Chapter 30

Thirty

Regan

R ook stood next to the bed, pulling off his hoodie with a heavy look in his eyes after he asked me to lie in bed watching my favorite show with him. I didn't know if it was a ploy for anything else, but I didn't think I cared either way.

The shirt came off next, and I took a deep breath. I loved looking at him. He made himself a canvas, each special piece telling a different story about himself. The dark swirls over his skin came together into one beautiful piece of art. The left side always caught my eye. The scarred side of his torso had to be a constant reminder of the fire that took everything. The scars were rough and uneven, a stark contrast to the smoothness of the rest of his skin. But they only made him more interesting, a beautiful imperfection that I could appreciate from any piece of artwork. Each time I saw him like this, I couldn't help but feel in awe of every part of him.

He had said nothing, but he smirked when he realized I was staring at him.

"Come on," he said, kicking off his boots. "Turn it on."

"You really just want to watch TV?" I asked, already clicking it on as I lay back.

"Yes," he said as he undid his belt. His eyes stayed locked on mine as he kicked off his shoes and jeans until he was standing in front of me in nothing but boxers. "All those nights I was here stalking you, this is what you did. Well, up here or in the living room, and I was dying to come inside and lie down."

"I thought you were bored out of your mind watching me?"

"Oh, I was, but it was nice. I run around chasing the worst types of people doing the worst types of things. We don't stop. Most nights, we don't sleep. Even when I do get to bed, I don't sleep much. I have so much on my mind that I can't."

"What type of stuff do you have on your mind?"

"The type of work you don't want to hear about," he said with a smirk. "Then Maverick Moto work, and now we are kicked out of the place we were living. Apparently, enough people complained about our bikes."

"Don't you have enough to get a new place?"

"More than enough. But it's hard to find somewhere that houses seven or more people with loud bikes. A place that's also private and can be discreet as far as our names on it. I guess we have to buy a place, so we are working on it."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize."

"Realize that I don't just go around killing people and actually do have a house?" he asked, laughing quietly.

"Yeah, I guess so," I said, laughing along with him. "You just don't go around talking about your home life or anything, so I didn't have any idea about it."

"I do have a home. I mean, usually. And I sleep sometimes. I'm not a vampire. Although, that would make my life easier."

"For the killing part or the not sleeping part?"

"Both." He laughed again, pulling me against him now as he rolled under the covers next to me. "Are you still scared of me?"

"No. I don't know how much I was truly scared of you. Maybe a time or two, but there's no reason to be now. You've had plenty of chances to hurt me."

"I promise you will never be safer than when you are with me."

"I think tonight proved that is a lie. When I am with you, people die." I almost laughed, but stopped myself. It wasn't a joke. That was truly what happened.

He rolled over until I was pinned underneath him.

"No one will ever hurt you if I am with you." He bit at my ear before kissing down my neck. "I will kill them. It doesn't even take a second to think it over. That's why people die when you're with me," he said with a grin, "because I won't be giving them any chance to hurt you."

"Why?"

"Because you are mine, and I will protect what is mine until I die."

"That's gross and almost sweet."

"I'm a monster, Regan, but I can be your monster. And in these four walls, with you, I only want to be sweet. I only want you to feel safe because I wouldn't let anything happen to you."

"Then tone down the murder talk."

"Then tell me how the beginning of your day was before you thought going out to party with my sister would not end in a murder," he said, kissing along my neck.

"You really want to hear about my day?"

He nodded against me, running his hands over my hips again and again.

I told him the little I had done before going to the shop to meet with Evie, and he murmured his questions and answers until I could hear the drowsiness in his tone.

How could someone kill a man and then crawl into my bed to talk?

I talked a little more about my drawings and hanging out with Harper, but when I looked back over, his eyes were closed and he was asleep.

His face relaxed, every part of him finally calm and peaceful. Black hair fell over his forehead, and I stared at the tattoos that ran on the side of his neck.

One tattooed hand laid across my stomach. His knuckles were red, with one split open. I didn't know when he had gotten into a fight, but it had obviously been a few days. He hadn't told me about it. It had to hurt, but he gave no sign it bothered him.

I ran a hand down his face, surprised when he nuzzled into it.

"Hey, baby," he murmured.

"I thought you were asleep. You look so much less dangerous when you're sleeping." He smiled, his eyes still closed as he turned and bit at the palm of my hand. "Ouch," I whispered, smiling.

"Still dangerous."

"I'm terrified."

"You keep saying that."

"You keep doing things to make me terrified."

His eyes were heavy as he nuzzled against my hand again. "You're the first person I haven't wanted to be terrified of me, but I still have to be me. Do the things I do."

"But who do I trust you are? The guy who is out there doing those violent things or the guy cuddling up to me in bed?"

"I'm both. It's all me, but I don't think anyone knows this part of me. I'll still get blood on my hands in my life. I can guarantee it, but not yours."

"We're back to gross, but sweet."

"I think that's what you are agreeing to with me."

"What if I'm agreeing to nothing with you?"

He grinned, closing his eyes again. "Then you are going to have one pissed off stalker."

"Not fair."

"Not at all."

"I want a lot with you, Rook. I think I can handle the good with the bad."

"You think so?"

"It's definitely a think so," I said, laughing as he pulled me in closer.

"I'll take it," he whispered before drifting back to sleep.