Amelie stepped back cautiously from the crib, moving with the silence of a mother who had finally won the battle against naptime. Her back bumped into a solid, warm frame, and she spun around instantly.
Gabriel was right there. He leaned in, his lips meeting hers in a soft, lingering kiss before she pulled back, her hands resting against the firm muscles of his chest.
"I’m tired," she sighed as she let her forehead drop against his chest.
"Then, let’s rest," Gabriel murmured. Without a second’s hesitation, he swept her up into his arms, ignoring her small gasp of surprise as he carried her across the room. He settled her onto the bed and climbed in beside her, pulling the heavy silk duvet over them both before pressing a tender kiss to her forehead.
"Noah is so restless these days," she whispered, nestled into his side. "He even bit me earlier. I think his teeth are finally starting to come through."
The relaxed atmosphere shifted instantly. Gabriel propped himself up on one elbow, his eyes narrowing as his voice dipped into a tone of sharp, genuine concern. "Where did he bite you?"
"On the finger," Amelie said, extending her hand to show him the tiny, reddened mark.
Gabriel grasped her hand with exaggerated care, pressing a soft kiss to the site before his tongue lightly grazed the skin.
"What are you doing?" she chuckled, a sleepy glow in her eyes as she pulled her hand back.
"I was merely soothing the pain," he murmured, his fingers moving to caress the top of her head in a slow motion.
"How did it go with Karmen?" she asked, her voice growing fainter as her eyes drifted shut. "And how is Aisha? I feel terrible that I couldn’t even meet her today. Noah kept me completely occupied."
"Everything went well. Eryx was punished without causing an unnecessary scene," Gabriel answered, his gaze tracing the soft lines of her face before settling on her neck, where their bond mark was faintly visible against her skin. "You can meet her once Karmen wins her heart completely. For now, they need the space."
"That’s great," Amelie whispered, her words beginning to slur. "I feel so sleepy, Gabriel..."
Exhaustion finally claimed her. Within minutes, her breathing evened out into soft, delicate snores. They were barely audible, but lying so close to her, Gabriel could hear every rhythmic breath. He stayed perfectly still, watching her for a while before he also drifted off to slumber.
~~~~~
Katelyn was busy preparing coffee in the director’s office while Sage worked through the remaining files. Just as he finished reviewing the last document, he glanced in her direction. Without a word, he stood up and crossed the room in a few strides, coming to a halt right behind her.
Katelyn felt the sudden warmth of his body pressing against hers. "Now, it’s officially off hours for us until Christmas," he whispered in her ear, his breath hot against her skin before he playfully nipped at her earlobe.
"We are still in the office, Sage," she breathed, her hands hovering over the mugs. "What if someone walks in? And your coffee..."
She didn’t get to finish. Sage reached out, clicking the machine off before swiftly spinning her around to face him. He pinned her against the counter, his eyes dark with an intensity that had nothing to do with work.
"The doors are locked, and the coffee can wait," he murmured, his hands settling firmly on her waist. "I’ve spent the last six hours staring at spreadsheets," he murmured against her ear, "when the only thing I’ve really wanted to look at is you."
Katelyn’s lips curved into a teasing smile. She tilted her head, studying him. "Really? I was starting to think your work mattered more than anything else."


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