Riggs' Saviour (Kings Reapers MC)

by Nicola Jane

  “He’s doing it for Leia, not me. He respects you. Do you want my address?” I add.

  He smirks. “You think you could take my kid without me knowing exactly where you are?”

  I smile too. “I’d better go. Eva’s waiting to hear news about my course.”

  He nods. “You want a lift home?”

  I shake my head. Being on his bike, so close to him, it’s too much too soon. “Bye,” I mutter. I hold a breath as I walk away because I don’t want to break down in the street. It’s the longest we’ve spoken in months without having a blazing row. Progress, right?

  Days turn to weeks and I throw myself into college work. I love it. I have a set routine of getting the kids bathed and in bed, then I pull out my laptop and get sucked into coursework. It’s keeping my mind occupied.

  But tonight, Riggs has Willow and Malia. I glance at the clock. He’s due to return them in an hour. I haven’t seen Riggs since meeting him in the street unexpectedly four weeks ago. Usually, he sends someone to collect the girls and drop them off. Same arrangement when I have Ziggy.

  I shower and slip into my pyjama shorts and vest. I decide to get some work in before they arrive home and the bedtime routine starts.

  I’m so lost in work that the knock on the door surprises me. I grab a hair tie and begin piling my hair on the top of my head, opening the door to Riggs with a child in each arm. My mouth opens and closes in surprise. I was expecting one of the Kings Reapers to drop them home. His eyes run up and down my body and I suddenly feel over-exposed. I know that hungry look in his eyes, even though it’s been a while since he’s directed it at me. I finish tying my hair and fold my arms across my chest.

  “Did Malia eat her dinner?” I ask, weakly.

  “You hiding something, Anna?” he asks, his voice rumbling through every part of my body.

  “No,” I almost whisper.

  “You look surprised to see me. Are you gonna invite me in?”

  I glance back over my shoulder at the laptop and workbooks all over the living room floor. Before I can answer, he steps forward, and I’m pushed against the wall as he brushes past me. “You hiding someone in here?” he asks.

  I laugh, like I have time for anyone right now. “No. I was in the middle of working,” I say, sighing.

  He lets his eyes wander over the books. “You need a desk,” he mutters.

  “If that’s all, I have baths and bedtime to be getting on with.”

  “You’re working. I’ll do it.” I stare after him with confusion as he makes his way upstairs, still holding a child in each arm. I shrug. Not wanting to look a gift horse in the mouth, I sit back down amongst the books and continue to work.

  An hour later, Riggs reappears. “All done.”

  I look up at him and smile. “Thanks. That was a huge help.”

  “You had some dinner?” he asks.

  I shake my head, the reminder of lack of food making my stomach rumble loudly. I cover it with my hand and laugh. “I forgot.”

  “You always forget to eat?” he asks. “You’ve lost too much weight.”

  “I needed to drop a dress size,” I say.

  He scowls and marches towards the kitchen. “Who told you that crap?”

  “I dunno,” I mutter. “I guess . . . I mean, I thought . . .” I follow him and watch as he opens the fridge.

  “You thought what?” he asks.

  “That you didn’t . . . erm . . . fancy me anymore.” My cheeks burn with embarrassment at my confession.

  He slams the fridge closed and turns to face me. “I never said that!”

  “I know. We just stopped . . . yah know.”

  He looks hurt and reaches out, taking my hand. He tugs me towards him, and my heart almost beats out of my chest when his hand gently strokes along my jaw. “Baby, I never stopped fancying you.”

  “It doesn’t matter now,” I say, offering a small smile. Every touch sparks something deep within me, and he continues to stare into my eyes while stroking his thumb over my cheek. His mouth crashes against mine, and for a second, I freeze before melting against him and letting him thrust his tongue against my own in a hungry kiss. Fuck, I missed this. His hands move to my waist, then my ass. He pulls me against him and I feel his arousal pressing against my hip. He lifts me onto the worktop and his mouth descends along my neck then my shoulder. He gently tugs the strap of my vest until it falls down, exposing my breast to his hungry mouth. I throw my head back in pleasure as his tongue works magic. It’s been so long since he’s touched me, I’m on the brink of having an orgasm.

