Page 73 of Black Mark's Heart

Chapter Fourteen

"Mama!" Jacob came running into my bedroom, excited. He climbed up onto the bed and crawled over me to lie in the middle of the bed. "Dada." He started tapping Darius on the cheek.

I lifted my head to look at the clock. Nearly six in the morning. With a yawn, I climbed out of bed and went to the bathroom. Willow started crying while I brushed my teeth.

"Hold on, Jacob. Let me get Willow ready for Mama and then we can go cook breakfast," I heard Darius groan as he walked to the cot. "Good morning, beautiful girl. It was very nice of you to let your mama get four hours of sleep last night. She really needed it. The milk bar is looking mighty full for you just now."

I rolled my eyes. Darius couldn't take his eyes off my breasts for the past week. We weren't living together yet, but I'd let him stay over last night on the condition that he dealt with our rave queen, who preferred the night to be awake, and to sleep during the day. My milk supply was low, and the nurse told me if I could get a solid night of sleep, that would fix itself. So, of course, with Darius here, Willow decided to be good and sleep. Typical. She was an utter daddy's girl from the moment she was born.

I walked out to the bedroom to find Darius just finishing changing her nappy. He was a great dad, very hands on with both of them. Nappies didn't scare him. Darius turned and his smile lit up when he saw me. With Darius around and it being Christmas, I'd given Bill the holidays off.

"There's Mama. See, I told you the milk bar is full," he grinned from ear to ear, and I saw the monster instantly stand up for a look too.

I pointed at the monster peeking out of his boxers. "Put that away or I swear to God, I'll put you on your knees, and not in the good way."

Darius rolled his eyes. "Relax, baby. He's just stretching like normal for a morning. Once I go pee, he'll go back to sleep."

I eyed him doubtfully, but walked forward to take Willow from him. He slid her into my arms, keeping hold of her long enough to steal a kiss from me.

"Merry Christmas, Mora," Darius murmured.

"Merry Christmas, Dare," I blushed.

Darius didn't try to push for anything more. He smiled and moved into the bathroom while I sank into my rocking chair and put Willow to the breast. She jerked back from the flow and bit down. I yelped but held her close.

"What's wrong?" Darius rushed out.

"Apparently, she didn't like how fast the milk was flowing, so she's bitten the nipple to slow it," I cringed.

"Is that normal?" Darius asked.

"Yes," I sighed. "It takes a few weeks for the nipples to get used to feeding, so they are very sore right now."

Jacob was trying to pull Darius with him out of the bedroom. "Hold on, Jacob. Daddy needs pants before he goes downstairs. Aunty Tabitha is a pervert," Darius chuckled. He grabbed his tracksuit pants from his overnight bag and pulled a shirt on.

"Jacob," I smiled. "Go wake Uncle Alex," I pointed upstairs to where Alex and Tabitha were sleeping. Marshall and Alex's mother were in the room next door. Jacob smiled and ran out the door. "Take your time and have a shower, Dare," I offered. Darius smiled and pulled his shirt back off as he walked into the bathroom. I smiled, watching his sculpted body disappear. Yeah, Aunt Tabitha wasn't the only pervert in the house.

An hour after Willow was born, while I rested, Darius called Marshall and told him where to find me and that he was a grandfather again. Dad came first, jumping on the first plane. He'd entered my hospital room hesitantly, with a big teddy bear and terrified eyes.

"Dad," I'd broken down in tears. "I'm so sorry."

Marshall walked straight to me and bundled me into the biggest hug he'd ever given me. "No, Mora. I'm sorry. You always put up such a strong front, I failed to see just how badly you were breaking."

Alex came the next day, by himself, and Darius left. I panicked when he wasn't back again that night, but he'd been back and sleeping in the chair next to my bed, Willow on his chest sleeping happily, when I woke the next morning. Now they were all here for Christmas. Rebecca and Timothy were in the guest room downstairs with Henry, and Nigel and Sienna were next door in Willow's room. That's why Darius was in my bed. It was the only place for him to sleep. That, and Willow's cot was in here. Or at least that's the excuse I told myself. I wanted Darius here when the kids woke up. Nanna and Granddad Blake were staying nearby and would come over for lunch. It was going to be our first full family Christmas.

Ten minutes later there was a knock at my door, which Jacob had left open. Marshall stuck his head in. "Good morning, honey. Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas, Dad," I smiled.

"Jacob is waking everyone up. He's onto Nigel and Sienna now," Marshall informed me, his eyes going to the open bathroom door and the sound of Darius singing in the shower. "No issues last night?"

Everyone was being particularly wary of the fragility of my relationship with Darius. "The rave queen was a perfect princess and slept most of the night for her daddy," I cooed down at Willow. "She's going to have him wrapped around her little finger."

Marshall smirked, "All daughters have that effect on their fathers. I was smitten with you immediately. You had this feisty attitude even then." Marshall looked ready to say more, and I would have liked to have heard it. The shower stopped and Marshall looked at the bathroom door. "I'll take Jacob down and get his breakfast ready."

"Thanks, Dad," I smiled, trying to keep the emotions of hearing him talk about knowing me as a child at bay. It still hurt that Eliza kept us apart out of hate.

Marshall walked out and I finished feeding Willow on that side, sitting her up to burp her while I dropped my top on the other side, covering the finished side. Darius took his time, and I'd finished feeding by the time he came out dressed for the day. He was dressed casually, but God he looked good. He looked so happy as his eyes fell on Willow and me.

---