Page 46 of Ghost

“I’m sorry, I just wanted you to treat me as before. And even though you were with me, I didn’t know how to reach you.”

“Not sure you could have. I needed to work it through my head.”

“Well, I’ll tell you this. If a week without getting laid gets this result. Then I can’t wait to see what you’re gonna be like with the six weeks of refraining after the babies are born.”

“Got plenty of time to prepare for that. I’ll stock up on Chapstick for ya. Don’t want your lips to dry out or crack from all the use they’re going to get from blowing me.” I laughed, and Luna bit my shoulder. “Oww!”

“Put me down and let’s wash, then we can refuel before round two.” I slipped out of her and let her body slide down mine.

“Gonna marry me, baby. Make an honest man out of me?” I asked before I let go of her.

“Now? Or can it wait until we’re done in the shower? The water is getting cold.”

“Is that a yes, Luna?” I asked and smacked her ass. “Because if it is, I’m not waiting. Doing that shit soon.”

“How you can be sweet one minute and so damn bossy the next, amazes me.”

“Still not a fuckin’ yes.”

“I’ve loved you my whole life, Brax. Yes.”

“Love you, too, Luna. And I wouldn’t have accepted a no anyway.”

Luna laughed. “Smug bastard.”

We finished our shower, threw on clothes, and made our way to the kitchen.

As I stood beside her while we threw together sandwiches, I realized how unpredictable life was. There were always going to be times when I felt the weight of it on my shoulders. But in the end, with the right person standing with me, it would never be more weight than I was able to carry.

Epilogue

Jag

Ghost and I pulled the bikes to the curb in front of the building the club recently purchased. Through the window, I saw the contractor had the division wall between the two places completed. It wouldn’t be long until they were done.

After I dismounted, I grabbed the papers I needed from my saddlebags and joined Ghost and Luna on the sidewalk.

“I’m going to go into Yoga Sensual first and get Mrs. Wayne’s signature on the lease, then I’ll meet you next door,” I said and turned toward the door to the other business.

“We’ll go in with you. Luna wants to check if they offer a prenatal yoga class,” Ghost said, and he and Luna moved behind me.

I reached for the handle on the door, but before I grabbed it, the door swung open and I stumbled back as a body plowed into me. Ghost’s quick reaction, when he grabbed my shoulders, was the only thing that kept me on my feet.

“Oh my, I’m so sorry,” was said as I gathered my balance. When I looked at the woman who spoke, she was bent over picking up her bag and the contents that had fallen out when she’d dropped it. From the look of her, I was surprised I hadn’t sent her flying back through the door.

“No problem. Let me help,” I said and bent only to have the woman rise and clock me on the chin with her head. The contact was hard enough my teeth rattled. I grabbed my chin with my hand and tested to see if my jaw was intact, then straightened back up. When I did, green eyes stared at me from a face surrounded by a mass of red hair. “For fuck’s sake, is it your life’s mission to kill me, River?”

“Excuse me, but I was exiting the establishment. Not my fault you don’t watch where you are going. Maybe you should pay better attention.” There was the snotty voice that had been haunting my dreams for more nights than I cared to count and the reason I felt my blood pressure go up.

“Yeah, ya think, huh?”

River glared at me with her chin out, and I leaned my face down to hers.

“Maybe if you pulled that stick out of your—”

“Sorry to interrupt,” Luna said loudly, and I stopped before finishing my sentence. “Here are a few more of your things.” Luna held her arm out and handed River a few more items that had come from her bag.

“Thank you,” River said in a soft tone and smiled tentatively at Luna. Then her smile grew as she looked behind Luna. “Oh, hi. Brax, right?”

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