Page 62

Six months later…

“Good morning, Hotshot,” I murmur, brushing my lips over Lane’s. The morning sun peeks in and highlights his strong features, and he’s even more beautiful than usual.

“Good morning, Ballerina,” he smiles, voice still rough as he wakes up.

“Happy birthday, baby.” I kiss him tenderly, and he repositions me, straddling me over his legs as the blankets fall off of us, revealing two bodies that didn’t bother with clothing after their fun last night.

“This is going to be my best birthday yet.” Lane gently brushes my hair behind my ear. “First birthday I’ve had with you by my side.”

“First of many more,” I say. “I got you a great gift. It didn’t really wrap well, though.”

“Yeah? What is it?”

I bite down my smile. “A cane. You know, since you’re an old man and all.”

“Such a fucking brat,” he breathes, pulling my face closer to his. “I’m only thirty-three, Liv.”

“But I’m only twenty-four.”

“Is this the shit I get for falling in love with a younger woman?” he chuckles.

“Yes,” I tease, running my finger up his bare chest, pausing when I reach his newest addition. “I still can’t believe you did that.”

“I told you I was going to,” Lane smirks, slipping his hands down my back and grasping my ass.

“You literally got my bite mark tattooed on your pec, Lane,” I laugh. “That’s not a thing normal people do.”

“Whoever said I was normal?”

“I know you’re not normal. You weren’t even upset about coming home last week.”

The Stars had a great season but ended up losing in the first round of the postseason. They didn’t win a single game in that series against the LA Suns, and while the other guys were devastated by it, Lane couldn’t care less.

“Why would I be upset about getting to enjoy the offseason with my two favorite girls a little bit earlier than expected?” he smiles.

“Because your team lost?” I laugh. “Everyone else is upset about it.”

Lane just shrugs. “I still have plenty to be happy about.”

I drag my hand down his chest until I can wrap it around his already hard length. “I can make you happy right now, too.”

I start scooting backward, and Lane licks his lips. “Birthday blow job?”

“Yes,” I say, running my tongue up the underside of his shaft.

“Fuuuck, baby,” he moans, head falling backward. “Love waking up to this.”

He says that like this is a rare occurrence, but he had me move in last month. I’m here literally every day now. This isn’t the first morning blow job he’s had recently, and it sure as hell won’t be the last.

“I know you do,” I say, pulling my mouth back and spitting down on him, making him slick enough for my hand to glide over. “You love having your dick in my mouth.”

“Fuck yes, I do,” he groans as I suck him down. “Goddamn, baby. Turn around. I want your pussy.”

I pull my mouth off of him and smirk. “Shouldn’t you be getting all the attention? It’s your birthday.” I say it lightly as I still get into the requested position, placing my legs on either side of his head.

“It is my birthday,” Lane states, nipping the inside of my thigh. “And I want to eat my favorite fucking meal for breakfast.”

His mouth connects with my center, and his tongue flicks over my clit. “Lane…”

“Don’t stop, baby,” he groans as I work over him with my hand. “Suck me down. Fill that mouth up with my thick cock.”

“So full of yourself,” I tease.

Lane’s eyes are full of heat. “I’d rather you be full of me.”

I smirk before turning my attention back to the task at hand.

Or in hand, I guess you could say, since I’m literally holding his dick right now.

I close my lips around him, swirling my tongue over his tip and licking up the precum he’s leaking. He bucks his hips upward into my mouth when I bring my other hand around to play with his balls.

“Yes, just like that,” he moans. “So fucking good.”

His mouth is back on me now, swiping me front to back and back to front, and I moan around him. He seemingly enjoys the vibration that it creates as I feel him twitch in the hand still stroking him. I’m even louder when he sucks my clit into his mouth.

Nothing about this moment is refined. We’re sloppy, saliva covering us both as we work to get the other off. All you can hear are our muffled groans, the sound of sucking from me, and my wetness as Lane spears me with two of his fingers.

I’m close to falling over the edge, but I’m determined to take him with me. I suck him in farther, letting the head of his cock hit the back of my throat. I gulp around him, and his moans are guttural as I pull the orgasm out of him, letting him come down my throat.

Lane doesn’t stop working, though, and quickly pulls me over the edge. My mouth is still around him, so my screams are quieter, but they’re still loud enough that I’m hoping I didn’t just wake up Sage.

When I don’t hear any rustling from her bedroom, I let out a sigh of relief and finally climb off of him.

“Goddamn, this is definitely the best birthday I’ve had so far.”

I can’t help but smile as I rest my head on his chest, gazing at the man who captured my heart almost one year ago.

