Blood Lust - Alexandra Ivy Page 0,25
held out his arms to catch the tiny bundle of Molly who was throwing herself off the bed.
Myst felt her heart melt.
Molly would never know how lucky she was to never doubt for a second that her father would be there to catch her.
“Daddy,” she squealed, lifting her face for a kiss. “Did you come to share our sleepover?”
“It’s already morning,” Myst hastily muttered, scooting until she was leaning against the headboard, the covers pulled to her chin. “Time for the sleepover to be over.”
Twin pairs of bronze eyes studied her flushed face.
Molly with innocent happiness.
And Bas . . . with mockery, of course, but also something darker. Something that made her heart flutter and a heat pool between her legs.
“Spoilsport,” he taunted before pressing a kiss to the top of Molly’s curls. “Time for breakfast, pet. I brought you a surprise.”
“Surprise?” The tiny girl widened her eyes with excitement. “What is it?”
“Why don’t you go see?”
He lowered her to the ground and Molly was darting out of the room on bare feet.
Bas watched her retreat with a fond smile before he closed the door and crossed toward the bed.
Acutely aware she was wearing nothing more than a tiny pair of silk shorts and matching camisole, Myst cleared her throat, glancing toward the robe she’d left on a chair near the window.
When she’d crawled into bed with Molly last night she hadn’t considered the fact that Bas would actually stroll into the room before she had a chance to get dressed.
“I should—”
“No more running, Myst,” he interrupted, sitting on the edge of the bed.
She pursed her lips. “I wasn’t running. I need a shower and change of clothes.”
He shrugged, turning on the mattress so he could stretch out beside her, one arm cocked beneath his head.
“You can have both after we talk,” he assured her.
Myst sucked in a shocked breath. Even with the thick comforter between them she could feel the heat of his body searing against her bare skin.
“What are you doing?”
“Making myself comfortable,” he said. “It’s been a long night.”
She studied his pale face, belatedly noticing the shadows beneath his eyes. Despite his restless power that pulsed through the room it was obvious he was exhausted.
“You haven’t slept?” she asked, annoyed to realize she was actually concerned about the aggravating male.
“Not yet.”
“Why don’t you rest?” She tried to scoot toward the edge of the mattress. “We can talk later.”
He rolled to the side, throwing his arm over her waist to keep her pinned in place.
“No.”
She stiffened, telling herself it was outrage that was making her heart race.
“Bas.”
“I didn’t return alone.”
“What?” Myst closed her eyes, struggling to sense who was in the outer room with her daughter. At last she opened them with a stab of surprise. “A witch?”
“The Mave,” he corrected in soft tones.
“You bastard,” she breathed in shock, shoving at his arm as she struggled to escape. Dammit, why hadn’t she asked more questions last night? She’d suspected he was plotting something devious, but she’d allowed her desperate desire to spend time with Molly to overcome her common sense. “I knew I couldn’t trust you.”
“Easy, cara,” he murmured, grunting when she managed to knee him in the upper thigh. Growling out a low curse, he moved with the speed and strength that marked him as a Sentinel. Yanking her flat against the mattress, he rolled his large body on top of her and glared down with smoldering frustration. “Dammit, listen to me,” he commanded.
She went rigid. Why waste her energy on a battle she couldn’t win?
Instead she gazed into his beautiful face with a pleading expression.
“Let me go. . . .” She grimaced, forcing the words past her stiff lips. “Please, Bas.”
His hand moved to cup her cheek, his touch gentle although his heavy body remained lodged on top of her.
“She’s not here for you, Myst,” he said, his thumb brushing her bottom lip. “She’s here to take Molly to Valhalla.”
She made a sound of distress. Did the bastard think she would be any happier seeing Molly being handed over to the Mave?
“You’re giving her our daughter?” she breathed.
His brows snapped together, his head lowering until they were nose to nose.
“Don’t be a fool,” he growled. “She’s going to protect her.”
Myst forced herself to think through the panic that was clouding her mind.
Of course Bas would never hand over Molly. Not to anyone. She might not trust Bas with her own welfare, but she never doubted that he loved Molly with all his heart.
“Protect her from what?”