Ellie's cry pierced the morning, sharp and demanding. Mina groaned, dragging the blanket over her head as if she could bury herself away from the chaos. Her body still hummed with soreness, her cheeks heating at the memory of Aaron's hands, his voice, the way she'd forgotten everything except him.
Behind her, Aaron shifted lazily, his voice low and smug. "Relax, princesa. I'll get her."
Mina peeked out from under the blanket, glaring. "You'd better. You're the reason she's awake in the first place."
Aaron smirked, rolling out of bed with that infuriating calm of his. He strode to the crib, lifting Ellie into his arms. She fussed for a moment before quieting instantly against his chest. He rocked her gently, his lips brushing the top of her head.
"See?" he said, glancing back at Mina. "She knows. She understands. Her parents have fire."
Mina sat up in horror, clutching the blanket tight around her chest. "Don't you dare say that. You're sick."
He chuckled, eyes gleaming wickedly. "You weren't calling me sick last night."
Before Mina could throw something at him, a sharp knock rattled the door.
"Mina!" Naarah's voice sliced through the wood, laced with irritation. "Your daughter has been fussing since five a.m. I was this close to storming in myself."
Mina scrambled upright, panic flooding her. "Don't come in!" she blurted, pulling the blanket tighter.
Silence. Then Naarah's voice came back, slow, sarcastic, merciless. "Don't worry. I have zero desire to see whatever circus is going on in there. But let me guess…" A beat. "…the baby wasn't the only one crying last night, huh?"
Mina's face went scarlet. "Naarah!"
Aaron laughed low, clearly entertained, rocking Ellie against his chest as if he were the picture of innocence. "She's not wrong," he murmured.
From the other side of the door, Naarah groaned loudly. "God give me strength. If you two are going to host your circus of sin, at least soundproof the walls! I'm not the baby — I understood every single thing I heard, and now I need therapy."
Mina collapsed back into the pillows, hiding her face with both hands. "I hate you both," she muttered.
Aaron leaned down, brushing his lips against her ear while keeping Ellie balanced on his arm. His voice dropped into that dark, dangerous whisper that always undid her. "Last night, you didn't sound like you hated me. You sounded like mine."
Mina grabbed the nearest pillow and hurled it at him. He caught it effortlessly, smirking, while Ellie gurgled happily between them, completely oblivious.
From the hallway, Naarah's voice came again. "I heard that too!"
Mina groaned into the mattress. "Please, kill me now."
Aaron just laughed, kissing Ellie's cheek before smirking at Mina. "No, princesa. I plan on keeping you very much alive."