Page 124 of Scorned

My brows arched. “Why do I have to? You’re the one who agreed to watch her.”

“Actually, that was you.” Luka picked up the diaper bag and handed it to me.

“We aren’t friends anymore,” I said, snatching it from his hands.

Even though I hated changing diapers, I’d mastered the science, and was able to do it in less than a minute.

After getting out a diaper and some wipes, I rubbed my hands together, warming them up. “Time me.”

Luka said nothing as I quickly unzipped her onesie and pulled her little legs out, not letting the cuteness of her tiny toes distract me from my mission. I undid her diaper, lifted her legs and wiped, then wiped again, and then again, all while Luka made a gagging sound. For such a small thing, Scarlet could really drop a load.

With one hand, I rolled up the old diaper with the wipes in it, setting it aside and slid on the new one. Then I latched it up, zipped her onesie, and she was smelling fresh again.

“Time?”

“Thirty-seven seconds.”

“Hell yes! New record.” I pointed to Scarlet, who yawned, but remained sleeping. “Watch her while I wash my hands.”

I yanked the diaper up and headed to the kitchen, sealing it in a ziplock bag before dropping it in the trash. That thing was horrendous.

After a quick scrub, I came back and picked the baby up. This time, I took a seat on the couch, laying her across my thighs. I couldn’t stop staring at her. Her tiny nose, her pink cheeks, her red hair. She was perfect.

“Babies are so lucky, bro. They have no worries, their soul is still pure, and they have someone to wipe their ass for them.”

“Are you wanting someone to wipe your ass?” Luka asked, and I popped my head up.

“I don’t think Lyric is the ass wiping type.” We both laughed and I turned my attention back to the baby. “I think I love her.”

Luka took a seat next to me and brushed his hand over Scarlet’s head. “I just met her and I already love her. Well, as long as she doesn’t shit again.”

“I meant Lyric.”

His eyes bulged, his hand falling away. “That’s huge for you.”

I nodded. “I know. And I didn’t want to, but it just happened.” I glanced back at Scarlet. “Lyric is going to want kids when she gets older. I can see it in her eyes. She’s so loving and nurturing. She was born a mom and doesn’t even know it.” I shook my head with a sigh. “I don’t want to break her heart or take that experience away from her. And I think that’s why I tried so hard not to love her. And probably why I haven’t told her.”

“Sage told me she loved me, man. I knew it already, but it’s a whole different vibe when someone actually says it to you.”

A hard breath left me. “She’s just too innocent. I can’t hurt her.”

“Are we talking about the same woman here?” Luka asked, tightening my brow.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Did you see her at VRC? I only got a glimpse of her, but she was blood-soaked and made it out without a scratch on her. Which means she’s tougher than you think. Maybe take her off that pedestal you put her on and give the girl more credit.”

My eyes darted to him, mouth agape. “I just want to protect her from getting hurt.”

“It’s okay to protect her, even worship her. However, thinking she’s weak is a mistake. Given her ability to kill a man or even a vampire, I’m sure she can endure the pain of a broken heart if it happens.”

A snicker left me. “Where the fuck were you a month ago?”

“Waiting for my friends to rescue my ass.”

We both chuckled and I turned my attention back to Scarlet as I thought about Luka’s words. They were one hundred percent accurate. Lyric had the most pure soul, and deep down, I wanted to shelter her because of it. Even during our sparring sessions, I held back, refraining from using my full strength. Despite my hesitation, she always pushed forward, throwing out strong kicks and punches.

She was a warrior and I made her a princess.

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