When we are both spent and panting, Darius does something that I don’t expect. He crawls down so that his face is close to my belly. You can already see an evident bump. “Hey, maybe you can convince your mommy to stick around with your pop. You know, keep us a family. The goddess knows she is going to listen to you more than she is going to listen to me. I just really want my family. I know Uncle Markus would be good to you too, but he wouldn’t be your pop. I am. You are my little creation with your mommy. If anything, no one can take that away.” He kisses my belly to end the conversation.
A tear is falling down my face. He is talking to our baby. It tugs at my heart. I always saw this baby as another way for Darius to claim me but it was more than that to him. This is his family. That is all he wanted was a family. He was never going to have that with Sasha. That was one of the reasons he picked me over her. He wanted this. This moment right here. The moment where he would talk to his unborn child and pour his love on the mother.
“Darius. Is this really all you want?”
He smiles up at me. “Everything I have ever wanted is in this room right here.”
I decided to have some fun with him, if only to lighten his spirits. “So, you are saying that you always wanted this lamp.” I point to the lamp on the bedside table.
He growls a little but then laughs. “I don’t give a crap about that lamp, but you. You and this baby are the only things in this world that have mattered to me. I had to take it, yes, but it’s my world.”
I decide changing the subject is best at this point. “I think after you eat some more soup we should go for a walk. Get you out of this room for a little while.” I start putting my clothes back on. “You know you need to stretch your legs.”
“I thought I just got my exercise for the day.” He winked at me. “I could go for another round though.”
“Darius, you are going out that door and walking with me. Or would you rather I go walk all by myself.” I give him a stern look.
“You are not leaving my sight. Unless you absolutely have to. You are definitely not walking around this pack alone.”
“Then I suggest you get dressed. Or I am going alone.” I tugged on my pants. “I need to go talk to your mom about your medications. You have time to get dressed while I am gone. Your soup should be here soon.”
He stands and comes close to me. “If I eat the soup will you kiss me again?”
“I want to see you eat the soup. Which means if you are not still eating it when I get back then I am having them make you another. I want you fed. This bullshit of you not eating ends now.” I point my finger at him wagging it a little, like I am scolding a small child.
He smiles and takes my hand. “Alright. I will eat. I just hate soup.”
“Unfortunately you are malnourished and have to start small. So you will have to deal with soup. You did this to yourself mister.”
His lips catch mine. It’s a brief kiss but he is satisfied. “Whatever you say baby.”
“I’m going to go talk to your mom. Get dressed and be ready to eat.” I turn away from him.
As I am leaving the room I hear him say one last thing. “I love you Sophia.”
I close the door behind me and lean on it. I feel a little trapped, myself. I am starting to care about Darius. Care about him as the father of my child. Maybe a little more. Maybe that is why I texted him about the baby in the first place. Not all the time with Darius was bad, just the highlights. But the highlights were so bad. What is wrong with me?