Page 82 of Jagger's Remorse

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"Still thinking there's an 'us'?" she asks.

"I claimed you, didn't I? In front of my whole club. Made you my ol’ lady. That means something," I remind her.

"It means you're possessive," she counters.

"It means you're mine. And I protect what's mine," I correct.

"Even from Eduardo Vasquez?" she asks.

"Even from God himself if necessary," I declare.

She kisses me then.

Soft and sweet and nothing like us at all.

"You're going to get yourself killed being noble," she warns.

"Probably. But what a way to go," I say.

We stay under the water until it runs cold.

Then fall into bed like casualties.

She curls against me, careful of both our wounds.

"Jagger?" she says.

"Yeah?" I respond.

"Thank you. For trusting me. For coming back. For not being the monster I needed you to be," she says softly.

"You're welcome. And Scarlett?" I add.

"Mm?" she murmurs.

"Thank you for not being the weapon I was afraid you were," I tell her.

"Oh, I'm still a weapon. Just pointed in a different direction now," she corrects.

"At?" I ask.

"Anyone who tries to hurt what's mine," she states.

"Thought you didn't believe in ownership," I remind her.

"I'm learning," she admits.

We drift off tangled together.

Tomorrow we face the devil.

But tonight?

Tonight we're just two damaged people who somehow found something worth saving in each other.

Even if it kills us.

Especially if it kills us.

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