Chapter 554
Chapter 554
Still half asleep, Richie clung to Chris with one hand and refused to let go of Winter with the other.
He struggled to open his eyes for a second, then closed them again.
His lips moved.
“Mommy sleep. Daddy sleep p>
He might only be two, but his grip was surprisingly strong.
He had a fistful of Winter’s pajama top, pulling the fabric so tightly that the buttons across her chest were almost coming undone.
A sliver of pale skin showed through the dark blue fabric.
Winter quickly held the front of her pajamas closed with one hand and tried to loosen Richie’s grip with the other.
But his little fingers were wrapped around the fabric too tightly.
If she forced them open, she might wake him or hurt his hand.
“How do I get him to let go?” she whispered to Chris.
Chris looked down at her.
It wasn’t that he was deliberately staring.
Her hand simply was not big enough to cover every gap between the buttons Richie had pulled apart.
No matter how she tried to hold the fabric closed, another small gap seemed to appear somewhere else.
Chris swallowed.
“He’ll let go once he’s fully asleep p>
His voice was so low that Winter almost couldn’t hear him.
Whether he was trying not to wake Richie or trying to keep himself under control, she couldn’t tell.
Still, she understood.
Chris had been taking care of Richie for months. If he said Richie would let go once he fell into a deeper sleep, she trusted him.
But Richie apparently had other ideas.
After being held in the same position for a while, he turned his face to the other side of Chris’s shoulder and gave a sleepy little whine.
“Mommy sleep. Daddy sleep p>
Winter frowned.
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Chapter 554
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She had no idea who he had inherited this stubborn streak from.
As if afraid she might leave, Richie tightened his grip and grabbed an even bigger handful of her pajama top.
Caught off guard, Winter was pulled a step forward.
Her upper body nearly bumped into Chris’s arm.
She instinctively reached out to steady herself.
His arm was rock solid beneath her hand.
Maybe it was because he had tensed to keep her from losing her balance.
Once Winter steadied herself, she gently soothed Richie.
“Okay, baby. Go to sleep.
“Mommy’s here. Daddy’s here too p>
The moment she said it, she felt Chris’s gaze settle on her face.
Winter kept her expression perfectly calm.
She wasn’t trying to trick Richie.
Richie was simply too stubborn. If she didn’t reassure him, he probably wouldn’t settle down.
Besides, Richie hadn’t exactly explained himself clearly.
He obviously meant that he wanted Mommy and Daddy to sleep together with him.
But if Winter chose to interpret it as Mommy going to sleep and Daddy going to sleep separately, that was hardly
her fault.
Chris seemed to see right through her.
“He’s only two,” he said quietly. “Try not to trick him too much p>
Winter said nothing.
Fortunately, Richie stopped fussing after that.
His breathing gradually became slow and even.
Winter still wasn’t sure whether he was deeply asleep, so she didn’t dare pry his hand loose.
If she woke him now, calming him down again might be much harder.
Chris continued holding Richie with one arm.
The little boy weighed over twenty pounds, but that was nothing to him.
He could have stood there holding Richie all night if he needed to.
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From experience, Chris knew Richie was already sound asleep.
Then Winter quietly covered her mouth and yawned.
She blinked a few times, and the involuntary tears from the yawn dampened her lashes.
She was exhausted.
Chris lowered his eyes.
His gaze briefly fell on the front of her pajama top, still pulled slightly open by Richie’s grip.
His expression darkened for a moment.
Then he reached over, rested one hand lightly near Winter’s shoulder, and carefully loosened Richie’s fingers from the fabric.
Richie’s hand fell limp at his side.
He remained completely asleep against Chris’s shoulder, his little face still and his pink lips slightly pursed.
Winter let out a quiet breath of relief.
“I’ll take him with me,” Chris said. “You should get some rest p>
Winter looked down and straightened her pajama top.
Then she nodded.
“Okay p>
She glanced at Richie one more time, leaned closer, and kissed the top of his head.
Good night, baby.
Chris carried Richie out and gently closed the door behind him.
Winter walked back to the bed and turned off the night-light.
Then she climbed under the covers.
The sheets still carried Richie’s soft, familiar scent.
She really wanted to hold him.
She had wanted so badly to sleep beside him tonight.
But there was no way she could share a bed with Chris.
Winter rolled onto her side, picked up Richie’s little pillow, and hugged it against her chest.
She then let out a quiet sigh.
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The sky had only just begun to brighten when Richie stirred.
He was lying sideways across his pillow.
He rubbed his eyes, pushed himself up with both hands, and looked at Chris, who was still asleep.
Then he glanced toward the bedroom door, which had been left slightly open.
A moment later, General slipped through the gap, tail wagging
As if he had done this many times before, he walked over and lay down beside the bed.
Richie crawled to the edge.
He turned around, lowered his legs over the side, and slowly slid down on his stomach.
His feet landed squarely on General’s back, using the dog like a step stool
Once he reached the floor, Richie hurried out of the room barefoot, his little feet pattering against the floor.
On the bed, Chris slowly opened his eyes.
He watched Richie and General disappear through the doorway and let out a quiet sigh.
He didn’t need to guess where they were going
Those two could go find Winter whenever they wanted.
He couldn’t
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Chapter 554
4/5
Cringer menfe batinoon & moment later, fire sound of sinover filled the UA
Mentesen a towel was vaned around his vast was dying his hair as he glanced toward the door.
Wentz talentet ene tack in fre made offrengt, eilet the door sighidy ajar so he could hear if anything tapered mussire
ad pissier tall frevay er vier te shored out that morning
laughter and fie pessional bank infed in from Kaine’s noom
Chris was to tearing Richie laugh and General ba
But vien Winter’s lauginer joined frem, his hand stilled in his hair
“Nuum, my bay smels so good!
“Mommy loves you, su much How are you fuis cute?
“Cone jer and let Mommy squeeze you on, des General want a bug too? Come on, Pll hug both of you*
They sounded the frey were having a great fine.
Water Tropped from the ends of Chris’s hair
He gave it a few
th the towel, then headed into the walk-in closet
ardrobe, rows of Winter’s clothes were still hanging neatly beside his.
things she had left befond
me still had the tags on them
Last night, she had said she didn’t want any of them anymore.
Cuds looked at the clothes for a moment, then pulled out a set of lounge clothes and closed the wardrobe.
Wetter Winter wanted them was up to her.
Whether he kept them was up to kúm
A hoock sounded at the door
Chris quickly got dressed and stepped out of the closet
When he saw Gavin standing outside, his expression shifted almost imperceptibly.
“Come in*
Gavin caught the tone immediately but pretended not to.
Chris ran a hand through his damp hair, crossed the room, and sat down on the sofa.
Sara Lili
Sara is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.