The Lies Behind Her Marriage novel Chapter 124

Kiss Daddy.

“Really, now? Your father reads better?” Serena asked, her hands on her hips.

“Oops!” Sebastian said, covering his mouth. Then he laughed.

Alisa laughed too.

“Daddy does voices,” Sebastian explained.

“I heard. I heard,” Serena said as she walked in. “I’m glad you got to spend time with your father, but it’s late. You both should go to sleep.”

“Mommy, Daddy said he will swim with us tomorrow,” Sebastian shared. “Will you join us, Mommy?”

There was a pool in the backyard, which was also where the kids had their training.

“Um.” Serena massaged the back of her neck. She couldn’t really say no. The pool was right there in the house. "Yeah, of course."

“Excellent,” Nathaniel smiled. “I’ll have Gavin buy me board shorts.”

Then Serena’s gaze landed on Nathaniel’s right hand. His knuckles were wrapped in a bandage. He must have rushed it, because it wasn’t done very properly.

She turned to the kids and said, “Okay, it’s sleeping time, you guys. Give Mommy a kiss!”

The twins hurried to Serena, nearly knocking her over as she knelt to their level.

“Good night, Mommy!” Sebastian kissed her cheek.

Alisa did too, hugging her so tightly Serena had to laugh.

“I love you, guys,” Serena said, savoring the moment. If anything grounded her, it was this—this overwhelming, uncomplicated love.

“What about me?” Nathaniel said, getting up from his chair.

“Good night, Daddy!” Sebastian ran to him, and Nathaniel lifted him easily into his arms.

Alisa followed, and Nathaniel scooped her up as well.

Both twins planted kisses on his cheeks.

Serena smiled, earnestly admiring the bond they had quickly formed.

Then, from the mouth of a three-year-old—

“Mommy,” Sebastian said suddenly, serious as a judge. “You also need to kiss Daddy.”

Serena: “…”

“Ah, no, honey.” She flushed.

Sebastian wrinkled his nose. “Why?”

Serena glanced at Nathaniel for help.

Nathaniel simply shrugged.

Alisa tilted her head, studying Serena with the same intensity she used on puzzles.

“Grandma kisses Grandpa,” Sebastian said. “Why doesn’t Mommy kiss Daddy?”

Serena opened her mouth, then closed it.

“Um… because—” She tried again. “We’re not married.”

Sebastian blinked. “What’s ‘married’?”

Alisa immediately turned to Nathaniel, silently asking the same question.

Nathaniel was very helpful.

He stayed silent!

Serena sighed. “When two people love each other, they get married and have a family.”

Sebastian frowned. “So you love Daddy.”

Alisa nodded. “Daddy loves Mommy.”

Serena scratched her brow. “Um—”

“So you’re married,” Sebastian concluded proudly.

“No, not exactly,” Serena answered.

Sebastian’s brows knitted together. “But aren't we a family?”

Alisa raised one finger. “We are not family?”

She showered and changed into her pajamas. She didn’t bother drying her hair. Then she brought her medicine kit to the guest room next to Alisa’s.

“Nathan, can I come in?” Serena asked, knocking on his door.

“Yes, you can come in,” he responded.

She walked in, expecting him to be fully clothed, but to her shock, he was still wrapped in a towel.

“Nathan!” she scolded. “Why did you invite me in when you’re still in a towel?”

A hiss left Nathaniel’s lips. “Sorry—old habits.”

Then he added, “I used to walk around you naked. It didn’t bother you before. It shouldn’t bother you now.”

Serena’s mind went blank. 'Seriously?'

“Unless, of course,” Nathaniel added, placing his hands on his waist and looking at her straight in the eye, “you’re affected by my looks. Are you? You still have feelings for me?”

Serena scoffed. “Fine. Sit down with your towel on. Let me check your hand!”

Nathaniel sat on the chair, looking irritatingly glorious.

She promised herself she wouldn’t let him get to her. Yet as she cleaned his wounds, her eyes betrayed her.

Her attention drifted to the hard lines of his body, the same body she once knew intimately, the same strength that had held her breathless countless times during their marriage.

The thoughts that followed were reckless.

Firm ass.

Big, you know!

Broad back. Muscles that flexed even when he was still.

The friction.

And stamina that used to leave her exhausted and smiling at the ceiling in the early hours of the morning.

Yes. She remembered.

Just a little.

Serena swallowed hard, her grip tightening around the cotton.