Chapter 263 The Fourth Wheel
GENESISS
One month later
“Mwahhhhh,” Isabella’s cries pierced the nursery like a siren.
“No, not again,” Kieran groaned from the rocking chair, head tipped back against the wall, eyes squeezed shut in pure exhaustion.
I smiled despite the fatigue tugging at every muscle in my body and hurried over with Dashiell in my arms . My little boy was calm in my arms, big green eyes like my own blinking up at me, tiny fist curled against his cheek while his sister wailed like the world was ending.
Kieran stood, cradling Isabella against his bare chest. The second her cheek touched his skin, her cries escalated into full-blown shrieks.
He looked down at her, betrayed.
“Seriously? Again?”
“Isabella despises me”
I bit my lip to keep from laughing.
“That’s not true,” I said, bouncing Dashiell gently. “She loves you.”
“Does she?” He lifted one brow, shifting Isabella higher. “Because every time I hold her, she sounds like I personally offended her entire existence.”
I stepped closer, offering Dashiell.
“Here. Trade me.”
Kieran hesitated then carefully passed Isabella over.
The moment she was in my arms, her cries tapered off. A few hiccuping whimpers, then silence. She nuzzled into my chest, rooting instinctively.
Kieran stared.
I tried to hand him Dashiell.
He took him gingerly.
Dashiell immediately started fussing, small, grumpy whines that quickly built into a full cry.
Kieran looked from one twin to the other, then at me.
“See?” he said, deadpan. “I’m the third wheel. Well… fourth wheel in this relationship.”
I burst out laughing, quiet so I wouldn’t startle Isabella.
“No, that’s not true,” I said, rocking Isabella. “You should see how they cry when you’re not around. They know your voice. They look for you.”
He huffed, bouncing Dashiell with exaggerated patience.
“Yeah, they look for me so they can reject me in stereo.”
I leaned over and kissed his jaw.
“They love you. They’re just dramatic. Like their daddy.”
He rolled his eyes, but the corner of his mouth twitched.
I settled into the glider with Isabella. She latched immediately, tiny gulps loud in the quiet room. Kieran watched, softer now as Dashiell finally settled against his chest, still grumbling but calmer.
When both twins were fed, burped, and drowsy, we tiptoed them back into their bassinets.
The second their backs touched the mattress, we froze waiting for the inevitable wail.
Nothing.
We exhaled at the exact same time.
“Finally,” we whispered in unison.
We slipped out of the nursery, closing the door with the softest click.
In the hallway, we both sagged against the wall.
“No one told us raising twins would be like this,” I said, half-laughing, half-crying.
Kieran turned to me, eyes tired but warm.
“Would you have listened if they did?”
“Probably not.”
He grabbed my hand.
“Come on.”
He tugged me down the hall to our bedroom.
We collapsed onto the mattress in tandem, him on his back, me curling into his side, head on his chest.
I watched his eyes flutter closed, lashes dark against his cheeks. He looked wrecked, beautiful, exhausted, mine.
My shirt was damp. I glanced down.
Milk. Again.
I smirked.
I rolled toward him.
“Daddy Dash,” I whispered.
His eyes cracked open.
“Hmm?”
I sat up slowly, peeled my shirt up over my breasts. Milk beaded at my nipples, dripping in slow, white trails down my skin.
“Wanna come have a snack?”
His eyes snapped wide.
He sat up so fast the bed creaked.
“Yes please.”
He lunged.
His mouth closed over one nipple, hot, wet, greedy. He sucked hard. Milk squirted against his tongue. He groaned, low, feral and switched to the other side, hand cupping the first breast, pinching gently so more milk leaked out.
I moaned, fingers threading through his hair.
“You’re being too rough…”
He sucked harder, his tongue flicking the sensitive tip.
“Fuck, baby,” he growled against my skin. “You taste amazing. So sweet.”
Milk dribbled down his chin.
I arched into his mouth, thighs pressing together.
“Kieran…”
He pulled back just enough to look at me, blue eyes darker, pupils blown.
“Gonna drink every drop,” he rasped. “Then I’m going to fuck you until you leak for a different reason.”
I laughed, breathless, needy.
“Promise?”
He smiled, looking completely insane with too much restrained lust.
“Promise.”
And then he made good on it.
Again.
And again.
Until we were both wrecked, tangled in sheets, milk and sweat and love smeared across our skin.
Twins asleep down the hall.
House quiet.
Everything was finally right.