Page 21 of Ryker

“Come see me when you’re ready to make it official,” Zipper said.“I’m the resident ink slinger.”

“I want her gone,” I said.

“You can’t throw me out, you whore,” Bambi said, practically spitting at me.

“I’m the whore?”I asked.“You’re the one who fucks anyone who crooks a finger at you.I’ve been with one man.And he still wants me.I wasn’t a fuck and dump like you are.”

Bambi screeched and lunged at me, but Ryker spun me out of the way.Before he could retaliate, I heard Bambi slinging curses at everyone as the Dixie Reapers dragged her out of the clubhouse.Zipper patted me on the shoulder.

“You okay, darlin’?”he asked.

“I’m fine.Thank you for taking out the trash, though.”

He chuckled.“No problem.”

“Come on, sugar.Let’s run to the store, then I’ll show you my new home.You can figure out how you want to decorate it.”Ryker kissed my cheek.“That was pretty fucking hot, seeing you go all savage on her.”

I smiled and let him take me back out to the parking lot, then we got into the truck and went shopping.And shopping with Ryker was way more fun than I’d ever had before.

Chapter Nine

Ryker

Laken had put a dent in my checking account, but it was well worth it.She’d helped me pick out some more furniture for the living room, had picked out kitchen stuff that I’d likely seldom use, and then she’d selected everything I could possibly need or want in my bathroom.When I’d showered earlier, I’d found two towels with the tags still on them, but I’d needed more than that.

I hauled everything into the house, and while I was putting the furniture together and setting up the electronics, Laken busied herself in the kitchen and bathroom.It took us about two hours to get everything set up, but the house looked a lot better when we were finished.It almost felt like a home.Although, I didn’t know how much of that was because of things we’d bought, and how much of it was due to Laken being with me.Maybe she was the one who made it feel like home.

I pulled a bottle of water out of the fridge and carried it to the bedroom.She was curled up on the bed, half asleep, and looking far too tempting.I set the bottle on the nightstand and smoothed her hair back from her face.

“I should take you home,” I said.

“I am home.”She smiled.“Let me stay here with you tonight.”

“You didn’t bring anything with you, or buy anything at the store.”

“I can sleep in one of your shirts,” she said.“Then I can go back to Flicker’s tomorrow to change.”

“All right, sugar.I’m not going to fight you, not when I really want you here.”

She gave me a sleepy smile, and I went over to the dresser to pull out a T-shirt.I helped her off the bed, and slowly removed her clothes.It felt like it had been forever since I’d seen her this way.And one of those times had been rushed.One of these days, I was going to love her all night long, like I’d done at the motel, and I was going to take my time doing it.

Even though I knew my son or daughter was growing inside her, her belly was still just as flat as before.Once I had her stripped bare, I knelt in front of her and pressed a kiss there, right where our baby was.Something wet hit my cheek, and I looked up to find Laken crying.My heart squeezed at the sight, and I stood up, pulling her into my arms.

“What’s wrong?”I asked.

“Nothing, I just…”

“Talk to me, Laken.”

“When we first met, I never imagined this side of you existed.The guy I met that night was…”

“An asshole,” I finished for her.

“Not quite how I would have put it.”She smiled.“I like this side of you, Ryker.It just surprised me is all.”

“This is the man I want to be, for you and for our baby.The two of you deserve the best of everything, and while I don’t think that’s me, I don’t want to walk away.I’ll do it if that’s what you ask me to do, but I won’t like it.”

“I’d never send you away,” she said.She ran her fingers through my hair.“Make love to me, Ryker.It’s been so long, and I’ve missed you so damn much.”

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