He shot me a weak smile before plodding toward the exit. “I’ll be back in an hour.” The door’s thick hinges screeched as he shoved it open.
Once it had clanked shut, I pivoted back toward the others. Before I could even open my mouth, Liam said, “You should be getting home. Don’t want my son to go hungry.”
My lips pinched. I could take a hint. Especially, an unsubtle one.
It’s coming from a good place, I told myself.They’re all trying to spare you.
Why didn’t it feel good, then?
Sure, I was an artist and not a cop, but I was pack, and pack helped out.
“At least, text me if my idea pans out,” I gritted, before whirling around and treading out the bunker as fucking serenely as possible.
Chapter 13
“What a lucky guy. He gets bubblesanda bathing attendant.”
Liam’s voice made me compress one of the rubber toys I’d filled with water right into Storm’s eye instead of on his chest, which was where I’d been aiming at.
“Sorry, Storm. Your daddy scared me.”
Storm was a good sport. Just jerked a little and blinked a lot but didn’t cry. He rarely cried actually. Only when the hunger pangs hit could he be heard halfway across the compound.
I filled the starfish, then squeezed it, sending a little jet of warm water onto Storm’s chest. He squealed happily, then hit the water with open palms, splashing my tank top. “I’d offer to bathe you, Liam, but that would undoubtedly make things weird between us.”
Liam went unnaturally still.
Saying it out loud had apparently made things weird between us.Good job, Nikki.I concentrated on Storm, so innocent, so happy. He’d eventually lose his innocence, but hopefully not his happiness.
“Besides . . . I’m still pissed at you for sending me home to feedyourson, who couldn’t starve in my parents’ company even if he wanted to.”
Liam’s lips bent a fraction as he leaned against the doorframe. “It worked.”
“What wor—Lori’s blood?” The starfish slipped from my soapy fingers and plopped into the bathwater. “They’re back in skin?”
He nodded.
That benched my annoyance. “And?”
“The shift knocked them out, so I don’t have much more to report. We’re keeping them locked up until we can make sure they don’t shift back.” He pushed off the doorframe and came to sit on the edge of the bathtub.
“You see . . . I’m more than just a competent bathing attendant.” I cupped water and let it drip along Storm’s spine.
He released a bunch of happy squeaks, and then his fingers flexed around his toy, which sent a stream of water into my eyes. I gasped, which made him break into peals of such contagious laughter that I laughed right along with him.
“You’re going to pay for that, buddy.”
“Are you threatening my son?” Liam sounded amused, but I glanced up at him to make sure his expression matched his tone.
He reached down and scooped out a toy, which he aimed at me. I just had time to raise my arm to deflect the spray of water. Keeping one arm in front of my face, I stuck my other one back in the bath until my fingers closed around a floating toy. I fished it out and retaliated, catching Liam in the ear.
The smile, which had tugged at his mouth, transformed into a laugh. I was so startled to hear the man produce such a joyous sound that I let down my guard and just watched him.
He raised his long fingers and swiped down the side of his face, and even though he didn’t do it in slow motion, my mind decelerated the whole action and added some sexy music. He dipped his hand in the water and splashed me, effectively putting an end to my smutty scrutiny.
Oh, Lycaon, was that why he’d done it? I grabbed the towel I’d prepared for Storm and patted my face.
“I was afraid you might’ve tossed the baby out with the bath water.” Mom stood in the doorway, hugging a bottle of lotion and Storm’s PJs. “Gonna put these on your bed.”
