Page 43

When he walked into the living room, Cassie crawled to the edge of her playpen, pressing her face against the sheer netting. “Wah!”

“Hey, kiddo,” Bruiser said.

She was so bright and innocent that he couldn’t help smiling a little.

Uriel stepped out of the bedroom, narrowing his eyes at his daughter. “Cass, I told you to be wary of strangers.”

She shoved her head against the netting and tried to crawl through. Bruiser snorted.

“Fine,” Uriel sighed. He scooped her out of her playpen and set her on the floor.

She began to crawl toward Bruiser.

“Cassie,” Uriel said, frowning.

The baby ignored him and smacked her little hands against the floor, her sea-blue eyes set on Bruiser.

How much of a coincidence was it, that Cassie’s eyes were the same color as his?

I’m seriously projecting, Bruiser told himself. With Uriel’s taste on his lips and his scent in Bruiser’s nose, it was one thing to desire more of the mage. But wanting Uriel’s baby too... That was probably crossing a line.

Uriel scooped Cassie off the floor before she could get to Bruiser. Bruiser fought off the little pang of loss.

Then Uriel looked up, and their gazes locked.

Bruiser wanted to say something. What, he did not know. He had questions though. So many questions. How did Uriel become the way he was? What other secrets did he have? Was he going to share Bruiser’s bed again tonight?

“Earlier, that was good,” Bruiser said awkwardly. “You were perfect.”

Uriel blinked. Then he looked incredulous. “You can’t be serious.”

That made Bruiser frown. “You don’t think so?”

Moving Cassie to one arm, Uriel gestured at himself. “No one wants this.”

“Who told you that?”

Uriel shrugged. “No one had to tell me. I know.”

But there was something dark in his eyes that said otherwise. Someone had made Uriel believe he was unwanted, and that... That was unacceptable.

“You were hot,” Bruiser said lowly. “You are hot. The way you sounded under me, the way you begged, the way you felt...” He made a low sound. “You’re every bit an omega, no matter what anyone else says.”

Uriel’s eyes widened. Then he turned away, looking... lost. “I don’t know.”

How long had he gone on, believing that?

Suddenly, Bruiser wanted to make him believe. Did Uriel even have any clothes that made him feel pretty? Anything that made him feel more like an omega?

“I think you’d look pretty in lace,” Bruiser murmured.

Uriel froze. Then his cheeks turned bright pink, and Bruiser stared. He’d never seen Uriel blush like that before.

He couldn’t look away.

“Do you want that?” Bruiser asked quietly, taking a step closer. “Dressed in pretty things?”

“No one would want—”