Page 84 of The Forever Play

Sienna! Stop it.

I quickly pull my sleepy brain into line and gather Zoey against my chest. She snuggles in, rubbing her nose across Tweety before her squishy cheek finds a pillow against my breasts. Her sleepy whimpers make me smile. She’s so freaking adorable.

Rocking her against me, I hum her favorite bedtime song while Zander stretches out on the bed beside me. He rubs her back, leaning his head on my shoulder.

I just found my new happy place.

“Foobawl,” Zoey murmurs in her sleepy state.

I don’t even know if she realizes what she says, but Zander softly laughs. “I love that she calls me that. I can’t correct her.”

“It’s very sweet.” I kiss his forehead. “She likes you. It’s not hard. Falling for you was the easiest thing I’ve ever done, and she’s gonna be head over heels for you. I can already see it.”

“Yeah, I thinkWywee’s still in top position, but I’m working on it.” He snickers.

“You’re her daddy. That makes you number one, and she’s gonna start to realize that soon enough.”

Zander lifts his head off my shoulder to stare at me.

“Stick around and she’ll know.”

“I’m not going anywhere.” He cups the back of Zoey’s head and kisses her curls. “I promise. I’m not leaving my girls.”

A smile seems to light my entire body, and Zander kisses my grin before snuggling up against me again.

It takes about ten minutes, but Zoey’s nighttime grizzles soon dissipate to a gentle snoring. Her little mouth is open and lax, her body completely limp against mine.

“I’ll just take her back,” I whisper.

“Do you want me to?” He reaches for her, and his hopeful expression is too adorable.

Gently passing our daughter back to him, I support her floppy head until she’s resting in the crook of his arm. He gazes down at her with such pure affection that my belly flutters.

And as soon as he leaves the room, I spring out of bed and duck into the hallway. Creeping to the kitchen, I fightmy impish giggles as I open the candy box and grab what I need.

I’m biting my bottom lip as I tiptoe back to my room, pausing in the hallway to check on Zoey.

She’s lying in her crib, completely out of it, while Zander stands over her, softly rubbing her back and drinking her in.

Hopefully he won’t be too long, because I’ve got plans for that man.

Screw sleep.

I know I’ll be smashed tomorrow, but it’ll be worth it.

Whipping off my pajamas, I throw them on the floor, the box of Nerds rattling as I jump onto the bed and flip onto my back.

I hear Zander coming, and my stomach jitters as I quickly pour Nerds all over my naked torso and rest on my elbows, waiting for him. With one leg draped over the edge of the bed and the other bent high, I try to look as sexy as I can and hope my man’s up for a little late-night fun.

He walks back into the room with a dreamy, sleepy smile but quickly jerks to a stop when he sees me.

I raise my eyebrows and grin at him. “Feel like a midnight snack, Hot Lips?”

“Oh, man.” He scrubs a hand down his face. “I fucking love you so much.”

A little squeal pops out of me as he growls and lunges for the bed, sucking Nerds off my body like they’re lines of cocaine.

He grimaces as he crunches through them. “These are so gross. Why do you eat them?”

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