Page 92 of Breached

Iwas pulled from a deep sleep by a strange smell. It was like a mix of powder and soap, and then a strange swooshing sound came along with it. I was too tired to open my eyes, so I fought against it. I knew I didn’t have to wake early, and so I refused to give up the comfort I was enjoying. Then the sound came again.

That infectious giggle made my heart squeeze and made its way through my consciousness, but I still didn’t move. I waited for the moment the little drool monster got close. He came in like a tank, under the blanket like the daredevil he was. I was thankful I had pulled on my boxer briefs before I fell asleep next to Nicole the night before or he’d be in for a biology lesson at a young age. I felt him coming, and when he reached for my mouth, I opened my eyes and grabbed him and launched him into the air.

“Dada!” he screamed in sheer delight. “More!”

I tossed him again, and this time when I caught the thrill-seeking boy, I rolled over top of him and tickled his ribs until his laughter reached a pitch where I knew he’d had enough.

“More, Dada.” He just loved being roughhoused. I looked around the room and wondered who had brought him in.

“Where’s Mama?”

He twisted to get on his knees and used my shoulder to hold himself up to look around. “Mama!” he screamed at the top of his lungs. “Mama!” I laughed at how he pumped his legs using all his might to yell.

“The deal was, I leave you with Dada so I can get some caffeine,” she popped her head out of the bathroom, “not for you to scream for me.”

“Mama, come!”

“No, Mama go. Chase, you stay with Dada.” She tried to put her foot down, but it was hard to resist his face when he was in nothing but a training diaper.

I propped my pillow up and tucked an arm behind my head, taking in her tight jeans and form-fitting blouse. “I’m with Chase. I think you should stay.”

“You think so, huh?” She moved to her dresser and pulled a pair of earrings from her jewelry box. She caught my gaze in the mirror as she threaded them through her ears, then she came over to snatch her phone off the table next to me. “You had your fill of me last night.”

“Says you.” I snagged her wrist and pulled her over my body until she lay between Chase and me.

“Paul!” She laughed, and Chase instantly wiggled and grabbed our hands and put them on him. “Oh, fine, just a few more minutes.” She kissed Chase’s head, and I couldn’t believe how far we had come.

“What do you have going on today?” I asked, wondering why she was wearing a blouse instead of her normal t-shirt.

“I have a Zoom call with Jack now that I’m back on the payroll.” She beamed. “And I got wind the new doctors are joining us today.”

“Doctors?” I hadn’t heard that news. “Wait, doctors, as in more than one?”

“Yes.” She ran her hands through Chase’s hair. “According to Ivy, it’s a couple who have both worked in Washington for the past thirty years. Doc Roberts called them and explained what went down here with Dr. Bash and convinced them they would be a perfect fit and should come to Shadows.”

I wasn’t sure about that. The idea of new people in the house always put me on edge a bit. There was so much to digest about all this. I knew more changes were coming and we’d all have to run with it, but I didn’t have to like it.

“Paul, please give it a chance, okay? I know that look.” Nicole gave me a pat.

“Mama,” Chase squeezed her hand, “Dada,” he squeezed my hand, “Chase,” he put his chubby little hand on top of ours.

I smiled at Nicole. “He’s happy.”

“That’s all I want for him.” She blinked. I still couldn’t believe I was lucky enough to meet someone like this woman and that now she was mine to keep forever. “And as much as I want to stay like this, I do have to go,” she added.

“Yeah, me too. I have a call with Grim in an hour.” I rolled out of bed as she did, and I scooped up Chase and put him on the floor.

“Any idea what about?”

“He mentioned something about the Canos Cartel and Hunter. He’s always vague, so I just figured I’d give him a call and see what’s up.”

She checked her phone. “All right, let’s check in later.” She leaned over and gave me a kiss and then planted one on Chase. “Bye, boys.”

Chase helped me pick out my clothes and insisted that he could tie my boots, then when I tried to put a t-shirt on him, he refused and pointed at my black one. He wanted to dress like me, and thankfully, there was clean laundry on the table, and I was able to find a dark one and some pants that looked similar to mine for him to wear. I guessed I’d have to invest in some tiny camo pants.

I had showered earlier in the morning after I had ravished my fiancé and before Chase had arrived. I didn’t know how mothers juggled it all.

“This, Dada.” He held up my phone as I grabbed my wallet from the dresser.