I don’t say anything. I don’t reassure her with empty words and promises, because the truth is we don’t know what the future holds. But I do know me, and I know how I’ve felt every day since meeting her. I know how much I’ve thought of her.
How much I want her.
How much I’ve missed her.
“You know those photos we took?” My fingers skate up and down her arm, wanting to touch her but not wanting to overwhelm her. “The one’s Liza ended up sending, even though we didn’t finish the shoot.”
She nods.
“Every chance I get, I look at them. When I was away, it was the first thing I did when I logged on to a computer. And now, finally having a phone, I find myself pulling them up a few times a day and getting lost in those memories.” Softly, I press my lips to her forehead before looking back down at her. “You’re allowed to be worried about what the future holds, because you’re right, so much has happened in such a short time, and we don’t really know one another. But I want you to know this. Every time I looked at those photos, I thought about you. I thought about you in past tense. I think about you in the present tense. I think about you in my future. For almost twelve months, without even knowing about Alessia, you have been the only thing I think about.”
I press a palm to her cheek and continue, unable to stop this onslaught of emotion brewing inside of me. Words continue to fall from my lips, every part of me wanting to make sure that there are no doubts in Blake’s mind that I. Want. Her.
“I know life got in the way, and maybe you not having to endure my deployment worked out in our favor, but I have no doubts in my mind that on both the day we met and today, I am exactly where I’m meant to be.”
She swallows hard, her eyes welling up, her face flittering with a plethora of unnamed emotions.
“Talk to me,” I plead, desperately wanting to know where she stands.
“It’s stupid,” she mumbles.
“Try me.”
“It’s just… it just hit me. That Marine thing. I know it’s your job, but I just realized you leaving is a thing.”
On instinct, I stiffen at her words, my head remembering the last time I had this conversation with someone and my heart beating in fear at how much more I have to lose this time.
“I don’t have to reenlist.” The words surprise me, because in all my time in the military, leaving has never been an option. Not even to save my marriage. “I’m finishing up my sixth year and I don’t have to––”
Blake places a hand over my mouth, silencing me. “I would never ask you to do that. Not for me and not for Alessia. I know how important your job would be to you, and what kind of person chooses to serve their country. I’m not asking you to make any changes. Please don’t think that.” She moves her hand to cup my cheek. “What I meant to say was that Alessia and I would worry about you.” Her voice is laced with vulnerability when she adds, “We would miss you.”
Not that I’ve ever loved hearing that people are worried about me, nor is it the first time someone has said they’ll miss me, but when Blake says it, it feels like hope. Her determination to make sure I know I don’t have to choose, is a stark difference to so many other people in my life.
It all feels like the beginnings of a promise, a start of a commitment between the three of us that could continue to blossom.
“I’d miss you both too.”
With a small smile, Blake stretches her neck ever so slightly, bringing her lips to mine. It’s a soft peck, but it’s all I need as an invitation. My body hums as I press my mouth to hers, the distance of the last twelve months closing with every movement.
She relaxes into me and I deepen the kiss, reacquainting myself with her tongue. With her taste. I drag her closer to me, her body now flush against mine. Just like I remember, we’re the perfect fit.
“I thought it was all in my head,” Blake breathes out. “But it’s even better then I remember.”
My cock stirs, and my thoughts become a jumbled mess, knowing I should take it slow, but finding it very hard to do so.
I roll her onto her back and settle between her legs. “What’s the protocol for fooling around while our daughter’s in the room?”
A breathtaking smile takes over her flushed face. She grabs my cheeks and pulls me to her.
“Say it again,” she murmurs.
“What?” I go over my words and smile in understanding when it hits me. “That’s what she is isn’t she? Our daughter,” I repeat.
We both turn to look at her, and I find myself absolutely perplexed by my body’s ability to still be ridiculously turned on while my mind is completely focused on my daughter.
Welcome to fatherhood.
When I look back at Blake, I catch her covering her mouth, trying to stifle a yawn.
“Hey.” I swat her hand away. “Don’t try to hide how tired you are from me.”
“I’m okay,” she lies, wrapping her arms around me, holding me close to her. “Honestly.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” I reassure her. I kiss the tip of her nose. “Why don’t you sleep now while Alessia is sleeping, and I promise to be here when you wake up.”
I can see the indecision on her face, so I roll off her to try and make it easier. “Come on, baby. Get some sleep. I’ll find something around the apartment to keep me busy.”
Her hand finds my forearm, stopping me from moving off the bed. “Stay. Hold me.”
It’s not till I hear the sound of a doorbell ringing that I realize I, too, fell asleep.
When the sound echoes throughout the apartment a second time, I panic that the person on the other side of the door is going to wake either or both of my girls up.
Slowly disentangling myself from Blake and rising off the bed, I quietly but quickly make it to the front door.
When I open it, I'm shocked to see a man standing opposite me. He’s a little shorter than me, and of a smaller build, looking more like a lanky frat boy than a man who is close to my age.
The surprised look on his face makes me feel uneasy, and on instinct, I begin clenching my fists.
“Can I help you?” I ask him.
“Um, is Blake home?” He looks at his watch and then back up at me. “I usually stop by after work.”
What. The. Fuck.
“Chad.” Blake’s voice sounds behind me.
I look over my shoulder and the sliver of guilt that crosses her face makes my blood boil.
“What are you doing here?”
Straightening his shoulders, he looks between us. “Is this Alessia’s father?”
Not giving Blake a chance to answer, I step toward him. “Who the fuck’s asking?”
Chapter Nine
Blake
Shit.
If I don’t jump in between them right now, I’m almost certain Rio is going to lose his ever-loving mind.
Rushing over to the front door, I purposefully stand in front of Rio, putting some distance between the two men but letting my back rest on Rio’s front, hoping he knows there is absolutely no competition here.
“Chad, what are you doing here?” I ask.