“Yes, I am. I should have kidnapped you sooner.”
I look up sharply. He’s smiling slightly, and I realize he’s joking.
“That’s an insane thing to say.”
“But I mean it. I missed too much time with you and Rosie. I should have made you mine sooner.” He stands suddenly. I get to my feet too, feeling small and strangely powerless down on the floor with him looming above me. “Where is she now?”
“Napping. Wait?—”
He strides off and heads upstairs. “I’ll see her.”
“No, don’t do that. You might wake her up.”
“I can be very quiet.”
“Still, please, just let her be.”
“Is she a light sleeper?”
I pause and consider lying, but he can immediately tell I’m about to bullshit him. He keeps striding forward toward the nursery door.
I should jump on his back. I could strangle him, and maybe that wouldn’t do anything but end with me flat on my back with a concussion, but it might keep him out of her room at least. Except why am I freaking out about this?
He brought her toys. A big box full of them. He must’ve gone to some trouble to pick it all out and carry it here himself when he could have easily sent some staff member to do it for him.
Now he wants to look at his sleeping daughter.
Shit, it makes me like him.
I really, really don’t want that.
He slips into her room. I curse to myself, but I don’t follow.
It really would be awful if she woke up early.
Instead, I linger in the doorway and watch carefully as Mass creeps across the floor and gazes down into her crib.
I can’t see Rosie. The sound machine drowns her breathing. But I can almost see her reflected in Mass’s face.
He seems calm. Happy even. Which is strange since his default expression is usually somewhere betweengleefully murdering innocentsandbrooding on the bleak realities of existence. Looking at his sleeping daughter brings him joy.
No, not his daughter. My daughter.
I can’t make that mistake.
He slips out of the room after a minute. We stand together in the hall. He’s big and very close. I breathe in his smell, and it’s strangely mixed with Rosie now.
I like it. God help me, I really do.
He touches my cheek gently. “She’s beautiful.” I’m not sure if he’s talking about Rosie or about me.
“I love her. I’ll do anything for her.”
“I won’t let anyone hurt either of you. I know it’s hard for you to accept. This new life wasn’t something you asked for. But you’re my wife now and that’s my daughter. I’ll kill for you both. I’ll die for you too.”
It’s strange, but here in this hallway with nobody else around, I believe him.
I get on my toes and reach one hand up. I press it against the back of his neck, drawing him down to me. His lips meet mine softly. The kiss is gentle and deep. There’s nothing needy or impatient about it. I let the touch linger, his lips soft and warm against mine. Tingles run down my arms and into my fingertips. I’ve never reacted this way before to a simple kiss like that.
