Dangerous Desires

49

I smiled brightly "I think he did... Well done baby," I gently kissed Tenebroso's cheek. Mark's expression softened as he heard me praise Tenebroso, a mixture of pride and warmth flooding through him.

He looked down at the baby in his arms, his eyes filled with tenderness. "You little genius," he said, his voice filled with affection. "You've been listening to me this whole time, huh?" He chuckled, his eyes flickering over to me for a moment before returning to Tenebroso. "Looks like he's starting to figure things out," he said, his tone lighthearted but also filled with pride.

He gently patted Tenebroso's back, his hand rubbing small, soothing circles. "You're gonna be a smart one, aren't you?" He whispered to the baby, his voice filled with tenderness. Mark chuckled at the baby's babble, his eyes watching with affection as Tenebroso's little mouth moved with words that were still incomprehensible. 

He moved closer to me, still holding Tenebroso in his arms. "Looks like he's got a lot to say," he said, his tone amused.

"Always does," I smiled softly. I put his bottle back into his baby bag and used some baby wipes to clean his face gently.

Mark watched as I cleaned Tenebroso's face, his eyes tracing my every movement. He admired my gentle touch and careful attention to the baby, my maternal instincts coming through in every action. He shifted Tenebroso gently in his arms, allowing me to finish cleaning the baby's face and hands.

"You're so patient with him," he said quietly, his gaze still fixed on me. "It's amazing to see how naturally you take care of him."

"You have to be when you're a Mom, it comes naturally," I replied softly.

Mark nodded, his expression filled with agreement. "Yeah, you're right," he said, his voice gentle. "But not everyone has that natural instinct. You just seem to know exactly what he needs and how to take care of him."

He glanced down at Tenebroso, who was now looking up at him with big, curious eyes. Mark smiled, his expression softening as he met the baby's gaze. "It's like you were meant to be a mom," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "You're just...perfect at it."

There was a hint of admiration and even a touch of longing in his tone as he spoke, his eyes flickering to me for a moment before returning to Tenebroso's face. He couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy for the baby in his arms, getting to experience the tenderness and maternal care of someone as kind and loving as me.

He quickly shook the thought away, clearing his throat and focusing his attention back on the baby in his arms. But my gentle touch and the sweet scent of my perfume lingered in his mind, stirring up feelings he couldn't quite ignore. 

Later in the evening, it was nighttime.

The night was quiet and peaceful, the sounds of the estate settling into stillness for the evening. Mark was sitting on the couch in front of the fireplace, his eyes trained on the glowing embers. Tenebroso was in his arms, still wide awake and fussy despite the late hour.

Mark gently rocked the baby in his arms, trying to soothe his restlessness. He'd changed his diaper, tried feeding him and even sang a few lullabies, but Tenebroso seemed to have other ideas for the night.

"Come on, little man," he murmured softly, bouncing Tenebroso gently in his arms. "You gotta sleep sometime. Your mom is gonna kill me if you're cranky in the morning."

Despite his attempts to coax the baby into sleep, Tenebroso continued to fuss and wriggle in his arms. He let out small, frustrated cries, his little hands reaching out as if searching for something.

Mark sighed, his expression filled with a mix of exhaustion and determination. He continued to rock Tenebroso, his movements growing a bit more rhythmic as he tried to find that one soothing motion that might just do the trick.

The minutes ticked by, and just as Mark was starting to grow discouraged, Tenebroso finally began to settle. His cries turned into soft, whimpering sounds and then, slowly but surely, his eyes started to droop.

Mark breathed a sigh of relief, his arms growing weary from holding the baby for so long. He continued to gently rock Tenebroso, his touch light and almost reverent as he watched the baby's eyelids flutter closed.

"There you go," he whispered, his voice barely above a murmur. "That's it. Go to sleep, little man." Tenebroso's breathing grew slow and steady, his little chest rising and falling rhythmically in Mark's arms. He was finally asleep, his tiny body peaceful and relaxed.

Mark looked down at the baby in his arms, a mix of tenderness and pride filling his chest. He'd managed to soothe the baby despite the challenges, and now Tenebroso was fast asleep, his tiny hand curled around Mark's finger in a silent, innocent grasp.

He continued to rock the baby, his movements slow and deliberate, not wanting to wake him. He couldn't help the small smile that tugged at the corners of his lips as he watched Tenebroso sleep, the baby's chubby cheeks and soft breaths making his heart skip a beat.

It was moments like this, in the quiet of the night with a newborn in his arms, that made Mark feel strangely at peace. He often found himself wondering what it would be like to have a family of his own, to experience the joy and struggles of being a father.

With Tenebroso asleep in his arms, he couldn't help but let his mind wander to that possibility. The idea of being a father, of having a child to care for and love, filled him with a strange mix of excitement and apprehension.

He glanced over at me sleeping soundly on the bed, the soft rise and fall of my chest in the dim light of the room. The desire to protect and provide for me and the baby was something that had taken root deep within his heart, and it only seemed to grow stronger with each passing day.