Chapter Three
“Daddy!” The sound of a little girl’s voice shattered Eli’s sleep. Jerking upright, next to Willem he tried to process what was happening. He was sluggish as if he’d only been sleeping for a few minutes instead of the… he glanced at the red numbers on the ceiling. …three hours he’d actually been asleep for. The short nights hadn’t ceased since they’d picked up the kids nearly a week ago. Especially since he’d had to break the horrible news of his brother’s and his wife’s passing to his kids. While Raelynn and Jeremy had seemed to be okay on the surface, he was finding out it wasn’t exactly true. His niece had begun having nightmares about the accident that had taken her father’s and step-mother’s lives, which meant comforting the girl in the middle of the night.
“It’s my turn. I’ll get her.” Willem swung his legs over the edge of the bed. “Tuck your cuddle buddy away.”
Eli looked at Willem blankly. His brain wasn’t firing on all cylinders yet. “What?”
“Petey?” He nodded toward the stuffed replica of Eli’s electronic Tamagotchi that he’d given Eli for Easter. “Unless you want to share him with Raelynn, tonight?”
“Ah…if it will help her sleep all night, I’d willingly give him up, Daddy.” He slid up to sit propped against the headboard. “Go bring our girl to us.”
“Absolutely.” Willem rolled off the bed, his silver hair mused from sleep, and the sexy ass pajama bottoms hanging low on his hips. Eli loved his daddy’s body, even the rounded curve of his belly, because it led down to the most delicious cock Eli had ever had the pleasure of sucking. At times he couldn’t wait for the next time that Willem let him worship that piece of meat between his thighs. He giggled at his own thoughts, as Willem disappeared down the steps that led downstairs to the kids’ rooms. That would definitely have to wait until later. Raelynn needed their attention now. If the nightmares continued, he’d see about getting the girl in with a grief counselor.
A few minutes later Willem carried the little girl back into the room he shared with Eli. The sight of her head resting on his daddy’s shoulder almost brought tears to his eyes. The little girl had definitely bonded with Willem since their stay, while Jeremy seemed to navigate toward Eli. In the end it didn’t matter, he assured himself as Willem gently deposited the upset girl in his lap, as long as they felt safe, it didn’t matter to him which one of them the kids went to.
“Shhh, Uncle Eli is here, snickle-fritz.” He wrapped an arm around her slender little body, pulling her closer. “And don’t forget, Petey.” He lifted the stuffy from its resting place next to him. “He loves snuggling with little girls.”
Raelynn paused, still sniffling, before her fingers reached out to trace the blue fur of Eli’s stuffy. “Really?”
“Of course.” He smiled down at her even as the bed dipped next to him when Willem crawled back in. “He likes to sleep between me and Daddy Willem, so I know he’ll love to sleep with you, Raelynn.” Sometime in the past week, Uncle Will had morphed to Daddy Will and Eli hadn’t had the heart to correct her, especially when his Daddy seemed to enjoy the change.
She tugged the stuffy free of the blankets, before burying her face in its fur. “Smells like you, Daddy Will.”
“I imagine so.” Willem settled down with the little girl between him and Eli. “He likes to sneak right up next to me. All stuffies love me since I’m furry like them.”
Raelynn giggled, then wiped at the tears on her cheeks. “You’re silly.”
“Sometimes.” Willem wiggled his brows at her. “But you know what?”
“What?” She rubbed her fingers through the fur once more.
“It’s really late and if a little girl wants to go sledding tomorrow and have cocoa with the rest of the Ranch kids, then she needs to get some more sleep tonight.”
The laughter in her expression died a quick death. “I don’t wanna. I’m not tired.” She clung to the stuffy harder.
“I don’t believe that for a second, sweetheart. You have bags under those beautiful eyes.” Eli tugged on the end of her braid. She looked absolutely adorable in the flannel night gown with her long red hair in braids. “Are you afraid that you’ll dream again?”
She gave a miniscule nod. “I try not to think about it, but no matter how many stories you read to me, the semi still finds me, Uncle Eli. It takes Daddy away and spits out Momma Audra. Then I’m all alone again.”
“Aw baby.” Shifting around until he laid down on his side facing her, Eli held open his arms. “Come here. Between Daddy Will and me we’ll keep that old semi away from you.”
Her little chin quivered. “Promise?”
“Cross my heart.” Eli drew an imaginary x over his chest.
“Okay.” She squirmed around until her head was tucked under Eli’s chin and her back was to him. “Daddy Will?” She held out a hand toward him, requesting he come closer. “Will you cuddle with us?”
“Absolutely. I love snuggles.” Willem rolled closer, until he could tangle his fingers with Raelynn’s. “How about I sing you a song that my dad used to sing to me when I was little, sprite? It helped me sleep on nights that the wind rattled my windows.”
“Okay.” She wrapped her free arm around Petey, before rubbing her cheek on Eli’s arm.
Eli fought tears as the beautiful Spanish lyrics about a white horse and his boy spilled free in his daddy’s deep tenor singing voice. More than once, he’d caught Willem humming the same song as he putted around the house or watched Eli play in his playroom.
His own eyes became heavy as he listened to Willem, who didn’t seem to mind continually singing over and over about a white horse and his cowboy as he rubbed small circles on the little girl’s palm with his thumb. Eli had the best damned daddy. It was a shame that he’d never had kids of his own, because the man seemed to be a natural at it.
“…es mi caballo blanco como un amanecer…”
He yawned as Willem continued to sing softly. Maybe someday, he’d be able to catch Daddy mid-song and record it. It would make an excellent ringtone for when Daddy called. He fought to keep his eyes open even as Willem adjusted the quilt over their bodies, tucking it up under Raelynn’s chin. The tenderness that Willem displayed was almost enough to bring tears to his own eyes, especially when his daddy leaned over the girl and pressed a kiss to the crown of her head, before giving Eli a soft kiss on the mouth.
