You are allowed to be happy, Aradia’s ghost whispers, reminding me that she and several others are still with me. Ravi’s been teaching me how to cross ghosts over, but says I struggle with the detachment.
I know Aradia’s right. Wilder deserves to be happy, even on a heavy day like today; that’s why I threw this party. That’s why I planned what’s next.
“Are you ready for your next surprise?” I ask.
Wilder stiffens as I move away from the couch. “There’s more?”
Nerves prick my scalp. What if he says no? We have to be up in a few hours. “Unless you are too tired,” I say, grinning. “Twenty-five years old is practically ancient. You should rest up before I give you your present. I don’t want to wear you out.”
Wilder shakes his head and walks toward me. I anchor my feet into the floor, my chest rising and falling quickly until his tattooed hands grip my hips, pulling me flush against his body. I lick my lips, and his eyes zero in on the action, pupils dilating. “Leigh, it may be my birthday, but don’t tease me.”
I rise on my toes and peck his lips. “I thought you liked it when I teased you?”
“I do.”
“So, you want your present?”
He nods, a slow smile creeping onto his face. “I’ll take anything you offer, princess.”
Bullseye. I flatten my hands against Wilder’s chest, playfully pushing him away. His hands ball into fists at his sides, and I giggle as I reach for the zipper of my shimmering, pale pink party dress. Holding my breath, I pull it down, revealing myself inch by inch. Holding his intense gaze, I back toward the staircase that leads to the lofted bedroom. Wilder doesn’t follow right away.
I stop at the bottom step, heat pooling low in my belly. “If you don’t like it, you can always say no.”
His eyes snap to mine, narrowing. My heart skips a beat. He’s waiting to see what I have planned. I smile. Boy, do I have something special planned.
We’ve had sex hundreds of times, but tonight, what I want to do will be a first for us. Butterflies flutter in my stomach. I am nervous, yet I trust him completely. After everything we’ve endured together, I want to convey that to him.
The night the wolves invaded Aurora still lingers in my mind, even eighteen months later. When Wilder didn’t return to the garrison with the others, panic washed over me like nothing I’d ever felt. As queen, I must put my people first, but at this moment, I want him to know that he’s the most important person in my heart.
I slowly peel off the rest of my dress, revealing the sinfully skimpy lingerie I chose specifically for tonight. It has a delicate bow, ready for him to unwrap. After all, it is his party.
As I step out of the dress, I spin slowly to let him take in the barely-there material. I pause, hands resting on my lacy-clad hips to heighten the tension. “You know, maybe you’re right... I am feeling a little tired. Should we head off to bed?” I raise an eyebrow, a playful smirk on my lips.
I turn toward the stairs, but I’m yanked back into a solid chest by possessive arms. Wilder’s hand splays across my stomach, teasing the edge of my panties. My smile spreads.My center throbs in anticipation, my wetness already soaking through the flimsy fabric.
“You’re such a brat, Leigh,” Wilder growls in my ear. Then, his tone softens, brimming with warmth. “But I also know what day today is. If you’d rather talk, I’m all yours.”
Tears prick at my vision, but I push the emotion down—no time for that. I turn my head to capture his lips with mine, and when his tongue seeks entry, I surrender completely. I entwine my tongue with his, groaning at the taste of cake and sin, craving to devour him whole.
He spins me to face him, and I wrap my arms around Wilder’s shoulders while his hands grip my ass, kneading the supple flesh. He tugs, lifting me off the floor until my legs wrap around his narrow hips. My feet lock behind his back as he carries me upstairs.
Carefully, Wilder lowers me onto his bed, which is always well-made. He settles between my thighs, and his clothed erection rubs deliciously against my throbbing core. I writhe beneath him, needing friction to satisfy the ache there, the ache only he can soothe. Wilder’s lips latch onto my neck. I moan wantonly as his hand grips my left breast, palming it. My hard nipples sharpen into points.
“Is this matching set my present? It looks expensive. Should I be more gentle tearing it off you?” he asks between sucking and nipping at my skin. I sigh, knowing he’s leaving marks that I’ll have difficulty covering up with makeup. I have an audience with Janus in the morning. Though, I doubt she’d notice a hickey or two, given she has a baby at home. The bags under her eyes look permanent.
“This isn’t your present.” I gasp. His hand leaves my breast and slides down my stomach, leaving a trail of goose bumps. Long fingers disappear beneath my waistband.
“Shit.” He discovers just how soaked I am and sinks his teeth into where my neck meets my shoulder, hard enough to make me cry out as he buries two fingers deep inside. His fingers slide out, only to plunge back in. My hips instinctively follow his rhythm, and my eyes roll back the second the heel of his hand applies pressure on my clit.
“Then, what is?” Wilder asks, his lips brushing my heated flesh. I moan from the pressure building inside me. I am putty in his hands. He can mold me into any shape, bend me to his will.
He crooks his fingers, and stars explode behind my eyes. His smile is radiant, and I sigh with affection and longing. He saves all his smiles for me, and even though we may not see each other as often as we’d like, he never ceases to make me feel special in these moments together. It’s what I want to do for him, too—ensure he knows just how cherished he is. He’s everything to me.
“Leigh, don’t leave me in suspense.” Wilder works me harder. I can hardly form words. “Leigh.”
“M-my ass,” I say, Wilder’s fingers still inside me. “I want you to fuck my ass.”
Neither of us breathes. The longer it takes for Wilder to respond, the more profound the urge to suffocate myself with a pillow grows until he blinks. “You want to have anal sex?” he asks.
