“There’s just a problem with your theory about skin-to-skin.”

“What’s that?” he asked.

“I don’t think you can get to any of my skin. I think it might take a month of unravelling to find my skin.”

He chuckled. “You might be right. But there is some skin free.” Turning her to face him, with her legs bent and straddling his hips, he rubbed his cheek against hers.

“That was nice, Papa,” she told him. “Do the other side, though.”

He rubbed her other cheek with his. Then he rubbed their noses together. Back and forth lightly.

“An Eskimo kiss,” he murmured.

Oh.

Then he fluttered his eyelashes against her cheek. “Butterfly kiss.”

That was so sweet.

He touched his lips ever so lightly against her eyes. She closed them as he got near and he kissed one, then the other.

“Angel kiss.”

Oh, she’d never even heard of that one. But she liked it a lot.

“Again.”

“What do you say? You have to use your manners.”

Opening her eyes, she gave him a disgruntled look. “You don’t use your manners.”

“I’m the Papa, I don’t have to.”

“Papa!” she cried. “TNT.”

“TNT? Like the dynamite?” he asked.

“TNT. That’s Not True.”

“Really? I thought I got to make the rules.”

“Papa.”

“Bunny. Say please.”

“Please, Papa, will you give me another angel kiss?”

“Good girl.” He leaned in and she closed her eyes again as he gave her an angel kiss.

Her insides melted and any tension in her body started to disappear.

“Such a beautiful girl. My girl.”

She squirmed on his lap until his lips met hers.

Ahh, she hadn’t even realized that was what she’d been waiting for. His lips were soft against hers to begin with, then he placed a hand on the back of her head, holding her still as his tongue slid between her lips to play with hers.

He deepened the kiss and she was totally here for it. A throat cleared and she stiffened, but he took his time finishing the kiss. A blanket settled around her back, and it was almost too much warmth given how she was pressed to Alexei’s chest.