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had changed. Now I just wanted to be the one who held her. I wanted to make it all better. Just me.

I opened my eyes and the room was dark and I was alone in bed. Sitting up I ran my hands through my hair and stood up to go find Will ow. When I opened the bedroom door Larissa smiled up at me, "Martus," she announced loudly.

"Princess," I replied smiling down at her. Two little arms lifted in the air and I reached down to pick her up. I'd already learned that wordless demand.

"I didn't know you were coming to visit me." She clapped,"Martus pay."

"He just woke up Larissa, give him a minute," Will ow chided her as she walked out of the kitchen.

"I made some chicken fettucini alfredo if you want some.

Tawny stopped by unexpectedly about an hour ago and dropped Larissa off. I'm supposed to work tonight but if I didn't keep her she was going to leave her with this awful lady down the street all night long. I couldn't let her do that, so," she shrugged.

"I'll keep her."

Will ow froze and stared at me.

"You will?" the shock on her face hurt a little.

"Yeah, of course. I was going to stay here tonight anyway.

She and I will build blocks and knock them over, play with spoons, we'll have a blast."

A smile broke across Will ow's face that made me feel ten feet tall.

"Okay, um, thanks, I mean, wow, are you sure?" I walked over to her and leaned over to place a quick kiss on her surprised little mouth.

"Very sure."

"Martus tiss," Larissa said happily then leaned over and laid a very wet kiss on my cheek.

Will ow giggled, "Alright you don't go stealing my man." Her man. I liked that a lot. A whole damn lot.

"Impossible. Even for adorable curly headed blondes," I assured her and ruffled Larissa's hair.

"Martus pay," Larissa announced again.

"Yeah I heard you chic. Let's go play," I replied.

"Wait aren't you hungry?"

I'd forgot she'd cooked. My stomach rumbled and I looked at Larissa.

"Can I eat first then we'll play. You can sit beside me and eat too."

"Bite bites" Larissa responded.

Turning to Will ow for a translation, Larissa proceeded to chant, "Martus bite bites"

"Bite bites is what she likes to call eating," Will ow explained.

"Makes complete sense to me," I replied and both girls giggled.

Willow

The television ill uminated the dark apartment when I stepped inside. There was no sound coming from the T.V.

but The Tonight Show was on the screen. When my eyes adjusted, I found Marcus sound asleep on the couch with Larissa snuggled up on his chest also sound asleep.

Blocks scattered the floor and what looked like cookie crumbs made a trail from the living room to the kitchen. My heart swelled. I loved him. I never thought this would happen. I never expected to love anyone else. Not this way.

I picked up the blocks and stacked them back in the basket I kept here for when Larissa came over. Then I leaned down to whisper in Marcus's ear, "I'm home." His eyes blinked open then a sleepy smile greeted me.

"Hey," he mumbled.

"I'm just going to take her and put her in bed with me. I'll get you a blanket and pillow."

"I can take her," he said starting to sit up. I placed my hand on his shoulder and pushed him back down.

"No, you stay put. I'll do it." I kissed the small frown between his eyebrows and took Larissa from his arms.

After tucking her in and securing her with pillows I went back out to the couch with a pillow and blanket for Marcus.

He hadn't moved. He was exhausted no doubt. Keeping Larissa wasn't for the faint hearted. His eyes were closed.

Long blond eyelashes brushed his cheekbones. I bent over him to put the pillow under his head when two hands grabbed my waist and pulled me down on top of him.

"Mmmm, that's better," he whispered before claiming my mouth. His mouth was sweet and gentle at first but the more I shifted my body the more aggressive the kiss became.

The warmth of his mouth tasted like chocolate chip cookies and I couldn't get enough of him. I grasped the front of his shirt pulling him closer. His hands moved up my thighs and cupped my bottom squeezing and moaning as I pressed against him. We were going there again. Before we went any further I pulled back and looked down at him. The desire in his eyes undid me.

desire in