Page 26 of Reaper

When they finally pulled back, she rested her forehead against his, her breath mingling with his.

“Let’s go home,” he murmured.

She nodded, a small, grateful smile curving her lips.“Yeah. Home.”

With one arm around her waist, Reaper led her back to his bike.

Chapter Eleven

Reaper leaned against his bike in the parking lot of the diner, the metal keys jingling softly in his gloved hand.

The sun had dipped below the horizon, casting the world in hues of deep orange and purple. The cooling evening air did little to temper the fire simmering in his chest.

He’d never been one for grand gestures or surprises. Life in the Iron Sentinels didn’t leave much room for those things. But Savannah was different. She’d slipped into his world, softened his rough edges, and made a permanent home in his heart. And he wanted to give her a home of her own.

The clubhouse was his world, but it wasn’t hers. The noise, the chaos, the constant reminder of the MC’s violent reality—it wasn’t the life he wanted for her every damn day. She deserved more than late-night brawls and half-drunk brothers banging on doors. He wanted them to have a place. Somewhere she could feel safe, somewhere she could breathe, somewhere she wouldn’t always be looking over her shoulder.

He turned the keys over in his palm, his thumb running across the smooth metal. He wasn’t sure how she’d react. Lately, Savannah had seemed different. Not distant exactly, but like she was carrying a weight she wasn’t ready to share. The thought gnawed at him, a hollow ache behind his ribs.

What if she says no? What if she doesn’t want this?

The door to the diner swung open, and his heart kicked into a faster rhythm. Savannah stepped out, her hair pulled back in a loose ponytail, a few tendrils framing her face. Her uniform hugged her curves in all the right ways, and the exhaustion on her face faded the moment she saw him. A smile spread across her lips, and it was like the world tilted back into place.

“Hey,” she said softly.“You didn’t have to wait for me.”

“I wanted to,” he murmured, reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. He lingered his fingers on her cheek.“Had something I needed to show you.”

Her brows lifted in curiosity.“Oh?”

He swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. Why the hell was he so nervous? He’d faced down armed enemies and come out alive. But this—this—felt like the most important fight of his life.

“Come on,” he said, nodding toward his bike.

She didn’t hesitate, sliding on behind him and wrapping her arms around his waist. Her warmth seeped through his cut and into his skin, grounding him. He let out a slow breath and revved the engine, the familiar rumble vibrating through them as they took off.

The ride was short, but the tension coiled tighter in his chest with every mile. He pulled up to the small apartment complex on the edge of town. It wasn’t fancy—two stories, white walls that had seen better days—but it was sturdy. It was theirs.

Reaper cut the engine and climbed off, his hand instinctively reaching to help Savannah down. She took it, her fingers threading through his like it was the most natural thing in the world.

She looked around, a hint of confusion creasing her brow.“Where are we?”

He took a steadying breath and held out the keys. They jingled between them, a small sound that seemed to echo in the still night.

“I got us a place,” he said, his voice low and rough.“Figured it was time we had somewhere to call our own.”

Her eyes widened, lips parting in a soft gasp.“Reaper…”

“I know it’s not much,” he continued, trying to read her expression. He rubbed his thumb on the edge of the keys, a nervous habit he didn’t know he had until now.“But it’s ours. Away from the clubhouse. Away from all the noise.”

Savannah glanced at the building, then back to him. Tears welled up in her eyes, catching the faint glow of the streetlights.

“You did this … for us?” she whispered.

“Yeah.” His throat tightened.“Only if you want it, though. I don’t want you to feel—”

Her lips crashed against his, cutting off his words. The keys slipped from his fingers, forgotten as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. She melted against him, her hands gripping his jacket, her body fitting perfectly against his.

When they finally broke apart, she was breathless, tears trailing down her cheeks.

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