“Oh God!” I blurted, sitting straight up in bed.

“Was is it?” Peter asked, humored by my outburst.

“We didn’t . . .” I paused and cleared my throat awkwardly as he rose a brow, “Pete we didn’t use any protection.”

Nope, not for the last three days and it never occurred to me until now.

“And?” he was watching my face, the corners of his sexy lips twitching in amusement.

“This isn’t funny. What if you just got me pregnant?” I asked in indignation.

He shrugged, “I might have.”

I could feel the blush rising up and into my cheeks. “You don’t care?”

Peter pulled me into his arms and laughed lightly, “Rae, honey, in my heart we’re already married. I haven’t been with anyone else.” He tilted my chin up until our eyes met, “I’d love to have babies with you.”

I snorted, smirking at his comment, “You’d like to make babies you mean.”

His loud guffaw echoed in the room, “I can’t deny that’s also true.”

I rolled my eyes, “Peter, you’re awful.”

“I disagree,” he answered as his warm lips trailed down my throat. “Only moments ago you were crying out my name in pleasure.”

I blushed down to my roots, “Peter!”

He laughed again and pressed a soft kiss to my lips, answering with his signature swagger, “Baby I’m yours, and you’re mine. When we have children I’ll be thrilled. I don’t care when it happens.”

I frowned and sat up haughtily, “And when are you going to make me an honest woman?”

He tilted his head to the side and rubbed the back of his neck in confusion, “Honest? What do you mean?”

“Peter!” I screeched, smacking his shoulder, “That’s not funny.”

He laughed hard at my expression and then pulled me close, his face suddenly serious, “Whenever you’ll have me, baby.”

“Good. Then I’ll start planning a wedding,” I waited for him to disagree.

He didn’t but his smile was naughty as he looked me up and down like a hungry animal spotting his prey, “I can’t wait for our wedding night.”

I rolled my eyes, “Is it always about sex with you?”

He shrugged, “My dick has a mind of his own. He wants you all the time I’m just trying to keep up with the demand.”

Holy hell, he was ridiculous, and I loved it, “Uh huh.”

He pulled me in close until I was crushed to his chest, “Move in with me Rae. Stay with me, always. I can’t, and I won’t go another day again without you.”

“Alright,” I didn’t want to be apart either.

“Pack a bag my love. You won’t be coming back here except to pick up the rest of your things. Actually, I’ll just have the MC move your shit into my house over the next few days. Anything you want to take, pack it now.”

I kind of wanted to argue that he was deciding everything for me, but at the same time I liked it.

We sat at the dining room table a few hours later after lunch, Peter pulling me into his lap. With my arms wrapped around his neck I felt safe and protected, loved and cherished. It was such a stark contrast to the last five years that I was sort of shell-shocked.

“What are you thinking about baby?”

I sighed, “Lots of things to be honest.”

Now that the dust of the last few days had a chance to settle there were questions I needed answered but I was afraid to argue and ruin our time together. Things had been perfect, and I didn’t want to anger or frustrate Pete.

“Rae if you have something you want to say, go ahead. I’m not going to get mad.”

“Would you tell me the truth about my father, Pete? I want to know about Ron, even if I may not like it.” Over the last five years, I’ve thought long and hard about my dad and his death and his involvement in the RRMC. I needed the truth no matter how hard it was to hear.

“I was there the day Ron died.”

I sat up, searching his face, “What happened?”

It’s surreal how things change when you grow older, how some memories and detail become fuzzy while others remain crystal clear. I’ve never forgotten the last time I saw my father and his sweet kiss on my forehead or the way he called me his Rae of sunshine. The day of his funeral had played over and over in my head so many times I was certain every ounce of my pain and anguish was etched into my soul forever.

The funny thing was, I couldn’t remember the days leading up to the funeral. From the moment I found out about his death until I was standing in front of my father’s casket, a bright red rose in my hand, my mind was a blank.

“I found Ron with my father and Rafe, his lifeless body on the ground. There was blood everywhere,” he whispered, and I could hear the torment in his voice. “I was shocked and fell to my knees, devastated by his death and knowing how hard it was going to hit you. That hurt more than anything, knowing how the pain of his loss would affect you.”

I lowered my forehead to his and exhaled a deep breath, “Who killed him?”

“I still don’t know exactly what happened. As a result of that day Rafe became Pres of the RRMC, Mack was exiled, and the feud between the Outlaws and the Riders was cemented.”

“Have you ever tried to find out?” I needed to know who killed my dad and why.

“Yes, and it’s been a fucking disaster, but I promise you, Rae . . . I will find out.”

His promise had to be enough for now, “Would you take me to see my dad’s grave?”

Pete nodded, “If that’s what you want baby.”

“It is,” I answered firmly, hugging him close before I backed away and dried my tears. “Right away.”

Thirty minutes later we were on the back of Peter’s Harley, gliding through the streets of Juniper Hills and heading out toward the cemetery where my father was buried. I lay my head against Peter’s back as he reached for my hand and squeezed, pulling my arms tighter around his waist.

It didn’t take long to find Ron Stenson’s grave. After all, my mother was buried next to him. She had purchased the plot years ago when he died so someday she could find eternal rest with the man she loved so much. I stood, wistful and full of haunting sadness at the two lives ripped apart so tragically before their time.

Pete moved closer, intertwining our fingers as he held my hand, sensing my mood, “You were always his Rae of sunshine.”

I nodded, “I know.” A sudden lump formed in my throat.

“You were his Rae of hope, love, and promise,” he paused and exhaled a shaky breath. “As you have always been mine.”

I turned to Peter at the same moment he lowered his head and kissed me softly.

“We’ll find out the truth baby, I promise. Ron will have justice.”

I didn’t answer but placed my head over his heart, hoping Pete and I wouldn’t fall to the same fate as my parents. We’d come too far to lose everything now.