He kisses my forehead, prompting my eyes to close, savoring the closeness. “Okay,” I murmur. “I’m done fighting. If you’re here, I’m here.”

“I’m not going anywhere, and neither are you, love.” He leans in and kisses me carefully. Instead of the passion and fire of the elevator, his stature is now the epitome of tenderness and care. He’s speaking to my heart, and it is absolutely listening. I’m in so deep; I’m not sure how I could ever really backpedal from this, from him.

A knock at the door interrupts us. “You have got to be kidding me,” Lakin groans. “I don’t think we will ever catch a break.”

I give him a chaste peck on the lips and push him toward the door to pay for our dinner. He reluctantly leaves my side and I find a spot on the couch.

When he returns holding the pizza, soda, and cake, he nods toward his bedroom. “Grab a blanket from the closet, let’s go have a picnic.”

I hop up and throw the large fleece blanket draped across the back of the couch around my arm and follow him to his room. I spread it out on the hardwood floor and he places all of the food items on the blanket. “Wait here, I’ll go get some plates and napkins,” he says as I open the lid and allow the delicious aroma of sweet marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese to fill the air. I wave him off as I grab a slice and stuff the first magical bite into my mouth.

Lakin

I move as quickly as I can, grabbing anything I think we may need for our picnic. I don’t want to waste a single second with Campbell, now that I finally have her tangled in my web. If I can at all help it, I never want to let this girl go.

I pause in the doorway when I return and just enjoy the scenery. This girl I’m smitten with has already made herself at home by starting a movie and sprawling out on the blanket. She giggles with each comedic scene and I’m enthralled by the beauty before me.

A small chuckle escapes my lips and she turns to find me spying on her. “You better hurry and get over here or I can’t promise how much pizza will be left for you,” she says, patting the floor beside her.

I pull the cake I ordered out of the bag and place it in front of her. “I’m not worried. I’m saving space for dessert,” I tell her with a smile. Her eyes widen in disbelief and she immediately sits up and crosses her legs to examine the confessionary creation.

“You got me a birthday cake?” she asks, her fingers lightly touching the plastic lid.

“I originally got you cupcakes, but those ended up on the lobby floor. This was plan B.” I remove the lid and stick a candle in the center. It doesn’t even have her name on it, but it’s still a cake, so I figure the thought counts for at least something. “Sorry it’s not much,” I add.

Her eyes instantly flash to mine, holding me ransom. “It’s everything,” she says. Her eyes filling with tears, she smiles to distract herself from the emotion.

I lean in and light the candle before kissing her cheek. “I will give you everything, Campbell. All you have to do is wish for it,” I whisper into her ear.

I pull away and scoot the cake closer to her, motioning for her to blow out the candle. She takes her time, contemplating her options before finally closing her eyes and lightly blowing out the candle. A grin hits her lips before she even opens her eyes again, and my heart swells knowing that my simple act put that smile in place.

“Happy birthday, Campbell.”

“Thank you, Lakin. For everything, thank you.”

I nod and dip my finger in the silky chocolate frosting. Playfully holding up my finger, I offer it to her and she hesitates before taking my finger into her mouth. The appreciative sigh escaping her mouth makes my body hyperaware. I’ve been holding back for so long, now that I have the go ahead, I find it excruciating to restrain myself. I want to devour her, but I know being too forward will only scare her away.

Her taste buds tickle the pad of my finger, and my mind dances thinking about what it would feel like to have that tongue wrapped around other areas. I’ve had women–who am I fucking kidding? I’ve had a lot of women–but I have never wanted any of them as much as I want Campbell. I have never wanted anything more than meaningless sex with any of them, but with Cam, I want more. I want to give more, take more. I want it all.

She finally releases my finger and I use my thumb to rub the remnants of chocolate off her bottom lip as my palm rests on her cheek. Before I can talk myself out of it once again, I lean in and replace my thumb with my lips.

She tastes divine, but I proceed lightly, delicately cradling her face in my hands as I kiss her silky lips. She pulls away with a smile and reaches up, removing the ponytail holder from her hair. Her ebony locks fall down in waves beyond her shoulders, and I lose whatever resolve I once had…but so does she.

We both rise up onto our knees and crash together in the middle of the blanket. My fingers tangle into her hair and she wraps her arms around my shoulders, pulling me to her. It’s a feverish frenzy of kissing and tugging at clothing, each of us stripping the other bare. It’s a year’s worth of attraction, a year’s worth of yearning, spilling out into the best moment I’ve ever experienced.

I wind my arms around her and pick her up. “Bed,” I say between kisses. “I need you in my bed.” She nods and wraps her legs around my waist.

“I’ve waited so long for you, Cam. You know I’m never letting go, right?” I murmur as I carry her to my bed, nibbling on her neck.

“Then hang on,” she says coyly. Her words float in the air, spurring me on further.

I lay her across the white blankets on my bed and take a moment to appreciate her beautifully naked body. I want to burn every curve, every freckle into memory. She reaches for the blanket to cover up, uncomfortable with my stare.

“No, Cam, don’t. You’re gorgeous, love. I just want to see you, appreciate you.”

Clearly nervous, she takes a deep breath and fixes the rumpled duvet.

I crawl up the bed and cover her body with my own; her skin against mine feels amazing. “Let me show you,” I say, searching her eyes, reassuring her of my feelings.

Her hand snakes into my hair and cups the back of my neck, pulling me down to her. Her eyes never lose their hold on mine. “Show me then,” she whispers.

I smash my lips to hers, my hands exploring the curves I adore.

Slowly, I sink into a bliss I’ve never known.

Baring my soul, I wedge myself into the heart of the only woman I’ve ever wanted to hold forever.

We find oblivion in something neither of us have ever had, nor wanted…until now.

Lakin

“You know, I never got to eat my birthday cake,” Campbell says as she lackadaisically swirls her fingernails across my chest. Our bodies are tangled and twisted together, the blankets and sheets in complete disarray.

“That’s not true. I distinctly remember you tasting the frosting. Besides, sex is always better than cake.”

She rises up from my shoulder. “Blasphemy,” she declares.

“Okay, how about sex with me is always better?” I chuckle and she nestles back into the crook of my shoulder.

“Oh shit, I forgot your birthday present,” I exclaim, bouncing Campbell from our comfortable cocoon as I struggle to get out of the bed.

“I think you and the cake were present enough, Mr. Ryan,” she jokes, wrapping a sheet around her body.

“I’ll be right back,” I say excitedly as I pull my boxers briefs on and dash out of the bedroom in search of her gift. I had it in my jacket pocket earlier tonight, but locating the jacket proves difficult. I let out a sigh of relief when I reach into the pocket and brush my fingers along the edges of the box. Now that I can truly call Campbell mine, this present takes on a whole new meaning. I’m so glad I took the risk to buy it.