Gunner pulled out of her and lay next to her, not saying anything. Paige brushed her fingers against his. He clasped them, raised them to his lips. Gunner gave each of her knuckles a kiss. Her heart fluttered.
“We forgot protection,” Gunner finally said.“Shit.”
“Don’t worry, I’m clean, and there’s no chance of me having a baby.”
“I’m clean as well. I took a test two weeks ago. Wait. What do you mean by that?”
Paige hesitated, not wanting to ruin the moment. Gunner gave her hand a squeeze, then rolled on his side to gaze down at her.
She might as well let out the last of her dirty secrets in the open. Lies and abuse defined her relationship with Richard. She wanted it to be different with Gunner. A clean slate. There would be no lies between them.
“After my last miscarriage, the doctor confirmed I can’t carry another baby to full term.” There. She’d admitted it.
Paige shut her eyes for a few moments, seeing herself sitting on the bathroom floor, staring at the red stain on her nightgown. She felt equal parts angry, sad, and relieved. Relieved in knowing no child of hers would grow up living in fear.
Did Gunner want children? Would that knowledge make or break whatever they had? Paige wouldn’t call it a relationship, not yet, especially when they were still starting to get to know each other.
“I’m so sorry to hear that, Paige,” he murmured, leaning close to brush his lips gently against hers. Then his gaze darkened. “Did it have to do with Richard?”
“The first miscarriage did. This one, well, maybe my body knew I didn’t want to bear a child with Richard. He promised he’d love our son or daughter, but I knew he’d let out his temper on his or her eventually.”
“How many miscarriages did you have?” Gunner asked, his expression hard to read.
He didn’t show it, but she knew he was angry. All that rage wasn’t directed at her, but Richard, and that frightened her. The Ruthless Reapers might own Grace, but Richard’s family had connections and money.
“Just two,” she said. “I’m sorry for ruining tonight, but I just thought you should know. I don’t want any secrets between us.”
Gunner kissed the top of her head. “Thank you, for telling me. I know it wasn’t easy.”
“Does it bother you? That I can’t have children?” Paige asked him.
“Not at all. You’re perfect the way you are,” Gunner said. “I don’t want to change a single damn thing about you.”
A weight lifted inside her when he said those words. She had worried if she could be enough for him, if Gunner would still want her despite her past.
He laid his head on the pillow, and Paige rested her head against his inked shoulder. They indulged in small talk for a little while before sleep took her. She wasn’t worried about nightmares, not tonight with Gunner lying next to her in bed. He was her talisman against the dark.
Chapter Five
Paige dismounted from Gunner’s bike, then fussed with the hem of her sweater.
“Am I dressed okay?” she asked him for the second time that day.
Gunner kept their helmets, then regarded her for a few moments. A cool breeze whipped her hair back, and Paige looked nervously at the MC clubhouse.
Today was King’s birthday, and Gunner was going to introduce her to the people he considered his family. Paige didn’t want to mess this up.
“You look fine. Better than fine,” Gunner said, eying her up and down.
Paige blushed, although she didn’t think she looked that attractive in her tight black sweater and blue jeans. Maybe she should’ve worn a dress? But it was cold today, and she didn’t want to freeze.
“Come on, stop worrying and meet everyone,” Gunner said, taking her hand in his. Her nerves still didn’t go away, but with Gunner beside her, she felt brave enough to walk into a building full of bikers.
Two weeks had passed since their first official date. So far, they hadn’t gotten into any fights or disagreements. Paige kept waiting for the other shoe to drop because, in her experience, happiness never lasted long.
Gunner slid a possessive arm over her shoulders and led her inside, probably before she could lose her nerve. Paige had never been inside the Ruthless Reapers’ clubhouse. The inside of the building looked like a roadside bar, with plenty of smaller tables and a long bar at the corner.
Paige noticed they drew curious looks. A heavily inked and muscled biker greeted them first. He nearly dwarfed the petite, dark-haired woman next to him, but Paige didn’t miss the possessive look the biker shot the woman.
