Cassie always thanked me. She always saved me cake and we’d even have our own private celebrations together. That was what we did. Always. In secret.
Glancing down at my dress, it was a small red dress, because he liked it. I even had on red lingerie that I knew he liked. I’d left my hair down as he said he loved to play with it.
I was a littlenervous, but not entirely.
Our honeymoon may be over but it wasn’t over over. Ive hadn’t changed, not since coming back, and having to deal with work. He never talked about work, but I knew a lot was going on. Especially as yesterday, Rage called to tell me he was back in the city.
Cassie hadn’t left. She was looking for work, andit seemed she planned to stay. She had asked me if I could talk to Ive about her renting the apartment permanently. I had yet to ask Ive about that. Today was his birthday. It was his special day.
Checking the time, I saw it was a little after eight. Pressing my lips together, I waited, clasping my hands. Ten past eight came and went, as did twenty past, then at eight-thirty, I thought he had forgotten. A minute after, the door opened. I heard the rough timber of his voice, and then the door closing.
Hubert must be leaving.
I waited and seconds later, there was my husband. A few buttons at the top of his shirt were open.
“Charlotte,” he said.
“Happy Birthday.” I didn’t care that he was late. He had arrived home. His steak might be a little overdone, and the potatoes too crispy, but I didn’t care. He’d arrived and that was all that mattered. I moved toward him and wrapped my arms around his waist. Going onto my tiptoes, I pressed a kiss to his lips.
“You didn’t have to do all of this.”
“It is your birthday.”
“I don’t celebrate my birthday.”
“You didn’t celebrate your birthday, and I never celebrated mine, but seeingas we’re together and we can make our own traditions, why don’t we start with this one?”
I pushed some hair off my face and handed him a card and the present I got him.
“Charlotte?”
“What? You don’t think you deserve to be sung to and have abirthday?”
He chuckled but he did take the card and gift. I watched as he tore open the card. All it said was a happy birthday with a balloon and a cake. I didn’t know what kind of card to get him. All of this suddenly seemed extremely lame. I wanted to do something good for him.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s great,” he said.
“You think so?”
“Yes.”
He put the card on the table and I couldn’t help but smile. The cards I got for Cassie always had to be kept hidden. Even Rage had never displayed any of the birthday cards I made for him.
I ignored those memories and gaveIve his birthday present. With such limited time, I didn’t have a clue what to come up with, and after asking Hubert to take me to a place that made trophies, it had once again seemed like a great idea. Now in practice, it didn’t exactly feel great.
Ive tore into the wrapping and then he burst out laughing. Not fake laughter, actual, from-the-gut laughing. The sound made me smile because I knew I’d been the one to cause that outburst.
I’d gotten him a trophy of a hockey puck, stating he was the number one air hockey player. His name wasinscribed on the trophy as well as stating he was the reining champion. The shopkeeper when I asked him for this, looked at me a little clueless.
“You got me a trophy,” he said.
“I can’t beat you. It makes you number one, and trust me, between now and your next birthday, I’ll do better. You’re not an easy man to buy for.”
I went to move away, but he reached out and grabbed me, pulling me in close.
“All you needed to do, Charlotte, was wrap a giant bow around yourself, and then I could have unwrapped it.”
Now, I did think of that, but I thought it was a bit of a cop-out, so I changed my mind. “Well, you never know what you might get for next year. Now, you can have whatever you want later. I’ve got dinner, getting chewier by the second.”
I was more interested in serving him cake with the candles.
Ive took me by surprise as he kissed me before letting me go and deal with the food. He was sitting at the table as I came to serve him and much to my surprise, it wasn’t too chewy, which I was thankful for. I’d never considered myself a great cook, but slowly, with Michael’s help, I was learning so much more. I did enjoy cooking. It was one of the few pleasures I had while growing up.
After the meal, I told Ive to waitright there, and I disappeared into the kitchen and lit several candles.
Carrying the cake out, I began to sing to him once more. My voice was not great but I was pleased it didn’t wobble as I placed the cake down in front of him. I also hadn’t blown out any of the candles, so yay me.
I clasped my hands together, looked at him, and told him to make a wish. He stared at the cake for several seconds, and then he blew out the candles. I was about to hand him the knife, but Ive captured my wrist and put the knife back down on the table. Before I gota chance to ask him what was going on, he suddenly put his shoulder against my middle, and without any warning, lifted me right up and off the ground, startling me.
“Ive, what are you doing?”
He didn’t say a word, just carried me through to the bedroom. I was already aroused by this point and I didn’t put up a single fight with him. He lowered me to the ground, and I looked up at him, nibbling my lip.
He took care of the dress I had worn for him, quickly, and within a matter of seconds I stood before him with just my underwear on. He flicked the clasp of the bra open, and the panties were no match against his strength as he tore them straight off my body. I stared up at him waiting.
“I love my gifts, but this is even better.” He cupped my tits, pressing them together and I moaned as he took one nipple into his mouth.