Ababywailsinthe night, the pitiful sound traveling through the thin apartment walls.
“Bitch, shut him the fuck up!”
“I’m warming his fucking bottle, you prick!”
The baby’s cries grow harder and louder before abruptly falling silent. Guess he was really hungry. Too bad he doesn’t get a say in who his parents are.
I don’t regret offering to stay here, because it was just as much for her safety as it was for my selfishness, but damn, this couch is way past its expiration date. The entire place is just a pit of misery. The living room’s a bit cooler than I’d like, but I’m not going to run up her electric bill by using the heater. Can’t even turn on a fan to stir the air because she doesn’t have one in here. It won’t hurt me to sleep in my clothes, but that’s the rub—I can’t sleep.
Can’t get comfortable no matter how much I toss and turn on the couch from hell. Too busy wracking my brain for ways to get her out of here as soon as possible. And with as little fight as possible, too. She’s strong, but I need her to give in to me and let me take care of her the way only a Shay can.
The way only I can.
The key I took earlier from Silas threatens to burn a hole in my pocket. I reach in and run my thumb along the edges of the teeth. If my last name were anything other than Shay, I’m fairly confident I’d return it to her. But I am who I am—a Shay. And there’s no more running from a future that keeps dragging me towards it at every turn. So until she’s in my house and in my bed, this key stays with me. There’s no telling when I’ll need to get in to check on things.
Check on her.
Just in case.
I can still feel the weight of her in my arms from earlier. She fell asleep on me, rested her head on my chest and trusted me to take care of things for her. Didn’t move one bit when I eased her small form onto my lap and moved my light kisses from her hair to her mouth. And if Albert hadn’t shown up with the boxes, I’d have held her until she woke up.
A silent growl echoes in my head. That does it. Knowing she’s only a few yards away and sleeping peacefully while I’m going crazy thinking about her is dangerous because now I have to be even closer. Just need to see her and reassure myself that she’s going to be mine.
Throwing back the quilt she gave me, I sit up and look down the short hallway. My eyes have long since acclimated to the darkness, but little rays of moonlight sneak in through the window—along with a cold draft—to guide my way. She didn’t stir at all when I carried her to bed earlier, so I wonder if she’s a heavy sleeper.
But it could also have been the emotional stress that knocked her out, too. Or maybe she’s just used to the noise that seeps through the walls. Until I know for sure, I’ll have to be careful. Quiet. The good thing about the linoleum flooring is how easy it’ll be to just slide across. I can always pretend like I’m headed to the bathroom if she catches me.
Standing, I take one purposeful step towards her and then bite my tongue as something stabs into my shin. I can’t stop the muffled curse that hits the air, though.“Fuck.”
Fucking coffee table. I’ll bet fucking Silas fucking picked it out, knowing I’d be here one day to take his fucking place. Looking through the darkness to where the picture frame rests on the counter, I stare daggers into his fucking smirking face. Fucker. Fuck fuckfuck.
Blood pounding in my leg as the pain radiates, my illogical anger fades and I slowly come back to my senses. Nah, he wouldn’t have chosen any of the furniture here. Doesn’t seem the type. Rosanna probably picked it up from a thrift store. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but when I bring her home with me, she’s going to have things I’ve built with my own two hands just for her and our babies.
As the pain dissipates, I listen for any movement. Any hint that she may have heard me.
Nothing.
Good. Being sure to step around the death trap this time, I glide just as easily over the cheap flooring as I knew I would. When I reach the door, the knob turns without a sound as I softly push in.
The warmth of the room hits me first, then the quiet hum of her heater. Closing the door so the cooler air behind me doesn’t dilute the temperature in here, I relax my eyes and let them focus.
There she is. On her side and bundled up under the covers, emitting little snores that I can barely hear over the sound of the heater. My eyes latch onto the empty space next to her, male satisfaction settling in my bones.
Silas is gone, that bastard. He’s never going to touch her again. But what I wouldn’t give to slide in beside her now and keep her warm with my body heat. It’d be safer than the heater that could start a fire, but it’ll have to wait for another time. I can be patient.
Oh, what’s this? Her bare feet stick out from the covers, grabbing my attention. Unable to help myself, I let my finger whisper over the sole of one foot, amused at the involuntary spasm it gives in return. Then I frown as I realize how cool to the touch it was, even though the heater is aimed this direction.
I’ve got to fix that. Can’t have her getting chilled in her sleep. Inch by inch, I gently move them under the blanket and softly pat the lump they make. There. All better.
Suddenly, a noise rips through the air, followed by a harsh nasal sound. What the fuck? That first one wasn’t a snore. Definitely not. But what else could it—no. Oh, no. I almost choke while swallowing down my laughter. Those sweet potatoes from dinner must be getting to my kitten.
Pushing my luck, I stalk closer, needing to see her face, even if it’s just a shadowy outline. As I bend down, her breath hits my lips with every puff. Dare I give this sweet mouth another kiss good night? Technically, it’s already tomorrow morning, but darkness is still like a weighted blanket in the room.
It’s risky. If she wakes up, there’s no pretending that I meant to find the bathroom with me being this close. There’d be no talking my way out of it.
Fuck it. You only live once.
Bracing a hand on her pillow, I curl a soft, silky lock of her hair around a finger and bring it to my nose. She smells so good. Darting my tongue out, I lightly trace over the curve of her mouth to taste her again. But then she twitches in her sleep, limbs jerking.
