He groans. “Stop that. I want to enjoy holding you for a while. I missed you this afternoon.” He kisses me on my forehead.
“I missed you as well, but it was worth the trip. I got you a fantastic present, which you can’t have until tomorrow.”
He hates surprises.
“You’ll tell me before then.”
“No I won’t.”
“Yes you will. Because I can play dirty and refuse to let you come until you’ve told me,” he smirks.
“You always play dirty and I love it.” I rise up slightly and kiss him on the lips. “I never knew what dirty sex was until I met you. You have a lot to answer for.”
“You complaining?”
“Never,” I chuckle. “I’m planning on getting down and dirty with you in the morning to celebrate your birthday in style.”
“Mmm. Sounds good babe. Are we still going to meet the guys and their wives tonight?”
I pinch him. “That was a quick change of subject.”
“I need to think about something else, otherwise we won’t be going anywhere.”
“I should have known, and yes, we’re meeting them later at Kix.”
Which reminds me. “When I dropped Dahlia off at Kix there was an older woman we haven’t seen before. As Ryder walked down the steps out front to come over to us, she climbed out of her car and threw herself into Ryder’s arms. From the shocked look on his face she was unexpected. I couldn’t decide whether the hug looked innocent, like perhaps she was his Mom, or whether she was someone Dahlia needed to worry about. Dahlia looked nervous, but insisted I head back to you. I feel as though I should have stayed with her. That she might be in need of some support.” I shrug. “But I really didn’t know what to make of it. Has he said anything to you?”
I move to straddle him—my favorite position.
His eyes narrow.
“He has only ever mentioned that his past is screwed up, which is preventing him from being with Dahlia. He seemed torn up about it because he really wants to be with her. And what are you doing?” he asks as I start rocking against him.
“I need you.”
“Hmm.” Donovan pulls me down so he can reach my mouth and kisses me. “If we’re going out, we need to shower and change.”
“Shower?”
“Trust you to pick out that one word.”
I smirk, wrapping myself around him as much as I can in the hammock and bury my face in his neck. “Thank you for making me so happy. For loving me. I love you so much Donovan.” I finish nibbling on his earlobe.
“Stop that.”
As I start to rise back into a sitting position, he cups my face in his hands and tells me, “You’re everything to me, Mara. Don’t ever forget that.”
“I won’t,” I reply, tears in my voice.
The End