  A banging from somewhere interrupts us. We both still, the sound of our heavy breathing filling the room. “The door,” he mutters.

  “Shit,” I whisper, pulling the strap back into place. The banging comes again, but this time, it’s louder. I jump with fright. Everything around me fades away, disappearing as I sit up with a start. Looking around, I’m lying on the living room floor, surrounded by my books.

  “Fuck, Anna, are you in?” yells Riggs. I jump up and rush for the door. I rip it open and Riggs glares at me angrily. “I’ve been knocking on the door for ages,” he snaps. He pushes past me and places Willow’s car seat down on the floor. Malia skips in behind Riggs, happily singing to herself. “Why do you look flushed?” he snaps.

  I rub my cheeks. “I just woke up,” I mutter. “I must have nodded off while I was working.”

  “Enjoyed a nice nap, did you? Meanwhile, I’m looking after the kids so you can study.”

  I roll my eyes and unfasten Willow from the seat. “Willow wakes up a lot through the night. And don’t act like you’re doing me a favour. You wanted the girls tonight.”

  “How’s all that going?” he asks, pointing to the books on the floor.

  “Good,” I say. “I’m enjoying it.”

  “I bathed the kids already. You want me to put them to bed so you can finish up your work?” he asks.

  I smirk, the memory of my dream invading my mind. “I can do it,” I say.

  “Have you eaten?”

  I shake my head, my cheeks reddening again. “Not yet.”

  “You go put them to bed and I’ll get you a sandwich. I need to talk to you.”

  RIGGS

  I haven’t seen Anna for weeks. She looks fucking hot. The lack of sex in my life is not helping shit. I focus on making her a sandwich. When she returns, she’s still got that damn flush on her cheeks. She only ever got that after an orgasm or if she was thinking naughty shit. I frown. “Did you have a guy here tonight?”

  “No,” she says, innocently.

  “You took ages to answer the door. You got that ‘just fucked’ look. Shit, have you met someone?”

  She rolls her eyes for the second time tonight and I have a few thoughts of my own. “What did you want to talk to me about?” she asks.

  I place the sandwich down in front of her. “Eat, you’ve lost way too much weight,” I mutter.

  She almost chokes on the bread. “Drink,” she pants, between coughs. I get her some water and she takes it gratefully.

  “I’ve been to see a counsellor,” I say, and her eyes widen. “She wants to meet you,” I add.

  “Why?” asks Anna.

  “I don’t know, Anna. Maybe she thinks she can work her voodoo shit and repair us.” I’ve seen Eleanor twice now and she’s good. I always go in there with the mindset that I ain’t talking about Anna or any other shit that’s going on, but somehow, I end up on that damn posh couch blurting out my life story. Now, she wants Anna to come.

  “I don’t know,” mutters Anna, hesitantly. “I’m finally not crying anymore. I get into bed, read my book, and think about you for just a minute or two, and then I sleep. I don’t cry like I used to. I don’t allow myself to think about you long enough. Talking to a counsellor might make me cry again, and honestly, I have nothing left.”

  I nod stiffly. I told Eleanor I’d try, but I ain’t begging. “Right. We need to sort out what happens next,” I mutter. She wait
s for me to explain. “Well, we’re apart. The next step is divorce,” I say bluntly. I hadn’t even thought about fucking divorce but I’ve said the words now and she looks like a fucking wounded puppy dog. My heart aches. “Shall I get the ball rolling?” I add, inwardly yelling at my stupid ass to shut the hell up, but I reason if she don’t wanna see a counsellor, then she don’t want us to work.

  “Erm . . . yes, I guess.”

  “It’s time to move forward,” I mutter.

  “Like meeting other people?” she asks quietly.

  I nod. “Yeah. I got blue balls waiting around, and if we’re done, then I can sort that problem out.” I laugh awkwardly and she frowns. “I don’t want a relationship or anything, I’ll use a clubwhore or . . .” I trail off. What the fuck am I saying? Stop talking, asshole. Just stop. “Raven.”

  She sucks in a breath and her eyes get that glazed look. “Raven,” she repeats.

