That energy stirred as the girl stole my breath.
Shea’s head was tipped down where she sat in the old, white rocking chair that was tucked in the corner of Kallie’s room, my girl’s strong, loving arms ensuring comfort within. The chair faced out on the room, and Kallie was curled up on her lap while Shea rocked her, that precious tiny girl lost in the restful abyss of sleep. Shea brushed gentle fingers through Kallie’s hair as she peered down at her daughter’s face.
Tranquility. Peace and adoration.
Beauty.
What I’d turned away from that day on the street when I’d finally understood how much Shea had to lose. How much she needed to protect. When I got why I could never just be a distraction.
Now…now turning away was impossible.
A surge of possessiveness crashed over me, and I struggled to swallow around the rock of emotion that got lodged at the base of my throat.
Shea didn’t look up at me, just let her hushed words spill into the room as a soft smile kissed one side of her mouth. “From the time I brought her home from the hospital, I rocked her to sleep in this chair every single night until the day she turned two.” Her smile fluttered and flickered, my girl lost to wistfulness. “My grandma used to say a child should never be spoiled rotten, only spoiled until they were sweet. I figured if I rocked her to sleep any longer than that, I’d be risking crossing over into rotten territory because she was already as sweet as she could be.”
My heart pulsed, erratic and wild.
She choked over pensive laughter, and she finally glanced up at me, those warm caramel eyes exposing her vulnerability, that unforgettable face sodden with tears.
Every muscle in my body coiled with reverence.
Gripping me in the tendrils of her storm, the hurricane surrounding her grew fast and fierce.
She turned her attention back to Kallie. “I would sit here and sing to her every night, making up songs about my dreams for her, my dreams for us. How I was going to give her the best life she could possibly wish for. I’d tell her it was just her and me and I was certain that was always going to be enough.” Her voice cracked. “And then there was you.”
The echoed words from the first night she’d given herself to me raged against the walls of the tiny room.
“Shea,” I murmured low, somehow her name coming off like a command, every part of me demanding this.
Outside, branches beat at the eaves, and a howl of wind screamed through the cracks of the old house.
Shea dragged her attention up to me. “Do you want to be with me, Sebastian? Really be with me?”
On the phone the other night, she’d asked me to promise her that it was only going to be her. I hadn’t hesitated. But I knew tonight she was asking for more. That she was asking me if this was going to be worth it.
Slowly, I pushed over the threshold.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Matching her.
Matching me.
Every essential part of her tugged at me. Sucked me in, pulled me deeper.
Deeper.
Deeper.
Deeper.
I stopped a fraction away. Slowly I reached out to touch Shea’s face. My thumb traced along the curve of her trembling bottom lip as I set my palm on her cheek. She leaned into it, and something inside me tripped.
Overthrown.
My gaze slid to Kallie, her expression lax and soft, glowing innocence, wild, wild curls.
About as wild as what I was feeling inside.
Watching Shea’s face for resistance, I leaned down and gently scooped Kallie into my arms.
The child weighed next to nothing, but God, if she didn’t feel like everything.