Chapter 84

CLARA

My smile hurt my cheeks, but I couldn't stop watching the little boy. Even though Damon pretended not to want the child there, he'd asked Luca to bring toys and necessities. I smiled at his thoughtfulness.

I bathed the boy, dressed him in the clothes Damon had provided, and wasn't surprised when he fell asleep in my arms. "Poor thing, you must be so stressed," I murmured, caressing his chubby cheeks. How could a mother do that to her child? I'll never understand it.

I soon fell asleep with the boy in my arms. I awoke to a knock.

"It's Luca," he said from the other side. I sighed, carefully climbed out of bed, placed pillows around the boy to prevent him from rolling, covered him with a blanket, and went to the door.

After closing the door behind me, I turned to Luca, still sleepy-eyed.

"I didn't mean to wake you. Damon wants to talk to you," Luca said. I sighed, checked on the boy to make sure he was still asleep, and followed Damon.

His office was a mess. I made a mental note to clean it when he wasn't using it.

"You wanted to talk to me?" I asked, sitting down.

"Yes, you need to describe the woman," he said, and I frowned.

"What woman?" I asked. He sighed.

"The child's mother. We need to find her." I shook my head stubbornly.

"No, I'm not telling you."

"Clara…"

"If you find her, she might want the boy back, and…"

"If she wants him back, you'll give him to her because he's not yours," he said. A sharp pain struck my chest.

"I know he's not mine, but he can be. We just have to adopt him. A mother like that doesn't deserve a second chance, Damon," I said. His face softened.

"Leave us, Luca," Damon said. Luca nodded and left.

As soon as he was gone, Damon gestured for me to come closer.

"Come here," he said. I pouted but went to him.

"I'm sorry if I sounded harsh, but I'll be blunt. I have no intention of adopting that child. We'll have our own children, okay? We don't need someone else's," he said. I frowned.

"Well, we don't have a child right now, and I'm grieving, Damon. The little boy needs a mother, and I need a child. If you won't adopt him, I will, under my name," I said, pulling away and leaving the office despite his calls.

I ignored Damon all day, devoting my attention to the boy. Aunt Amelia and Delilah visited; they were smitten with him. They left, and I expected Damon to join me in our room, but I fell asleep alone.

The little boy snuggled close, and I smiled, wrapping my arms around him. "At least you're here," I murmured. We both fell asleep.

The next morning, I opened my eyes to Damon's face.

"Good morning, little devil," he murmured. My eyes widened—the boy wasn't beside me.

I sat up, searched frantically, and turned to Damon with a glare.

"Where is he?" I asked through clenched teeth. He rolled his eyes.

"Relax, Luca took him out to play with the…" Before he finished, I was out of bed, putting on my slippers, and about to storm out when Damon grabbed my hand.

"Where do you think you're going?" he asked.

"I'm going to find him because I don't trust you," I said, trying to pull away. He pulled me closer.

"I came here to spend time with you, and you want to leave me for that child?" he asked. I frowned.

"That child gives me more attention than you do," I said. He sighed.

"I know, I know. You're tracing the bombers, and that's good, but that doesn't mean you should neglect me, Damon. You hardly sleep here anymore," I said. His arms tightened around me.

"I'm sorry," he murmured. I rolled my eyes.

"Sorry won't change anything. You said you wanted us to start over…"

"And that's exactly what we're doing," he interjected. I scoffed.

"You know it's not, Damon," I muttered.

"What do you want me to do? Huh?" He turned me around, looking directly into my eyes. "I've been injured before because I couldn't protect you. I won't let that happen again. If I don't catch the perpetrators, I can't rest. You should understand," he said. I sighed. I just wanted my husband, my mate, by my side.

"I've missed you," he murmured, cupping my bottom. He kissed me deeply.

"So this is why you came here?" I murmured against his lips. He chuckled.

"I came for your smart mouth, but I stayed for the mind-blowing sex," he said, his mouth moving towards my nipple through my nightgown. He was about to push me onto the bed when the little boy ran into the room.

I pushed Damon away, opened my arms, and the boy ran into my embrace.

"Did you have fun?" I asked, pinching his cheeks. He blew raspberries.

I turned to Damon, offering an apologetic look as I noticed his jealous glare. I wasn't sure if I should be worried or flattered.