  I stand stiffly, unsure how to get out of this ridiculous conversation. No wonder she fucking hates me. “We’re not serious or anything,” I say, shrugging. Christ, Raven isn’t even on my radar, I’m using her cos of the way Anna reacted at finding us together in my office.

  Anna pushes the sandwich away. “Baby, eat. Please,” I say quietly. She’s practically bones as it is and I wonder if that’s my fault.

  “I need you to go,” she croaks, trying hard to keep her voice steady.

  “Look, I shouldn’t have said that,” I say quickly.

  She blinks and tears roll down her cheeks as she gives a watery smile. “I just remembered I have a phone call to make. Am I still having Ziggy tomorrow?” she asks. I nod. I feel so ashamed. “Great. I’ll get him from school with Malia then.”

  I hook my finger around hers and she stares down at the connection with such pain on her face that I almost crack and tell her everything, because surely the truth is easier to handle than what I’m doing to her right now. “Anna,” I mumble.

  “I’m okay,” she lies. ”I’m gonna be okay.”

  I nod. “I know. You’re strong.” I gently kiss her forehead and she closes her eyes, pressing herself against me. The heat from her stirs something and I breathe in her strawberry shampoo scent. Fuck, I miss her. I place a finger under her chin and tilt her head back so she’s looking into my eyes. I try desperately to convey how I feel through that look. She steps up onto her tiptoes and moves her mouth closer. She’s so close, I feel the heat from her lips. That flush appears on her cheeks and I slam my mouth against hers. I’m so lost in her that it takes a second to register her fists hitting against my chest.

  We pull apart. “No,” she breathes, glaring at me. She swipes the back of her hand over her mouth. “You need to go now. Don’t stand there telling me you want to fuck other women then kiss me like that,” she hisses.

  “I don’t wanna fuck other women,” I mutter.

  “Get out, Riggs. You give me whiplash with your fucking moods.”

  The clubhouse is busy. Cree slaps me on the back. “You sort shit with Anna?”

  I shake my head. “Why would I? We’re over, remember?” I snap.

  “She didn’t wanna go and see Eleanor?” he guesses. I shake my head. “Sorry, man,” he mutters.

  “So I told her I was fucking Raven,” I mutter, and Cree groans. “I know! When I said the fucking words, I wanted to rip my own throat out.”

  “Go back and tell her the truth,” he says.

  I shake my head. “Nah, it’s done. She’s done. What’s the point? I gotta face it, Anna’s moved on from me. I don’t blame her. I’m an ass.”

  “It sounds to me like Anna doesn’t want to come because she’s guarding her heart. Not because she doesn’t want to try,” says Eleanor.

  “It’s the same fucking thing,” I mutter, scrubbing my hands over my face. “She ain’t here.”

  “Last time we talked about your past, with Michelle. Let’s talk about your relationship with Anna.”

  I groan. “I think you enjoy watching me squirm,” I mutter. “I don’t cry. You ain’t gonna make me cry.”

  Eleanor laughs. “There’s nothing wrong with crying, Finn. Lots of people do it, it isn’t a sign of weakness.”

  I scoff. “In my world, it is.”

  “Was Anna from your world?” she asks.

  I shake my head. “Not really. Her last guy was a crime boss, so she wasn’t clueless to our world, but she wasn’t in it. He was violent to her. A lot.”

  “That must have been hard for her.”

  I nod. “But she’s strong,” I say, my words from last night slipping out.

  “What makes someone strong?” she asks, and I frown in confusion. “Well, you say she’s strong. But how do you know?”

  I shrug. “She just is,” I mutter. “She carried on, after he did shit to her. She left and carried on. She looked after their kid. And now, I’ve hurt her and she’s carrying on, looking after my kid and his . . . alone.” I shake my head, hating that thought.

  “She hasn’t had a choice but to carry on,” says Eleanor.

  “No,” I mutter.

  “So you got together, you had a child. How was that?”

  “Willow was . . . unexpected,” I say.

  “A good surprise or bad?” she asks.

  I pause. “I wasn’t ready for another kid.”

  “But you already had Ziggy,” she says. “What was the problem with having another?”

