Page 47 of They Call Him Reaper

“You did.”

She gives me a confused look as we stand. “I did not.”

I nod. “Yes, you did. It’s the reason I let you go. I was torn between allowing you to live or hurting Father by killing you while you were asleep. You sighed my name and said you loved me.” Inaya gives me a perplexed look as I scratch my head. “I didn’t know what to do with that, so I gave you a new life.”

“So, my feelings saved my life?”

“Essentially,” I confess.

“Wow. Well, in a perfect world, you could have simply returned the sentiment. In our world, you could have awakened me, made love to me, and held me like you never want to let go.” Inaya grabs my collar like I’ve done to her before and getsin my face. “That’s my preference. You don’t leave me alone and confused with a new identity and a bank full of money.”

“Some women would like that.”

My deadpan joke catches her off guard and makes her laugh. She’s so beautiful when she’s amused.

“True, but not me. We had a terrible meet. There was nothing cute about it. I don’t get it either, yet I am in fact in love with you no matter how improbable it may seem, and I’d prefer to keep you out of prison and here with me.” She moves my hand to her belly. “Withus.”

Fuck, that’s somehow arousing. I pull her into the kind of kiss that got her pregnant in the first place, savoring the taste of her like I’ve never had her before. Her moan makes my dick hard; my desire to be inside of her overrides everything else.

I press her against the tree but break the kiss. “Tell me again so I can grant your preference.”

I may not possess those types of feelings yet, but I can give her the outcome she imagined until I figure it out.

Inaya smiles up at me and locks her hands together behind my neck. “I love you, Dante Orejón.”

Her words warm my entire body like she didn’t just tell me minutes ago. She stares at my face like she’s never seen me smile before. Yes, it’s still rare, but she’s the only one who consistently makes it happen. I nip her lips, but my efforts are cut short.

“We can see you, you know.”

Inaya giggles as we turn to face Theodore. His amusement is etched in his face, but I know he’s pleased that I’m becoming more emotive with Inaya. He tilts his head at me in respect, but focuses his attention on Inaya.

“Does this mean that you two are going forward with the plan?”

“Yes,” Inaya gushes and pulls Theodore into a hug.

I don’t like it, but I know Theodore is very much in love with his wife. I still cannot let the hug go on any longer.

“That’s enough. I’m sure River is looking for her Teddy.”

Theodore guffaws but takes the hint. “They’re waiting for you two to finish the paperwork. I am off to see my wife and child. I’ll see you two tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” I ask.

Theodore nods. “I’m officiating. Andrea just asked me.”

I shake my head. “Is he always…”

“Making plans with other people's lives? Yes. He planned my wedding before I was able to admit to myself that I was in love.”

He gives me a knowing look, but we aren’t the same. I would threaten to kill Andrea, but that would mess with our alliance. Besides, it’s something Inaya wants. We’ve pretended to be married many times before; it shouldn’t be much different doing it for real. I just need to plot it out the best way I can, so I’ll be able to wrap my mind around all the changes.

THIRTY-ONE

Dante

I exhaleanother irritated sigh as Andrea adjusts the stupid bow tie. I'm not a bowtie illiterate person. I learned how to tie it once and remembered ever since, but it's not straight enough for his liking.

Theodore may not mind being primped and fussed over by Andrea, but I've considered several ways that I could have stabbed him by now. He's lucky I have damn good impulse control.

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