“Daddy? You’re thinking too loud,” Carina groused.
“Sorry, sweetheart. Go back to sleep.”
She flipped over to her other side and buried her face in the pillow. Marcus held perfectly still, waiting for her to drift into dreams. A few minutes later, Carina shifted onto her tummy. Just when he thought she’d allowed herself to doze, she turned her face toward him.
When her gaze met his directly, Marcus asked, “Can’t sleep?”
“No, Daddy.”
“Would you drink a warm bottle for Daddy?”
She scrunched her nose and refused. “No, thank you.” Carina opened her mouth to say something else and closed it again.
Marcus waited for a minute to see if she would speak to him. When she didn’t, he told her softly, “Little girl, you can ask me anything.”
She nodded as if she understood and wiggled onto her side to face him fully. Reaching out, she traced one of his scars. “Do you like living so long?”
Amazed by their connection, Marcus knew she’d picked up on his thoughts. He shifted onto his side, so they faced each other a few inches apart. “Most of the time. I’ve had my clan to provide people I trust and who always have my back. Alaric, Titus, Darius, Bram, Donovan, and I have relied on each other for years.”
“I haven’t really talked to Donovan. He’s the DJ, right?”
“He is. Donovan oversees every facet of the entertainment. He’s also solitary.”
“Really? He’s like a wild man while he’s playing music. He never takes a break and seems to sense what people need to get them out on the dance floor.”
“He’s good at his job. He also uses up all his ability to socialize each evening. Thank goodness Nightfall is only open on Friday and Saturday. He’s a hermit the other nights to recharge his peopling battery.”
“I’d like to talk to him again. You know to thank him and tell him how much I appreciate his skills. I love dancing out on Nightfall’s floor.”
“He’s told me how pleased he is that you are mine. Donovan finds you charming. Your enjoyment fuels his energy.”
Carina smiled at him. He could tell his words had tickled her. Marcus reached out to tuck flyaway strands of hair behind her ear. His love for her astonished him.
“You said most of the time you’re glad you’re a vampire. Why not always?” Carina asked.
“I’ve had a group backing me, but I’ve been solitary. Does that make sense? Even though I have friends who would give their lives to save mine, I haven’t had the one person I crave.”
“Your Little girl?” she whispered.
“Yes, Carina. I’ve dreamed of finding you, and now my life is complete.” He leaned forward to kiss her hard and forced himself to move backward, sensing they had more to discuss.
“What if we’d never met?”
“I would have missed out on finding my heart’s match.”
“That’s really sad. What happens….” She stopped halfway through her question.
“What happens when you die?” he guessed.
Carina nodded with tears in her eyes.
“I’m alone again.”
“That’s so sad. I don’t want you to be by yourself,” she whispered as a tear escaped and rolled down her cheek.
Marcus wiped away the moisture on her cheek. “Then I can turn you, and we’ll have a thousand years together.”
“You would like to have me with you that long?”