  “Fuck, now you sound like her,” I mumble. I stand and walk over to the window. “Anna wanted another kid. I told her no. I wanted to wait.”

  “For what?”

  I shrug. “I don’t know. I just wanted her,” I snap. “I didn’t have her to myself for long enough.”

  “You were jealous that the baby would have her attention?” she asks.

  “Maybe,” I mumble.

  “It’s a normal reaction,” says Eleanor. “Lots of men feel like that when their partners get pregnant.”

  “She was so happy. I remember her announcing it to the club and she was smiling. It felt like she’d punched me when she said the words. And I thought to myself, if I feel like that, maybe none of it was right.”

  “None of it?” she repeats.

  “Like us, the relationship. I questioned us. Then when she saw I wasn’t happy and she gave me those puppy dog eyes, I lost my shit. Accused her of tricking me.”

  “Into getting pregnant?”

  I nod, hanging my head. “I said I couldn’t trust her if she’d tricked me into getting her pregnant just to keep me.”

  “Do you believe that?” she asks.

  I shake my head and stare out at the London skyline. “No. She ain’t like that.”

  “Did you feel that way when Michelle got pregnant?” she asks.

  I nod slowly. “Yeah. But I was young and I was scared, so I pretended to be happy. Michelle did trick me. She admitted it one night when she was high.”

  “But with Anna, you were married. You each had a child. If she’d wanted to trap you, wouldn’t she get pregnant before the wedding? Seems a strange time to get pregnant, in fact, it’s the way most people do it—marriage, then babies.”

  “The thing is,” I say, turning to face her, “a few hours before that moment, before she announced the news, I’d had some news of my own.”

  Chapter Five

  ANNA

  “Malia, please, just walk.” I’m aware that I’m begging, but she’s acting up so much lately that I’m losing my mind.

  “My legs hurt,” she wails. I sigh heavily and Ziggy slips his hand into my own.

  “You want me to deal with her?” he asks. I smile down at him and nod. “Leave it with me.” He adds a wink and I see Riggs in him, which makes me smile wider.

  I watch him take Malia by the hand. “I’ll help you walk,” he says, smiling big to show off his dimples. Malia melts into a puddle and begins to walk.

  Eva is inside my house cooking when we get home from the school run, and it reminds me of how things were before
Riggs. Willow is sleeping soundly in her basket in the living room.

  “You stinky little humans, go wash your hands before you eat,” says Eva. The kids rush off upstairs and I take a seat at the table.

  “Riggs wants a divorce,” I blurt, and Eva freezes mid pouring of water from the vegetable pan.

  “What?”

  “He brought the girls home last night. I was so unprepared that I cried. I feel like such an idiot,” I mutter. “I’ve managed not to break down, and as soon as he says that, I crumble like a fucking broken-hearted teenager.”

  “Shit, Anna, I’m so sorry.”

  “Don’t be. It’s the next step. He just caught me off-guard. I’d woken from a crazy dream about me and him and it was on my mind when he announced that.”

  “Crazy dream?” she asks, wiggling her eyebrows.

  “Is Raven seeing anyone?” I ask, changing the subject.

  “Not as far as I know. She lies pretty low these days. I’m so busy helping Leia with Hope that I haven’t taken notice. Gia and Blu are the hottest news around the club. They’ve been married for months now, but they’re all over each other. Were Cree and I that bad?” she asks. I smile and nod as she rolls her eyes. “Well, please accept my apology for my disgusting display of public affection. I’m embarrassed just thinking about it.”

  “Newlyweds are supposed to be disgustingly in love.”

  “Sorry,” says Eva, with a groan. “You don’t wanna be talking about this.”

  “It’s fine. Riggs said he was seeing Raven, or fucking her, I’m not sure which.”

  Eva gasps. “No way. No fucking way. I’ll ask Leia, Chains would have told her,” she says.

  I shake my head. “No. I don’t want him to think I’m checking up on him. I’ll be fine. I’ve got my kids and college. Things will work out. Besides, he can’t stay single forever, can he? It was just sooner than I expected, and then I tortured myself all night wondering if they’d been together for ages, behind my back even. I told you she was in his office in the early hours that time.”