Chapter 253: Side Story - A Perfect Little Family

>>Third Person POV

The clock ticked gently past midnight, the only sounds in the house now the soft hush of lullabies fading into silence and the gentle, rhythmic breathing of their daughter.

Zola had finally fallen asleep.

It had taken a long, tender routine—bath time filled with soft splashes, quiet laughter, a bedtime story whispered between both her parents, and lullabies sung softly by Amber while Hael cradled her against his chest.

Once she was sound asleep, bundled safely in her crib, both parents stood at the door for a moment longer than necessary. Watching. Listening. Making sure.

When they finally stepped out of the room, closing the door with careful precision, the hush of the house settled around them like silk.

They turned to each other—and paused.

The quiet space between them pulsed with something unsaid. Not new, not unfamiliar—but rediscovered. It had been weeks. Maybe longer. Duty and exhaustion had filled the space between them, love never missing, but moments of closeness rare.

Now, with Zola peacefully asleep, with the house full of warmth and light again, that yearning rose between them like fire catching on breath.

Amber looked up at him, eyes soft but smoldering, and Hael’s jaw tensed as he stepped closer, his hand brushing along her cheek as if grounding himself in the moment.

Their eyes, the desperate look in them, the desire, the lust that extruded from their bodies already spoke to each other.

Amber barely had time to catch her breath before his hand slid to the back of her neck and pulled her to him. His lips crashed onto hers—no pretense, no soft build-up. It was a kiss laced with weeks of tension, of aching longing, of stolen glances and near touches that had gone nowhere.

Amber’s fingers gripped his shirt, yanking him closer, answering with equal fire. Their kiss was no longer gentle—it was hungry. Desperate. The kind of kiss that stole breath and set every nerve alight.

Hael backed her against the wall, their mouths locked in a rhythm neither could stop now if they tried. His hand found her waist, gripping her tightly, and she let out a soft gasp that only deepened his hunger. Her fingers tangled in his hair, and his lips moved from her mouth to her jaw, her neck, then back to her lips again like he couldn’t get enough.

They didn’t move toward the bedroom.

They didn’t care.

The hallway was forgotten. The lounge became their world.

Amber pushed back against him with just as much need, their bodies molded together. Their steps wobbly as they made their way to the couches

Amber pushed him down onto the three-seater couch with a force that startled even herself. Hael landed with a soft grunt, his back against the cushions, his gaze locked onto hers—widened, but not with surprise. It was something else. Something darker, warmer.

Without a word, she straddled him, settling herself on his lap, and cupped his face in both her hands. Hael’s breath caught, but he didn’t move. He didn’t need to. The heat between them was alive, buzzing just beneath their skin.

Then she kissed him.

It wasn’t a gentle kiss, not the kind they exchanged at the breakfast table or in passing during a quiet afternoon. This was something else—richer, rougher. Her lips crushed into his with raw intensity, and his mouth met hers with equal force. Their heads tilted, breath tangled, and for a moment, time forgot itself.

Their mouths moved in rhythm, deep and searching. Tongues slid, parted, returned again with hungry precision, not desperate but deliberate. There was no hesitation now, no room for restraint. Her fingers curled into the collar of his shirt while his hands found her waist, anchoring her close, grounding them in the chaos of want.

The kiss slowed only when they were breathless, when the room around them blurred into nothing.

The heat in them rose, even when their hands moved desperately to remove what was restricting them. He reached for the hem of her shirt, his fingers brushing against her skin as he lifted the fabric over her head. The cool air caressed her bare skin, heightening her senses.

She returned the favor, her hands trembling slightly as she unbuttoned his shirt, revealing the chiseled contours of his chest. Her fingers traced along his collarbone, feeling the warmth radiate from his body. As the shirt fell to the floor, she felt a rush of exhilaration.

