Page 22 of Bratva’s Stolen Bride (Obsessed Bratva Bosses #1)
PAYTON
Seven years later
This is heaven.
I’m sitting on the beach in the shade of a palm tree, with the latest released book from my favourite author.
I’m six months pregnant with our fifth baby, and just getting to the “I think I’ll stay out of the sun, with the occasional swim in the sea” stage of pregnancy, rather than running around I’d usually do.
Feliks is taking care of the children, and I’ve been looking forward to this book for months, so there’s really no reason why I shouldn’t be nose deep into it.
The water is almost perfectly calm today, just a light breeze that cools and causes ripples.
Ideal weather. But even when they’re not asking for my attention, my family is distracting.
Okay, my husband especially.
I look out over to the floating raft where Feliks is with the kids. Six-year-old Ezra, five-year-old Kaia, four-year-old Asher, and our toddler, Nova. Asher and Nova have arm bands on. They’re all too cute. Tanned and lean like their father, and as happy in the water as little otters.
Feliks checks in with each child in turn, and I wonder what they’re doing. They’re lined up on the edge of the raft.
“Three, two, one…” Feliks calls.
Oh, it’s a race. Of course.
“Go!”
The kids jump and dive into the water, with varying degrees of elegance. The older two manage quite good dives, but our smallest girl hurls herself in with all the glee of a puppy, sending up a splash so big it even hits a laughing Feliks.
The kids all swim towards the beach, and I put my book away, because I can see where this is going, and I protect my books from excited children soaked with seawater.
I lean back in my chair and stroke my belly where Feliks’ newest little printsessa is kicking, and smile contentedly as I watch the kids swim frantically.
Ezra is in the lead, but Kaia is close behind. Being the youngest, Nova is at the rear, but what she lacks in speed she makes up for in pure sass.
When Ezra reaches well over halfway, Feliks yells “I’m coming for you!” and dives gracefully into the water seeming to propel him half of the distance.
Then he’s swimming after the now-shrieking and giggling kids.
Watching Feliks is maybe even better when I’m not being chased by him.
He has powerful arms and that tattooed bulky upper body is delicious in all situations, but especially when he’s above me, pinning me with his weight and his cock and telling me I’m his good girl, or he’s being adorable playing with our babies.
Feliks quickly catches Nova, and effortlessly grabs her, making an animal growling sound and Nova shrieks with delight. He picks her up with one arm and tows her with him as he continues to close the gap with the other kids. Asher is picked up next, but Ezra has already reached the shallows.
I smile as I remember my first play chase with Feliks, and blush a little as I think of the mini chase around the kitchen we had only a few nights ago.
But then I’m focused on Ezra as he sprints across the sand. Feliks wades in the shallow water, pausing to urge Kaia onto his back as he catches her, and scoops Nova and Asher up in his arms.
“Mummy! Yay!” Ezra throws himself into my waiting arms, sand and water flying everywhere, and I laugh.
“You won!” I hold up one hand for a high-five and his small hand smacks mine. He’s so like his dad, all raw energy and boyish charm.
“I escaped the evil sea king!” He turns and blows a raspberry at Feliks, who has made admirably swift progress up the beach given he’s bringing three small children with him.
“Rahh! Foiled again!” Feliks roars, then lunges for Ezra, who just about manages to dodge out of the way, but then circles back to join the fun as Feliks grabs the other kids who have attempted to escape while he went for Ezra, and tickles them.
I laugh and stroke my bump as they gang up on Feliks and he pretends to collapse at my feet.
He lies in the soft sand, getting totally covered, and grins as Ezra demands another race. Or monster chase. I admit I’m not clear on what game they’re playing, but I don’t think they are either. It hardly matters.
I have a family I never expected, but love more than anything.
My sisters visit the island too, of course, and it’s amazing when we’re all together, with all the kids.
Feliks is still excellent at putting sunscreen onto smaller creatures than himself—though only I get the full treatment including innuendo—and although it’s chaotic it’s a lot of fun.
But I adore spending time with just the six of us.
Soon to be seven. The baby reminds me with another little kick.
“Daddy! Again, again! I want you to be the Mer-king again!” Kaia says, bouncing with the extraordinary energy of a five-year-old.
“My queen, please, call off your guards, I give in,” he begs, eyes full of mirth as he looks at me. Then his gaze dips to my rounded belly and his expression softens to an affectionate smile.
“My king, you just have to say the word,” I tease.
“Is the word ice-cream?” he says, and the kids erupt into pleading, questions about what flavours they get for winning, and happy squeals.
Feliks takes all the kids to wash off the sand in the sea, then returns to help me to my feet, running his hands down my sides and over my belly on the pretext of steadying me.
“Can’t wait to have you alone,” he leans down and whispers in my ear.
I smile up at him, my heart so full of love for this man who has given me everything I wanted and more that I wasn’t even aware I needed.
“Ice-cream!” Nova cuts through the romantic moment with a reminder of what I promised.
“Okay!” Feliks laughs as he slings his arm over my shoulders, and we follow the kids into the house to the well-stocked freezer. “Let’s see what sweet treats we can all have.” Then he whispers into my ear. “And I’ll be thinking of the sweetness between your legs that’s all mine .”
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