Ture quirked an eyebrow at that.
Grinning sheepishly, Maris shrugged. “They think I’m the father, and she had to list the father’s name for his registration. At least this way his real father can’t come in and use him against her later. They’ll never have a record of his real name anywhere.”
That was very true. “So do you have to pay child support?”
He laughed. “No. I’m going to sign away custody as soon as she can get the paperwork drawn up.”
Turning back toward the baby, Ture smiled. “Hey, little Terek,” he said, even though the baby couldn’t hear him. Then he waved at the baby.
It was the most adorable thing Maris had ever seen. He yawned again.
Ture frowned. “I need to get you to bed.”
Maris’s eyes widened in acute interest as his body perked up instantly. “That’s my boy.”
Laughing, Ture shook his head. “Is that all you think about?”
“Of course not. Food . . . which you also give me. Damn, Tur, I think you’re the perfect man.”
They both froze as Maris realized what he’d said. It was the closest thing to an avowal of love that he’d made. Terror filled him.
“Relax, honey. I know you’re tired and I’m not making anything big out of it.” Ture walked him toward the door. “Let me get you home and tucked in.”
Maris followed Ture to his transport then headed for his airbike. This was the only part of his Phrixian past that he’d really hung on to. He could still remember the stunned look on Darling’s face the first time he’d seen Maris riding one.
“It’s so not you.”
Maris smiled as he strapped his helmet on. Darling was right. He didn’t normally go for things that messed up his hair or clothes. But he loved the freedom of it. The sensation of flying through the air at over two hundred miles an hour... There was nothing like that kind of freedom.
Ture hated that he drove one. He thought it was dangerous. But then so was breathing.
Maris checked his mirrors. He narrowed his eyes as he saw someone just outside the hospital, watching him. Was it attraction or nefarious?
From this distance, he couldn’t tell. Still, he called it in to the Sentella so that they could set up a guard for Anachelle and the baby.
Better safe than sorry.
And as he headed back to Ture’s, a new fear gripped him. Unlike Darling and the very small group of Maris’s friends, Ture wasn’t military trained. He was purely civ.
Defenseless.
If the League or a bounty hunter went after Ture, there was nothing he could do to protect himself.
Suddenly terrified, Maris gunned the engine and made the building in record time. He parked and locked it down fast, then ran inside.
Holding his breath, he tried not to panic. But he couldn’t help it.
“Ture?” He scanned the apartment.
There was no sign of him.
Even more frantic, he went through the rooms. He’d just cleared the bathroom when he heard someone out front. His heart racing, he ran down the hallway to find Ture locking the door.
Ture had barely turned around when someone seized him and shoved him back against the wall. Not painfully, but the unexpected act startled him. He started to panic until the wonderful scent of Maris’s skin and cologne hit him. When he opened his mouth to ask what was wrong, Maris claimed his lips with a kiss so hot that it made his head reel. Maris held him with a desperation that was as concerning as it was incredible.
When Maris finally pulled back, he laid his head on Ture’s shoulder and still kept him locked in his arms. He could feel the fierce, hard beating of Maris’s heart against his chest.
“Baby? What’s wrong?”
Maris drew a ragged breath. “I’m just tired. I didn’t mean to scare you. Sorry.”
“It’s all right. I don’t mind when you go all military on me. So long as you don’t hurt me, I’m good with it.”
He lifted his head to pierce him with a sincere stare. “I would never hurt you.”
Extremely worried now, Ture nodded. “I know.” He brushed his fingers against the beard he’d talked Maris into growing. He’d never cared for them in the past, but Maris made it look sexier than hell. “I really do love you, Mari. Insanity and all.”
Maris wanted to return those words with every part of himself. But he couldn’t. Especially not tonight. To say that back would dare fate to hurt Ture. To rip him out of Maris’s life.
Instead, he finally stepped away so that Ture could enter his apartment. Still he couldn’t shake the bad feeling in his gut. Something was wrong. Every instinct he had was on high alert.
Shrugging his jacket off, he laid it over the chair where he usually kept it.
“You know, Mari... I’ve been thinking.”