Page 10 of Reaper

She cast a glance across the room, her gaze landing on Reaper. He was leaning against the bar, arms crossed over his chest, his broad shoulders straining against his leather cut.

His dark eyes scanned the room, sharp and observant, missing nothing. When his gaze met hers, a spark ignited in her chest. It was the same spark she felt every time she caught him looking her way.

Reaper nodded once, a subtle acknowledgment, before turning his attention back to Patch, who was talking about some job or another. Savannah exhaled, the tension easing out of her shoulders just a bit.

“You sure that’s not why you’re hanging around here so much?” Samantha teased, following her gaze.“You know, a certain brooding biker who can’t seem to keep his eyes off you?”

Savannah rolled her eyes, masking the flutter in her chest.“Please. I’m just here to make sure you don’t get into trouble.”

Samantha snorted.“Yeah, right. You’re here for Reaper, and you know it.”

She didn’t deny it. What would be the point? The truth was, she was here for him. At first, she’d convinced herself she was just watching out for Samantha.

But lately, every visit to the clubhouse, every casual excuse to swing by, was less about her friend and more about the gruff biker who made her feel seen, even when she tried to hide.

A loud burst of laughter from the other side of the room made Savannah flinch before she could stop herself. The sound scraped against her nerves, too sharp, too sudden. She recovered quickly, but not quickly enough to miss Samantha’s concerned look.

“You okay?” Samantha asked.

“Yeah,” Savannah said, forcing a smile.“Just jumpy. Long day, you know?”

Samantha’s eyes softened, but she didn’t push.“Okay. But remember, you can always talk to me.”

Savannah nodded, not responding. She turned away, her gaze seeking Reaper again. He was watching her, his brow furrowed just enough to show he’d noticed that flinch, that tiny crack in her armor. Damn it. She’d been so careful.

With a sigh, she pushed off the couch and headed toward the bar. If he was going to stare, she might as well give him a reason. Besides, the way her pulse quickened every time she got close to him was starting to feel less like a warning and more like a challenge she wanted to accept.

Reaper watched her approach, his expression shifting to something unreadable.“Need another?” he asked, nodding toward her nearly empty beer.

“Nah,” she said, setting the bottle down on the bar with a soft clink. “Figured I’d come see what you’re brooding about.”

A ghost of a smile tugged at his lips. “Who says I’m brooding?”

“Please.” She leaned an elbow on the bar, tilting her head to look up at him. “You’ve got ‘brooding’ down to an art form.”

He chuckled, a low, rough sound that made her stomach flutter.“Maybe I’m just thinking.”

“About what?”

He hesitated, his gaze flicking over her face, as if he were searching for something.“About you.”

Her breath caught. He said it so simply, no hesitation, no attempt to hide it. Her heart hammered against her ribs, the barrier she’d tried to keep between them cracking just a little more.

“Reaper…” She trailed off, not knowing how to finish.

What could she say? That she was afraid of how much she wanted him? That every time she looked at him, she felt like she was standing on the edge of something dangerous and thrilling?

“You don’t have to say anything,” he said, his voice low and steady.“I just want you to know—you can count on me if you’re ever in trouble.”

Her walls slammed back into place. She straightened, pulling away just enough to put distance between them.

“I’ve been doing fine on my own for a long time,” Savannah remarked.

“I know.” His eyes softened, a flicker of regret passing through them.“But you don’t have to. You can trust me.”

The vulnerability in his voice cut through her defenses like a knife. She wanted to trust him, to let herself believe that maybe she could stop running. But trusting someone meant giving them the power to hurt you, and she’d learned that lesson the hard way. She took a shaky breath, forcing herself to meet his eyes.

“I don’t know how.”

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