilting my chin up to kiss me deeply.
The exploration of his tongue was slow and thorough, like he was reminding both of us that I was his and he was home.
When he finally pulled back, his gaze swept over my face. “Sleep okay?”
“More like great,” I corrected.
“Good.” He gave me another quick kiss before rolling away to stand and grab a small black paper bag from the bottom drawer of the dresser. “Want you to be clearheaded when we do this.”
“Do what?” I asked, my gaze darting between his face and the bag as he climbed back into bed with me.
My breath caught in my chest when he reached inside and pulled out a black leather vest. Although it was folded, the patch on the back was visible where Property of Rev was beautifully stitched.
Soren held it up, his pale gray-blue eyes locked on mine with the unwavering focus I loved so much. “Been waiting until the danger to you was eliminated to give you this. Didn’t want there to be any doubt about my motives. You’re mine, Delaney, and not just while you needed protection. Forever.”
Tears stung my eyes as I helped him slip the vest over the shirt I’d worn to bed last night.
My voice was thick with emotion. “I love you so much, Soren.”
“I love you too, angel.” He cupped my face with both hands, his thumbs brushing away the tears that had escaped. “More than I ever thought was possible. You’re my old lady. My future.”
He kissed me again, and it was full of promise and tenderness as his hands slid down my sides to pull me closer. Wearing his vest and wrapped in his arms, I had never felt more loved or certain of where I belonged.
Soren pulled back just enough to look at me. Then he reached into the bag again and took out a vintage engagement ring, the diamond in the center catching the early morning light. It was from the Art Deco era, circa the 1920s, and utterly perfect for me.
“Marry me, Delaney. Be my wife. Wear my ring.”
He slid the ring onto my finger without waiting for an answer, like it had always belonged there. It was exactly the kind of proposal I should’ve expected from my sexy biker.
“Yes.” He hadn’t actually asked, but I wanted to give him the words. “I can’t wait to walk down the aisle and become your wife.”
“Good, angel. ’Cause I want it to happen soon.”
I nodded. “Then it’s a good thing I still have a couple of weeks of winter break left. We can get married before classes start up again.”
“About that.” Just as I wondered if he had concerns about me going back to campus even though it was only twenty minutes away from the compound and I wasn’t in danger any longer, he pulled another ring from the bag.
A simple, black silicone band. “Figured you can’t always wear a diamond with the kind of work you do, so I got this too. ”
In awe of his thoughtfulness, I threw my arms around his neck and cried. “Thank you.”
“Whatever you need, angel.” He nudged me back so he could look in my eyes. “We’re building a future together.”
“About that future,” I whispered with a watery smile, “I want it to include kids.”
“You sure?” His lips curved as he scanned my face. “You ready for me to fill you with my babies?”
I nodded. “Yeah.”
“Fucking hell, you just made the perfect morning even better.” He captured my mouth in another deep kiss.
“Can’t wait to watch this body grow round and heavy with my child over and over.
I want to see you glowing, swollen, and carrying what we made.
I’m going to build a family with you and protect you every single day. ”
His bold claim made my thighs clench. “It’s a good thing we’ll have so much help if that’s your plan. Because I still plan to finish my degree.”
“We’ll make it work, angel,” he assured me. “’Cause this is inevitable. You and me with our kids running around this compound.”
I reached up and cupped his strong jaw, looking straight into the ruggedly handsome face I had come to love so much. “I want all of that. The whole terrifying, beautiful thing, Soren. With you.”
His eyes darkened with fierce satisfaction before he kissed me hard, claiming my mouth like he was sealing the promise between us. When he pulled back, there was no missing the love he felt for me.
“That’s my girl.”
I smiled through more happy tears, finally at peace with the future I had once been too afraid to imagine. I was choosing to experience my life to the fullest.
Dropping the silicone band back into the bag and setting it on the bedside table, he rolled me onto my back. With his engagement ring on my finger and his property patch on my back on top of the shirt he shoved over my chest, he kissed his way down my body.
He worshipped every inch of my skin with his hands and mouth as we came together slowly this time. It was reverent and loving, but he still murmured possessive, filthy promises about filling me with his come.
When he finally slid inside me, we moved together like we were made to be together like this. Each deep stroke felt like a vow. He held my gaze the entire time, whispering how much he loved me.
I came apart in his arms with his name on my lips, and he followed right after, burying himself deep as he filled me with heat.
Afterward, he held me close against his chest, one hand resting protectively over my stomach like he was already imagining our future there. I traced the lines of his tattoo and smiled softly.
I had run from death and found something so much better than the life I’d been perfectly happy with before. I had chosen the man who would burn it all down before he let anything touch our family or me.