Page 66 of Calypso's Shield
Farris turns his head slightly, his sharp blue gaze landing on me. “You ready?”
I inhale deeply, taking in the scent of leather, pine, and the lingering smokiness of the road. Then I look back at him, at the man who’s been through hell and back with me and never let go of my hand once.
I almost lost this. I almost lost everything.
I swallow hard and push the thought away before it can dig too deep. Instead, I focus on the steady weight of my daughter against my chest, the steady presence of Farris beside me.
“I’ve never been more ready,” I whisper.
His lips curve in that signature smirk, the one that drives me crazy, the one that still makes me weak even after everything.
He climbs out of the SUV first, then comes around to my door. He unbuckles our daughter from the wrap with a level of carefulness that still stuns me. The big, bad biker who used to put bullets between men’s eyes without hesitation now handles this tiny, fragile little girl like she’s the most precious thing in the world because to him, she is, and to me, they both are.
Farris cradles our baby against his chest, one large hand cupping the back of her head as I step out, stretching out my sore limbs. My body is still healing, still dealing with the aftershocks of everything I’ve been through. This right here makes every single moment of pain worth it. It’s not just Farris and me anymore. Not just the two of us trying to figure shit out. We’re a family.
Farris kisses me before we make our way toward the house. He shifts the baby in one arm long enough to push the front door open.
I step inside first, my breath catching as I take it all in. The space is perfect. It’s rustic, warm, and open. There’s a fireplace against the far wall, a leather couch sitting in front of it, and the faintest scent of sawdust still lingers from the final touches Farris put on the place.
Farris hands me Anna and takes me into his arms. I settle her against my chest, inhaling her soft, powdery scent. Her tiny fingers curl around the edge of my leather cut, gripping it in her sleep like she already knows who we are and where she belongs. My breath catches. Jesus. She’s so small. So helpless. And she’s mine.
"She’s got you wrapped already, huh?" Farris speaks softly, watching me closely.
I nod, unable to look away from our daughter. "Yeah. Completely."
Farris tilts my chin up, his eyes scanning my face like he’s committing every part of me to memory. "You scared the shit out of me, Lyp."
I smirk. "You? Scared? Thought nothing could shake the great FarrisLaw DogDalton."
He exhales sharply. "You shake me, every goddamn day."
He engulfs us in a warm embrace before his lips crash onto mine. I open my mouth, allowing his tongue entrance. He plunges inside, making my body quiver with need. We pull apart before things get too heated, and he rests his forehead against mine.
“I love you with every fiber of my being,” Farris breathes.
“I love you, with every breath of my soul,” I respond.
I glance toward the dining area, the long wooden table set up with more chairs than just two because this house isn’t just meant for us, it’s meant for everyone.
As if my thoughts summon them, the rumble of engines fills the air, the unmistakable sound of both our Club’s rolling up the driveway.
I smile. “They couldn’t even wait a whole day, huh?”
Farris chuckles, pressing a kiss to our daughter’s head. “Would you expect anything less?”
I shake my head because I don’t, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.
The front door swings open, and chaos follows. The Royal Bastards and the Royal Harlots flood the house, filling every inch of space with laughter, shouts, and the kind of energy that only comes from people who have survived hell together.
Allura is the first to reach me, pulling me into a tight hug before stepping back and letting her gaze drop to my daughter. Her green eyes soften. “She’s beautiful.”
“She is,” I whisper, my voice a little too raw, a little too exposed.
She reaches out, brushing her knuckles against the baby’s tiny cheek. “You did good, Lyp.”
Farris takes Anna out of my grasp and tucks her into his strong arms, giving me a wink before he walks across the room.
I almost break right there. I force a small smirk, turning back to Allura. “Yeah, well, I don’t break easy.” But the truth is, I almost did and I still might because for the first time in my life, I have something so damn good, so damn real, and I don’t know how to live with that. I don’t know how to live without fighting. But I remind myself that this isn’t a fight, this is love.
