Reeve’s expression shifted immediately. He stepped closer, his breath warm against my lips as he rasped, “Don’t cry, baby.”
“I can’t help it.” A watery laugh escaped me. “But these are happy tears, I promise.”
“They still kill me.”
The raw honesty in his voice loosened something in my chest. I’d realized the depth of my feelings for him days ago, but the time hadn’t felt right to say the words out loud. Until now. “I love you.”
He kissed me. Hard and deep. Like he’d been waiting for that confession.
When he finally tore his mouth from mine, his voice was hoarse. “Fuck, baby. I love you too.”
Then he pulled me into his chest, his arms wrapping around me tightly as I sank into him without hesitation. This was where I belonged, where I’d always choose to be.
Reeve didn’t let go of me right away. His forehead rested lightly against mine like he needed just one more moment of closeness before he could move. Then he exhaled, brushed his thumb along my cheekbone, and lifted his other hand.
For the first time, I noticed what he was holding.
A smaller version of his cut. My breath caught in my chest when he turned it in his hand, revealing what had been stitched onto it—PROPERTY OF ONYX.
“Reeve,” I breathed.
Emotion clogged my throat before I could get anything else out.
“I know what you told me about that symbol on your calf. How it felt like being branded.” His fingers brushed the edge of the patch, his expression tight. Like he hated that memory as much as I did. “I get that the word property might hit wrong for you.”
“It doesn’t,” I cut in softly, surprising even myself with how sure I sounded.
“You sure?” he asked.
“This is nothing like what Jareth did to me. That was manipulation.” I pressed my palm to Reeve’s chest, over his heartbeat. “This is the opposite. I gave myself to you rather enthusiastically from what I remember. I chose to be your woman. I want your vest…and your ink on my skin.”
Relief flashed in his eyes before he hauled me in for a hungry kiss which ended faster than I preferred because the kitchendoor swung open behind us. We broke apart just as people spilled into the room.
“Ohhh, put it on!” Stella crowed, spotting the vest immediately. “Make it official.”
Courtney clapped her hands. “About time!”
“You can say that again,” Kevlar snorted. “Maybe now he’ll chill the fuck out.”
“Another brother bites the dust,” Ace muttered.
Reeve glared at both of them as he slid the vest onto my back. Suddenly I was surrounded, the women fussing over me, welcoming me like I’d always belonged here.
“You’re family now.” Nora squeezed my hand. She was Ash’s wife, and also an EMT. So she’d looked me over the morning after my ordeal, just to ease Reeve’s concerns.
“One of us,” Annika added with a grin.
Reeve stayed close behind me, one hand resting at the small of my back while I enjoyed the feeling of belonging. And just when I thought the moment couldn’t get any better, he proved me wrong.
After everyone had their chance to congratulate us, his gaze dragged down my body and back up. “Love how you look in that vest. Like you belong to me in every way that matters.”
I smiled up at him. “Because I do.”
“Yeah.” He pulled me closer until our bodies brushed. “But I need more, baby.”
Before I could ask what he meant, he slipped his hand into his jeans pocket and pulled out a ring. A black diamond set in platinum. Simple but stunning.
“Reeve,” I whispered, but he shook his head like he wasn’t ready to let me say anything yet.
