Page 121 of Fractured Empire

A gentle, “I do,” follows.

My little Bastian.

“Well, let’s go, then.” My hands clap together and I roll my fingers, tapping the tips against each other. “I get to throw the first snowball at Daddy!”

“Oh, is that how it is?” Leon drawls, hiding a smirk.

“Come and find out, cupcake.”

“HA,” Leo cracks up. “She call you cupcake, Daddy.”

“Yeah, yeah,” he pretends to grumble. “Get your boots and gloves on, I’ll help you with your coats.”

God, he’s such a good father.

And maybe even a better husband.

Chapter Forty-Eight

Katya

The first day of our trip was so exhausting that Leon and I didn’t so much as make out with each other when we finally got to bed. We showered together to wash away the long day, but aside from some sweet and intimate scrubbing, no sexy time was had. And honestly? I wasn’t even upset about it.

We slept so soundly, falling asleep in our warm, cozy bed while the sound of snowfall swirled around our cabin all night. I never imagined that I would enjoy anyone touching me while I was trying to get a restful night’s sleep, but there’s nothing agitating about being surrounded by my husband’s warmth. He’s like living breathing safety, allowing me to sleep peacefully all night without a worry in the world.

Today, though, I’ve been making sure to conserve some of my energy so we can have a little fun in front of our fireplace. I want to know what he looks like when he’s glowing and glistening next to a flickering fire while pounding into me, trying to make me come while keeping me quiet so I don’t scream the cabin down and wake up the kids.

We woke up and made pancakes first thing in the morning, eating them in the living room even though syrup on the couch is a terrible idea. But when on vacation, the rules of keeping clean aren’t so strict. The kids loved it, anyway, being able to eat their breakfast while watching a movie. Ice Age, of course. The boys are still very much obsessed with rewatching those films, and neither Leon nor I could argue that it wasn’t perfect weather to watch them in.

After breakfast came more fun in the snow, snowman making this time rather than snowball fighting. We had a little contest to see who could make the best one, but Leon and I took turns helping each of the kids with some of the harder parts. Leo’s snowman was more of a pyramid-shaped man with one eye and sticks for ears that looked more like antlers. Bastian’s was a more traditional three spheres stacked up, but he got creative with the face, giving it a pinecone nose and poking fallen spruce branches into its head to make hair.

We of course couldn’t pick our favorite, and both boys won the title of King of the Snowmen.

As the day comes to a close, and the night sweeps in like a gentle breeze, we’re finally putting the boys to bed. Emphasis on finally since they skipped nap time today and both nearly fell asleep while eating their dinner. Even Princess Spaghetti is glad to be getting cozy in her fluffy bed, waiting for the light to be switched off so she can sleep. The kids chased her around in the snow for a long time while Leon and I sat on the porch watching on.

“Mommy, we get to have fun tomorrow too?” Leo asks, yawning so big that the sides of his mouth click. He lifts his chin as I tuck his blanket around him, kissing the tip of his nose once he’s snug.

“Of course we do, sweet boy.” I peck the top of his head and brush his hair off his forehead. He might need a haircut soon, the cutie. He’s growing like a weed. “We’re going to be here for a couple more days as long as you and Bastian are still having fun.”

“Dats so good,” he replies, sighing happily and blinking his heavy-lidded eyes. “I love you, Mommy. We na night now.”

“I love you too, my sweetling,” I vow, gliding a curved finger down his soft cheek.

He smiles tiredly, letting his eyes drift shut.

Sitting up off his bed, I find Bastian tucked in and take Leon’s place at his side. “Sleep tight, little love.” My lips brush against his head and then the tip of his nose, making sure to give him equal attention. “Have good dreams for me, okay? I love you so much.”

He nods slowly, looking up at me with his intelligent eyes. “Love you too, Mommy.”

Getting choked up immediately, I cup his face and try to commit this moment to memory. It’s not the first time he called me Mommy, but he uses the term less often than his brother. He’s older, and he calls Leon Daddy less too. It’s normal, of course, I understand that. It’s just since I missed out on so many years of him growing up, I have to soak up all of these times while I still can.

“We’ll see you in the morning okay. Just knock on our door if you need us, and we’ll answer, okay? And Princess Spaghetti can bark for you if you tell her to, remember?”

He got this exact same talk last night, but it never hurts to give kids a reminder.

“I will.”

“Smart boy,” I praise, standing up and meeting Leon by their door. Flicking off the light behind us, we close them inside, quietly walking down the hall to our own room.