They leaned in again, their lips crashing together, a fierce need propelling them forward. She slipped her hands down to the waistband of his jeans, her fingers deftly working to unbutton and unzip them. He stepped out of his jeans, their eyes locked, as she took off the last of the fabric on her skin

Now standing before each other, vulnerability and desire mingled in the air. The sight of him, bare and exposed, ignited a fire within her. He stepped closer, his hands roaming over her body, exploring every curve.

He kissed her neck, trailing soft, teasing kisses down her collarbone, each touch igniting her skin. She gasped softly, her body responding to his every caress. He continued his descent, his lips moving lower, kissing and nibbling down her stomach, igniting a wave of desire that pooled low in her belly.

As he reached her thighs, she felt a rush of warmth and anticipation. The sensation of his mouth on her skin made her ache for more, her breath coming in quick, shallow gasps. He paused, looking up at her, his eyes dark with desire. "You’re so beautiful," he murmured, his voice thick with need.

With a gentle yet urgent kiss, he traveled back up her body, capturing her lips once more. Their bodies pressed together, the heat radiating between them as they moved. While his lips were on her, his fingers rubbed her down there, spreading the pleasure through the body

She felt she was ready, her thighs had started to soak now. She moved away for a moment, "Hurry," She urged him, her gaze pleading him as she looked into his eyes.

"As if I can wait," He whispered back and took her as he changed their positions, bringing her under him to penetrate her.

A soft moan escaped her lips as the pleasure began to seep in

***

The soft, golden rays of the early sun slipped past the gap in the curtains and stretched across the room, falling over the bed where Amber and Hael lay in their night pajamas, wrapped in each other’s arms. The light stirred the shadows gently, coaxing the world into waking—but in this room, time moved slower.

Amber stirred first, blinking lazily as she shifted in Hael’s embrace. His arm was still around her waist, his breath warm against her shoulder, slow and even. She didn’t move away. Instead, she turned slightly to face him, brushing a few strands of hair away from his forehead.

He opened his eyes then, still drowsy, and offered a soft smile that made her heart flutter, even now.

"Morning," she whispered.

He hummed, pulling her closer, their legs tangling beneath the covers. "It is," he murmured. "And you’re still here. That’s a good start."

Amber chuckled and leaned in to kiss him—slow and soft, a brush of lips that said more than any greeting could. He kissed her back, hand rising to cup the back of her head gently. Their kisses stayed slow, quiet and unhurried, like the world could wait just a little longer.

Their foreheads rested together after, the silence between them filled with warmth and morning peace.

Then—a small creak.

The door nudged open, and a familiar set of hurried little steps pattered across the wooden floor.

"Ba?" came the soft, questioning voice.

They both looked up to see Zola, dressed in her tiny pastel pajamas, her bed-tousled hair sticking up adorably in places. She stood at the edge of the bed, blinking sleepily but smiling already at the sight of her parents.

Amber sat up first, reaching out. "Good morning, love," she said gently.

Hael was already shifting the blanket aside. "Come here, little mage," he added with a grin.

Zola didn’t need to be asked twice. She toddled forward with her arms out and climbed up with a bit of help from Amber. Once in the middle of them, she immediately flopped down and nestled into the warmth between her parents, letting out a happy sigh.

Amber kissed the top of her head, and Hael ran a hand soothingly down her back.

Zola looked up at her father, then at her mother, eyes sparkling, and said, "Cuddle?"

Both parents smiled, hearts full.

Hael chuckled and lay back, pulling both Amber and Zola in close. "You read my mind."

So they lay there—just the three of them, wrapped in love, warmth, and the sunlight that now painted their quiet corner of the world in gold. And for a while, that was everything they needed.

This was their perfect little family.

The End

Author’s Note

We have come to the very final Chapter of the book. I initially didn’t plan on writing the side stories but then I decided, why not? I wanted the book to end on a happy note. This was a big reason I wrote these side stories because I knew the other two stories were a bit heavy.

I hope you all loved reading this book. And hope that some of you will come back to reread it and recommend it to friends too.

If possible, please come and support my other books as well and leave five star reviews for my books as well.

It was lovely having you all here.

Thank you for reading till the end