When Sage does wake up a little while later, Lane decides he’s going to make breakfast while I shower.

On his birthday.

What the actual hell?

I’m supposed to be taking care of him , not the other way around.

He’s steadfast, though, not relenting despite my opposition. Eventually, I give up, deciding I’ll drown out my annoyance under some hot, running water. Since I’ve had plenty of late nights lately as I study for my GED exam next month, I’m more tired than usual, so this feels fantastic right now.

I relax for a while, enjoying the warmth, before I finally decide I’ve had enough and that I should probably take over the rest of his birthday morning. I don’t want him to do everything today.

I dry myself off and throw on some leggings and one of my favorite sweatshirts. When I step out of the bathroom and then into our bedroom, I’m hit with the heavenly scent of Lane’s chocolate chip pancakes.

They’re Sage’s favorite, so I’m not surprised that he decided to make them today.

I find him alone in the kitchen, a pair of athletic shorts hanging low on his hips, no shirt, and a black apron tied around him. “Nice look, Hotshot.”

Lane turns around and smiles at me. “I think I look good.”

“You always do, baby.”

He walks over and kisses me sweetly before pulling the apron over his head. “I actually just finished, so you have great timing, Ballerina.”

“Where’s Sage?” I ask, sliding onto the island as Lane stands in front of me, handing me a mug of hot coffee.

“Playing in her room,” he shrugs. “I’ll call her out here in a few minutes.”

I take note of the way he rubs the back of his neck, almost like he’s nervous. And Lane is never nervous.

“What are you up to?” I ask, looking at him curiously.

“What makes you think I’m up to something?” he smirks, trying to downplay his nerves.

“Because you look all uncomfortable right now,” I tease before a thought hits me. “You’re not getting ready to propose, are you?”

Lane cocks his eyebrow at me. “Do you want me to propose?”

“No!” I say emphatically.

“Wow, thanks,” he laughs heartily.

I groan and rest my head against his chest. “You know that’s not what I meant. I don’t want you to propose yet.”

“I know, baby,” he says softly before bringing my lips to his. “No, I’m not proposing, Liv.”

“Then why are you so nervous?”

“Why do I have to be nervous at all?” he asks.

“I don’t know!” I throw my hands up in exasperation. “I don’t know why you’d be nervous!”

Lane chuckles before kissing my forehead. “Take a breath, Olive.”

I just sigh and throw my head back while Lane calls Sage out to eat breakfast. My favorite toddler comes bounding in in a purple T-shirt and jeans with a glittery purple bow in her hair.

“Good morning, sweet girl!” I chime as Sage comes into the kitchen.

“Like my shirt, Mommy?” she asks excitedly, and I finally take note of the words across the front of it.

Mommy’s Bestie.

Oh, my heart.

I slide off the island and wrap her up in a tight hug. “I love it so much, Sagie! You are my bestie.”

“Sage,” Lane says, looking at his daughter as he gestures to the other side of the kitchen with his eyes.

She looks at him in confusion before she realizes what he’s trying to tell her. She runs to the other side of the kitchen now and comes back with an envelope that’s hiding under a basket of fruit.

Sage stands in front of me and hands the envelope over.

“What is this?” I ask.

Lane looks down at me with the sweetest smile. “Open it. You’ll see.”

I quickly open the envelope and pull a set of papers out. I look them over quickly, but I’m left breathless when I spot the heading.

“Lane…” I say it so softly I’m not even sure he heard me until he bends down next to Sage and me.

“Olive…” he grins, so unbelievably happy right now.

“These are…” I trail off, unable to get the words out.

“Adoption papers,” he finishes for me. “They’re adoption papers.”

I look over at Sage with tears in my eyes. “You’re asking me to adopt her?”

He wraps his arms around us both and pulls us closer. “We should make it official, don’t you think?”

I nod hastily before I can finally find my voice again. “Yes. Oh my God, yes!” Tears stream down my face as I look at my daughter. “I love you so much, sweet girl.”

“I love you, Mommy,” she smiles, and I just melt into a puddle on the floor.

It’s Lane’s birthday, but he just gave me the best gift he could have ever given me.

He gave me a daughter.

After Lane and I both cry for most of the afternoon, we eventually calm ourselves down. I’m throwing a party for him tonight, so we definitely need to be composed.

There isn’t much in the way of decorations, but that’s what he wants. He wants tonight to be low-key and simple, just family and friends.

But I do know my boyfriend well enough to know he’ll get a kick out of the Taylor Swift cake that’s currently hiding in the fridge.