"Daa… da."
"No, no—maaaa… ma," Lara corrected patiently.
"Daaa… da."
"Ma… ma," she insisted.
"Daa… da."
Lara sighed dramatically. "Okay, I give up. He was supposed to be my son. How did he end up saying dada first?"
Zain shrugged, a smug little smirk tugging at his lips. "You know…"
Xavier, clearly done with the debate, stretched his tiny arms toward Lara. She scooped him up, and he immediately fussed, rooting against her.
"You need me, yet you only say dada? Seriously?" she muttered.
Zain laughed.
"Ow!" Lara yelped suddenly, when Xavier bit her nipple with his still developing sharp teeth.
Zain was on his feet in a second, lifting Xavier away. "Hey—no hurting her," he warned gently, bouncing him.
He glanced at Lara, concern softening his voice. "Does it hurt?"
"A bit," she admitted, reaching for Xavier again.
Zain shook his head and handed the baby his bottle instead, laying him down. "Nope. Bottle today. Lesson learned."
Lara rolled her eyes, smiling as she adjusted her shirt.
Before she could say another word, Zain stepped closer and nudged her back onto the sofa, his presence warm and familiar.
"Zain—!" she protested, half laughing.
He kissed her cheek, then her forehead. "Relax. Let me take care of you for a second."
Zain raised her shirt and licked the swollen nipple. She tried to push him away, flustered.
Zain grinned. "I am curing you honey" he kneeled one breast while slowly licking and sucking her milk.
"Stop—it's for the baby, not you."
"I am your baby too"
"Zain," she hissed, glancing toward the bed. "Xavier is watching!"
She thumped his chest lightly.
"Ow," he exaggerated.
Lara laughed, tired but happy.
Zain pulled her into a hug, holding her close. After a long day of caring for both big and small babies, that was exactly what she needed.
She smiled into his shoulder, soaking in the warmth.
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At their joint villa,
"We'll take care of the kids," Zain said. "You two seal the business deal in City C. Be careful on the mission—and enjoy your week."
"Lara, please take care of Daisy," Rain added. "She's clumsy."
"When has she not been?" Zain said.
"You're going to die by my hands," Daisy warned.
Rain and Lara laughed at the two of them, watching the easy sibling-like bond they'd built over the years.
The women kissed the kids goodbye. The men waited their turn, pretending not to be impatient.
Lara and Daisy exchanged a look and smiled softly—we won, in every way.
Then they turned back, kissed their boys once more, and waved.
"Rock it, girls!" the men called together.
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Author's note:
Thank you for taking the time to read.If you enjoyed the story, please leave a comment—your feedback truly keeps me writing.