Page 82 of Astrid at Sea

“Fine,” I sighed dramatically, reaching down to pick up the little boy. “Mama won’t be mad, but you’ll have to do something to earn my forgiveness.”

“Yes!” Haskell replied enthusiastically. “What do I do, Mama?”

“You’ll have to give Mama a kiss.”

I may have only wanted one kiss, but Haskell didn’t stop there. The both of us were a giggling mess, and with each kiss, my heart swelled to the point where it felt like it would explode in my chest.

And to think, when I married Viktor five years ago, I never knew that I could love someone more than I grew to love him. I didn’t know my heart could fit another person into it, but it had the moment I found out I was pregnant. And then it grew even bigger when I found out I was pregnant again earlier this year.

Speaking of the devil, a husky chuckle sounded in my ear before a pair of strong, muscular arms wrapped around my waist from behind. His hands immediately smoothed over my large stomach, pressing harder when the baby immediately kicked. The baby had been very active lately, and Viktor loved it. I did, too, but being eight months pregnant and being both bigger and heavier than when I was pregnant with Haskell was starting to take its toll on me.

“I’ll apologise to Kisandclean up the mess if she’s sick.”

I huffed and spared him a disapproving glare over my shoulder as Haskell continued to giggle like the beautiful, bubbly baby that he was.

Viktor and I sure did make a beautiful child. And soon, we would have another one.

“You’ll already be out at sea by then.”

“But I’ll be back tonight. I can clean it up then.”

I quirked an eyebrow at him, knowing that he hadn’t thought this one through. “And what am I supposed to do all day? Just stare at it and wait for you to come back?” My voice dripped with sarcasm.

“I’ll make it up to you later, my siren.” Viktor rested his chin on my shoulder, briefly turning his head to kiss to the side of my neck.

A shiver ran down my spine at the kiss and the double meaning, and his chest rumbled against my back as he laughed.

“I’m going to hold you to that, pirate.”

Viktor couldn’t resist teasing me with another kiss before he turned his attention to Haskell, who was entertaining himself with a strand of my hair, twirling it around in his finger. I quickly reached and freed the poor strand because I knew what would soon follow if my son had his way. He had been a hairpuller as a baby, and four years on, nothing had changed.

“What does my favourite boy say about coming out to sea with me? Give Mama some time to relax?”

“Yes!”

“If you take him out on The Serpent with you, I won’t be able to relax. I’ll be too busy worrying about him all day,” I pouted.

“Maybe next time, Haz.” Viktor booped Haskell on the nose. “Maybe your baby brother or sister can also join us.”

Viktor had made it very clear to Barden that this would be his last mission until after our new baby was born. Last time, Barden kept pushing for Viktor to go out on this mission and that mission, and he barely made it back in time to witness Haskell’s birth. And that was mostly because I refused to give birth without him by my side and holding my hand to help me get through it all.

“Mama,” Haskell whined and struggled in my arms, wanting to be let down as he spotted a group of children around his age–his little toddler friends–walking past us toward the shore with some of their parents.

Viktor took him from my arms and nuzzled him to his chest before putting him down.

“Papa will come find you to say goodbye soon, Haz.”

He kissed our baby’s forehead, and we watched as he scurried away, no doubt to get up to some mischief, just like his father.

“Are you sure you’ll be okay without me today, my siren?” Viktor asked with a sigh.

“I’ll find a way to manage,” I teased and leaned my head back to rest it against his shoulder, basking in the warmth and love only he could provide. “You won’t come back too late, right?”

“We plan to be back for dinner at the very latest,” Viktor promised me with a small, frustrated groan. “I love being out on sea, but I don’t like leaving you when you’re so close to giving birth.”

“Me neither,” I sighed and snuggled further into his arms. “But this will be the last one for a little while, so savour it.”

“Barden is already talking about another one next week, said to last a few weeks. I’ve already said no, but he keeps insisting. The crew can go ahead if they want. There’s no way I’m leaving you again, Astrid.”

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