Claire froze in the doorway, her pulse hammering in her ears. The sight behind her burned into her mind, two girls wrapped around each other in a way no one was ever supposed to see. Their breaths slow, tangled together in sleep. She hadn't meant to intrude, hadn't meant to know, but now she did. She wished she could unsee everything but that was impossible.
Every step she took toward the door felt like walking on broken glass. Don't breathe too loud. Don't let them stir. Don't let him find out. Her trembling fingers curled around the doorknob just as it turned from the other side.
The door eased open, and there he was.
Adrian.
Eyes narrowing with that sharp edge of curiosity he always carried when it came to his daughter.
"Hey, honey," Claire whispered, voice quaking like a violin string about to snap.
His brow furrowed. "Are you okay? You look pale. What's wrong? Is Isabella in there?"
The question stabbed through her, but she forced a quick smile, pressing her back firmly against the door as though shielding the room behind it. "Yeah… she is. I've given her a little work to do."
Adrian leaned closer, suspicion flickering in his eyes. "Work? What work?"
Her throat went dry. The lie twisted in her chest, but she clung to it. "I, um… I was there earlier. Trying out a new shampoo I bought for her. Wanted to see if it was gentle enough."
Before he could question further, she slid into his space, wrapping her arms tightly around him. She pressed her cheek to his chest, hoping he couldn't hear the thunder of her heart. "I missed you," she murmured. Then, before he could think, before he could look past her, she lifted her face and pressed her lips to his.
Adrian stilled for a moment, surprised—but then she deepened the kiss, slow, deliberate, pulling him further away from the danger of the door.
He smirked faintly against her lips. "Claire… this is sudden."
"It's been a while, hasn't it?" she whispered, letting her fingertips trace his jawline. Her eyes flicked quickly past his shoulder—making sure the door was still closed, still keeping their secret safe. "Let's not waste the afternoon."
Adrian's suspicion melted into desire. He gave a low chuckle, the kind he reserved only for her, and in one swift move, he scooped her into his arms.
Claire clung to him, forcing her body to relax, though inside she was still shaking like she'd seen a ghost. Her lips curled into a practiced smile, but her mind screamed with the image she couldn't erase: Isabella and Ava, asleep and bound together like they belonged to no one but each other.
As Adrian carried her away, his laughter warm against her ear, Claire shut her eyes tightly. She prayed he never walked through that door—because if he did, their entire world would shatter in an instant.
Claire clung to Adrian as he carried her into their room, her heartbeat drumming too fast for what was happening. She told herself it was only nerves, only exhaustion from the long day, but she knew the truth—images from Isabella's room kept flashing in her mind.
Her daughter's laughter, breathless and low. The way Ava's hand had disappeared into Isabella's hair. The way Isabella had leaned over her, fiercely protective, deeply certain. It was wrong—so wrong—and yet Claire couldn't shake the intensity of it. It wasn't what she saw that unsettled her most; it was the way it had made her feel. It was both girls first time as she had heard but it looked like they had done that several time. Isabella was too perfect.
Adrian set her down gently, his hands sliding to her waist as his lips brushed hers. Claire let herself melt into the kiss, almost desperately, using him as an anchor. She tried to focus only on his warmth, the familiar steadiness of his touch, the comfort of his body against hers. But every time she closed her eyes, the images returned—Ava trembling beneath Isabella, Isabella's lips moving in ways a mother should never have to witness. Between Avas legs, oh no. No ,no.
Claire deepened the kiss, almost feverish, needing Adrian more than she had in years. He responded eagerly, surprised by her urgency but not questioning it. She threaded her fingers into his hair, pulling him closer, trying to bury the storm inside her with each movement.
Adrian chuckled softly against her mouth. "What's gotten into you?"
Claire only kissed him harder, her nails grazing his back as though the answer was too dangerous to speak aloud.
In the quiet, with the rain still pattering faintly against the windows, Claire surrendered herself—not just to Adrian, but to the weight of everything she had seen, everything she couldn't confess.
Adrian finally rolled beside her, his breathing heavy, his arm draped over her waist. Claire's skin still tingled from his touch, her heartbeat slow but wild in her chest.
For a long moment, neither of them spoke. The room smelled of sweat and warmth, their bodies still pressed close, legs entwined beneath the sheets. Adrian kissed the top of her hair, murmuring something soft, but she barely heard him—too wrapped in the haze of what they had just shared.
She pressed her cheek against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heart. It anchored her, steadied the whirlwind inside her. For the first time that night, she felt the edge of peace brushing against her.
Adrian's breathing deepened, sleep taking him quickly. Claire lingered a while longer, staring into the dark, her thoughts heavy with the memory she had tried to chase away. Yet as her eyelids grew heavy, the warmth of Adrian's arms pulled her under.
Wrapped in him, she finally drifted into sleep—safe, wanted, and for now, untroubled.
The sky outside had dimmed into shades of orange and violet, the last traces of daylight fading into evening. The house was quiet, the rain that had poured earlier leaving the air cool and heavy with a faint, earthy scent.
Inside Isabella's room, the atmosphere was still thick from the intimacy that had carried them into sleep earlier that afternoon.
Isabella stirred first. Her lashes fluttered as she shifted, her body still pleasantly weak from the way she had undone Ava. When her eyes adjusted, she turned her head and found Ava curled against her, hair scattered over the pillow, lips parted in the kind of innocence that made Isabella's chest ache.
A wave of warmth surged through her. She reached out slowly, brushing a strand of hair from Ava's cheek before leaning in to press a delicate kiss to her lips.
Ava stirred, her lashes fluttering open as a tiny, breathy hum escaped her. "Bella…" she whispered, eyes hazy from her nap.
"Hey," Isabella murmured, her voice soft but laced with affection. She caressed Ava's cheek with her thumb.
Ava blinked, shy but smiling. "You woke me up just to do that?"
"Of course," Isabella teased. "Couldn't resist. You looked… too beautiful not to kiss."
Ava's face flushed, and she buried herself briefly against Isabella's shoulder. "You'll make me shy," she whispered, her voice muffled but trembling with happiness.
Isabella chuckled, kissing the crown of her head. But then, her tone shifted, quieter—serious. "Let's not stay hidden in here all night."
Ava lifted her head, brows knitting together. "What do you mean?"
"Come with me," Isabella said, searching her eyes. "Let's go out. Just the two of us. How about… an ice cream date?"
A small, surprised sound slipped from Ava's lips. She froze, her heart stuttering at the word. Date.
For a second, Isabella's own heart skipped as she realized the irony—how easily she had refused her father's offer of an ice cream outing. Yet here she was, wanting to share it with Ava, without hesitation, without fear. She didn't say it out loud, but the truth pulsed deep inside her: Ava was different. Ava was worth everything.
"You should go get dressed," Isabella said gently, brushing her lips against Ava's forehead. "I'll prepare too. We'll leave in a few minutes."
Ava nodded shyly, slipping from the bed.
"Can you walk?" Bella asked teasingly knowing what she had done to her.
"Bella stop" She moved slowly, pulling on her clothes with flushed cheeks, every glance toward Isabella filled with unspoken feelings. By the time she stood, she looked almost fragile—like a secret that couldn't be contained.
"Don't take too long," Isabella teased softly, her eyes never leaving her.
Ava smiled, her lips trembling as if she wanted to say something but couldn't. Finally, she turned and headed for the door.
What she didn't see, what she couldn't see, was the tall figure standing just beyond, swallowed in the shadows of the hallway.
Adrian