Page 44 of Savage Devotion
I step out of his arms. “You’re right. Our baby does need me. And you. I know that now. I was hesitant at first, but I know you willbe an amazing father. I know what you went off to do tonight. The blood on your hands. The stains on your shirt. Just because you are wearing black doesn’t mean I can’t see the evidence of the violence you dealt out tonight. We both have to make sure we are going to be around for our son or daughter.”
His chin tilts up, and he looks down at me as if I’m judging his actions.
“I’m not judging, Reaper. I’m telling you I will fight for those I love just as you will fight for the ones you love. I fought against the fire you brought into my life our first night together. I felt it then and I am willing to walk through it with you now, and forever. So don’t hold me to a different standard because I’m not part of your club.”
He’s shaking his head before I finish. He lifts me to sit on the hood of my car and comes to stand between my legs. Out here in the middle of nowhere, he places his forehead to mine and seals my future with three words.
“I love you. For now, for always. I hold your life as the most important to me, and I will defend you until I no longer have blood in my veins or air in my lungs.”
“And I love you, Liam Black. Reaper. I have since that first dance back in New Orleans. I’m glad I didn’t go to The Gilded Key that night.”
He grunts. “Make that two of us. Some lucky sons-of-bitches would be sharing you instead of me having you all to myself.”
He takes my right hand and slips the ring off my finger. I feel the loss of its weight immediately.
“By taking and wearing this ring, it made you mine that night whether you know it or not.” He takes my left hand and slips the skull and ruby onto my ring finger. “And now there’s no going back.”
He takes my lips in a claiming kiss and I feel consumed by a man whose name might bring death, but to me has only brought me life. And so much happiness.
“I’m yours, Reaper.Te amo con todo mi corazón.Take me home.”
EPILOGUE
ARABELLE, SEVEN MONTHS LATER
The night my bookstore burned down is the night I realized just how much this parish has come to mean to me.
And one particular man. Reaper hasn’t left me a day by myself since he slipped his ruby club ring onto my ring finger. We haven’t rung the wedding bells yet but really, that’s okay. The day will come and when it does, I’ll celebrate it hard and furious just like I do everything else with Reaper in my life.
I’m happy just being his.
“How’s this?”
I hiss in pain and then sigh in relief when the needle of Ink’s tattoo iron stops stabbing at my skin. Harlon’s tattoo artist puts the final touch on my patch as Reaper bounces our sleeping baby boy in his arms.
I bring my eyes up to meet Reaper’s. Pride and love shine in those sparkly black eyes and I fall a little harder for the biker that almost got away from me.
“I love it,” I tell Ink and it’s the truth. Delicate lines, the flash of ruby red in the eyes to match the ring on my finger, and the circle of bayou vines and thorns make the design flawless. “It’s absolutely perfect.” And anyone who sees it will know I’m Savage Reign blood. If not by actual blood, then by love.
Reaper helps me up from the artist’s chair and I raise the scoop collar of my shirt. I never thought I would get a tattoo in my life, but this sits close to my heart and I couldn’t love it more.
Reaper leans in, and there’s a burning in his eyes I’ve grown to recognize. He wants to get me alone and take things from calm to hot and heavy between the sheets like right this second.
“You’re mine, woman,” he growls hungrily.
Our foreheads rest against each other with our baby between us. “Eres un lobo, papi. Cálmate. Pronto. Te prometo.” I whisper just for us. “You are a wolf, daddy. Calm down. Soon. I promise.”
“I’ll make sure you keep that promise. I want to try for a girl next.”
He loves it when I speak Spanish. It makes his cock hard as steel and he knows I know. I give a knowing look at his crotch before hugging Ink. “Make sure you come to the bookstore tonight. Free coffee, cupcakes, and sexy snippets.”
“Wouldn’t miss it.”
“Seriously, your talents are wasted here. You should go big.”
Ink smiles and that sweet blush causes Reaper’s possessiveness to rear up.
“Down. She’s mine.”
