Page 84 of Reaper

“Of course, sweetie. Just be careful, okay?They’re a lot younger than you.”

“Can I be their big brother?” he asks, his eyes wide and hopeful.

“That’s exactly what you can be, little man,” Reaper says, coming up behind us and placing a hand on my shoulder. I smile up at him, thankful for the wonderful father he is to our son.

With Ace off playing and the burger bar ready, I take a moment to breathe in the joy and love surrounding us. This is what a family should be like, full of laughter and support. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

The sun sinks lower on the horizon, casting a golden glow over the back yard and illuminating the happy faces of our makeshift family. I watch as Ace takes on his new role as big brother with pride, guiding the younger kids through their games.

Leaning close to Reaper, I whisper, “You’re a good dad.”

He shrugs modestly, a hint of vulnerability in his eyes. “I’m trying.”

“Trying? Babe, you’re a natural at being a father.” Sincerity laces my words, and I see the gratitude flicker across his face.

His lips curl into a smile, and he pulls me in for a passionate kiss, his strong arms wrapping around me. The world seems to fade away, leaving just the two of us, until Scar and Talon whistle and catcall, breaking the moment.

“Get a room!” Talon calls out with a teasinggrin.

“Maybe we will later,” Reaper shoots back playfully, not missing a beat.

“All right, everyone! Time to eat!” Nina calls, motioning to the fully stocked burger bar.

We gather around, eagerly assembling our burgers. We sit at the large picnic tables on the lawn. Moms and dads work together to make sure their kids all have plates of food. They sit in smaller family units within the bigger club family. Trencher and Nina sit next to each other, chatting about his plans to renovate an older part of the clubhouse.

As I take a bite of my juicy, perfectly cooked burger, I can’t help but marvel at how far we’ve all come. These men, once hardened by tragedy and loss, have found happiness and love. Their lives have changed for the better, and it shows in the easy camaraderie and shared joy surrounding us now. And it’s not just them. I’ve found my own happiness here, too.

I glance around at the faces of our family, knowing we’re bound together by loyalty, trust, and an unwavering belief in each other. At this moment, I can’t ask for anything more.

As we finish our last bites, Nina stands up, clapping her hands together to get our attention. “The movie’s starting as soon as the sun sets. Time to grab some blankets and pillows from inside!”

Excited, the kids race into the house, theiryouthful energy contagious. I join Julia, Holly, and Daisy as we help our little ones arrange their spots on the grass in front of the huge outdoor projector. Jessica helps Holly wrangle Trent and Robert. Both kids were named after rockstars, and they’re living up to their names, rambunctious as hell. Holly and Nitro definitely have their hands full, but I can tell they love their kids as much as they love each other. Trencher and Nina share a blanket at the front of the group.

Once everyone is settled, the opening credits roll. I snuggle under the shared blanket with Reaper, his warmth instantly comforting. As the movie plays on, I find myself getting lost in the story, my thoughts occasionally drifting to how lucky we are to have everyone around us.

A sly grin spreads across Reaper’s face as he slides his hand under the blanket, fingertips brushing against my thigh. I playfully swat at his hand, my eyes narrowing with mock disapproval.

“Not now,” I whisper. “Later.”

“Later?” he murmurs, his voice low and seductive, teasing me. “Let’s sneak off to the barn, babe.”

I hesitate for a moment, glancing around to see if anyone’s watching. They’re not, and the mischievous glint in Reaper’s eyes is too alluring to resist. We carefully slip away, unnoticed by the others, making our way toward the old woodenbarn.

Inside the hayloft, light filters through the cracks between the boards, casting soft shadows across Reaper’s face. He pulls me into his arms, and our lips connect with fiery passion. Our love fuels our desire.

We quickly discard our clothes, tossing them onto a pile to protect us from the rough texture of the hay bales beneath us.

As we lose ourselves in each other’s embrace, I can’t help but think this love—this connection—is what we’ve both been searching for all our lives.

Riding high, we reach the explosive summit together.

“Fuck, babe. I love you so much,” he groans as he fills me with molten heat.

“Love you too, sexy,” I whisper, trailing my lips across his throat to give him one last shiver of pleasure.

We lie together for a few minutes before rejoining the group around the fire pit. I guess we were gone for a while because we find everyone toasting marshmallows for s’mores.

Nina glances at us with a knowing smile as she points to my hair. “Lexi, honey, you’ve still got some hay in your hair.”

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