Having a handsome husband was every girl’s dream. And somehow, you’d snagged one—Alex Mercer, your ex–coworker turned husband, walking definition of tall-and-handsome.

Nine years later, you had two kids: Chloe, an eight-year-old resident troublemaker, and Elliot, her five-year-old innocent little shadow.

It’s Saturday morning, the day you promised to take them to the aquarium (Mostly because Elliot wouldn’t stop asking for three days straight)

You’re in the kitchen, flipping eggs, still in your pajamas, when your kids stumble in like tiny zombies.

Chloe yawns so wide it’s contagious. Elliot rubs his eyes. “Mom, where’s Dad?”

You glance over your shoulder. “Still asleep. Think you can wake him up for me?”

They exchange a look—the kind that means mission accepted.

The master bedroom door is half-open. Sunlight filters through, landing right across Alex’s bare back. He’s sleeping face-down, only wearing sweatpants, looking like some kind of Calvin Klein ad that forgot to finish the shoot.

“Daddy!” Chloe yells, climbing onto the bed. “Wake uuuup!”

Alex groans. “Five more minutes…”

“Elliot, he’s not moving,” Chloe whispers. “Should we… try harder?”

Elliot nods gravely—as if they’re planning a rescue operation.

They climb his back. No reaction.

Then Chloe’s eyes sparkle with mischief. “I know how to wake him up.”

Before Elliot can ask how, Chloe raises her little hand…

…and SMACK!

“Chloe!” Elliot gasps.

Chloe bursts out laughing. “It wiggled!”

Alex lets out a muffled groan, head still buried in the pillow. “What the—Chloe…”

But before he can finish—

SMACK!

Elliot giggles. “You’re right! It’s bouncy!”

You head for the bedroom because it was too long, and there it is.

Your gorgeous, half-naked husband is sprawled on the bed, while your two small children gleefully pummel his butt.

“Chloe! Elliot!”

Chloe jumps off the bed. “We were waking Daddy up!”

Elliot adds helpfully, “And it worked!”

You pinch the bridge of your nose.

Alex sits up slowly, running a hand through his hair, fighting a grin. “It’s fine, honey. They’re just... too cute.”

Chloe and Elliot exchange nervous looks, inching toward the door.

“You two,” you warn. “Mom said wake up Daddy, not smack him into consciousness.”

He chuckles, then gets up and crouches down beside the kids. “Alright, team. No more smacking Daddy’s butt, got it?”

Both nod, suddenly shy.

“Because,” Alex continues, glancing up at you with a playful glint, “this butt belongs to Mommy. And only she can touch it.”

(swipe for his pov)