Page 28 of Reaper's Ride
“Well, it’s one of those situations where you just have to trust me, darlin’. Okay?”
A dramatic sigh followed. “Okay.”
Good.
“But only because you promised treats later.”
I grinned. “After the tricks, lots of treats.”
It was silly how often we made Halloween jokes. I fucking loved that she was playful. It was another way we connected. An added bonus because I couldn’t get enough of her, and the more we had in common, the better.
“Dress warm. It’ll be chilly on my bike.”
I planned to keep it so long that it became mine. Rael would have to deal with his crankiness.
She blinked, swiping the hair out of her eyes with a shaky hand. “You want me on the back of your bike?”
I frowned. “Why wouldn’t I?”
“Because it’s sacred to bikers, especially the Graven Bastards. Only ol’ ladies ride behind them.”
“That’s right.” I didn’t see the issue.
Her eyes look glassy. “That’s me?”
Fuck. I cradled her face and kissed her, then lowered my forehead to hers. “I guess I still haven’t been clear about what we are and what it means to be in my room. I’m not just fucking you, Lainey. You’re my woman. My Reaper has claimed you.”
“I understand that part.”
“You’re mine now. My ol’ lady. My ride or die. My whole fucking heart.” Didn’t she see now? I couldn’t go on without her. She was oxygen in my lungs. Life. Everything.
“It’s going to take some time for me to get used to this,” she whispered.
“Get used to what?”
“Being happy. Being wanted for more than a good fuck.”
Christ. I fucking loved her sweet talk and naughty mouth. “Then no more doubt. Promise me.”
“No more,” she agreed.
“Come on. I want to ride out to the motel while the moon is high.”
Once we both dressed, I led her outside and to the bike, ensuring her helmet was secure before we left The Crossroads. The moon had climbed high in the star-riddled sky as we rode toward the motel, brightly twinkling as Lainey’s hands wrapped my stomach with warmth.
The lot was mostly abandoned as I parked, an eerie fog rolling across the asphalt, billowing around our legs as we walked through thick white clouds. Lainey gripped my hand and pressed against my side as she searched for the masked manwho chased her while I slept only feet away, unaware of her scary romp through Tonopah’s haunted cemetery.
Yeah, it was haunted. I could see that now.
Before receiving my Reaper, I only suspected ghosts roamed these grounds and the long-abandoned silver mines. Now, I could see them. In various stages of decay, stuck forever in the throes of death, they lingered on the soil as if searching for peace.
Not all spirits remained. I could sense that. Some left as soon as death occurred. But others, mostly those who died in gruesome ways or were murdered, couldn’t handle the trauma. They swept across the headstones with footsteps that never touched the ground—always chasing, searching, begging for release.
That was the spirit who appeared before us. A man in a black hoodie pulled too long to see his gruesome features, but my Reaper did. I felt my lip lift in a snarl.
“He’s here.”
It was the Reaper’s voice, not mine.
