Ethan
We finished dinner, and the whole thing made me smile. Everyone pitched in to clean the kitchen. I am quite messy when I cook, so it was good to have the help. The atmosphere was light, filled with the occasional laugh or joke as we wiped down counters and put away dishes. The girls were in high spirits, still buzzing from the excitement of the day and the delicious meal. I found myself stealing glances at Victoria and Samantha as we worked, unable to get over just how stunning they both were, even in the PJs they were now wearing. It was hard not to notice how they moved with such grace, even in the simplest of tasks, or how their laughter seemed to fill the room with warmth.
But what really caught me off guard was how close they were getting to me, both physically and in conversation. It wasn't anything overt, just little things—Victoria brushing against my arm as she passed by with a dish, Samantha leaning in a bit too close when she pointed out where the silverware went. It had been some time since a woman had been in such close proximity to me, so I knew I was reading into their actions, but dang. They were so pretty.
Ethan, take a chill pill. This is not what it seems.
Once the kitchen was spotless, Victoria suggested we retreat to the game room to wind down. The girls eagerly agreed, already discussing which movie to watch. But as we made our way toward the game room, Victoria gently placed a hand on Lily and Maya's shoulders, pausing them just before the door.
"Why don't you two go ahead and start the movie? Samantha and I need to have a quick chat with your dad," she said, her voice smooth and composed.
Lily and Maya exchanged glances before nodding and heading into the room. I watched them go, feeling a slight tension in the air as the door closed behind them. When I turned back, Victoria and Samantha were both standing a bit too close, their expressions a mix of embarrassment and something else I couldn't quite place.
"We wanted to talk to you about this morning," Victoria began, her tone more serious now.
Samantha nodded; her eyes downcast for a moment before meeting mine. "Yeah, we're both really sorry about, well… ending up in your bed like that. It wasn't intentional."
She paused. "No, sorry, that's a lie. It was absolutely intentional. It just should not have happened."
I blinked, surprised by their apology. "There's really no need to apologize," I said, trying to reassure them. "I get it. My girls did the same thing, and from what they told me, you two were just helping them get settled."
Victoria shook her head slightly, looking a bit flustered. "Your girls are children, Ethan. Samantha is a world-famous model, and I am a Lady of the British Court. We are adults, and we know better. We are sorry we invaded your space like that. It was… inappropriate."
I smiled at the irony. Here were two of the most beautiful women I'd ever seen, standing in front of me, apologizing for something I couldn't even bring myself to be upset about. "Honestly, you're both worrying too much about this," I said, my voice light. "You're two of the most beautiful, polite, and kind women I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. You were helping my girls, and even if you weren't, which I know you were, I wouldn't be upset. If sharing my space with you made you feel safe, even for a little while, then I'm honored. You're welcome to jump into my bed anytime."
Samantha's eyes widened slightly, and a flush crept up her cheeks. Victoria, for her part, looked both relieved and embarrassed, but there was a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
"You're far too kind, Ethan," Victoria said softly, her gaze holding mine. "But I suppose that's one of the reasons we feel so comfortable around you."
"Yeah," Samantha agreed, her voice almost a whisper. "You make us feel… safe."
There was a moment of silence between us, the kind that felt heavy with unspoken thoughts. I didn't know what to say to that, so I put out my arms.
They looked at each other and then fell into my chest. I'm a big guy, so it was easy to engulf them both. I heard them let out a sigh. I just held them for a moment until they took a step back.
"Well," I said finally, clearing my throat to break the tension, "I'm just glad I could help. That's what matters."
"Thank you, Ethan," Victoria said, her voice sincere. "For everything."
Samantha nodded in agreement, still looking a bit shy. "Yeah, thank you."
I shrugged, trying to downplay it all again. "Just doing what anyone would."
Victoria gave me a long, considering look, as if she wanted to say something more but was holding back. Finally, she just smiled and motioned toward the game room. "Shall we join the girls?"
"Yeah, let's," I agreed, eager to get back to something a bit less intense.
As we walked toward the door, I could feel a subtle shift in the air between us. There was a sense of understanding now, a connection that hadn't been there before. It was hard to describe, but it felt good. Right, even.
We entered the game room to find Lily and Maya already curled up on one of the oversized couches, the opening credits of some animated movie playing on the massive screen. They looked up as we walked in, grinning widely.
"Finally!" Lily exclaimed. "We thought you were going to miss the best part!"
"Yeah, come on, Dad!" Maya added, patting the space next to her on the couch. "Sit with us!"
I smiled and moved to sit between them, grateful for the distraction. As the movie played and the girls leaned against me, I felt a sense of peace settle over me. Victoria and Samantha took seats on either side of the girls, both of them looking more relaxed now.
For the rest of the evening, we watched movies, laughed at the funny parts, and just enjoyed being in each other's company. And though I couldn't stop myself from glancing at Victoria and Samantha every now and then, the earlier tension had faded into something warmer, more comfortable.
Good. That is how it should be.