Damn Isaiah’s rotten timing.
Ana turns her head, knocking the nipple from her mouth and sending a trail of milk down her chin and onto the burp rag. “All done, baby girl?” I tenderly wipe her stubborn little chin—just like her momma’s—and sit her up as I pat her back. Thank fuck that I don’t see Silas in them at all, that lowlife shithead.
No, I take that back. Even if they were his spitting image, I’d still love them as much as I do right now. They had no say in how they came to be in this world, but the only fucking good thing that ever came from him was these two.
And now they’re all mine.
Regurgitated breast milk spills onto my hand as Ana spits up with her burp. “That’s Daddy’s baby girl,” I praise as I clean her face. Stretching my legs out, I put her on my chest and smile faintly at her grunts as she works to hold her head up. “There you go, pretty girl. Look at Daddy. Lemme see those pretty blue eyes of yours.”
Ana’s nostrils flare as her mouth stretches wide in a yawn. “Aww, is my little baby girl sleepy because she’s got a full belly?” Both she and Eli love to take a nap again after their first meal of the day. It seems like they sleep all the time.
Except at nighttime.
Reaching into her bassinet to grab her binky, I hazard a glance to my wife and smother a smile when her head jerks to the side. If she wants to pretend she wasn’t watching us after she placed Eli back to bed, I’ll let her get by with it for just a little longer. I’m in this for the long haul.
I swaddle Ana and place her to my chest as I hum a lullaby, letting the vibrations lull her to sleep. She fights it, though, and rubs her face against me as she fusses. It’s not a serious fuss. Just wants a little more attention from her daddy.
“What’s wrong with her?” Rosanna snaps. “Never mind, just give her to me.”
So, she doesn’t want to talk unless it’s about the babies, apparently. “I’ve got her. She’s just fighting her sleep, that’s all.”
“She’s my daughter.” Her mouth sets in a stubborn line, just like Ana’s.
Annoyance slips in my tone before I can stop it. “And she’s mine, too. Do you think I’m just going to let her cry without doing anything? You know me better than that.”
Tears form in my wife’s eyes. Tears that she sniffs back as she steps nearer with outstretched arms. “Please, Connor. Please. Just...give her to me.”
I’m not one to withhold a baby from its mother, but I think Rosanna needs me just as much as she needs Ana right now. Securing our little princess to me, I crook a finger to my wife and beckon her closer. When she reaches down for Ana, I pull her to sit with me before her stiffened body realizes what’s going on.
“Here.” I carefully transfer Ana into her arms. Rosanna sighs in relief and inches closer to the armrest to get away from me.
Annoyance fading away at the opportunity I see before me, I swallow a small grin and follow her, pinning her in and wrapping an arm around her tight shoulders. There’s nowhere for her to go now because I refuse to let her up.
“Shh, baby girl. Momma’s here,” she whispers under Ana’s halfhearted cry, running her lips over our baby’s thick head of hair as she ignores me. We rock back and forth together, and the gentle swaying soon makes the fussy infant give in.
If only her mother were that easy to win over.
Leaning closer, I press my lips to my wife’s cheek, intending to reach her mouth, but she jerks away from me. Just like she did yesterday. My fingers tighten and turn her chin my way. “Don’t do that,” I rasp at her rejection. That shit fucking hurts.
Rosanna may be facing me, but her gaze is far away. Closed off. “Let me put her in her bed.”
I slowly release her and watch as she eases Ana into her bassinet. When she straightens, I stand and take a step toward her, forcing her to either meet me or take a step back herself.
Naturally, she moves back. And when her ass meets the wall, I lean down and nuzzle her neck. “Kiss me,” I breathe out over her lips. Seconds pass as I wait.
Nothing.
My tongue teases the entrance of her mouth, but I get no response. Frustrated, I growl and throw gentleness to the side, claiming her mouth with force. But her lips stay slack against mine. Pulling away, I touch our foreheads together and fight my rising anger. “Fucking damn it, Rosanna. Why won’t you kiss me?”
When she only swallows heavily without a word, I know I need to step back and give us a bit of space. I, unlike my brother, can recognize that fact. If only just the barest bit more than him. I move back, but not before running my lips down the slope of her neck once more. “Your phone’s in the nightstand if you want it.”
I feel her stiffen at the mention of her phone. Honestly, I’m not worried about her calling anyone. Who does she have, really? The truth sounds callous, but it’s still the truth. “Your e-reader’s all charged up, too. Take some time and relax while they’re sleeping. I’ll be in the workshop if you need me.”
Nothingonearthisas satisfying or as frustrating as a woman, especially to the man who loves her. This fucking silent treatment is killing me. I’d almost rather her kicking and screaming instead of retreating into herself and away from me.
Even my own dog doesn’t want to be near me right now as I do my own bookkeeping with the new system Rosanna set up. No, the traitor rests morosely on the floor, occasionally flicking his eyes to me and then the door. I shake my head. “Come on, dude. Whatever happened to solidarity among the guys?”
His ears tilt back at my words, but all too soon, he’s back to staring at the door.
