went over and beneath different household objects before racing down a steep ramp that sent it flying past my feet.
As Maks, Elena, and Natalia cheered, my eyes lifted to meet Jude's. He had a grin on his face. But as soon as he caught me looking at him, the smile faded and he dropped his eyes.
"Look what Jude did," Nattie called. The little girl scrambled over to me and began explaining all the different obstacles Jude had built with everyday items. "Maks’s tummy was hurting again so Jude built him a—"
Nattie stopped mid-sentence and looked at Jude expectantly.
"Racetrack," Jude supplied for her. This time, he lifted his eyes and held my gaze as Nattie continued telling me all about the racetrack.
"Okay, nap time," Elena announced. Both children immediately began to moan and groan, but my sister ignored them and said, "Say goodbye to Jude."
My heart swelled as I watched the kids both give Jude the kinds of hugs that they usually only reserved for family. Jude held himself stiffly at first, but when he was patting the kids’ backs, I heard him tell Maks to feel better soon. There was a flurry of activity as Elena picked Maks up and herded Nattie from the room. When they were gone, it was just me and Jude. He seemed nervous as he began picking up some of the items that he'd used to make the racetrack.
"Leave them," I said. "I'm sure the kids will want to play with it later."
"I didn't use anything that seemed valuable," Jude murmured. As I closed the distance between us, he clearly became more agitated and began running his fingernails over the inside of his forearm. “Maybe I should shorten it so we’re not using your mother's kitchen stuff. And I don't want your father to trip over anything—"
"Jude," I said as I reached him and put my hands on his arms to keep him from continuing to nervously scratch at his own skin. "Thank you," I said softly when I had his attention. "We haven't heard Maks laugh like that in a long time."
Jude stopped shifting his weight nervously back and forth. I wanted to believe it was my touch that was soothing him. He nodded and said, "You're welcome. You have a great family, Nikolai."
"That I do," I agreed.
I turned and led Jude from the room. He was quiet as we made our way back to my apartment. It wasn't until we were back in my own private space that his agitation seemed to return. I had just closed the door behind me when he suddenly blurted, "Nikolai, I'm sorry about this morning. Or this afternoon. Or whatever time it was when we woke up. I shouldn't have…"
Before I could even make sense of what he was talking about, he turned his back on me and continued with, "I don't have any excuse for my behavior. I know that. When I woke up, everything was so quiet and peaceful and you were so warm that I just, I just…”
I realized what he was talking about and moved so I was standing directly behind him. "You just what?" I asked, deliberately letting my breath wash over the back of his neck.
I swore that Jude seemed to lean back into me just a little bit when he said, "I just… forgot, I guess."
I took another step forward which had my body brushing his. I wasn't sure if I was imagining it when Jude seemed to tilt his head to one side, giving me better access to his skin.
"Just forgot what?" I reminded him, allowing my lips to graze his flesh.
"I should have made sure you were okay with it first."
"Jude, sweetheart, are you under the illusion that I'm upset about what happened between us when we woke up?"
I kissed the spot where Jude's shoulder met his neck and then searched out his pulse point.
Jude made a sound in the back of his throat, but I wasn't sure if he was trying to agree with me or just enjoying what my mouth was doing to him.
I moved my lips to the shell of his ear and said, "Do you have any idea what I would give to wake up every morning like that? To wake up with you like that?"
I fully expected Jude to sink against me, but instead, he stiffened and then he was stepping away from me. He turned around and looked at me like he didn't know who I was.
"You shouldn't say things like that,"