on sewing decorations onto a small tunic for Shema while the baby naps, and we talk about mates and the weather and nothing at all in particular. Asha's got a clever mind and doesn't really gossip, which is nice. She never says anything she wouldn't say to your face, and even if her words are sharp, there's no malice in them.
We talk about children, because babies are the biggest parts of our lives. I rub my belly as we chat, trying to get blood flowing.
"You look bigger today," Asha points out to me. "Do you think your kit will be born soon?"
"I sure hope so. I'm ready to have my body back."
She snorts. "That will not happen until you stop nursing."
"Thanks, sunshine," I grump, but she's not wrong. It's sleepless nights and shoving a tit in the baby's face every time he—or she—is hungry, until they're old enough to eat regular meals with the family. "I'm just hoping for one this time."
"It is just one," Asha agrees. "Your bottom is not as big as it was the last time you were carrying."
Damn. Harsh truth, but she's not wrong. And really, I don't mind hearing it. I'm hoping for just one. I love both my girls, but they were a lot to have all at once. "It'll be nice to have quiet time with my mate again that doesn't involve him massaging all my hurting parts," I joke. "I feel like that's all we do now."
Asha's mouth curls into a sly smile and she begins to speak, and then pauses, because the girls rush in.
"Mama, look at the scraps we got," Elsa bellows, her sister right behind her.
I put a finger to my lips, indicating that they should be quieter, but luckily Shema keeps on sleeping. The girls settle down in front of me and pick through the bits of leather that Hemalo has given them. They're pretty, the little castoffs, in all kinds of colors and shapes. I'm teaching them to sew them all together, and once it's made a patchwork fabric, we're going to cut it down into a tunic. I figure if they practice on scraps, they won't waste good leather…plus the patchwork effect is rather nice and it gives them something to do while I nap all the damn time.
Asha leans over and points at one of the scraps. "This is very pretty. Zalene has a tunic in this color, yes?"
Elsa nods.
My Anna turns to me and gives me a thoughtful look. "Mama, how did you and Daddy resonate?"
I blink, my tea cup halfway to my lips. "Uh, where did that come from?"
Asha just smirks. She gets to her feet, snatches my tea cup from my hand, and goes to refill it. "Yes, No-rah. Why do you not tell the girls about your resonance?"
That shit-stirrer. I arch a brow at Asha for being, well, herself. "I'm just curious how this came up."
Anna blinks those big eyes—so like her father's—at me. "Analay asked his mama and she told him. And Zalene heard about that and so she asked her mama and her mama told her their story. How come you haven't told Elsa and me your story? With Papa?"
"You've never asked," I bluster, blushing just a little. I can feel my face getting hotter and hotter, and Asha's smirk of amusement just grows. "Besides, it's not much of a story. We saw each other and boom, resonance."
Asha holds the tea cup out to me. "Oh, but that is not the full story, is it?"
I glare at her as I take the cup. She knows as well as I do that the full story is far too dirty for children's ears. She's overheard some of our…nocturnal happenings with those sensitive sa-khui ears of hers, and she knows darn well why I've avoided the subject. "It's not," I admit when both girls turn to look at me. "And maybe if you're both good, I'll tell you the story tonight before bed."
Elsa and Anna smile at me, straightening in place, and I know they're going into “well-behaved” mode. They play quietly while Asha smirks at me.
I don't care. I've bought a few hours at least. I sip my tea and try not to think about what to tell my kids. Mommy likes being spanked and held down by Daddy. Isn't that romantic?
But of course, it wasn't always like that…not that I can tell them those parts either.
The girls are on their best behavior for the rest of the day, much to