Page 119 of Insidious

Chapter 32

Luna

Kel leaves with a nod, and the front door closes behind him with a soft click.

Suddenly, the house feels warmer. The silence seems to be waiting for … something.

I turn a slow half-circle and find Isaac is already looking at me. The laughter from before has faded, leaving a racing pulse and anticipation. His eyes are darker than I’ve ever seen them, the black swallowing the blue.

Not impatient, but focused entirely on me. It’s a surprise that my clothes have not fallen off. For a second, neither of us says anything, enjoying the buildup. It has been such a long time.

Then he takes a step forward. And another. Until the distance between us disappears. He bends and brushes a featherlight kiss across my lips, just barely there. Enough to take my breath away.

When he pulls back, it’s only an inch. He is close enough that I can feel the puff of his minty breath against my skin.

His gaze drops briefly to my mouth and then back to my eyes.

“Let’s go to bed,” he whispers, sending a ridiculous flutter through my stomach.

Before I can answer, he turns me gently around.

One hand, then the other settles at my waist, possessive in the gentlest possible way. I have never been more aware of him behind me than as we walk up the stairs.

His hands never leave my waist. We both automatically turn to Amelie’s room. It is done up in buttery yellows with jungle animals and trees on the walls. The nightlight projects a slow-moving galaxy across the ceiling.

The nursery door is slightly ajar, as it always is. Pale light spills across the cot. Amelie is fast asleep on her back. We have stopped swaddling her as she looks ready to roll. One tiny fist is curled beside her face. Her little mouth makes soft sucking motions in her sleep. And then a smile flickers before she goes back to dreaming about eating.

I find myself smiling back.

“I wonder what she’s dreaming about,” I whisper as I adjust her bedding. The room is warm because we are worried she might choke on her blanket. Isaac steps closer behind me. Warm arms slide around my waist. His chin settles lightly on top of my head.

“Probably world domination plans,” he mutters.

I laugh softly.

“She’s definitely taken over ours.”

“That’s true.”

His lips brush my neck. A kiss, and then another.

“You made a promise when you took those panties off, Mrs Marlowe,” he teases.

For a moment, we simply stand here together, looking at our daughter. The tiny person who somehow became the centre of everything. Isaac glances towards the baby monitor. Double checks that it’s working because he’s Isaac. Then, he finally seems satisfied.

His hands tighten briefly around my waist.

“Okay,” he murmurs against my ear.

I can hear the smile in his voice.

“Daddy’s shift is officially over. For a few hours, unless a siren goes off, demanding food.”

I laugh quietly.

“Oh?”

“Mm.”