Page 44 of Look My Way (Bloody Desires #1)

Liam

It’s been a week of pure bliss. Waking up next to my Daddy has been the best way to start the day. He makes us breakfast, allowing me to stretch and lie around in bed for a while. We eat together at the kitchen table, all domesticated like, and he kisses me goodbye before leaving for work.

I miss him while he’s gone, checking all the locks and closing all the curtains.

If he wants to watch me without me knowing, he’ll find a way.

After having the locks changed days ago, I made him a copy in case I’m napping or can’t hear him from the back yard.

Looking at the time, I get up from my chair and move toward my vibrating phone.

My publisher left me an update on Rick, and a sinking sensation floods my gut because I haven’t made the time to go see him like I talked about with Zavier.

I’ve been too caught up in collecting all Daniel’s things and shoving them into boxes so he can easily grab them from the porch whenever he has the chance.

They’ve sat there for days, tops soggy and dipping inward from the rain.

I don’t have to look again to know they’re still there.

Daniel wouldn’t just grab them and leave.

I’m surprised he hasn’t shown up yet, though.

The door jiggles, pushing open, and Zavier steps into the living room looking right at home. We haven’t discussed it again, but I’ve already decided in my own head that I don’t ever want to go to bed without him there next to me, lying with his perfectly sculpted body pressed to mine.

“Hey, carino.”

“Hi, Daddy.” Standing on my tiptoes, I kiss his lips briefly and glance down at the bag of takeout in his hands.

“Thought we could both use a break from cooking, so I picked up some birria tacos.”

“Mmm. Good, because I’m starved.” Snatching the bag from his hand, I wait until he gives me my daily kiss on the head before proceeding toward the table.

“How’s your day been?”

“Good. I got some laundry done, plotted a new book, and updated my author site.”

“You were very productive.”

“I was.” I glance over my shoulder at him kicking off his shoes next to mine. “How was work?”

“Not bad. I installed some cabinets and did measurements for a back deck. It was pretty busy but it made for a fast day.”

“That’s good. How’s your sister? Any updates on the baby?”

His face brightens. “Yeah. She said it should be any moment now. Her water broke but they’re still waiting, you know, for the baby to be fully ready.”

“That’s exciting. She need any help with anything?”

“Not yet. I went over there during lunch to help with the crib setup, and said I’d go back if she needed help with the swing too.”

“I could go with you . . . maybe.”

“Yeah.” He sits at the table, reaching for his food. “It’d be good to have you there to keep me company.” He wiggles his brows and I laugh.

“I will not be doing anything inappropriate in your sister’s apartment.”

“I wasn’t suggesting it, but I mean, there’s always my truck or your car.”

I let out a high-pitched sound from my throat. “What? Is inside a comfortable and private house not enough for you anymore?”

“Is it enough for you?”

I fold in both of my lips. “Maybe.” I’d be lying if I hadn’t thought about him spreading my legs and claiming me in front of Daniel in his apartment while he was awake. His police car would work well too.

“Tell me what you’re thinking, pequeno.”

The pet names he calls me always make me feel so precious, my stomach doing somersaults. “I . . . I don’t know.”

“Yeah you do. I can see it in those darkening eyes and blushing cheeks. What is it? You can tell me anything, remember? How else can I make sure it comes true?”

My tongue feels like a heavy weight in my mouth. “It’s crazy and ridiculous. It could get us in trouble. You in trouble.” Why does that make me want to do it more?

“I’m even more intrigued.” Something mischievous dances in his eyes.

Sitting down in the chair next to him, I scoot closer as if there’s someone else in the room who might hear my dirty little secret. “I keep . . . I’ve thought . . .” I close my mouth, sucking on my tongue.

“Yeah?” Turning into me, he holds both my hands. “I’m listening.”

“I want you to fuck me in Daniel’s car.” I snap my eyes closed, wincing once the words are out there.

It’s quiet for a beat, my heart sounding like a galloping horse, and then he says, “When?” So casual too. Like it’s a simple request.

My eyes open one by one and my chest heaves. “Whenever.”

“Okay.” He goes back to his food, grinning between his first few bites, and we don’t say anything else about it.

While he’s outside getting something from his truck, I lay out my rocks and hold the one he wants me to save just for him to my chest. I didn’t know what to draw on it before.

But I do now. I have the perfect idea. I separate it from the rest, picking out all the right colors, and ignore the opening of the front door.

It slams shut and loud humming gets closer to me.

It’s that song he’s always singing, and my heart stops. Daniel sang it. How’d he know? Did Zavier hear him or has Daniel been watching us all along?

Hovering in the doorway, Zavier leans against it, the lyrics to the song “Smile,” flying from his lips.

“Why do you sing that all the time?” I ask, holding a breath.

“It was my mom’s favorite. She sang it to me when I was little and while she cooked. The house was always filled with it. Makes me feel close to her like the Diet Pepsi does.”

“But you like the song, unlike the drink.” It’s an observation, not a question.

“Sí. It’s a good one.”

I’d agree if I hadn’t heard it coming from someone I’m still trying to remove from my life. Daniel must know about us.

“Does it bother you?”

“No.” The word jumps out of my mouth a little too quickly. “Was only curious, and it is a good song. Very feel good and catchy.” Or it would feel good if Daniel wasn’t nudging at my brain after hearing Zavier sing it a bit ago.

“What you doing over there?” Keeling beside me, he rests his hands on his knees, spreading them a little. “Is that for me?”

“Yes, but you aren’t supposed to see it yet,” I bite out.

He laughs and kisses my cheek. “Okay. In that case you keep doing what you’re doing, and I’ll go do some work outside.”

“You don’t have to do that anymore.”

“But I want to, and I’m happy I can give it to you as a gift from me instead of him.”

Warmth spreads along my ears. “Okay.”

“I’ll be back inside in a couple of hours, and then we can watch a movie or I can check to see if there’s anything highlighted for me in the doc.”

My heart jumps, chest shaking. Oh yes, the doc.

My favorite place to admit to what I want whenever I’m not ready to say it out loud.

Telling him about Daniel’s car already took so much out of me, and I’m glad I have another outlet to go to for any other requests I may have sooner.

“You’re still here,” I say, the playfulness in my voice unmistakable as I feel his heavy presence in the room.

His chuckle drifts as he his steps retreat from the room.

Going back to painting, I find myself humming “Smile” and stop.

But this is Zavier’s song, not Daniel’s.

This stone is for Zavier and so am I. So I sing the words out loud, smiling like the song says to, because my heart was breaking until Daddy came along and slowly repaired it.