CEO's Runaway Mate and Her Cubs

The cubs were too tired to wreak havoc.

Dinner was delivered to their suite soon after Lara was done with changing Scarlet. She had found Jaden already dressed, so she could focus on a single pup and sit down to rest.

Then, she made them eat. They were as exhausted as to eat properly.

They nibbled on the food and looked at her with their big eyes, instead of complaining or stealing bites from each other.

She didn't need to sit between them to pacify their tantrums.

Her calm smile surprised her cubs, but they continued filling their tummies in silence. They would next go to bed and sleep till morning.

That vacation had been a great idea. Lara was going to praise Nate as soon as he was done with his shower.

«Mommy will go wash now. You two behave, okay?» she said.

The cubs nodded their heads in synchrony, moving slowly, their eyes a little dim.

«If you need anything, you can ask your father. When I get out of the shower, you'll brush your teeth and go to sleep. How does it sound?»

They nodded again, wordless.

After finally getting rid of the salt and the sand that was stuck in her hair, she washed the swimsuits and hung them on the terrace next to the towels they used on the beach.

A tiny slice of rising moon was mirrored in the sea, and the breeze had turned chillier. She took a deep breath, feeling her lungs cleaned from the city pollution.

«You didn't have to wash my things as well,» Nate said, noticing his board pants hanging next to Jaden's. «I could do it on my own.»

«Don't mention it,» Lara chuckled, turning to him. His cheeks were slightly reddened, but she doubted he was blushing. «I washed everything together to spare time and water. Isn't it better, like this?»

She walked back in and looked in search of her cubs.

«Sleeping,» Nate said, with more relief than what was appropriate.

«They had a lot of fun today,» she said. «That's why they're so tired. Thank you.»

He shrugged, moving his eyes on the furniture in search of the right words. He wanted to spend some time alone with Lara, and the kids were conveniently in bed... Yet, he couldn't find anything reasonable to say.

His back had started burning soon after the cold shower, but he was the one stubbornly refusing to apply sunscreen. He couldn't now ask for help after such a stupid idea...

«Come here,» Lara said, reading through his expression and smiling tenderly.

He reminded her of the cubs at that moment. So much that she didn't bear to see him suffer any longer.

«You do have the aftersun lotion, don't you?»

«Yes, of course,» he said. «But the kids are all right. Oh, did you get sunburns?»

«I'm fine, Nate. Just sit here, and take off your shirt.»

She pointed at the sofa and rummaged in search of the lotion.

Nate blinked, part of his heart happy for her request. She wanted him to undress, right?

He needed a whole second to realise the reason why. And he couldn't forget that burning. His back was all red, especially his shoulders. How could he show her such a disgraceful sight?

She would laugh at him forever. She might even decide he wasn't trustworthy enough!

«I'm fine,» he said. «It's nothing much.»

«Please, do it for me,» she tried, mistaking his words for a childish stubborn tantrum.

She covered her mouth, realising he was not Jaden. Moreover, her words could sound rude. To her surprise, the shirt was removed, and the big, tall wolf obediently sat on the couch.

She tried not to yelp when she saw his red back. She should have insisted longer with the sunscreen that morning.

«Tell me if it hurts,» she murmured, applying a little lotion on his shoulder.

The oily cream felt fresh on the skin, and Nate sighed in peace when Lara spread it on his shoulder with her hand. Her fingers were cold as well, making him close his eyes and enjoy that temporary relief.

On her side, Lara bit her lower lip to focus her thoughts on doing the job properly. More than the thought of her hand on his back, she was trying to keep her words back.

She wanted to scold him so badly, but she had no reason nor right to.

«I told you to apply sunscreen!» she exclaimed when she couldn't hold back anymore.

His skin was burning, hot as if he came out from an oven. It was red, and it looked painful.

«You're just like a crab, now!» she continued.

Neck and shoulders were in the worst condition. At least, the lower part of his back was just tanned or slightly pink. Still, she applied some cream there as well.

Listening to her scolding with a full heart, Nate stared at his fingers and didn't utter a word. He even bowed his head and gulped when Lara's hands moved lower.

He should have let her help him with the sunscreen. It would have had the same result, but he wouldn't be suffering and could think only about her fingers on his skin.

He was an idiot. Why didn't he consider it earlier? She even offered! But he was so over the top after getting to touch her that he didn't think about it thoroughly. And then, he spent most time worrying about the pups...

Ah, he sucked at multitasking. He had to learn from Lara how to enjoy a vacation while keeping the whole family safe. She was ages in front of him in that aspect.

«You always say I should let you take care of us, but you're not even able to do it for yourself!» she continued, filling his ears with her voice. She was annoyed. Oh, so annoyed! It was the first time he heard that tone.

He loved it, for some reason. It was a new side of her.

«And you're so damn stubborn!» she added.

Oh, even a curse word? He didn't hear any from the pups, so he had assumed she never used them.

Was his red back really enough to trigger her rage?