Page 61 of Raze

“Well, it’s only me and you out here so I don’t see the harm.” I rest my head back on his shoulder and soak up the sun, while his hands slide over my midriff.

“Boss.” When I hear a voice approaching us I make a long, heavy sigh. I knew it would only be a matter of time before we got interrupted and when I look up and hold my hand over my eyes to block out the sun, I see James standing beside us.

“I thought I told you not to interrupt me today.” Raze sounds equally as annoyed as I am.

“I know, and I wouldn’t have if it wasn’t important.” James purposely keeps his eyes focused on the sand at his feet.

“Well, out with it then,” Raze bites back impatiently.

“It’s about the run tomorrow. I was wonderin’ if I could come along.”

“You wanna come to Reno?” Raze sits up, forcing me up with him.

“Yeah, I do.” James nods his head firmly

“And what does your moma say about that?” Raze frowns at him.

“With all respect sir, it’s not up to my moma. I’m old enough to make the choice.”

“Good answer.” Raze settles back down, arching his hand around my throat and dragging me back to rest against his chest again. “You're in, speak to Sasquatch. Tell him to fill you in on the plan. And if he tells ya to do somethin’ you do it. I need this run to go smoothly.” He dismisses him with a nod of his head, and James looks pleased with himself as he races back across the sand toward the clubhouse.

“Is this run dangerous?” I ask, getting the impression that Raze is feeling the pressure. He’s spent much more time planning this one than he did the other run he went on.

“The stakes are higher, and we have to pass through Reaper territory,” he admits, making all that calm I’ve found over the past few weeks spike back into panic.

“Then it is dangerous.”

“Not if they don’t know we’re comin’, and we’ll be on our guard.” His hand strokes lazily through my hair.

“I worry you know, about you being out there.”

“You don’t have to. I’ll be fine,” he assures me.

“And how do I know you’ll be fine?” I turn around propping my chin on the hands I rest on his chest.

“Because I got a real good reason to make it home.” He furrows his brow.

“Yeah, well you better, because I’m the happiest I’ve ever been in my life.” I admit not even feeling ashamed of how stupid I sound. “I feel safe here.”

“That’s because you are safe here,” he reminds me and I climb a little further up his body so I can kiss his lips.

His cell starts to ring and when I see Wrath’s name light it up I lift it from the cooler and hand it to him.

“I’m meant to be takin’ a day off.” He places it straight back, showing that he’s got no intention of answering it.

“But if it’s about the run you need to take it,” I point out, watching him pout. “I want that run to go without a hitch so you're not away from me for a moment more than you have to be.”

“You're cute as hell you know that?” He squeezes my jaw tight and kisses me before he picks the phone back up and answers.

“Wrath…Yeah… I’ll be right there.” He rolls his eyes and stands up.

“I gotta head to the club and make a few last-minute adjustments. Why don’t you call Alicia and see if she wants to hang out,” he suggests lifting his sunglasses onto his head and pulling on his tee.

“I’m good, I think I'll just enjoy the peace for a while.” I rest my head back on the sun bed and smile to myself when he leans over to kiss me goodbye.

“I don’t think it gets any better than this,” I say to Reggie when he ventures out the house and starts walking around the cooler. Raze is right, he probably could have flown off weeks ago, I’m sure his wing is healed. But I’m glad he hasn’t. I like his company and although he’d never admit it, I think Raze is warming to him too.

I must lie on the beach for a whole hour, drifting in and out of sleep, and when I see that Raze still isn’t back I decide to head up to the clubhouse to get myself a drink.

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