Page 48 of Reaper & the Lioness
I nodded as I started chopping lettuce for the salad. The rhythmic sound of the knife hitting the cutting board filled the kitchen. “Yeah, he’s coming.”
Eva pulled a bowl from the top cupboard for the lettuce. She moved to the sink to wash the tomatoes next. It felt so domestic, the two of us cooking together and talking about our friends.
“Can I help with anything?”
I glanced at Eva with a raised brow. “No. I don’t have much confidence in your cooking abilities.”
She scoffed but didn’t argue as she boosted herself to sit on the counter. The memory of our first night together blasted through me. I nearly cut myself as I raked my eyes over her body.
“We should make a bet on who calls us out first.”
Eva’s eyes lit up at the challenge, her competitive streak showing. “What are we betting? I think Linc will be the first to say something. You two grew up together.”
“Nah, it’ll definitely be Rhetta.”
I paused as a wicked idea formed in my mind. “How about this: if I win, I get to use my leather cuffs on you.” I gave her a wolfish grin, enjoying how her breath caught at the suggestion.
“And if I win?”
“If you win, I’ll take one of those Pilates classes when it’s safe for you to be out and about again.”
She smirked. “Sounds like I win either way.”
I growled low in my throat, my hands finding her hips. “Careful, my lovely Lioness. Our friends will be here soon, and if you keep talking like that, we might not make it to dinner.”
The sound of motorcycles in the distance signaled our guests’ approach.
“Let the games begin,” she said with a wink.
Chapter Nineteen
Someone would notice the shift between Reaper and me within the first ten minutes. The axis of my world now turned around him, and I noticed small movements that betrayed my feelings. Rhetta would surely notice how I responded to his presence, shifting toward him in the room. Linc would probably see how Reaper brushes my arm when I walk by as if he can’t help but touch me.
It’s noticeable in our silent communication. The smirk on his face. The small sounds that unintentionally escape from the back of my throat when I think of his body hovering over mine.
He’d set a wager, and now I wanted to win—though I was okay with losing because his prize intrigued me, too. The thought of those leather cuffs sent a shiver of desire down my spine. We didn’t need to hide what we were becoming, but my competitive streak ran strong.
Hawk’s excited barks announced the arrival of our first guests. The pup raced to the Harley, tail wagging at Rhetta andThane. My best friend held a plastic bag filled with my favorite snacks.
“Oh. My. God.” I began pulling sweet and savory treats from the bag. “You brought me Sour Patch Kids, chips, and peanut butter–filled pretzels? Thank you! Finally, some real food for this house. I was starting to worry I’d have to carve a shiv out of a celery stalk to intimidate Reaper into bringing me some real snacks.”
Reaper shook his head as he glanced between Thane and Rhetta. “That woman is a trash panda. She lives off of sugar, carbs, and iced coffee.”
I shrugged, carrying my bounty toward the cabin. “Guilty. Not all of us can survive solely on vegetables, rice, and grilled chicken breast. Glad you don’t want any of this, because I am not sharing, Mr. Sad Kale Smoothie.”
Rhetta followed me into the kitchen with Hawk in her arms and leaned in, speaking in a low, conspiratorial tone. “So, what’s it like living with the notorious Reaper?”
I tried to stop my smile. “It’s been fine. He’s nice.”
Rhetta gave me a suspicious glance as I stopped myself from elaborating. I wanted to give Linc a fair chance so I could win our bet.
“I like the quiet. But I’m definitely getting bored.”
Another Harley roared up the driveway. “That must be Linc.”
Hawk’s ears perked up at the sound, and he raced to the door again, ready to greet our new arrival.
The resemblance remained undeniable, but where Reaper’s face presented a study in hard angles, Linc’s held a boyish, almost innocent quality. He was shorter than his brother. Leaner, too, with a wiry build that suggested restless curiosity rather than raw strength. Linc had the same dark eyes as his older brother, but they seemed brighter, with a youthful light untouched by the shadows Reaper carried. He appeared lessguarded, reflecting the unwavering protection he’d always known as the youngest.
