“She does,” I agree.
My heart tightens some more when I look down at her. It does hurt that Mum isn’t here, I think she would’ve loved her granddaughter maybe more than she loved me. And she loved me to the point of madness. How can I deprive my daughter of that?
“Grace.”
“Grace,” Casper echoes softly into my ear before pressing another kiss to my cheek. “I didn’t know your mother, not really, but from everything I’ve heard and seen…I know she’s proud of you. I’m proud of you.”
The serious look on his face cuts through me. It makes my heart hurt a little more while at the same time making his words heavy with meaning and so much affection that my entire being lights up.
“Why are you saying that? I haven’t…I…I got pregnant and had a baby. Lots of women do that. It’s nothing out of the ordinary.”
“It’s epic to me, ma belle fleur.” His arm wraps around my shoulders, adjusting me so that I’m leaning into him while Grace continues her feed.
I enjoy the heat of his touch as we listen to our little girl’s ragged breaths, exhausted from having to work for her milk. And I realise that in spite of the shitstorm waiting for us outside of this room, I am the happiest I have ever been because of him.
I didn’t expect any of this. But Lucian was right—it’s always the unexpected things we love the most.
Chapter 33
CASPER
Grace is almost a week old. The novelty is wearing off with the sleepless nights. I’ve always been a light sleeper, but now, it’s non-existent. Grace quite literally eats, poops, and sleeps.
Fuck, I’m even censoring the curses in my thoughts. Nothing belongs to me anymore, not even Fleur. She’s a milk machine, and when she’s not feeding, she’s eating and drinking so she can feed.
Swatting around my face, I try to stop whatever is tickling my nose with one hand, while holding on to Grace, so she doesn’t attempt to make another almost escape like earlier.
“Hey, you want me to take her for a little while?” Arabella pokes her wet pinkie into my ear.
I’m up and ready to take her down, even with my daughter in my arms. “Did you just fucking wet willie me?”
She laughs, and her laugh is echoed by Georgina.
“He’s always hated that,” she tells Bella.
It’s a pity they think that it’s still okay to do it. Especially with all the fights we used to have as kids. I may have let them win in the end, mostly, but it didn’t mean that I enjoyed it.
“It’s a guaranteed way of getting a reaction.” Bella shrugs, sitting next to me, trying to pry Grace from my arms.
“Hands off, Sinclair.” I swat her hands.
“No, I want a cuddle. You haven’t let me hold her properly yet.”
“That’s because your husband’s a dick.” Standing, I glare between my two sisters. “Fuck, why do you have to be so fucking annoying? I was doing a bloody great job of watching my fucking language until you came along.”
“Can I have a cuddle?” Georgina makes grabby hands at Grace, her honey-brown eyes rounding.
Little fucker. She thinks she can worm her traitorous arse into my good graces by giving me puppy dog eyes and batting her lashes.
“No,” I deadpan, holding my palm to her forehead so she can’t come closer. “You’re fucking the enemy.”
“You’re being unreasonable.” Arabella glowers at me as Mum comes in the room and plucks my daughter from me without a single word.
“What’s going on?” she asks as though she hasn’t waltzed into the room and practically kidnapped my child from my hold.
“Casper won’t let us have a cuddle. He’s being an unreasonable idiot, and you need to tell him so!” Georgie plants her hands on her hips. She turns to me, batting her lashes in earnest, though, as she adds, “Please? I’m going home tomorrow. I’m due back for choreography fine-tuning, and I won’t see her for a while. Please?”
“Stop fucking Freddie.”