In my gym clothes, I toe off my sneakers at the front door and set my loafers down beside them. I drop my bag and stride toward the kitchen, relishing in a great fucking Monday.
In the kitchen, I’m greeted by the most beautiful woman in the world, sitting on a stool at the island and drinking a Coke with a book in her hand, and I don’t hesitate to grab her face to crush my lips over hers.
Lana’s gasp is quiet and muffled, then she kisses me back, parting her lips for me. “Christian,” she moans between kisses. “Hi.”
I moan against her mouth and press my hips between her legs. I trail my lips down her jaw, tracing a line down her neck as she tosses her head back.
“Christian,” she rasps, her hands firm on my chest and legs tight around my waist. “Babe— Baby?—”
“Hmm?” I pull back and take her in—red, swollen lips, perfect eyes, and the brightest smile, all in the only home I’ve ever known.
“Hey,” she breathes, “what was that for?”
I shrug. “Just missed you.”
“Where have you been?”
“I had an appointment,” I say, hoping she’ll trust me with this. “Then I went to the gym.”
“Oh.” She frowns and I pull her lips up with my thumbs. “Okay. Is everything okay?”
“Yes, baby.” I kiss her lips softly. “I promise.”
“Is it… Is it bad?”
“No, Lana, it’s a surprise,” I tell her, reluctantly removing my hands from her face. “Early birthday surprise.”
“My birthday isn’t for another two months, Christian,” she says, untwining her limbs around my body. “It’s too early.”
I shrug, rounding the kitchen to grab a glass. “Then it’s just a gift.”
“I don’t trust your gifts.” Lana crosses her arms and flips her hair over her shoulder. “They’re expensive and I’m always scared of ruining them.”
“Lana, baby, I already told you.”
She rolls her eyes with a groan. “That you’ll buy me a new one, yes, yes. Christian, that isn’t my point.”
I pour water with a smirk. “Don’t worry, I’ve already started planning your birthday party.”
I turn and find her gaping at me. “Christian!”
“It’ll be fun,” I tell her. “It’s a costume party.”
“All of my birthdays are costume parties, baby,” she groans.
“Yeah, but this year, you’ll have the partyinthe gift.”
She glares. “Christian… I don’t appreciate gift teasing.”
“I thought you didn’t like my gifts.”
“But it’s worse when you tell someone you have something for them, say that they’ll like it, but you can’t give it to them yet.”
I arch a brow and take a sip.
“That wasn’t an innuendo, Christian!” She groans.
I set down my glass and go to her. Standing between herlegs, her arms come around my waist and mine around hers. “I love you.”
