Just then, Jay lowered his head in frustration as he walked downstairs.
He glanced furtively at Kerr and then sank wordlessly into the seat next to Nicole. How could it be that
Kerr took just a single minute to solve a problem that took him twenty?
Jay couldn't help feeling indignant about it.
The lack of conversation between Jay and Kerr stirred up weird feelings of confusion in Nicole. She
dished some food onto the boy's plate.
Jay ate up in silence.
When dinner was done and the dishes cleared away, Nicole prepared a bath for Jay. Meanwhile, Kerr
retreated to his study to take an international phone call.
Nicole passed a soapy sponge over the boy's back. "What's up, Jay?" she asked. "Don't you like Uncle
Gu? Why did you look so sad when you came back here?"
Nicole made sure her tone was tender and careful. She knew that Jay had missed out on his father's
love and care as a child. Now that Kerr was back by their side, it would surely take some time to adjust.
"I'm not sad! I'm very happy. As long as I'm with you, it doesn't matter where I am."
Jay looked up and beamed a huge smile at Nicole.
Relief flooded through her as she took in his reassuring words.
Tucking Jay into bed, she leaned over and gave him a soft kiss on his forehead. "Good night, baby,"
she whispered.
When Jay's eyelids grew heavy, lashes lowering towards his soft cheeks, Nicole went back to her
room.
But Jay was only pretending to sleep. As soon as Nicole turned her back, his eyes flew open. He
glanced at the door with a smug smile.
Reaching her bedroom, Nicole pushed open the door and walked into the pitch blackness. She
grasped for the light switch but instead felt someone grab her outstretched hand and hold it tightly.
"What..."
Before Nicole could finish her question, she registered the familiar breathing beside her. Casting aside
all her worries and tensions, she basked in the unique sensations Kerr always awoke in her.
Kerr cupped Nicole's delicate face in his hands. He'd been waiting for this moment since he first woke
up. It was only when she was safe in his arms that he felt truly at peace.
"Please don't!" Nicole sensed Kerr's unmistakable desire, but her thoughts turned to the baby. She
couldn't do it—it was too risky.
Kerr understood her concern. With his arms still fastened firmly around her, he walked her over to the
bed. "Don't worry. I'll be gentle, I promise."
In truth, it was something Kerr had already thought about, and he'd asked Harley for advice. He'd found
out what exactly he could do and how to be careful not to hurt her or the baby in her belly.
Kerr's charming voice soothed Nicole. She reached for him, throwing her arms around his neck, the
corners of her mouth turning upward into a small smile.
Moonlight shone on Nicole and caught her curves in an alluring haze.
"Nicole," Kerr breathed, "you are so beautiful."
His eyes blazed with passion.
The burning intensity made Nicole blush deeply. She tried to push him away. Despite the intimacy of
their connection, she couldn't help feeling shy.
Kerr gripped her outstretched hand in his palm before bringing it to his lips in a gentle kiss.
Suddenly, there was a sharp knock at the door.
Panicking, Nicole jumped and stared wildly in the direction of the sound, pushing at Kerr.
But Kerr just couldn't wait any longer.
"Mommy..."
It was Jay's small voice on the other side of the door. Nicole didn't hesitate. She pushed Kerr again,
more firmly this time. "It's Jay." She jumped from the bed, yanking a bathrobe from the nearby
wardrobe and wrapping it tightly around herself.
When she reached the door, she opened it and flicked the lights on. There was Jay, standing in the
doorway and clutching his pillow in his small arms.
"What's wrong, Jay?"
Nicole crouched down in front of Jay. Seeing the boy frowning nervously, she was very worried.
"I had a nightmare, Mommy. Can I sleep in here with you tonight?"
Jay looked at his mom expectantly before stepping forward and throwing himself into her arms.
Nicole patted his back gently, comforting the boy. "Don't be scared, Jay. I'm right here."
Maybe he was feeling insecure because she'd been away from him for a while, Nicole thought. Guilt
swept through her, flooding her veins.
With Jay still in her arms, she returned to the bedroom. Kerr was lying on the bed, his face set in a
gloomy expression. That was when Nicole remembered what had been going on between them just a
few short minutes ago. She cast an apologetic glance in Kerr's direction.
"Kerr..."
But with Jay held tightly in her arms, it was clear that Kerr would be disappointed tonight.
"Forget it. I'm going to take a shower."
Kerr got up and headed for the bathroom. The last thing he wanted was to make things difficult or
embarrassing for Nicole. But when he glanced in Jay's direction, he could see the boy snickering in his
mom's arms.
There was no trace of fear on his face at all. Kerr realized what was going on. The little guy, in his own
way, was fighting him for Nicole.
Kerr had no idea how to solve this one.
His eyes cast sadly downward, he trudged into the bathroom. It was clear that Jay knew full well he had
ruined Kerr and Nicole's night together. It was also obvious that the boy felt no remorse about it.
After all, until Kerr's appearance, Nicole's arms had only belonged to Jay.
Nicole lay Jay softly back down in the bed, a smile curling on her lips. She watched the boy as he
surrendered to sleep. It was only then that she felt someone's arms tighten around her waist.
Fresh out of the shower, he planted soft kisses on her cheek, making her giggle.
"Hey, stop it! Jay's just gone to sleep."
Nicole lowered her voice to a whisper as she turned to look at Kerr.
A sly smile twitched on his lips. "Sure, but if he wants to sleep here, we can go to another room, can't
we?"
As if the child knew that his mom was about to leave him, in his sleep, his hand stretched out and
grabbed the corner of her shirt, clasping it firmly.
Thinking of Jay's anxiety and insecurity, Nicole shook her head lightly at Kerr. "Next time, okay? Harley
said you need rest, too. You just woke up, after all. Why don't you have an early
night?"
Fresh out of the shower, he planted soft kisses on her cheek, making her giggle.
"Hey, stop it! Jay's just gone to sleep."
Nicole lowered her voice to a whisper as she turned to look at Kerr.
A sly smile twitched on his lips. "Sure, but if he wants to sleep here, we can go to another room, can't
we?"
As if the child knew that his mom was about to leave him, in his sleep, his hand stretched out and
grabbed the corner of her shirt, clasping it firmly.
Thinking of Jay's anxiety and insecurity, Nicole shook her head lightly at Kerr. "Next time, okay? Harley
said you need rest, too. You just woke up, after all. Why don't you have an early
night?"
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