Page 150 of Toxic Salvation
Honestly, it’s enough to make me forget about the ache between my legs. At least temporarily.
I didn’t think it was possible to feel anything sexual down there. Not for weeks. But apparently, normal rules don’t apply to Kovan Krayev. Because my battered body is already responding to him, despite everything it’s just been through.
“I think his eyes are blue,” Kovan says, turning to me with a soft smile. “He opened them just now, and I’m pretty sure I saw blue.”
I can’t help but smile back. My heart does this little extra thump that I’ve come to associate with watching Kovan be a father.
“What are you grinning about?” he asks.
“You,” I sigh. “It’s really rude of you to look like that while I’m stuck here, bleeding and sore and unable to do anything about it.”
He raises an eyebrow. “Don’t worry. I promise to stay this handsome until you’re healed and ready for me.”
“I’ll hold you to that.”
He winks and carries Vitalii over to me, placing him gently in my arms. The little one yawns and stirs but falls back asleep almost immediately. So far, he’s been an easy baby. I’ve fed him twice already, and he usually just falls asleep at my breast after he’s had his fill.
A nurse appears in the doorway. “Excuse me, Mr. and Mrs. Krayev, you have visitors.”
“They’re here,” I say, sitting up with excitement despite the soreness. “Maybe we should introduce him to Luka first? Give him some alone time with his brother?”
Kovan rubs my back. “Perfect idea. I’ll go get him.”
While Kovan is gone, I stare down at our son, breathing in his delicious newborn scent and admiring his downy dark hair. I search his tiny features for traces of myself, but right now, all I can see is his father.
I’m not upset about it.
“Mom?”
I look up to find Luka standing at the foot of the hospital bed, his hand clasped in Kovan’s. He looks nervous and excited and completely adorable in his Christmas sweater.
“Hey, sweetheart!” I croon. “Come meet your little brother.”
Luka approaches carefully, and Kovan lifts him onto the bed so he can look down at Vitalii. Luka’s expression is pure wonder.
“So?” I ask gently. “What do you think?”
“He’s so small!”
“Any bigger and he might have ripped me in half,” I laugh. “He’s eight pounds, three ounces. Not exactly a small baby.”
“He looks like Papa.”
“I think so, too,” I agree. “Actually, I think he looks a little like you, too.”
“Yeah?” Luka grins, delighted by the possibility.
“Do you want to hold him?”
Luka’s eyes go wide. “Really? What if I drop him?”
“You’re not going to drop him. You’re going to sit right here beside me and hold him carefully. Think you can do that?”
He nods and Kovan makes sure he’s sitting securely before I place Vitalii in his arms. Luka goes very still as the baby’s weight settles against him.
“There you go. You’re a natural.”
“He’s really cute,” Luka says, dropping a kiss on Vitalii’s forehead the same way I do with him.
