Shade's Fall
Page 97

He stood up, going into the bedroom then coming out with a small package, handing it to her.
Lily opened the tiny package. Inside she found the exact replica of the flower that Gaige had destroyed.
“Happy Valentine’s Day.”
“Thank you, Shade. I love it.” She reached up, kissing his cheek.
“I’m going to go take a shower. Can I trust you not to sneak out again?”
“Yes.” She curled her legs under her, sipping her hot chocolate.
She was still sitting and staring into the flames when he came back wearing sweatpants. His tats stood out in the firelight as he put some more logs on the fire.
He sat down next to her on the sofa, his arm on the back of the couch. “What are you looking so serious about?”
Lily shrugged, avoiding his question.
“Lily?” His blue gaze demanded an answer.
“Nothing, really. I was just thinking.” She looked up at him.
His hand cupped her cheek, his thumb wiping away the lone tear clinging to her lashes. “About what?”
“It’s just that I waited such a long time to see the Northern Lights… it would have been disappointing if they hadn’t been as beautiful as I thought they would.”
“I’m sure it would have,” he said gently.
“I was just thinking that you said you had waited for me since Razer had met Beth, and then I thought that… what if I wasn’t what you wanted. You might become disappointed.”
“You did a lot of thinking while I was in the shower.”
“I know.” She nodded her head.
“Lily, you only saw the Northern Lights in pictures. It’s different having expectations of something that you don’t know anything about. I grew to know you over the years; what a warm, loving woman you are, how you can’t stand anyone hurt, and how strong you were to survive a childhood that would have seriously fucked up anyone else. Angel, I didn’t have expectations. I knew I wanted that sweet girl whose beautiful soul I could see in her eyes. The more I grew to know you, I wasn’t disappointed— I was captivated by everything I had learned. It was like unwrapping a pretty Christmas package and finding a work of art inside that’s priceless. So, no, I wasn’t disappointed.”
Lily looked at her husband who always tried to give her what she needed. “You’re definitely not what I expected. Giving me flowery speeches on Valentine’s Day, a trip to Alaska to make my dream come true, even being a nice guy and giving Georgia’s brother her job, so that he would be able to support his kids and hers while she’s in prison.
“The first time I saw you, all I could think about was how scary you looked with all those tattoos. Then they ended up being the reason I fell in love with you,” Lily said ruefully.
“You fell in love with me because of my tats?”
“I understood their meanings.” She reached up, touching the stars on the side of his neck. “The stars are your guide so you always know what’s important, the compass so you never lose your way home.” Her fingertips brushed the one on his collarbone. “Strength and loyalty, meant someone strong enough to always protect me.” Her hand glided down to the tat scrawled across his chest. “Only Death Can Stop Me—someone who will always be there for me. When I realized their meaning, I realized I had found him.”
“Who?” Shade’s tender voice was another reason she loved him. He gave her gentleness; not all the time, but when she needed it most.
“I knew I had found my cowboy.” Lily’s arm circled Shade’s neck, touching his lips with hers in a kiss that expressed how much she loved him.
It had been a long journey from Queens City, Texas. Behind her she had left a life that she would never forget; however, she had learned to forgive because each moment had set her on the path to Treepoint, Kentucky, where she had found a new sister and family who would protect her for the rest of her life. The Last Riders would be a force for anyone to reckon with. Most of all, she had found Shade; a strong, protective and gentle man who loved her.
She felt Shade lift her up into his arms, laying her down on the blanket in front of the fire. She smiled as she opened her arms to her husband. She had been right; God had heard her prayers better in the mountains.
* * *
Razer closed the bathroom door, seeing Beth standing by their bedroom window, staring out into the starry sky. He came to stand behind her, his arms slipping around her waist.
“What are you doing?”
“Saying thank you. There were times I didn’t think my prayers were going to be answered, but they were.” Her pale blonde hair shone in the moonlight coming through the window.
“I don’t think Shade has ever been referred to as the answer to anyone prayers.” Beth turned to look at Razer.
“He was mine. I prayed for someone strong enough to keep Lily safe and take away her nightmares, and he sent me Shade. Lily wasn’t the only one who had her prayers answered; mine were, too. If Cash had left town and not looked back, I would never have met you.” Beth looked at the still-arrogant man whose heart she had managed to capture.
“Divine intervention?” Razer said wryly.
Beth nodded her head while Razer shook his.
“I don’t know if I believe that, but I’m more than happy with the way things turned out.” His hands slipped the robe off her shoulders before they lifted her breast to his mouth. He sucked her nipple into his mouth, his hand sliding down across her stomach toward her… His hand caught on a piece of tape. He stepped back, looking at the gauze taped across her tat.
“What’s this?”
“It’s your Valentine’s Day present,” Beth said with a smile.
Razer went to his knees so he could take the gauze off. He saw the tat she had gotten on her hip when she first became a member—a razor blade cutting into her flesh and a tiny drop of blood that was in the shape of a heart with the date of their marriage inside. She had told him it represented him. When he had seen the tattoo, he had thought it was cool to have his symbol on her forever.
Razer swallowed hard when he saw what she had just had done. A tiny blue heart was underneath his.
Razer stood up, twirling her around before stopping and kissing her.
“I owe Cash a beer.” He laughed.
“Razer, you owe him a couple of beers. The ultrasound didn’t show the sex of the other one. I thought that I would wait and get their tat after they got here,” Beth said, surprising Razer with her news that they were expecting not one baby but twins.
Razer buried his head in her neck, remembering how much of a jerk he had been when they first met. If she hadn’t forgiven him, they wouldn’t be standing here in their new home with two babies on the way.
“I’ll be right back,” Razer said, avoiding her gaze.
He walked out of their bedroom, leaving her standing naked. She bent down, picking up her robe. She had thought he would be happy. Doubt set in. She should have told him he was having twins more gently. He had gone from being a man who was determined no woman would ever have a hold over him to a married man and now a father in a few short years.
They had been trying to have a baby for the last year. She had let her excitement overrule her common sense. The reality for Razer must have been too much to handle. She should have known that this was going to…