Loving Ashlynn (#Wattys2016)

Chapter 20 - Starting Something New (Ansel Conrad POV) Pt 1

A/n: Hope you enjoy it :)

Chapter 20 – Starting Something New (Ansel Conrad POV) Pt. 1

"Love, I think we may have some complications heading our way when it comes to Taylor and-"

"Samson?" Kalenah finishes for me, looking at me from over her shoulder, "I have noticed," she answers sardonically.

"He has taken an interest in Faith," I say standing and going to my wife, just wrapping my arms around her, watching over her shoulder. Below in our backyard I watch our three youngest – Samantha, Amy and Simon – playing carefree. Resting my chin, I gaze down a sad smile on my face.

I was not some ignorant individual that did not know or realize the wrong in the world. However with Faith in my home, it was closer to home now. As Samantha squealed, giggling as Amy and Simon chased her on their backyard playground set up, I watched with new relief. I was not saving every child in the world from their pain, but for now, we had done our best by Harleigh, Samantha, and our biological children. Kalenah and I had protected our children.

Who protected Faith? I thought sorrowfully. Was it Dmitri?

Well, it really did not matter who protected her then, because now it was up to Kalenah and me, and it felt as though Samson had signed himself up for that job as well. My other children warming up to Faith as well, but it was different for Samson.

"I feel as though she's backed into a corner, that's why," Kalenah murmurs pulling my from my internal musings, but I'm only confused, "Backed into?"

Kalenah snorts, "Taylor, Ansel. Before there was no competition, she had Samson's full attention but now, Samson is showing attentiveness elsewhere," she pauses, "I'm not doubting the authenticity of her feelings," her words I can tell are being chosen carefully, "but a part of me wonders where they stemmed from you know? Is it because Talia and Brennan are with her siblings? It is because being with Samson is her white whale-" I snort against the back of her neck, chuckles shaking my front against her back.

Swiveling around in her spot, Kalenah sported her sternness expression, "Don't you laugh at me, Ansel Conrad!" My minor chortles turn into full-blown – deep belly – laughter. As try to swallow my amusement, schooling my face but finding that hard to do, Kalenah's hazel eyes slowly lose their seriousness and fill with mirth as she eventually shakes her head at me. "You're lucky I love you," she says harrumphing.

"I thank my lucky stars, everyday love-"

"Laying it on thick," Kalenah replies laughing now, only continuing after releasing a heavy sigh, "What I'm saying is, I can see Samson's growing feelings for Faith and vice versa, but with Taylor, you can see the difference in how Samson views Taylor versus his regard for Faith. Still... I understand Taylor's obsession-"

Kalenah was always able to articulate her thoughts, so much better than myself. "Exactly, obsession," I jump right in, "And in that obsession, I had to make sure that Brennan wasn't feeding the fire," I inform Lenah. My wife frowns, taken back, "I know, I'm not sure if he has been actively speaking up or encouraging Taylor's affinity, but he was with them when I heard them discussing and plotting."

"My little gossip," Kalenah says as she cups my face, lifting on the tips of her toes to close the distance, a slow sensual kiss shared between us, one that could lead nowhere but was treasured nonetheless. We part and my eyes remained closed, as I pull back and just lay my check on the top of Kalenah's head, the two of us swaying in the minor silence. "I'm going to have one of our people test Faith's DNA against Cynthia's-"