Reapers Sweet Obsession

chapter six

Mia woke up to the low rumble of thunder in the distance. The storm had returned, spraying rain against the barred windows of Reaper’s room. She lay still for a long moment, listening. The couch was empty again. Reaper had slipped out sometime before dawn, leaving only the faint scent of leather and soap behind him.

She dressed quickly in another set of simple clothes Raven had provided and braided her long hair. The small routines helped her feel more like herself, even if the surroundings screamed otherwise. When the knock came, she was almost relieved it was Raven again.

“Reaper’s tied up in back-to-back meetings,” Raven explained as they walked toward the kitchen. “Vipers hit a shipment last night. Everyone’s on edge. He wants you to stay close to the main building.”

Mia nodded, her stomach was tight. Every new piece of club violence reminded her how scary her situation was. One wrong move and she could become collateral damage in a war she wanted no part of.

In the kitchen, she lost herself in work again. Today she made sandwich loaves and a batch of rich chocolate brownies. The warm, comforting smells pushed back some of the fear. A few men lingered near the doorway, drawn by the scent, but they kept their voices low and respectful. No one dared cross the invisible line Reaper had drawn around her.

Tank stopped by briefly, accepting a warm brownie with a grateful nod. “You’re keeping morale up, Mia. The boys are fighting over who gets to deliver messages just so they can smell what’s baking.”

Mia managed a small, cautious smile but said little. Even Tank’s friendliness felt dangerous. Every man here answered to Reaper. Every kindness could be a tool.

By late afternoon the rain had eased into a steady drizzle. Mia was wiping down the counters when the familiar heavy footsteps approached. She tensed instantly, gripping the cloth tighter.

Reaper filled the doorway. Rainwater glistened on his dark hair and leather coat. His eyes found her immediately. A fresh bruise shadowed his jaw, and his knuckles looked raw. Whatever had happened outside had been violent.

He didn’t step fully inside. Instead he leaned against the frame, watching her the way a predator studies something precious and fragile.

“Busy again,” he murmured. That rough voice carried the now-familiar teasing edge. “You’re going to spoil my men rotten, sugar. They’re starting to ask when you’re making your next special order.”

Mia kept her eyes on the counter. “It keeps my hands busy. Stops me from thinking too much.”

Reaper’s low chuckle sent an unwelcome shiver down her spine. “Thinking about running again?” He tilted his head. “I can see it in your eyes. That little spark of defiance. It’s almost cute how hard you’re fighting this.”

Mia’s cheeks burned. She hated how easily he read her. “Wouldn’t you fight if someone took your whole life away?”

His dark gaze sharpened, something deeper flickering behind the teasing. “I did once. Long time ago. Lost almost everything. That’s why I built all this.” He gestured vaguely to the compound around them. “To make sure nothing gets taken from me again. And now… that includes you.”

The quiet possessiveness in his words wrapped around her like smoke. Mia’s heart raced. She was still terrified of him, of his size, his reputation, the casual violence she saw evidence of on his body, but there was something else now. A dark magnetic pull she didn’t want to acknowledge. The way he watched her made her feel seen in a way no one ever had.

“I’m not something you can just keep,” she whispered

Reaper’s lips curved into that slow, dangerous half-smile. “Yet here you are. Baking in my kitchen. Sleeping in my bed. Wearing clothes I picked for you.” He took one measured step closer, stopping well short of arm’s reach. “Tell me, little baker… when you lie awake at night pretending to sleep, what scares you more? That I might hurt you? Or that you might start liking it here?”

Mia’s breath caught. Heat flooded her face. She turned away quickly, busying herself with stacking clean trays. The dark promise in his teasing words lingered in the air between them, heavy and electric.

Reaper didn’t push further. He never did. He simply watched her for another long moment, then said, “Save some of those brownies for me. I’ll be back late tonight. Door stays locked. Raven’s nearby if you need anything.”

He left without waiting for her reply.

Mia let out a shaky breath and leaned against the counter. Her hands trembled. She hated the confusing swirl of emotions he left behind, fear, yes, but also a reluctant curiosity. A dark little thrill at the way his attention focused entirely on her. No one had ever looked at her like that. Like she was the only thing in his violent world worth protecting. Worth keeping.

Raven returned shortly after, helping her clean up. “He’s different with you,” she said quietly, as if reading Mia’s thoughts. “I’ve known Reaper for years. He doesn’t chase. He doesn’t explain himself. But with you… he’s holding back. That’s new.”

Mia didn’t answer. She didn’t know how to.

The evening passed slowly. She ate a quiet dinner with Raven in the kitchen, then returned to the locked room. The rain had picked up again, drumming steadily on the roof. Mia changed into soft sleep clothes and curled up on the far side of the bed, facing the wall as usual.

Hours later, the door opened. Reaper moved quietly, clearly trying not to wake her. She heard the shower run, then the rustle of him settling on the couch.

.Mia lay awake, hyper-aware of every shift in his breathing. She could feel his gaze on her back even in the darkness. The tension stretched between them like a wire pulled tight.

After a long stretch of silence, his low voice drifted across the room. “I know you’re not sleeping, Mia.”

She stayed perfectly still, her heart hammering in her chest.

“Stubborn. I like that more than I should.” His voice dropped even lower. “Sleep, sugar. When you’re ready to stop fighting what this is… I’ll be right here. And I won’t be gentle about claiming every inch of what’s mine.”

The words hung in the air long after he went quiet. Mia squeezed her eyes shut in fear

he was dangerous, unpredictable, and a killer but underneath it, something darker and sweeter was beginning to stir. A forbidden pull toward the ruthless man who had ripped her from her safe life and refused to let her go.

She didn’t answer him.

But as the rain continued falling over the sleeping compound, Mia realized the lines between terror and temptation were already starting to blur.

And Reaper seemed more than willing to wait in the shadows until she crossed them.