Kes laughed. “She’s crazy.”
I pinched his arm. “Don’t call your sister crazy.”
He slapped my hand playfully. “Whatever. You’re crazy. Mums crazy. We’re all crazy.”
Well, I couldn’t really argue with his logic.
“Muuuumm!” Emma squealed. “Let me blow!”
Nila laughed, letting her go. “Go on then, make sure you blow all five out at once. Otherwise, your wish won’t come true.”
Emma froze, soaking in that vital piece of information. She glared at the cake as if she’d wage war on the frosting rather than eat it.
She’s so damn fierce.
I smiled.
She took after her mother.
Nila’s black eyes met mine. She whispered under her breath, “Do you think she wished for a prince, a pony, or one of those silly flying fairies she saw last week at the store?”
I wrapped my arms around her middle, pulling her back to my front. I kissed the soft skin of her throat above the diamond collar. “I don’t care. I’ll make sure she has every one.”
Her heart thudded against mine. “Even the prince?”
I reared back. “Hell, no. As far as I’m concerned, she’s the next Rapunzel. Hawksridge has plenty of towers to keep her in.”
Nila giggled. “Good luck with that. She’ll just scale it and run.”
“Run?” I nuzzled the back of her ear. Two words never failed to get a rise out of me. Run and Kiss. ‘Run’ because it reminded me of Nila being brave enough to try and escape, and ‘kiss’ because it was the moment she broke me and made me hers.
Emma had inherited her mother’s bravery and exceeded even her brother in tree climbing acrobatics. I didn’t know where she got the skill, but she loved being in the treetops more than on the ground.
A sudden memory of Nila hiding naked in the trees filled my mind. Blood siphoned through my body, swelling my cock. I subtly pressed my hips into her arse. “Talking of trees and running…”
She tensed then melted. Her arm looped up and behind her to secure around my neck. “If you bring a plaid blanket, I’ll make sure to give you what I gave you then.”
Kissing her cheek, I breathed, “Done.” Lowering my voice even more, I whispered, “You really have to stop using those words. It’s highly inappropriate that I’m hard at my daughter’s birthday party.”
Nila swivelled in my arms, planting her mouth to mine. Her lips fed me kisses as well as barely audible conversation. “You really have to stop making me love you so damn much.” Her eyes met mine. “Can you feel it? How overflowing I am? How I don’t know how to contain it tonight? I just…I need you.”
The rest of the room faded—the world always did when Nila touched me.
“I do. I feel it.”
She cocked her head. “What does it feel like?”
I glanced at Emma, who still hadn’t decided how to blow all the candles out at once. “It feels like slipping into the hot springs beneath the Hall. Warmth and contentment lapping around me with a slight edge of pain from being too hot. But, unlike the hot springs, I don’t have the discomfort of knowing I’ll have to climb back into the cold and leave the warmth behind. You give it to me constantly.”
Nila kissed my cheek. “You’ll never be cold again.” The double meaning of her words—that I would never be unloved again—throbbed.
Clearing my throat, I pushed her away and invited the room back into my attention. “Keep saying things like that and we won’t see the rest of the party.”
Nila half-laughed, half-scowled. “I’m torn in which I want more.” Turning, she faced the table and Emma.
Kes rolled his eyes, never looking away from his sister, waiting impatiently for dessert. “Come on already.”
“Pushy.” Emma grinned, puffing out her little cheeks. Her lungs expanded and she blew raspberries rather than air but managed to get the flames to turn into curling spirals of smoke.
The room erupted into claps and cheers.
Emma didn’t acknowledge the bikers or billionaires, secure in her place within their adoration. However, she did squeal and dance uncoordinatedly on her chair.
Nila grabbed Emma’s tutu, just in case she toppled over. “Good girl. I have no doubt all your wishes will come true.”
Kes stood by, his mouth watering. He didn’t care his sister’s spit just ended up all over the cake with her blowing attempt. All he wanted was sugar. Kid turned high as a damn kite whenever he had sweets. In that respect, he didn’t remind me of his namesake. My brother had never truly let himself go—never been crazy or adolescently stupid.
At the time, I thought it was just him, but now, I think he did it for me. If he’d let himself get carried away, I wouldn’t have had any choice but to be carried away, too.
Letting Nila go, I slipped my hand into my back pocket and squeezed the hidden box. Nila had seen this gift, but Emma hadn’t. It would be the last present but the most valuable.
All day Emma had gratefully accepted gifts. I loved that she genuinely appreciated everything—from socks and sherbet to a new swing-set and pony. Her young emotions filled my heart to bursting, and in an odd way, I was able to relive my childhood through her, replacing unhappy times with excellent ones.
“Down. Down. I want to get down.” Emma pointed at the floor.
Nila calmly plucked Emma from the chair, placing her on the travertine. “Don’t go anywhere. I believe Daddy has a present for you while I cut the cake.”