Page 72 of Sven

Then she shifted slightly, reaching up to him and placing a careful kiss on his lips. When he had kissed her, it had been all instinct and overcome with emotion. This one was deliberate and careful and curious and perfect.

Time stopped as her lips pressed to his in this sweet kiss.

She moved closer, and she sucked on his bottom lip. He kissed her right back, and she gave the softest of moans, and it was like the first time he saw Winnie. Something in his universe shifted. He needed Natalie. Needed to make her happy and safe and full of those little moans.

Her hand slipped from his cheek into his hair, and he slipped his armed her soft little waist and pulled her close to him. Another little moan escaped as she opened her mouth to him. There was a part of him that wanted to turn this soft perfect kiss into a hot, passionate kiss and take her right here, but he wasn’t sure what she was offering yet. He wanted her to be sure of whatever she was doing because he was more certain than he’d ever been. He needed Natalie like he’d never needed anyone before.

He had quite literally been driven mad with jealousy last night to almost ruin his teammate’s birthday, but this was like nothing ever he’d ever felt.

Her mouth opened as she licked his bottom lip. He groaned and opened for her. Their tongues met, and they sat there on the couch, wrapped in each other’s arms, lost in this soft, exploratory kiss.

“Da-da-da-da-da-da,” a soft little voice said from the Pack ’N Play across the room.

They broke their kiss, but he held her close touch her forehead to his, taking a breath sealing the moment in before turning to his little girl. The look in her eyes told him this moment was just as monumental for her.

He stayed close but pulled back to look at Winnie, who was smiling at both of them, bouncing and babbling.

“Hey, sweet girl,” he said.

“A-da-da.”

He turned back to Natalie, who was still looking at him with eyes softened with lust. “Hey.”

She smiled and bit her lip.

“Are you good?”

She nodded. “Mm-hmm.” She brushed away the last tear on his cheek.

They stayed there, taking each other in. Winnie’s happy squeals gave way into disgruntled little grunts. Sven moved off the couch to go get her.

“Come here,” he said, lifting her up into his arms.

Natalie stood from the couch, walked over to them, and swept Winnie’s soft brown hair out of her eyes.

“Can we talk later?” Sven asked quietly.

“Yeah.”

“Do you want to come in for dinner later?”

Natalie looked at her feet. Sven was almost afraid she was going to say no but then she looked back up at him with a soft smile and a twinkle in her eyes, and his heart swelled in his chest.

“I’d like that.”

“Okay, why don’t you come in after Winnie’s bedtime, and I’ll have something ready for us.”

She just nodded.

He tucked her hair behind her ear, gently cupping her jaw before pressing a kiss to her forehead. The inhale and softest moan were not lost on him. He only hoped this didn’t give her a chance to rethink things.

Winnie’s grunts gave way to cries, forcing him out of the moment.

“Okay, Winnie, let’s go get you a bottle.”

“I’ll see you later. Maybe we can pick up where we left off,” he said with a half smirk.

She gave him a shy smile. Fuck. This might not be a good idea, but he wasn’t sure he cared. Natalie meant more to him that he even realized. She saw him in a way he wanted to see himself, and that was so alluring. He only hoped he was making the right decision.

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