Page 19 of Riding the Reaper

“Yeah, well.” I look at him, his pale skin lit by the dashboard lights. “So are you.”

I have to concentrate to keep the truck on the road. It’s like 2 AM, my ass is wrecked in the best possible way, I’ve got an impossibly hot former reaper sitting next to me, and there’s a weird tingly feeling under my skin like I’ve had too much caffeine.

I still can’t wrap my head around tonight. Getting dumped. Meeting Gray. Almost dying. The best sex of my life. His terrifying coworker showing up to lecture us while we were still sticky. And now this. Driving home with the guy who saved my life and is stuck here because of me.

I’ve had quieter Halloweens.

“There’s one thing that’s still not clear to me,” I say.

“Just one?” He’s smiling.

“Am I still flagged? Or whatever she called it.”

The boss lady said plenty about Gray’s punishment but ignored me pretty much entirely, except to tell me to keep my mouth shut before she stepped through a tear in the air and vanished without a backward glance.

“According to Morrigan, your thread was never what I thought it was. You weren’t supposed to die.” He looks at me, serious. “Beyond that, I don’t have the tools to read it anymore. I have no idea what your future holds.”

“That’s fine with me,” I say. “Never was big on spoilers anyway.” I glance at him. “As long as you’re in it.”

“I’m not going anywhere, Sam.” His hand finds my thigh.

The rest of the drive passes in silence. The road is empty, the town asleep, just my headlights cutting through the dark.

Five minutes later, I pull into the gravel driveway of my little house. A tired-looking one-story place with peeling paint and a sagging porch that I bought for cheap a year ago, hoping to fix it up. Haven’t gotten around to it yet.

“Home sweet home,” I say, killing the engine. “It’s not much.”

Gray looks at the house. “I’ve spent longer than I can remember in a void between dimensions, Sam. This is a significant upgrade. Plus, you’re in it.”

I stay in my seat, turning to face him. “Keep sweet-talking me like that, and I might make you breakfast.”

“I’d like that. It’s been a while since I’ve eaten. A long while.”

“Dude, there’s so many things you have to taste now. Cream puffs, for starters. A good bacon, egg, and cheese. And coffee. Oh, Gray. You’re gonna love coffee.”

“Will you show me?”

“Yeah,” I say, climbing over the console and straddling his lap. I feel that thick length stir beneath the robe. My ass clenches at the memory of what it did to me. “I’ll show you everything. On one condition.”

His hands grip my hips. “And what’s that?”

“That you carry me inside and fornicate the fuck out of me again.”

EPILOGUE

SAM - ONE YEAR LATER

The Halloween fair is the same as every year. Craft stands, caramel apples, kids in vampire capes chasing each other, a slightly sad-looking petting zoo. The whole town is out, bundled in scarves and jackets, the air crisp enough to bite.

“Sam? Oh my God. Hey.”

Brianna’s behind the candle stand, her brown hair tucked under a knitted hat. She looks good.

“Brianna. Hey. How are things?”

“Good! Really good. Luke and I moved into a bigger place. He’s here somewhere, probably getting—” She catches herself, like she just remembered who she’s talking to. “Anyway. How are you? You look… different. Good different.”

“Yeah, I’ve been busy. Started college full-time, so I’m only around here for stuff like this now.”