Page 58 of Demon Daddy's Baby Girl

Her thumb traces small circles against the back of my hand. "When I saw you in that cell doorway, covered in blood and looking at me like... like I was worth burning down the world for... I knew."

She shifts closer, eliminating the careful distance between us. "I love you too, Rolfo. And Sephy—" Her voice softens with the baby's name. "She's loved you from the beginning. Even before I was brave enough to."

My chest caves inward with a quiet sob, but I don't cry. I've spent decades building walls around these parts of myself, convinced they were weaknesses. Instead, I just hold her tighter, pulling her against me until I can feel her heartbeat against my ribs.

"We're staying," she whispers against my collarbone. A promise. "We're home."

I kiss her shoulder, breathing in the scent of her skin. She nestles closer, fitting herself against me like she was made to be there.

We fall asleep tangled up in everything we didn't think we'd survive, her breath warming my chest and my arm wrapped protectively around her waist. For the first time in my life, I understand what it means to be found.

27

AURELIE

The morning light filters through the curtains, casting a gentle golden glow across Rolfo's pale sheets. I've been awake for several minutes already, watching the rise and fall of his chest, memorizing the contours of his face in repose. Everything feels different this morning—clearer, as though the world has shifted into perfect focus.

Sephy sleeps peacefully in the nursery across the hall. The house is wrapped in that special kind of morning quiet that feels almost sacred. I never thought I could have this—this moment of complete safety and contentment.

Rolfo stirs beside me, his eyelids fluttering. Before he's fully awake, I reach out, brushing my thumb across the rough stubble along his jaw. He leans into my touch instinctively, like a plant seeking sunlight. The silver of his eyes catches the morning light as they open, focusing on me with wonder.

"You're still here," he whispers, his voice rough with sleep.

I smile, feeling a surge of warmth at his vulnerability. "Where else would I be?"

His large hand covers mine, pressing my palm more firmly against his cheek. "I half convinced myself I dreamed last night."

"You mean when I told you I loved you?" The words come easier now, in the gentle morning light. The first time had been harder—spoken in darkness, in the aftermath of everything with Kaelith. But now, in the quiet morning, they feel like the most natural thing in the world.

"Yes." His mercury eyes search mine. "Did you mean it?"

Instead of answering with words, I lean forward and press my lips to his. This kiss is different from the desperate ones we've shared before. It's not born from fear or relief or raw need. It's a choice—deliberate and unhurried. A quiet claiming.

Rolfo gasps softly against my mouth, his hands coming up to frame my face with a reverence that makes my heart ache. When we part, his eyes remain closed for a beat longer, as though he's trying to preserve the moment.

"I meant it," I whisper against his lips. "I love you, Rolfo."

His eyes open, and the vulnerability there steals my breath. "I never thought—" he starts, then swallows hard. "Aurelie, you deserve so much more than?—"

I press my fingers to his lips, silencing him. "Don't. Don't tell me what I deserve. For once in my life, I'm choosing. Do you understand? I'm choosing you."

The tension in his body shifts as he props himself up on one elbow, looking down at me with an intensity that sends heat curling through my body. His hand moves to trace the line of my collarbone, his touch feather-light.

"Say it again," he commands softly, his voice dropping to that low register that makes my skin prickle with awareness.

I meet his gaze without hesitation. "I love you."

Something breaks in his expression—some final restraint giving way. His kiss is deeper this time, his hand sliding into my hair, cradling my head as he presses me back against the pillows. I wind my arms around his neck, drawing him closer until I can feel the solid weight of him against me.

"I love you," he murmurs against my neck, his breath hot on my skin. "Aurelie, I love you more than I thought possible."

The words trigger something in me—a final barrier falling away. I've given him my heart, my trust, but there's more I want to give. My hands trace the planes of his back, feeling the shift of muscle beneath warm skin.

And suddenly, I can't stand another second between us, keeping us apart. I want to be surrounded by him, filled by him, consumed by him. I want everything Rolfo has to give.

I trace the curve of Rolfo’s jaw with my fingertips, my breath catching as he leans into the touch. His eyes hold mine, silver pools reflecting the soft glow of dawn. There’s a question in his gaze, a silent offering. I nod, my heart thrumming in my chest.

His hands move to the hem of my nightshirt, lifting it slowly, his calloused fingers brushing against my skin with a tenderness that makes me ache. I feel exposed, but not vulnerable—not with him. His eyes sweep over me, drinking in every inch like I’m something sacred. He doesn’t rush. Every movement is deliberate, reverent.

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