14. CHAPTER 13

CHAPTER 13

Exhausted and more than a little frustrated that they’d yet to get any information from any of the humans they’d interrogated, Baz was tempted to just head to his room instead of checking in on his mate and daughter. The last thing he needed was to have Channing reject him – again. If only it were that easy.

“Don’t even think about being a chicken shit,” Chadwick blurted out as they walked through the foyer after looking up the human prisoners they’d managed to capture when they’d liberated the shifters from the grueling work camps that resembled hell more than a place on earth.

Feigning innocence even though he knew Chadwick and the other would call him on it, Baz kept his face neutral as he responded, “What are you talking about?”

Chadwick and Saber snorted in derision. Kylo, who had made certain to have food waiting for them when they’d gotten back to Salvation, crossed his arms over his chest and glared at him. “Go see your mate and daughter. They both need to know you’re alive and well.”

Somehow Baz doubted Channing gave a shit if he lived or died at that point. Still, it had been three endless days away from his mate and even though Channing might refuse to see him, Baz needed to be close to him. If it meant having a door between, so be it. At least he’d be able to inhale his intoxicating aroma through that door. It wasn’t exactly what he wanted but it would have to be enough.

Heading in the opposite direction as the others, he climbed the steps that would take him to his mate’s suite. His steps faltered as he reached the second-floor landing when his gaze fell on the most beautiful sight he’d ever seen. Channing, cuddling Saleh to him was headed his way. Yosi and Kylo hadn’t said much about either one of them, except to inform him that after a disastrous encounter with Braydon, no one had seen or spoken to Channing. To see them out of their room was…well shocking considering his mate seemed to think someone was out to kidnap them around every corner.

“Ba,” Saleh squealed happily when she saw him. Determined to get to him, she practically shoved herself out of her dada’s arms.

For a moment, Baz thought he was hallucinating as Channing actually bent over and set her on the floor. But before he could faint, Saleh was off like a shot the moment she was on her feet. Not that she ran very fast yet, but she didn’t waste time in getting to him either.

Unable to take his eyes off his mate, Baz hadn’t missed Saleh when she reached him. Scooping her up into his arms, he smiled at her and held her close. “Hey, princess,” he said as he kissed her temple. When she seemed to cling to him, he reassured her. “I’ve got you, sweetie. You’re safe.”

He hadn’t missed the way Channing stiffened when he said that, but he hadn’t said anything about it or tried to pull her out of Baz’s embrace. He’d half expected either one to happen at some point, but, once more, Channing surprised him. “Are you okay?”

Was it Baz’s imagination or did his mate actually sound concerned? Certain he had heard only what he’d wanted to in Channing’s inflection instead of what was really there, he moved toward his mate without even thinking. It was as if he was compelled to be as close to him as possible.

And damn if Channing hadn’t managed to stun him once more when he’d met Baz halfway. Was it possible his mate felt the same way? The way his gaze seemed to scan every inch of Baz as if checking to make certain he wasn’t injured gave him more hope than he probably should have felt, considering Channing’s attitude toward him had been when Baz had left.

Unable to stop himself, he smiled as his heart beat faster at the thought of his mate being concerned about him. “I’m fine.” Who was he kidding? In that moment, he couldn’t have been better. Well, Channing in his arms would have made all his dreams come true, but that was a lot to expect. “More than,” he added.

“Good,” Channing said as he stared at the way Saleh was curled up against Baz.

Worried he’d somehow overstepped again, Baz asked, “How have you and this little scamp been?”

“Ba,” Saleh shouted as she leaned back from him in order to touch his face with her hand.

Thrilled that at least one of them wanted him around, he kissed her cheek and smiled at her. “I’m happy to see you too, little one.”

As if knowing he needed it, she threw her little arms around his neck and hugged him. Cuddling close, he breathed her in. Talk about a perfect moment. The only thing that could have made it better was if Channing was curled up next to them.

Glancing in the direction of his mate once again, that damn hope he clung to burned brighter as he swore he saw yearning in Channing’s pretty brown eyes. Despite his brain warning him it was a mistake, Baz held out a hand to his mate, silently inviting him to join them in their hug.

The hesitation nearly killed him, but when Channing closed the distance, Baz nearly shouted with joy. When his mate put his arms around him, it took everything within him to stop his knees from buckling beneath him. The sob that tore out of his throat at having the two most precious people in the world wrapped up in his arms couldn’t have been stopped even if he’d wanted to, which he hadn’t.

