Chapter 58 Reaper 35

Chapter 58 Reaper 35
“Wake up sweetheart.” Bethany reached in, stretching up on tiptoes so she could unbuckle Olivia’s car seat. “We’re home.”

The fact that they were home so quickly was nothing short of a miracle. The doctor had wanted to keep her under observation, and Bethany might have listened to him, if Reaper hadn’t stepped in.

Olivia was a shifter. She had healed herself, as most shifters were able to do. The hospital was of no further use to her. She would be better off at home, surrounded by her loved ones and toys, than in a sterile hospital room being prodded by needles because she was a rare Siren shifter.

The doctor had agreed… reluctantly.

So, they were home.

“Let me.” Reaper wrapped his arms around her waist, bringing her back flush with his front for just a few seconds, and Bethany felt herself relax against him. “Go and open the door and I'll get her.” He smacked her ass as she walked away, keys already in her palm.  Reaper followed close behind, Olivia nestled in his arms like she was a newborn.

“So where would my lady like to be deposited?” He crooned as he kicked the door shut behind him, and Bethany stifled a laugh at the absolute swoon worthy look on her daughter's face. If he wasn’t careful, she was going to start acting like a spoiled princess.

“Sofa.”

“On your head you say?” He roared out a laugh and tipped her squealing body upside down, playfully bouncing her head off the sofa cushions to peals of laughter.

Bethany shook her head; they were as bad as each other. “You know she is meant to be resting right?” But she couldn’t be angry at them, or the bond they had formed in just a few weeks.

“Ohh yeah, sorry princess, bum on seat and not head.” He put her down gingerly, as if she was made of fine china and gave a theatrical bow. “The evil queen has spoken.” He gave Bethany a cheeky wink and she gave his arm a swat. 

“Mummy isn’t an evil queen, she’s the most beautiful queen in the world.” Olivia’s voice was firm but quiet.

“That she is,” Reaper wrapped Bethany in his arms, kissing her cheek. “The most beautiful woman in the universe.” He lowered his lips to her ear. “I can’t wait to worship her later on.” He said it so quietly that Olivia didn’t even look up, as she reached for the remote control to turn on the television.

“Do you ladies need anything?”

Bethany pulled away slightly, was he going somewhere?

“Are you going?”

“I thought you ladies might want some time to yourselves, but I can stay if it's okay?” He raised his dark brooding brows in Bethany’s direction, but it was Olivia who spoke.

“We are home, it's okay.” Her meaning was clear, and Bethany paled. Did Liv think he was going to be living with them? Bethany shot him a look; they hadn’t talked about moving in together.

“Is it?” he tapped the tip of her nose. “You don’t have to say yes Bethany, it’s a big step.”

“Do you want to?” Her voice was barely a whisper. What would she do if he said no? said that they should wait? When she wanted nothing more than for him to say yes, even if it was so soon. They were mates, had known each other forever, did it matter that they had only just found each other?

He kissed her full on the mouth. “Do I want to wake up every morning next to you? Do I want to climb into bed every night with you? Do I want this…” He motioned to Olivia, who had already lost interest as she watched her favourite cartoon. “It's all I’ve ever wanted.”

“People will think it’s too soon?” She pulled him towards the kitchen; Olivia may look engrossed, but there were things to discuss that little ears shouldn’t hear. Adult things, plus she wanted to kiss him some more.

“Who will?” He stalked towards her, leaning his arms on either side of the counter she had backed up to. Caging her in the circle of his arms. “Roman? Requiem? Rory?”, he punctuated each name with a kiss along her jawline. “Shifters Baby, they know.” More kisses as his left hand snaked around her waist pulling her towards him. “And if they didn’t, then screw them.” He nipped at her ear lobe. “Like I’m going to screw you when we are alone.”

“Reaper.” She batted his chest “You are such a romantic.”

“You know it.” He winked again, and for a split second she saw the cheeky boy she grew into adulthood with. The one that all the girls swooned over, with his dark hair and turquoise eyes. Yet he had chosen her. Had always chosen her, over any other girl. How had she gotten so lucky?

“I love you Reaper.” She wrapped her arms around his neck, staring up into his face.

“I love you as well.” He kissed her lips, parting them softly. “I have always loved you, so are we doing this? Living together?”

Bethany nodded once, too caught up in the taste of his lips on hers to ruin the moment with speech.

“Good, then what do you want for dinner?” He started opening cupboards with a flourish. And she smiled. He could be so theatrical. If he hadn’t become some top-notch secret military dude, he would have made a fine actor. “I’m cooking.” He was frowning at the near empty fridge, reaching in he sniffed the milk and made a face. “Or buying, I think we need to go shopping.”

Bethany paled. How could she have forgotten to get actual food in before her daughter got home. Again, she felt like a failure. “Shall I run to the shops and grab something, or a takeaway?” She scrambled to remember how much money she had in her account. Enough to get a half decent food shop she was sure.

“If I run home, will you two be okay? I have some salmon in the fridge which will do for us tonight. I'll be an hour tops.

“You don’t need my permission, Reaper.”

“No, but I want it. I don’t ever want to do anything that makes you unhappy, but I do need some clothes and bits as well.” He grinned at her “I can only last so long with turning my boxers inside out.”

“You are gross.” Bethany laughed until tears streamed down her face. “Get out of here.”

Bethany watched him under lowered lids as he made himself at home in the kitchen, cutting vegetables so finely that any chef would be proud. Soon the kitchen was filled with the tantalizing smells of garlic and fresh herbs. But it wasn’t the food that had Bethany drooling. He looked gorgeous as he moved around the kitchen, like a professional. And she couldn’t take her eyes off the way his jeans snuggly fitted his firm backside. She didn’t want to take a bite out of the salmon he was taking out of the ocean, she wanted to take a bite out of him.

And she would as soon as they were alone.

“Dinner is served ladies.” He placed the salmon expertly on the small table. And quickly set about dishing up the buttery garlic potatoes and green beans onto the three plates she had already laid out.

“Is this fish?” Olivia poked at it with her fork, a frown marring her smooth forehead.

“Salmon” He took a huge bite.

“I don’t like fish.” Olivia pushed the plate away, and he raised his eyebrows. A Siren who didn’t like fish.

“You don’t? Have you ever tried fish?” Bethany hid her smile behind her hand. He was about to live through one of Olivia’s famous tantrums.

“I don’t like fish!” She stuck out her tongue. “That looks horrible.”

“Olivia…”

“I want a tuna sandwich.”

Reaper howled, laughter splitting his face into a wide grin. “You like tuna?”

“Yes, from a tin, with sweetcorn.”

“This is like the fish you get from the chip shop.” Bethany pushed the plate towards her daughter slightly. “Try it, if you don’t like it, I will make you something else.”

“I don’t like it; I like tuna and fish and chips.”

Bethany groaned, kids logic. “I mean it, Liv, try it. I won’t ask again.”

“It’s okay.” Reaper was already scraping his chair back. “I

Can fix her something else. It’s no bother.”

She threw him a look that made him sit down with a sheepish look on his face. He had a lot to learn where it came to parenting. If Olivia thought for one second she could get away with something, she would, and the quicker he toughened up the better.