Page 24 of Ryker

Fuck.I hadn’t even thought of that.Something else I’d have to take care of.

We followed Zipper into his studio at the back of the clubhouse, and Laken gripped my hand tight while Zipper went over everything.The ink didn’t take all that long since it was pretty basic, and Laken didn’t cry once.She was so damn brave, even though I could see the pain in her eyes.When it was over, I kissed her softly.

“So proud of you, sugar.”

“I’m really yours now,” she said.

“You always were, ever since the moment I grabbed your ass.”

She giggled at me, and Zipper snorted.

“Get out of here with that shit,” he said.

“Wait.If she’s mine, then I’m hers.Can you do one more tattoo?”I asked.

Zipper’s eyebrows went up.“Sure.”

I pulled off my shirt and took the seat Laken had just vacated.I placed a hand over my heart, and a bare patch of skin.“I wantProperty of Lakenright here.”

Zipper grinned and started getting everything set up.My tattoo took less time than hers, and I noticed she had tears in her eyes as she watched her name being inked into my skin.A permanent reminder that we belonged to each other.

When Zipper was finished, I pulled her into my arms and kissed her.“I love you, Laken.So damn much.”

“I love you too,” she said, tears in her eyes and her voice a little shaky.

“Awww.Ain’t that sweet?”Zipper said.“Now get the fuck out of here.”

I pulled my shirt back on and took Laken home.

I didn’t know what the future held for us, but I knew we’d be together.And that was all that mattered.As long as I had Laken, then I had everything I could possibly need or want.

Epilogue

Laken

Six Months Later

“Are you sure you want to know?”Ryker asked.

I bit my lip to keep from laughing.He looked ready to jump out of his skin he was so damn excited.“I’m sure.”

The technician moved the little wand over my belly.This was our third ultrasound.I’d had a few complications along the way, but so far we’d decided to wait and be surprised with the gender of our baby.But I knew Ryker really wanted to know, and he was hoping for a boy.I would be happy either way.As long as my baby arrived healthy, that was all I cared about.

“Let’s see if Baby Storme will cooperate,” the technician said.

My hand tightened on Ryker’s, my wedding band likely cutting into him.He’d bought me an outrageous diamond a month after we got our property tattoos, and we were married the following week.He’d decided he wanted to do things the “right” way, and wanted me to have his name.

“Ah!”The technician smiled broadly.“See that there?Looks like Baby Storme is very well endowed.”

Ryker chuckled and I smacked him with my free hand.Just like a man.

“I hope you have some boy names picked out,” the technician said as she wiped the goo off my stomach.

We did.But there was one I knew was perfect.

“Gabriel Storme,” I said.

“The boy has a little devil and a little angel in him,” Ryker said.“Maybe if he’s named after an angel, he won’t make the mistakes his daddy made.”

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