The moment deserved all of his emotions. There might not be a guarantee things would work out in the future, but for that moment, he had exactly what he’d craved most – his mate and his daughter safely in his embrace. The rest of the world be damned.

How long they’d stood there like that, Baz had no clue. Hell, he could have remained rooted to the spot for the rest of their lives if given the chance. But he was learning life with a toddler didn’t work out that way.

“Ba,” Saleh said as she tried to push away from him.

Not bothering to wipe the tears that had fallen from his eyes, he glanced at her and saw that she wanted to be put down. Reluctant to let her go after finally having her in his arms, Baz always wanted to give her everything she could ever wish for. Kissing her cheek, he bent down and set her on the floor.

She hadn’t even completely regained her footing before Channing bent down to pick her right back up. “Yeah, no way, little one. We’re too close to the stairs for you to be wandering around.”

She let out a screech of defiance, but Channing raised an eyebrow at her with a look that told her he would not be deterred. “If you want down, we either head downstairs or back to the room.”

Baz couldn’t stop the chuckle when she thrust her hand out to point over the railing that was nearby. “Downstairs it is,” Baz said as he wrapped an arm around Channing’s waist and led them to the stairs.

The moment their feet were on the first floor, Saleh craned her body to be let down. If Channing hadn’t been paying attention, she most likely would have tumbled from his arms. “I thought we’d go outside, Saleh. That way you can play down by the beach.”

Her whole face lit up as if she’d just heard something magical. Brown curls bobbed as she nodded her head enthusiastically before pointing to the door as if commanding her dada to take her where she wanted to go.

It was impossible to hide his smile, nor did Baz even try. Channing grunted and said, “Yeah, it’s cute now, but wait until she’s demanding you to do her bidding twenty-four/seven. It’s not so cute then.”

Baz wasn’t so certain that would ever be true. He’d nearly lost out on this. Twice. Once when he nearly hadn’t found them. Then when Channing had basically banned him from their lives. To have his mate and daughter in his life, Baz would have gladly carried them both wherever they wanted no matter time of day or night.

When he opened the door for them, Baz hesitated. He hadn’t wanted to push in case it caused his mate to once more back away from him. It wouldn’t be easy, but Baz could be patient if it meant keeping Channing and Saleh in his life. “Would you rather I stay here, or come and stand guard?”

He winced. Reminding Channing of any possible danger probably wasn’t a wise idea since that’s what had driven his mate from him in the first place.

When a hand touched his, Baz opened eyes he hadn’t even realized he’d closed as he’d feared seeing the distrust in those brown eyes again. Staring down at his mate, he steeled himself when he saw regret etched on his face.

“I’m sorry,” Channing whispered.

Nodding, Baz understood and stepped away from the door. “It’s fine. I get it. You two have a good time. It’s been a long few days and a hot shower is probably in order.”

“No.” Channing’s voice echoed slightly in the huge, empty foyer. His fingers had wrapped around Baz’s wrist to stop him from stepping further away. “I meant, I’m sorry I had pushed you away before.”

Saleh chose that moment to start shouting ‘dada’ over and over again as she tried to lunge for the open door.

“Hush,” Channing reprimanded her, but she wasn’t about to be stopped. His mate sighed. “I want you to come with us.” Then he shook his head, those gorgeous brown eyes pleading as he said, “ Will you please come with us? I want to talk.”

Emotions warred within Baz. Nothing good ever came from the words, ‘I want to talk.’ At the same time, it seemed as if Channing might be genuinely sorry for pushing him away. Of course, that might have just been Baz’s wishful thinking again.

Not that any of that mattered. This was his mate. Baz would deny him nothing. “I’d be happy to join you.”

He really hoped that he wouldn’t regret saying that. Somehow Baz had a knack for doing or saying the wrong things when it came to his mate. He could only pray he wouldn’t find a way to fuck things up again. Or worse, find out he already had and Channing’s need to ‘talk’ was to tell him he and Saleh were leaving for good.

All he could do in that moment was wish for the best. Smiling, he closed the door behind them and placed a hand at Channing’s back while he led them down to the nearby cove. It wasn’t the best beach on the island, but it was the most secure, something he felt his mate would appreciate.

When he felt Channing lean back into his touch, Baz’s dick went rock hard. Maybe he did have a chance with his mate. But in the short amount of time they’d known each other, Baz feared to believe it would be that easy.

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