Page 65 of Caged

I think my daughter may be on to something.

“Okay. I will.”

Her eyes light up like she’s won a prize and that in itself tells me I am making the right decision. That she fits with us. If she’s won over my daughter’s heart, I’ll gladly release mine from its cage and give it to her.

Elena scuffles to Melissa’s side and tugs on her arm and she looks down at her with a sweet smile. “My daddy wants to ask you something.”

Melissa looks up at me with a small grin. Jesus, why does that make my heart flutter? A simple look from this woman and my wall of stone crumbles.

“Is that right?”

She steps in front of me, looking up through her lashes at me. Her sweet scent invades my every thought.

And then she chews on her lip. Every damn time she does that, I want to bite it for her.

That bad side of her is itching to be released, I know it.

Stroking away a stray strand of her black hair behind her ear, I lean in, feeling the excitement bubbling from my daughter just behind us.

“What would you say if I asked to take you out, on a date?”

My hands go clammy. I hadn’t anticipated her saying no. Now, I’m not so sure and the seconds drag like hours.

She places her palms on my chest.

“I’d say it’s about damn time you asked me.”

I blow out a breath and the unfamiliar sensation of a smile breaks across my lips as I look into her dark chestnut eyes.

“How does tonight sound? Lara is back. She can look after Elena for us.”

Alexei brought her home. She never ventures far. He seems to be more in tune with her behavior than me or Mikhail. He can’t rest until she is safe, even if it’s from her own demons.

“Let me check my diary,” she says, her white teeth sinking into her lower lip which elicits a low growl from my chest. Pulling it back with my thumb, I hover my mouth just above hers.

“I need you to stop biting your lip, baby. Who knows what you’ll do to me if it draws blood.”

Her eyes widen, not with fear or shock, but intrigue.

Just how I need her.

“Did she say yes?” Elena beams from beside us. We both chuckle before turning our attention to her.

“I did,” Melissa responds and Elena throws herself into Melissa’s arms with a shriek.

“Come on, we better get home and change.”

I wrap an arm around Melissa’s shoulder as she holds on to Elena’s hand and I guide my girls back to the car.

Maybe this is the part of me that has been missing.

TWENTY-FIVE

MILA

Tugging on the hem of my tight, black leather dress, this is the most me I’ve felt since I arrived. I hope it’s enough to impress him.

Not that I should want that as much as I do.

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