Page 110 of On Thin Ice

“Oh, nothing. Probably just gas.” I didn’t want to confess anything to this man right now. I felt too vulnerable.

“Now she’s just teasing us, Livi,” he said to our daughter. “Doesn’t she know that you’re just highly advanced? You’re super smart like Mommy.”

I huffed out a breath. “Daddy is over the top, Livi. Ignore his antics.”

“You love it.” Then he winked.

I did. I did so much, but instead of replying, I rolled my eyes and held my hands out. “Give me my baby.”

“Fine, fine. Mommy needs you, Livi. Eat up so we can go open presents,” he said, setting her in my arms.

It was Christmas morning and we’d gone a touch overboard—mostly Dom, not me—but she was just so easy and fun to buy for.

“Hi, sweet girl,” I said, adjusting my sleep shirt so I could feed her. She latched on easily, for which I was grateful, and stared up at me, her little hands gripping my shirt.

“Good morning, beautiful,” Dom said, leaning in to give me a soft kiss as he ran his finger down my cheek.

These last two weeks had been a mixed bag of everything. I was so happy Olivia was here, and she was a relatively easy baby, but it was a massive change and I was still trying to find my footing. My hormones were bonkers, and I hated crying at the drop of a hat, but motherhood was overwhelming, especially when my body was actively healing.

And Dom had been the rock I could lean on. He wiped my tears, kissed me breathless, and was almost too quick to grab Livi, telling me to take a break.

“I’m going to hop in the shower. Don’t you dare open presents without me,” he said, giving me another quick kiss.

I loved that he couldn’t stop kissing me. Couldn’t stop touching me. There was an ease between us that I hadn’t expected, and I couldn’t get enough of him, either.

“Then I’m making breakfast,” he added, stepping away from the bed.

“How about we not burn down the condo on Christmas morning,” I teased.

He huffed. “I only set off the smoke detector once. And it’s just really close to the kitchen.”

I giggled. “As it should be.” I peered down at Olivia. “Your daddy, Livi. So silly.”

She just stared up at me, her eyes wide as she fed, her fingers curling and opening against my skin. It was a feeling like no other.

“If I wasn’t a nice guy, I would mention that the last thing you cooked in the oven dripped over the pan, and that’s why the oven got smoky so quickly. But I won’t because I’m a gentleman,” he boasted, his hand on his glorious bare chest. I needed to tell him to sleep with a shirt on until we hit the six-week mark.

My whole body shook with laughter, and Livi popped off my breast with a little cry. Dom rushed over and ran his finger down her back.

“I’m sorry, Livi baby. Mommy disrupted your meal.” He leaned down, kissed the top of her head, then sealed his lips to mine, his tongue sweeping into my mouth when I gasped.

Olivia let out a cry, and he finally ended the kiss. I was breathless.

“Sorry, Livi. I had to kiss Mommy. Her boobs were out, and I have no control over my reaction to them.”

“Oh my god. Go shower,” I said between chuckles.

Then I about swallowed my tongue as he spun on his heel and strutted into the bathroom, his stupidly glorious hockey ass on display in his snug boxer briefs. Maybe he should wear pants to bed, too.

He looked over his shoulder and gave me a wink before he disappeared into the hallway.

Olivia started to fuss, and I helped her latch again.

“Sorry, sweetie. Your daddy kills my common sense, but he’s not bad, so we’ll keep him.”

She made a little snuffling noise and closed her eyes as she drank.

***

---