Zayn had fallen asleep on Kairo's shoulder, his tiny hands looped loosely around his neck. He refused to let go, even when Kairo tried to settle him in the backseat. So, he drove just like that, one arm steady on the wheel, the other securely holding his son's small, warm body.
Sara glanced at them from the passenger seat. "You sure you can drive comfortably like that?"
Kairo looked at her briefly and smiled. "Yes."
"This is exactly what happens when you spoil him," she said, crossing her arms.
He chuckled softly, eyes on the road. "Worth it."
Sara shook her head and looked away, hiding the small smile tugging her lips.
Sara sighed, shaking her head, and turned to look out the window. Kairo glanced at her, and then he turned off the air conditioner and rolled down the window on her side. The night breeze drifted in, cool and fresh, carrying the faint scent of rain.
The air brushed her face, making her short hair dance around her cheeks. She closed her eyes for a moment, just feeling it. Kairo glanced sideways and smiled, then focused back on the road.
When she opened her eyes again, her gaze lingered on him, his calm expression, his hand steady on the wheel, Zayn asleep against his chest. Something about that moment felt unreal, almost too warm to be true.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" he asked, still looking ahead.
"Am I not allowed to look at my husband?" she said casually.
His heart skipped, literally. For the first time since their marriage, she'd addressed him that. His smartwatch suddenly beeped, flashing "Irregular heartbeat detected."
Kairo closed his eyes for a second, embarrassed.
Sara pressed her lips together, trying hard not to laugh. She turned to look out the window again, hiding her smile as the breeze played with her hair, and Kairo, trying to act cool, was dying quietly inside.
The whole drive back, Sara couldn't stop smiling. Every time she remembered his face when the watch beeped, her lips curved again. Kairo, pretending not to notice, just kept driving, stealing small glances at her glowing expression.
When they finally reached home, the night had turned calm and quiet. Kairo carefully stepped out of the car, holding Zayn close against his chest, making sure not to wake him. Sara followed behind, arms full of shopping bags.
Inside, Kairo gently laid the little one on the bed, pulling the blanket up to his chin. He bent down and kissed Zayn's forehead softly, the kind of kiss that came naturally now, full of love and care.
He straightened, quietly turning to leave the room when Sara's voice stopped him.
"You can sleep here…"
He paused mid-step and looked back at her.
"With us," she added softly, eyes meeting his.
His lips curved into a warm smile, the kind that reached his eyes. "I'll freshen up and come back," he said, still smiling.
Sara nodded, watching him disappear into his room. A small smile lingered on her lips as she looked back at their sleeping son, her heart unexpectedly full.
Kairo stepped out of the bathroom, a towel around his waist and another rubbing through his damp hair. He froze. There she was, standing in his room, arranging the shopping bags from earlier.
For a moment, he simply watched her, the domestic simplicity of it hitting him harder than he expected. Her, in his room, felt too perfect.
"I've kept everything in your cupboard," she said, turning toward him. The words stumbled as her gaze caught on him. Her gaze unintentionally traced him from the broad shoulders glistening under the soft light to the water droplets tracing down his chest, sliding over the tattooed lines of his arm. And then… that piercing on his left nipple caught her eyes, making her breath hitch. the towel hanging low on his hips. She quickly looked away, heat rushing to her cheeks.
He smirked, catching the way she tried, and failed, not to stare. "Stop staring, Soda Glass," he teased lightly, walking past her toward the dresser. "you have seen everything already"
Her pulse stuttered, her throat dry. The sound of him moving, the scent of soap and cologne lingering in the air, it was too much.
"G–good night," she managed to say before turning to leave.
But his hand caught her wrist, warm, firm, effortless. She froze.
"Wait a minute," he said softly. "I'll come with you."
She couldn't find her voice, only nodded quickly.
He chuckled under his breath, slipping into a T-shirt and sweatpants. "Let's go," he said, falling into step behind her.
She walked ahead, trying not to trip over her own thoughts and her heartbeat. He followed, smiling quietly to himself.
The room was dimly lit, the only light spilling in from the faint glow outside the window. Zayn slept peacefully in his crib, his little breaths steady.
Kairo slid into bed beside Sara, careful not to wake their son. But the moment his body touched hers, instinct took over. He drew closer, wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her softly into his chest.
Sara froze.
He snuggled into her, his breath brushing the back of her neck, his warmth seeping through her skin. The scent of his after-shower fresh, woody, familiar wrapped around her senses until it felt like she could breathe only him.
Her heart raced. Every time he shifted closer, the rhythm grew wilder. She clenched her fists tightly under the blanket, willing herself not to lose control.
But ignoring him was impossible.
The sound of his breathing, the weight of his arm, the solid warmth of his body, it was all too much.
She turned her back to him, facing the window. He shifted slightly, adjusting himself closer to her warmth.
"Kairo," she called softly.
"Hmm?" he replied, half-asleep.
"Can you please loosen your hold?" she asked.
He opened his eyes a little, looking at her face in the dim light. Her gaze, her uneven breath, "You okay?" he asked gently.
Her gaze lingered on him, his eyes, lips, sharp jawline, and the soft curls falling on his forehead. He looked breathtaking, and her stomach twisted just looking at him. Her breathing turned uneven, so she quickly turned away.
She grabbed a pillow, hugging it tightly to her chest, and placed another one between her thighs, as if trying to control herself.
He watched her quietly, noticing how she seemed to be fighting something inside her. Slowly, he reached out and placed his hand on her arm. Even that small touch made her shiver.
He looked at her for a moment, her thighs pressed tightly against the pillow, her whole body tense as if she was trying hard to stay in control.
Without a word, he got up. He walked to Zayn's crib, gently tucked the blanket around the little one, kissed his forehead softly, adjusted the mosquito net, then went to close the window properly and adjust the AC temperature.
Sara watched him, confused by his sudden calmness.
Then, before she could ask anything, he came back to her, removed the pillow between her legs, and then the one she was hugging.
Her eyes widened. "Kairo, what are you doing?" she asked, voice shaky.
He didn't reply. Instead, he scooped her into his arms effortlessly.
Sara gasped, holding onto his shoulder. "Kairo! Put me down, where are you taking me?" she demanded.
He said nothing, just looked into her eyes once, calm, unreadable, and walked out of the room, quietly closing the door behind them.
She twisted in his hold, her voice rising, half-whisper, half-panic."Where are you taking me?"
He didn't answer.His silence only made her heartbeat louder.