Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 40362 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 202(@200wpm)___ 161(@250wpm)___ 135(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40362 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 202(@200wpm)___ 161(@250wpm)___ 135(@300wpm)
I tugged her closer to me, draping her across my lap. “We didn’t protect you like we promised you we would,” I told her quietly. And whether I liked it or not, that was the fucking truth. “It’s my fault and the club’s fault that you were raped, shot, and cut the fuck up.” She shook her head, but I was firm on that. “Reina, it is our fault. None of that shit happened because you’re a horrible person. We didn’t protect you. Fuck, baby, I didn’t protect you.”
And I would live with that guilt and that knowledge for the rest of my fucking life.
She looked up at me through her wet lashes, but there weren’t any tears on her cheeks yet. “Why are we so fucked up?” she whispered.
I rubbed the pad of my thumb over her bottom lip. “Because normalcy is fucking overrated, baby girl.”
She blew out a shaky laugh. I grabbed the ring from my cut and grabbed her hand in mine. She gasped when she saw the glittering diamond between my fingers. Her eyes snapped back up to mine. A crooked grin pulled at my lips. “Want to continue being fucked up together, baby girl? We’re together ‘til death do us part anyway, but I’d like to do right by you.”
She nodded, lost for words. I brushed my nose with hers. “That a yes?” I whispered.
She nodded again, her lips parting like she wanted to say something but couldn’t manage to get the words past her lips.
I slipped the ring on her finger and then pressed my lips to hers, taking those sweet lips as my own.
“Here’s to being fucked up together,” she whispered against my lips.
I groaned and sealed that with an even deeper kiss.
When we stepped back inside, low music was already pumping through the speakers, and drinks were flowing. Two of the bunnies were working the bar. Adelaide and River were sitting over on the couches, the kids playing on the floor in front of them.
I grabbed Reina’s hand in mine, and with a grin I couldn’t fucking contain, I lifted her hand up in the air, her diamond facing everyone.
“She fucking said yes!” I shouted. Reina beamed at my side, her happiness unable to be contained.
Cheers erupted in the clubhouse. Adelaide rushed up and hugged Reina, ripping her from me. River clapped me on the back. “About fucking time you pulled your head out of your ass, brother,” he teased. “That woman wasn’t going to wait forever on you.”
I shrugged. “Almost losing her a second time put a lot of shit into perspective for me.” It had changed my entire outlook on life. Thinking she’d run off because she was tired of the constant back and forth had gutted me. But knowing she’d taken off because she couldn’t find solace here after what happened to her . . . well, that nearly fucking killed me.
I nodded my head in thanks to one of the bunnies that handed me a beer. Her hand touched my chest, but I quickly brushed it off, sending her a hard look. And Reina—just like the possessive woman she was—stepped closer, a sneer on her face. “Move along,” Reina snapped.
I turned my woman to face me, grinning down at her. “All of this belongs to you,” I reminded her.
She shrugged. “Doesn’t mean I like their eyes or their hands on you.”
With a husky laugh, I dropped my lips to hers. “What do you say about taking this to our room? And you can put more than just eyes and hands on me.” I brushed my thumb over her bottom lip. “Maybe this mouth?”
She ran her hands under my shirt. “Thought you’d never suggest it,” she breathed.
She grabbed my hand in hers, and I thrust my undrunk beer at River. He barked out a laugh. Whistles and catcalls followed us, but I didn’t give a fuck.
This woman was mine, and I was more than fucking happy to let her do whatever the hell she wanted to me, even if it might eventually kill me.
18
Sam
I adjusted my cut and rolled my head around on my shoulders, trying to relax. But fuck if that didn’t seem impossible today.
Today was the day I finally got to change Reina’s last name to mine. Today was the day I got to claim her in the last fucking way I could. Today, her name was going next to mine on a marriage certificate.
“Breathe, brother,” River told me, drawing me out of my rambling head. “Never seen you look like you’re going to vomit,” he teased.
“Fuck you,” I muttered. He barked out a laugh. I scrubbed my hands down my face. “What if she decides this isn’t what she wants?” I asked him, dropping my hands back to my sides with a smack. “God fucking knows that I fucked around on her for fucking years. She deserves better. Don’t fucking understand why she still chose me.”