Page 41 of Reaper

“As he tried to force himself on me, something inside me snapped. I fought back for the first time, using anything I could get my hands on. A lamp, a bottle of booze. I shattered that bottle over his head and used the serrated edge to cut his throat.”

Lexi raises her eyes to meet mine. I expect to see horror in hers, but there’s only sadness. At least it’s not pity. “Then what happened?”

“I watched the life drain out of his body, and I reveled in it. I danced in his blood, smeared it all over the walls, and waited until Jonathan’s guards figured out what I’d done.”

“Did he punish you?”

“Of course. No food for a week. No water for days. I was delirious and near death when Blackstone finally let me out of the concrete tomb he’d put me in. But you want to know whatthe fucked up part was?”

She nods slowly.

“Blackstone didn’t kill me. He kept me alive because one of his most powerful friends wanted me for himself. I think Blackstone intended to sell me to him, but he never got the chance. Blackstone dangled me like a carrot and used me as leverage to get what he wanted from that guy. That’s the only reason he let me live.”

“God,” she murmurs, her hand reaching for mine. She doesn’t shy away from the darkness within me, instead offering her warmth as a counterbalance.

“But from that day on, I knew how to defend myself,” I continue, locking eyes with Lexi. “But I had to be careful not to get caught. If I murdered the wrong person, Blackstone would’ve killed me without hesitation. I knew who was fair game and who wasn’t. So, whenever I could, I killed those who came to his ranch to indulge in their twisted desires.”

“How many did you kill?”

“Half a dozen. Near the end, I think Blackstone was fully aware of what I was doing. He’d send political rivals to me, and I’d kill them. It was a twisted, symbiotic relationship. I just didn’t realize it at the time. It took me years of wondering why Blackstone didn’t kill me before I figured it out.”

“Did it give you hope, killing people?”

“Yes,” I say, surprised that she gets it. “Itwas never enough, though. All I wanted was to rid the world of people who hurt kids, but there were always more. Even now, they spring up like weeds. The world’s so fucked up.”

“Reaper, you only targeted bad people. I understand why you did it.” She strokes my back slowly, soothing the rage inside me.

“Doesn’t make it right,” I argue, my voice hardening. “And knowing this, knowing the depths of my darkness, how can you think I’d be a good father?”

“Because that was your past,” she says firmly, her eyes shining with conviction. “You protected yourself and others from harm. That’s something a father does—protect those he loves.”

“But what if I can’t change? What if I don’t want to? What if this darkness never leaves me?” My heart clenches because I know it will never disappear, not completely.

“Then we’ll find a way to deal with it,” she promises. “Don’t let what all those people did to you stop you from the joy of being a father.”

Joy? Can I even feel that emotion? It’s something so foreign I can’t fathom it.

“Reaper, baby,” she says softly, “it’s okay to cry. You can’t keep all that pain locked up in your heart. You’ve got to let it out.”

I shake my head, looking into her eyes. “I can’t. I haven’t cried since I was a little kid. Tears don’t change shit. See, that’s something else youneed to understand. I’m incapable of feeling anything but lust and rage.”

“Maybe you just need someone to help you find those other emotions,” she suggests, reaching out to touch my face gently.

Her touch is warm and tender, and suddenly, I find myself relenting. I pull her into my arms, holding her close as if she’s the only thing tethering me to this world. But even now, I can’t cry. My heart aches, but my eyes remain dry.

“I need you,” I say hoarsely as my desire for her takes over. It’s always been there, simmering beneath the surface, but now, it’s undeniable. She’s the only woman who’s ever made me feel safe before. I’ve never talked to anyone like this, but I can do it with her, which only makes me want her more.

“Reaper,” she breathes against my neck. “I need you inside me.”

There’s no hesitation in her voice, no fear. She trusts me completely, and that realization sends molten heat coursing through my body. The monster inside me demands to be sated. I claim her mouth, pushing my tongue past her lips and rasping it over hers. She kisses back with unbridled passion, moaning and pulling me on top of her.

I push back onto my knees and grab her panties, dragging them down her silky thighs before tossing them across the room. Spreading for me, her eyelids droop, and a hazy lustovertakes her features.

Nothing should be between us now, so I tear my shirt over my head before shucking my boxers. My cock springs out, angry and demanding. I need her, not just in a physical way, but in a way that goes beyond mere lust. I need her to remind me that there’s still some semblance of humanity left within me. I need her to believe in me when I can’t believe in myself.

As we come together, our bodies collide with an intensity that’s unmatched by anything we’ve ever experienced before. I surge into her hot, tight heat, filling her until I’m so deep inside her I’m sure she’s seeing stars. Her glassy gaze meets mine. A lazy, sensual smile tugs at the corners of her mouth. I’ve never seen anything so damn sexy in my life.

Moving as one, it becomes clear that this is more than just sex. It’s a connection neither of us is willing to let go of. My fear of being a father still sits in the back of my mind, but there’s no doubt Lexi belongs with me. She’s mine in every way that counts. It’s not official yet. I haven’t claimed her, but I will. As soon as Blackstone’s dead.

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