*
*
They returned the next day.
The weather outside was dark and cloudy as it had been raining all day. Maya had been crying all evening, Faith didn't know what was wrong with her, not even changing her diapers or breastfeeding her helped, her body temperature was quite normal and Faith couldn't get why her baby was so irritated, it took a lot of effort to finally get her to fall asleep.
She was already so exhausted, it was dark and starting to rain outside, she had just taken a warm bath and all she wanted at this moment was to collapse on the inviting looking large bed.
A brief flash of lightning was followed shortly by a rough chorus of thunder.
"Oh no, not again!" Faith sighed, burying her face into the warm covers, soon enough, she could hear Maya's faint wail coming from her nursery, no doubt the sound must have woken her from her slumber.
Sighing heavily, She slipped on her flip-flops and hurried out of the bedroom.
The nursery door was partially opened and it took her a moment to absorb the sight facing her.
The crib was empty because her daughter was currently in Sterling's arms.
She watched as he carried the infant to the rocking chair. He crumpled his long legs low enough to sit in the rocker, awkwardly steadying himself while holding the baby. Under other circumstances, Faith might have thought that was a funny sight.
She didn't want Maya to in any way become attached to him, things would be easier for her that way.
Her pure maternal instinct as she stepped closet was to race towards them to take Maya away from him, she was certain that he knew nothing about what to do with a wailing child.
The next few seconds certainly proved her wrong.
"It's okay little one, Daddy is here now, there's no need to be afraid." Sterling hummed gently patting her little back while the baby continued to bawl.
"Shh, don't cry, you don't want to disturb mommy, do you?" Faith heard Sterling whisper. He was still unaware of her presence but completely held her in a trance.
The way he was so gentle with Maya. She didn't believe he was capable of loving anyone, but the way he was staring at their daughter right now__
The infant continued to wail, unimpressed by the emotions she had caused in the heart and mind of her father. The face that was usually so remote was working with emotion.
Faith couldn't deny what that look in Sterling's eyes was.
She hated the way it made her feel. The bittersweet throb in her heart suddenly made her eyes sting. She shouldn't let herself forget who he was. Maya's whimper gradually subsided much to Faith's surprise. She heard Sterling chuckle when Maya suddenly yawned, making a suckling motion with her lips as her tiny fist tightly gripped his shirt.
"Oh well little one, that is something I can't do for you." Sterling's sensual mouth was curled in a small smile.
Sterling's expression was one of amazement as Maya continued to grip his shoulders, she yawned again, her bottom lips trembling, threatening to break into another burst of tears.
Faith inhaled deeply, summoning all the strength she knew she would need, she walked inside the nursery.
"Let me have her." She walked to where he sat, he looked up at that moment, his gaze was undecipherable, but not one of surprise, Faith couldn't help but think that perhaps he was aware of her presence all along.
Sterling didn't realize how perfect his life was, Faith was everything he ever wanted, and with their daughter, his life was complete and he couldn't help but marvel how he ever got so lucky to get both and how he would do anything to keep them.
Faith resisted the urge to tap her foot nervously, the way Sterling's eyes appeared to be digging into her wasn't helping matters. She broke their stare and was quite grateful when Maya resumed crying breaking the tension.
She accepted Maya from Sterling, placing her baby on her chest as she cooed.
"Shh, it's okay now."
The sound of her voice seemed to agitate Maya even more, Faith winced when the tiny fist pinched her chest.
"Easy, take it easy!" Faith laughed, continuing to rock her daughter to stop her ceaseless cries.
"She's hungry." Sterling spoke from behind her.
"Of course, I know that!" She snapped, her shoulders squaring, taking offense that he was implying that she didn't know what her baby needed. She just wanted him to leave, there was no way she would breastfeed Maya in front of him. It felt too intimate.
"Then feed her, why are you hesitating?"
Since he wasn't taking the initiative, she decided to voice her thoughts.
"Will you excuse me so I can breastfeed her?"
"You mean will I leave the room?"
She looked away from him, wasn't that what she just said?
"Yes." She gritted when he still didn't move an inch.
She met his inquiring stare, a hot blush staining her face.
" I will do so immediately but you will have to excuse us."
She didn't think that he would comply and was surprised when he turned his back and went to stand by the window after adjusting the shutters to allow him a view.
He didn't exactly leave the room, but she knew not to continue to push him.
Walking to the chair, she unbuttoned her blouse, Maya lustily latched onto her nipple and began to suck noisily. She draped a light flannel blanket over her shoulder and the baby's as a shield.
Reaching beneath the blanket, she laid her hand on Maya's soft head, lightly rubbing it while she avidly sucked at her breast. Faith was happy to see that her appetite was back.
A contented smile graced her features, and she was just starting to get used to the silence, but then__
"You told me you aborted her." Her attention snapped only to find Sterling watching them closely.
"It was the only way you would let me go..." And it would have worked if only she hadn't been caught...
Faith's breath completely stopped when Sterling moved and suddenly he was in front of her, crouching down a bit, so that he was looming over her and Maya, his large presence making her shrink backward.
His eyes seemed to magnet her because not only she couldn't breathe, she also couldn't look away.
"What if we had never separated? How could you just leave me? Why was it so easy for you? You were my life, my whole fucking world!" His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed hard. The emotions burning in his eyes only grew thicker and stronger as he continued.
"But then, you told me you murdered our child, did you know how hard it was? I wanted to die. And how pleased I was when I found you again. I just have to have you, even though it makes you hate me more, I can't help it."
Her chest burned uncomfortably, why was he so fixated on her even though he was hurting the both of them?
"Stop, stop this," she moaned when his fingertips lightly brushed her areola, coaxing a drop of moisture from it.
"No, don't!" She cried, mortified when the finger touched his lips. The greedy look of unquenched desire threatened to devour her. She was panting, completely shaken when he spoke.
"She's asleep."
"What?" Her brain was still fuzzy from his touch and took some seconds to register what he meant.
She looked down to see Maya lying in her arms, satiated. Her plump cheek rested against her breast. Her small mouth, pearlized with milk, lay close to her nipple. She was asleep, looking as full and contented
A tremor swept through her when he slid his hands up over her stomach, wedging them between her and Maya, and lifted the child away from her. He stood and carried the baby to the crib where he carefully lay her down.
Once Maya was settled, Faith knew she had only seconds to escape the room. Escape him.
She started to flee through the door, she almost made it.
Almost___
"We are not done!"