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I use her new baby-sized bathtub to give her a bath in the kitchen sink. It’s tricky washing a baby with wings. There are no vids or articles anywhere about how to care for wings on a baby—there’s never been a sentient baby with wings? I do my best to keep them dry while getting the rest of her wet and cleaned.
Then I change her into a fresh diaper and put her in a sleeper that is designed to leave a hole in the back to thread her tail through. We sit together in the comfy chair in her room, using the nursing pillow, and I feed her an extra bottle before bed. Tonight, I’m going to go back to sleeping in my room alone. My hope is that Lyla will sleep through the night in her own crib.
“I wonder where your daddy stays at night,” I ask out loud. “Where does he sleep?”
Lyla is already looking sleepy after her last bottle. I wrap her up snuggly in a light blanket, as the vids recommend. I even wrap her wings and tail inside the bundling, and she does not seem to not mind. I prop her up onto her side. A light smile of contentment plays across her lips and her eyes quickly close. I turn on the overhead mobile and the soothing wave sounds start and then I tiptoe out of the room and close the door behind me. I lean against the wall in the hallway and exhale in relief.
It worked, just like the vids said it would!
I go around the house, making sure all the lights are off and everything is locked up tight. I used to leave all this unlocked because that’s how safe my town is, but now I know Lyla and I need protection. Nothing is the same as it used to be.
Back in my room, I turn on the night vid cam set up on my nightstand. Another one is set up on the wall in Lyla’s room and this allows me to see and hear everything that’s happening in her room. I glance at the tiny screen and see she’s still comfortably asleep.
Perfect.
I use the restroom and change into another one of my favorite nightgowns, but this one is short-sleeved because it’s much warmer in my house now that I can afford to keep the heater as high as a Hyrrokin finds comfortable.
I pull back my covers and sit in my bed…and let out a squeak of fear.
Holy crap. Lyla’s daddy is at the foot of my bed, watching me.
This man is enormous. He lifts a silver-tipped finger and presses it against his lips and gestures toward the hallway, to Lyla’s room. He wants me to remain quiet so as not to wake the baby?
I choke in erratic breaths, trying to calm down. How did he even get in here without my knowing? He looks even more menacing than normal in the nighttime shadows. It’s crazy how this male can look angelic and gruesome at the same time. The dramatic curve of his white wings behind his back contrasts sharply with his black horns and red features. But he’s just a male who loves his daughter and wants the best for her. I’m not sure where I stand in that equation but I’m hoping to find out soon.
“What…why are you here?” I stammer.
A muscle twitches along his jaw and a hint of smoke wafts from his nostrils. His throat bobs and then he answers, “I am here to sleep in your bed tonight.”
I sit up straight. “What? You want to…what?”
He nods. “I will sleep next to you tonight.”
“Next to me?”
“Yes.”
A thrill of anticipation races across my veins and my heart rate increases. The space between my thighs instantly heats up. That deep, deep voice, those wings, that hard chest, those muscular arms in my bed right next to me? Yes, please.
I glance around, noting that my mattress isn’t really that big. “But I don’t think you’ll fit. Are you sure you wouldn’t be more comfortable in…? Wait, where have you been sleeping this whole time, while Lyla has been staying here?”
“Outside. I’ve been sleeping outside on your porch, across your front door. I want to make sure you’re both protected.”
I place my palm on my chest. “Oh, my gods, you’ve been sleeping outside, in the cold? You didn’t have to do that. You could’ve come inside with us anytime you wanted.”
He grunts at my statement but remains standing at the foot of the bed.
I pull down the covers next to me and pat his side of the bed. “Let’s see if you fit,” I smile. I’m terrified and excited at the same time. I’ve never slept next to a man in my entire life.
He nods and then slowly moves his large body around the side opposite from me and begins to carefully lower himself onto the human-sized bed. He tucks his wings back and fits his huge body onto my bed. The mattress squeaks loudly, like the couch did this morning. He finally settles down, with his wings underneath him and his hard tail alongside his leg. His huge red feet fall off the end of the bed and his black horns scrape against the wall above his head. I scoot over to make more room and then I lie down beside him and turn on my side to face him. It’s tight, but we both fit.
He looks over at me, his eyes moving up and down, examining my sleeping position. Then he lifts the arm closest to me. “Come here,” he orders.
My eyes widen, but I do as instructed. In moments I’m snuggled against his warm, bare chest and his arm wraps around my shoulders. It’s pure heaven.
“What is your name?” I ask, because it only seems appropriate to at least know the name of the man I’m snuggling.
“I keep it from you because I want you safe.”
