The bedroom was nice and cool as they entered. With the window open, the faint scent of salt water and humidity breezed through.
Jude walked Liam to the bed then turned down the sheets. “Climb in, baby.”
Liam clumsily lifted his knee to the mattress.
Slipping behind his boy, Jude grabbed his hips, giving Liam’s padded bottom a squeeze before helping Liam settle on the right side of the bed. Jude walked around to the opposite side and set the bottle and book on the nightstand.
“Do you need anything else?” he asked.
Liam rolled over and blinked at him. “No? Just you, Daddy.”
What a precious boy. “Are you sure it’s okay I stay the night?”
Liam rolled his eyes as he huffed. “Daddy! You promised.”
Chuckling, Jude slid into bed beside his boy. “I can’t risk taking you over to my house. Murder kitty might never forgive me.”
“Daddy!” Liam giggled. “His name is Hades!”
“Murder kitty,” Jude drawled.
“He is evil,” Liam agreed.
“See.” Jude poked Liam in the side.
His baby wiggled his way then tried to grab his hands.
“I thought you were sleepy,” Jude teased.
Liam stopped wrestling with him. “Story?”
“A bottle and a story,” Jude confirmed.
“K.” Liam cuddled up to his side.
Jude pulled the sheets over them before reaching for the bottle and book. He placed the book on his lap then moved Liam into the crook of his arm. Jude offered his boy the nipple of the bottle.
Like the good boy he was, Liam opened his mouth.
Instantly, Liam was sucking at the cold milk that Jude had prepared for him.
“Good baby,” Jude praised. He ran his cheek over the top of Liam’s soft freshly washed hair. With one hand holding the bottle, Jude opened the book with his other. He started to read in a soft soothing voice. “There once was a handsome prince…”
* * * * *
Liam
Warm. Safe. Held.
If this was a dream, Liam didn’t want to wake up and ruin it.
Except, there was a very loud bird chirping outside. A happy sound. But loud.
He gave a little whine before shoving his face into the pillow.
A hard pillow.
A moving pillow.
