How does he sleep so deeply?I wonder, feeling my entire body catch on fire.
“Alex! Alex, I have to pee,” I whisper, lying.
Taking his arm and moving it firmly, I grasp his wrist and pull it out from between my legs and roll off the bed in one smooth motion.
“Uh-huh,” Alexander breathes, rolling to his back and flinging his arm across his chest. I watch carefully as he settles back deeper into sleep, unaware of what just happened.
I frown, giving him an incredulous look as I stay crouched there next to the bed for a moment just watching him.
I get up, walking to the little bar area and quietly get myself a glass of water. Looking at the open door of our bedroom, I sip my water, putting a hand self-consciously to my hair. Hating that I didn’t feel comfortable enough to be able to sleep in a scarf or bonnet around him, and now my hair routine is going to suffer because of it.
Putting my glass down, I crawl back into bed quietly.
Laying there, I silently watch the clock, determined to suss him out. It's not even three minutes before I feel him getting closer. It happens gradually, and I bite back a giggle as he wedges his arm under me to cup my breast and feel him adjust himself minutely until I'm back in the nook of his body.
His hand moves incrementally until it's in a comfortable position against me, and then it's only another minute before I feel his hand sliding along my hip slowly before cupping me over my shorts.
It's exactly fifteen seconds before he make a displeased noise in his throat and restlessly moves his hand, searching until he finds the leg of my shorts and shoves his hand through and presses against my warmth with a deep sigh. As if it settles him to be as close to me as possible.
Wow,this is freaking crazy, I think to myself.
After a couple minutes, I realize I'm completely relaxed and find myself blinking lazily. Also finding that I quite enjoy the heavy feeling of his hand on my pussy, and it's comforting. I close my eyes, feeling Alexander’s breath wash warmly over my neck and cheek and lulling me rhythmically back to sleep.
I let go and drift off in the silence, feeling completely safe in his arms.
The next morning I wake up very early, carefully extracting myself from Alexander's hold. I place the comforter back over him and smile at how peaceful he looks. My fingers shake a little as I reach forward, letting myself stroke the hair back off his forehead. Turning, I grab my phone and make my way into the bathroom to start a bath, sitting on the toilet while I wait and flicking through my messages.
Reading them all, I smile, feeling very fortunate for my friends.
David: Happy Birthday Sarah Beara!
Nessie: Hey baby girl, you're 29, can you believe it?! Almost to the dirty thirties! Wish you were here, we could have gotten mad drunk!
Jerome: Sarah Beara, Happy Birthday boo! Tell me, I haven't heard from you, you bitch. Do that man's hips do what I dream they can do? Whew!
Mom: Happy Birthday my darling, sweet, exceptional girl! I love you, sending you big hugs all the way from California! Let me know when you're about to fly back and I'll ship your gift to you!
Christopher: Oh SJ! What was your birthday wish this year?
My eyes widen at the reminder, and I pull my robe back on quickly, hastily making my way out of the bathroom, back through the bedroom, and to the balcony outside, not even casting Alexander a glance. With my heart pounding, I blow out a relieved breath when I realize there are still some stars in thesky. Finding the brightest one, I tilt my head back, close my eyes, and make my wish.
Feeling something cool touch my neck suddenly, I startle. My hands fly up, slapping at it.
Awareness that Alexander's behind me hits me hard, and I calm quickly, feeling a chain begin to settle alongside my neck. I reach up and brush my hands over his, feeling his strong fingers manipulating a necklace slowly underneath my hair.
He was so quiet I hadn't even heard him come out behind me. As he fastens the clasp at my nape, tears flood my eyes, and I'm grateful that I'm facing away from him because right now I'm so vulnerable I don't know that I can look in his eyes. I hadn't been expecting anything from him. Or anyone, really.
He got me a gift?I think, as my fingers trace the necklace delicately, trying to feel what it is. My fingers clasp on a circular stone.
"Alex," I whisper,"what's this?"
Touched, I close my eyes, feeling a lone tear slip down my cheek as he places his lips tenderly against the back of my head.
"Happy Birthday, Sarah." Do I imagine his usually cool demeaner softened with warmth as he speaks to me?
Alexander's muscular arms loop around me from behind as he cradles me carefully to his front and begins to quietly sing the “Happy Birthday” song in his deep, strong, and clear voice. He rests his chin on the top of my head and rocks me through it while we stare at the fading stars together, watching the sun rise over the Pacific Ocean.
My heart swells too big to maintain my emotions, and I bite back a sob and turn, throwing my arms around him. "Thank you so much. You know you didn’t have to," I whisper in his ear, giving him an extra tight squeeze.
