“Stella Bella!” he screeches.
Her little body disappears a second later.
I choke back a laugh. “Stella, you need to come back. It’s learning time.”
Elijah forcefully closes his curtain, challenging his inner child.
“No!” Stella refuses, giggling a second later.
As I get closer and closer, their hushed giggling loosens up knots in my body. As quiet as I can muster, my hand grips the only thing separating us. When I rip the curtain open, Stella lets out a surprised scream and climbs on top of Elijah, hugging him with both her arms and legs, like a koala.
All Elijah does is wink up at me. “At least she cuddles me.”
I scoff. “I’m surprised the bed doesn’t have a permanent dent in the mattress from all the cuddle sessions you’ve forced upon me.”
“Forced?” Appalled, he moves Stella with him as he makes room. “You crawl into my lap willingly, just like you’re about to do now.”
Damn it … he’s right. I fall right into his extended hand and hug both of them.
He’s a gentleman.
A good listener.
As sweet as a juicy peach in Greece during the summer months.
Sexy as hell.
Talented and driven.
And good with kids?
My ovaries areexploding.
How could I not want to snuggle him every chance I get?
When Stella rolls off and falls beside him, I take her place, but instead of just lying on him, I squish my way between his hoodie and skin.
“There,” I muse, extra comfortable in his warmth while his laughter jolts me.
“Were you not close enough?”
I feel his smile on the top of my head.
“I’m not even close enough now. Should I stick my legs in your shorts too?”
“Heck no. A part of me will get the wrong idea, and there’s a child present.”
His big arms engulf me, and Stella’s hands run along my back as she blabbers away about how funny we are.
I’m going to stay here for a bit. I’m sure Stella will appreciate the break anyway. That girl loves pushing her limits.
“Elijah?” her small voice sings softly in the quiet.
“Yes?” He sings the word.
“Why do you have a stuffie of a bunny when you’re a man?”
I thought he was laughing hard before, but now there’s an entire earthquake in his hoodie.
