“No, Dada, it’s really fine. Could I please have bubbles?”
“Let me check first.” He tapped on his phone. “All right, as long as they are fragrance free.” He searched through the cupboard and drew out a bottle. Turning on the taps, he ran the water and put some bubbles in. “Although now I need to test the temperature again.”
Such a worrywart.
But he was so cute too.
And she’d never really had anyone fuss over her like the three of them did. It was enough to make a girl feel teary-eyed.
Or it might have been if she was a normal girl.
He checked the duck for the temperature and she swirled her hand through the water, trying to create more bubbles.
A giggle escaped her. “This is so fun! I love bubbles!”
“That’s good, darling girl.” He grabbed a new cloth. “You just relax now and let me clean you. Okay?”
“Okay, Dada.”
He turned off the taps again and she picked up a pile of bubbles as he washed her.
He was so thorough, washing every inch of her.
She scooped up some bubbles and put them over her chin. “Who am I? Bunny, you are not allowed to walk anywhere on your own, you might stub your toe and get hurt.”
She said it in a deep, husky voice with a terrible accent.
“Hmm, let me think.” He tapped his finger against his chin. “It is hard to work it out. Salem!”
She giggled. “No, Dada! I was being Papa. Couldn’t you tell from the accent?
“Gosh, sorry. I really thought that was Salem.” He winked at her. “Now, do you think you can kneel with your sore knee?”
“Yeah, of course,” she said as she created patterns with the bubbles. “But why does I need to kneel? I like sitting.”
“I need to wash your bottom and I can’t do that while you’re sitting on it.”
Um.
She stared at him out of the side of her eye. “My bottom is clean.”
“It can’t be. I haven’t washed it yet.”
“It’s in water, Dada. It’s washed.”
“You need to do more than just immerse yourself in water. Kneel and hold onto the end of the bath. Then spread your legs.”
“Daddy, I don’t think this is necessary.”
“Kitten, you need to do as you were told.”
She grumbled but kneeled and held onto the edge of the bath as he washed first between her legs and then over her bottom.
By the time she sat back down, she knew she was red. Normally, she wasn’t worried about being naked or having them dress or undress her.
But this was just a step further.
“Look what else I found.” He showed her some of the bath toys that she was guessing Alexei or Salem had bought. There were all sorts of sea creatures and a fishing boat.