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She spins to face me. “Brad, did you hear me?”

I look up and swallow, my mouth suddenly dry, and I’m in need of something to quench this sudden thirst I have.

Her, I need her.

“No,” I say, barely getting my word out.

“I asked if you could help me out of this dress. I think the zipper is stuck.”

“Absolutely.” I place the gift bag on her bed and gather her hair in my hands, moving it to one side.

My fingers tug at the zipper, and it glides down effortlessly, exposing her back. I can’t help but stroke the backs of my knuckles against her bare skin. Goosebumps scatter as my fingers drift down to the bottom of her spine. Without thinking, I place my hands on her hips, press a kiss to her bare shoulder, and her head falls slightly to the side, exposing her neck even more to me. I press another kiss to her neck, and a small moan of appreciation falls from her lips. I want to continue. Push herdown on her bed, tear this dress from her body, and devour her, but we need to take this slow.

So, I do the sensible thing and stop. “All done.” Her body sags at the loss of the contact, and she turns to face me.

“Thanks,” she says quietly. “I’ll go in there and get changed.” She gestures to her closet. “Don’t go in there on my account. I’ve seen what’s under the dress, baby girl.” I wink, needing to bring some playfulness back between us.

She presses her lips together and her cheeks pinken once again. She turns her back to me and lets the dress fall to the ground. Pink lace panties cover her peachy ass and the sight has my balls tightening. She grabs a pink t-shirt and gray sweatpants off her bed and slips them on before she turns to face me. She takes a hair tie from her wrist and gathers her hair into a ponytail as she looks at the gift bag I’ve placed on the bed. I’m mesmerized just watching her doing everyday things.

“Is that my gift?”

I nod. “Yeah. Open it.”

She picks up the gift bag, and I take a seat in the chair at her desk, in her window.

She pulls out the matching pink tissue paper and sticks her hand inside the bag. “You know, it’s not my birthday for another few months, right? Why are you…” Her words stop when she pulls the small white box free and sees the picture on the front. “Is this a…”

“Vibrator, yes,” I declare.

“W-What’s it for?”

“Well, most people use them to get off.”

She looks at me deadpan, and I can’t help but chuckle.

“I know that, but why have you got me one, and why is it this weird shape? It looks like a shrimp.”

I throw my head back and a deep belly laugh leaves my body, the kind that makes your body tingle and your face ache. Shelaughs along with me, and watching Gabriella’s face light up when she laughs is one of the most beautiful sights.

“I can assure you, it’s not a shrimp. This…” I say, standing and taking the box from her hand. “Is a special kind of vibrator. Remember how you said you wanted to have sex outside?”

Her eyes widen. “I told you that?”

“Yes. Among other things.”

Lowering my voice, I move, closing any space between us. “As much as I’d love to fuck you out in the open, I think we need to work up to that and get you more comfortable first.”

“W-work up to that?” she stutters, and I smirk. “Yeah.”

“Okay, so how does this help with that?” she asks, tapping the box.

“You’re going to wear it at dinner.”

Her mouth falls open and I press my lips together to stifle a laugh. She looks so animated. “You want me to wear that to dinner?”

“Yes.”

“At dinner with our friends?”