“Now, there’s a good girl,” Drake’s deep voice drew her eyes to him. Even though she was still upset about the painful spanking, her heart filled with warmth. He wasn’t angry with her… more than that, there was no disappointment in his gaze as he watched her drink.
Her body relaxed despite her determination to resist as the gentle rocking motion of the chair soothed her still-heated flesh and frazzled mind.
Amanda moved quietly around the room, arranging things for the morning. Her presence was as mortifying as it was oddly reassuring.How else,she mocked herself.This was normal here. Expected.
Elle’s eyelids grew heavy as Damian rocked her. She leaned into his chest as he stroked her hair. The gentle motion and warm milk worked their magic, and soon, she drifted off, confused by how safe and cherished she felt despite her earlier resistance. Her bottom still stung as a constant reminder of the consequences of defiance. Yet she felt oddly secure.
Her last coherent thought was wondering why being cared for felt so right when she should be outraged. The warmth in her belly, the snug embrace of the diaper, and the security of Damian’s arms pushed those questions away as sleep claimed her with the rubber nipple still between her lips.
Elle’s eyes fluttered as consciousness began slipping away, the gentle rocking and warmth from Damian's chest lulling her deeper into drowsiness. The bottle’s nipple slipped from her slack lips.
“Sleep well, our little angel.” Drake’s voice drifted through her hazy mind as soft lips pressed against her forehead. Her fingers instinctively curled around Damian’s hand while the other hand latched onto Drake’s arm, anchoring herself to them both as sleep claimed her completely.
Drake lifted her with tender care. Her head nestled naturally against his shoulder. With practiced gentleness, he placed her in the crib before drawing a pink, frilly blanket up to her shoulders. Elle shifted in her sleep, curling onto her side with her hands clasped between her knees, completely unaware of her new sleeping arrangements.
A contented sigh escaped her lips as she burrowed into the plush pillow. Her face was peaceful in slumber. Both men stood transfixed by the sight of her. Their fierce, independent baker transformed into this vulnerable angel. Her long lashes cast shadows on her cheeks, and her blonde hair spread across the pillow like spun gold.
Their breath caught in unison at the soft murmur that drifted through the quiet room.
“Night, my Daddies.”
Drake & Damian
Drake's hand trembled slightly as he traced Elle’s cheek. His eyes met Damian’s, electric blue clashing with stormy gray. A thousand unspoken words passed between them.
“Fuck me,” Drake murmured.
Those three innocent words shattered their carefully maintained control. Drake’s throat worked as he swallowed hard, his usual commanding presence softening at the edges. Damian’s grip on his shoulder tightened as his own mask of stern authority cracked to reveal raw tenderness beneath.
Years of searching, of failed attempts to find the perfect match, of wanting someone who could handle both their dominance and need to nurture, all of it crystallized in this moment. Their little spitfire, who fought them tooth and nail, who cursed, threatened, and resisted, now surrendered so sweetly in her sleep.
Damian traced circles on Drake’s shoulder. The unconscious gesture grounded them as they watched Elle’s chest rise and fallin peaceful slumber. The moonlight painted silver streaks in her hair, making her appear almost ethereal in her innocence.
Their gazes met again in a silent understanding passing between them.
“I didn’t expect this,” Drake said in a thick voice.
“Me, neither,” Damian’s voice was hushed. “We thought it would take months to break through her defenses, yet look at her. Lying there so innocently, then boldly claiming us as hers with three little words and with the same unconscious authority she wields in her bakery.”
“Indeed, she did.” Drake’s lips quirked up at one corner, matched by the subtle softening around Damian’s eyes. It was their equivalent of a giddy celebration. Their little girl was finally home, even if she didn’t fully realize it yet.
They stood watch for several more minutes, memorizing every detail of this moment. The special memory of their little girl’s first night truly in their care slowly made its way to its own special compartments in their hearts. When they finally turned to leave, they moved with careful quiet, unwilling to disturb her perfect peace.
The baby monitor glowed softly on the dresser, ready to alert them to any midnight needs. Elle slept on, unaware of the tender gazes that lingered on her or how her whispered words had cemented her place in both their hearts.
Chapter Sixteen
The outside patio by the pool, DD Estate, Dreamer’s Cove
Drake & Damian
The night wrapped around Drake and Damian like a velvet cloak as they settled into the deck chairs beside the pool. As natural as breathing, Drake’s hand found Damian’s. It was a gesture born from decades of shared struggles and victories. Their fingers intertwined with practiced ease as the physical connection grounded them both as it had since their boarding school days.
Though their relationship had never ventured into intimate sexual territory, their bond transcended traditional definitions. Touch between them had always been their anchor. That kind varied, depending on the situation they were in, like a squeeze of a shoulder during business meetings, a steadying hand in times of stress, and fingers linked during crucial decisions. It was this profound connection that made sharing their Little ones so natural. All their relationships with Littles were based on a ménage à trois. Their physical and emotional intimacy complemented rather than competed.
“God, I love this place. I’m always so at peace here,” Drake murmured with his gaze locked on the waves crashing against the shore below. Crickets provided nature’s symphony.
“This is the only place I ever see you relax and shake off that iron shield you always carry around your heart.”