CEO's Runaway Mate and Her Cubs

«Here, the water reaches my stomach. I'm standing, so it's safe. Do you want to swim here?» Nate asked.

Jaden nodded, but not before checking Nate's feet were steady on the seabed.

The man didn't let go of him while immersing the boy in the water. His hands were firm on his sides, securing and comforting at the same time.

«Is it still cold?» he inquired.

«No,» Jaden replied. His hands had grabbed Nate's, his fingers anchoring with the nails. It was a new experience, and he was still too nervous to relax.

«Now, how can we proceed?» the man murmured, seeing the little boy was still afraid of the water.

He couldn't loosen his grip, for Jaden would have panicked. But keeping him still would ruin all the fun he could have in the water.

«Move your hands,» Nate said.

Jaden clapped his open palms on the water, splashing around and causing a snort when a salty drop hit his father's eye.

«No, wait, wait... That's wrong. Move your feet first.»

«How?»

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He blinked, wondering if Jaden knew how to ride a bike. No, that probably was not the case...

«As if you're running,» he tried.

And it worked, surprisingly. Not being able to touch the ground, and with the water's resistance, Jaden's legs started moving in a circle.

«If you move your legs like that and you keep the wings, you will float,» Nate continued. «Look!»

He released the grip on his sides, still holding him. Only when he was sure Jaden was really able to stay up, he slowly let go. His hands stayed close for safety, but the little boy's struggles were bearing fruit.

«See?» Nate said.

Jaden didn't reply to him, but he laughed loud and happy.

«Now, if you use your hands to move, you can actually swim,» Nate said, but he bit his tongue when Jaden tried again clasping on the water and lost momentum with his legs. The wings kept him floating, but some water hit his face.

Panicking, Jaden tripped forward and drank some salty water. He screamed in the water, closing his eyes, but there was no way anyone could hear him.

Just as he was going to cry for his mommy, Nate's arms picked him from the water. The man hugged him, patting on his back and checking he was all right.

«Hey, do you want to take a break?» Nate asked, moving a step towards the beach.

«No,» Jaden whispered, hugging his shoulder and hiding his face in embarrassment. His crazy heart was calming down, and he didn't want to go back and tell his mommy how he failed.

That man Nate would have done it for him, and his mommy would think he was clumsy.

«I want to learn more,» he continued.

At least, he had to find something to say if that man wanted to embarrass him.

«You don't have to learn everything in one day, you know? People need days to get used to the water. You've already done so much!»

As they approached the sand, Jaden clenched his father even more.

However, what was he talking about? He had clearly failed!

«You learned how to move your feet in the water,» Nate continued. «Later, I'll show you how to move your arms. You'll become a good swimmer, won't you? Oh, of course, you're my son. It's in your genes to learn everything quickly.»

«I am not your son. I am mommy's.»

«Ah, well, but I am still your father.»

«Unfortunately.»

«See? You have my genes.»

«I am like my mommy,» Jaden repeated.

«Yes, of course.» Nate sighed, reaching the conclusion that Jaden could be so stubborn. It was a trait he could see in Lara, even if he didn't know her too well yet.

The way she evaded all his attention did sound stubborn to him. If she could just accept him and live happily ever after, it would have been better. But he had no intention of changing her.

Mainly because the way she blushed every time she mentioned a relationship made him want to be the cause of that blush. Maybe, one day she could blush specifically because of him.

Her naive view on matters of the heart made his own beat faster, and he desired that someone as pure could love him in the way she dreamed to, one day, love someone.

They reached the umbrella, and Jaden insisted on being left right next to Lara. He didn't want to step on the sand and bring the dirt next to his mommy.

Nate rolled his eyes but complied.

As for the second pup, she was opening her eyes and stretching her back. She had slept enough for that morning.

It was a little concerning how long she could sleep, but she could also be problematic while awake, so Nate had never dared to prevent her from napping. And neither did Lara, apparently.

The woman smiled at them, moving the book away and accepting the wet kid on her lap. A shiver ran through her spine when the little boy hugged her tightly, but she surrounded him with her arms and caressed his back.

«What happened to mommy's boy?» she inquired.

They had played a bit and, when things were getting interesting, they went back to her.

«I learned how to move my legs under the water,» Jaden explained, all proud and mighty. «I can show you later, mommy. I'm so good! Right, Nate?»

«Right, right,» the man sighed. Where were his very merits? «I taught you well.»

Displeased by the wet skin Jaden was pressing on her, Scarlet got up and jumped on Nate's deck chair. She sat next to him, still rubbing her eyes.

«I want something to eat, daddy,» she said, still half-asleep.

Nate sighed again. Why was he so willing to go look for food now?

He just wanted to sit next to Lara and look at her, but the pups had so many needs. He didn't even care so much about them.. But still, he couldn't sit and watch as Scarlet suffered from hunger.