“Happy birthday!”
Eri couldn’t help but smile at the other woman’s enthusiasm as she stepped aside and allowed her in. She closed the door and followed Avian to her dining room table. Her friend set the box down, let the weight at the end of the balloon pull it to the floor, then pulled Eri into a hug.
“I’ve got the rest of the afternoon planned. I ordered food from that hole-in-the-wall place you like so much. I’ve got cupcakes, the best birthday gift, and we can watch whatever movie you want until your boyfriend finishes working and comes over to kick me out,” Avian finished running down the plan with a teasing smile.
Eri laughed. “Or until your husband calls, wanting his wife back. Thanks for coming over.”
“You don’t have to thank me. Oh, look at these cupcakes. Aren’t they the cutest?”
She moved the gift bag and opened the box to reveal six cupcakes with orange ombre buttercream icing and an ornate sugar butterfly on top of each one. They were cute, but Eri also knew they were an ode to her telling her friend about the first time Elias gave her butterflies.
“We’ll have to save him one,” Avian said after a few seconds, confirming her suspicions.
Eri bumped her with her hip and gave her a faux glare, which resulted in Avian laughing at her. “Here,” Avian started, handing her the gift bag. “Open your present, and then you can pick a movie for us to watch since the food should be here in,” she paused, looking at the time on the microwave. “Five minutes.”
Eri set the bag on the table, removed the decorative paper, and pulled out the gift inside. It was a long-sleeved, pants onesie with marigolds all over it. It was adorable and would be perfect when winter came back around.
“It’s so cute. Thanks, Avi.”
“You’re welcome, but there’s one more thing in there.”
Eri refolded the onesie and put it aside before reaching into the bag again. This time, she pulled out a burgundy short-sleeve shorts onesie. She raised a brow at her friend.
“It’s going to hug your ass just right. Leave the top few buttons undone, and you’ll be in for a good time tonight. I thought it might have been a bit intrusive to buy you lingerie, but trust me when I say this works just as well, if not better.”
Eri couldn’t help but laugh at the shit-eating grin the other woman was giving her, because it felt like she was speaking from experience. Her friend did have a point. If she planned on coaxing Elias into giving her birthday dick that night, the outfit would work in her favor.
She hugged her friend and thanked her again before placing both gifts back into the bag. They went into the living room, where they found a movie to watch, as a knock came on her front door. Avian answered it, retrieved their food, and they spent the next few hours eating and watching movies.
Eri looked at herself one last time in the onesie. After they’d finished eating, she’d thrown both gifts into thewasher. Then the dryer an hour ago before getting into the shower after Avian left.
The bottom of her ass cheeks played peek-a-boo out of the bottom of the fabric when she moved, and leaving the top four buttons undone, put the sides of her breasts on display. Her friend had been right. There was something about the outfit that made it sexier than lingerie.
There was a knock at the door, and Eri glanced at her phone on the dresser to find that it was almost ten-thirty. Elias had called her at a quarter after nine to let her know it would be later than he expected when he made it to her house. His last client had been jumpy and knocked over a drink he’d brought with him, spilling it on both of them when Elias was close to finishing his tattoo.
She turned off the overhead light as she exited her bedroom, leaving only the lamps on her nightstands on. Even though Eri knew who it was, she still looked through the peephole before pulling the door open.
“Hey, babe,” she greeted, stepping aside to let him in.
“I thought it was your birthday, Amate. Not mine,” he responded, absently putting a large gift bag on the couch as he looked her over.
The way his eyes trailed over her, someone from an outside perspective who only saw his response might have assumed she was naked. Every sweep of his eyes felt like a physical caress. As if Eri could feel the simmering heat on her skin from his gaze. She was so focused on his eyes on her, she hadn’t realized she hadn’t closed the door until he reached out and did so, locking it before pulling her into his chest and molding his lips to hers.
He’d kissed her plenty of times. Always slow, breathtaking, knee-weakening, but there was something about this kiss that felt different. Eri couldn’t put her finger on it, but shedidn’t care what it was as long as she continued to feel that way.
She damn near whined when he finally pulled away, but was able to contain it. He sat on the couch, pulling her onto his lap as he moved the gift bag on the floor in front of them.
“One of them isn’t something you’ll be able to use now, but it’ll probably be your favorite.”
She reached into the bag, and the first thing she pulled out was a soft orange messenger bag. It was cute, housing several different sections.
“When you’re taking over the world designing graphics, you’ll need something to carry your laptop and tablet in when you meet clients,” Elias stated.
“I love that you think I’m going to take over the world with my designs, but thank you, babe. It’s a perfect gift.”
“Because you’re going to,” he responded, kissing her neck.
Eri placed the bag aside and reached in again. This time, she pulled out a motorcycle jacket, and when she turned it around, she foundThePowerpuff Girlson the back in their signature pose with hues of orange around them that matched her helmet. She could admit she let out a little squeal as she did a little shimmy on his lap.
