Page 69 of Play For Keeps

Everly turns to face me, brows knit together. “What are you talking about?”

“I’m going with you. Thought we’d make a weekend out of it. I booked us a hotel.”

“Wait, what? When did this happen?”

Grayson and Sierra share a look before Grayson gets up from the table. “You guys should probably talk. I think that’s our cue to go.”

After everyone is gone, I shut the door before pushing my girlfriend up against it. “Are you excited to spend the weekend with me?”

“I thought I told you to stop spoiling me.”

“I can’t have you sitting at home all weekend worried about Birdie. Besides, this isn’t about spoiling you. Spending two nights with you in a hotel room sounds too good to pass up. I have a list of things I can do to you to take your mind off of things,” I say, nudging my thigh between her legs. I grip her hip in my hand, and she lets out a breathy moan.

“Sooo,” I say, gripping her hip a little more tightly. “Birdie’s asleep, and our company is gone. I finally have you all to myself. Tell me how you would like me to fuck you.”

She moans as I run my nose across her jaw, stopping to nibble on her ear lobe.

“Surprise me.”

I have her legs wrapped around my waist in record time before I’m carrying her down the hall and into my bedroom.

TWENTY-TWO

A HOT, SEXY DISTRACTION

Everly

Today is Birdie’s eighth birthday, and I don’t know who was more excited to wake her up—Jake or me. He stayed the night last night so he could be here for breakfast and watch her open her presents. We talked about it with Birdie yesterday and made sure she was comfortable with Jake sleeping over. Her answer? She loves sleepovers and she loves Jake, so of course it’s the best idea ever. I agree, it is the best idea ever. I love falling asleep in Jake’s arms after one or two orgasms and then waking up with him next to me, his limbs tangled up in mine.

“Wake up, birthday girl,” I say, smoothing my hand over her mess of blonde curls.

Jake squeezes her toes over her bedspread next to me. “Good morning, Birdie-girl.”

Birdie’s eyes flutter open and a wide grin spreads over her face. My girl is like sunshine. There isn’t a day she doesn’t wake up with a smile on her face.

“I have an idea. Should I make you waffles with whipped cream while you open your presents?” Jake asks.

“Yes!” Birdie squeals, jumping out of bed. She wraps her arms around my neck in a tight hug before crawling down the bed to hug Jake.

“Hop on, birthday girl,” he says, turning his back to her. She wraps her arms and legs around him and he piggybacks her to the hallway. “Close your eyes, no peeking.”

Her presents are waiting for her in the living room, wrapped and set out on the coffee table. I watch her with her one tiny hand plastered over her eyes, bopping up and down on Jake’s back, my heart fluttering with every step he takes.

When he reaches the coffee table, he lowers her down to the floor. “Mom, can she open her eyes now?” Jake asks.

“Yes! Happy birthday, baby.”

Birdie’s big brown eyes open wide when she sees the bike with a big red bow and the helmet from Jake. She opens up a few more smaller gifts from me and then we have breakfast. She bounces in her seat the entire time, shovelling bites of waffle into her mouth so that she can get outside and try out her new bike. When she’s done, Birdie and Jake head out to give it a test run while I clear the breakfast dishes from the table.

“Look, Mommy, I’m riding my bike,” she hollers as soon as I step out of the apartment building. Jake is holding the back of her seat while she peddles through the parking lot, a determined smile on her face. When she makes it back to where I’m standing, she hops off her bike and throws herself at me in a huge hug.

“Thank you for my bike. I love it!” she says into my cheek before taking off her helmet. “This is the best birthday ever!”

I smile as I watch Jake squeeze my baby tight in his arms. It’s Birdie’s day to make a wish, but I make a silent one of my own: for a thousand more moments like this.

The rest of her birthday goes smoothly; the kids at school all sing her happy birthday, then it’s back home for more bike riding before Jake joins us for sushi and ice cream, followed by a walk along the beach.

After a long day, she falls asleep in Jake’s arms on our walk back to the apartment. He carries her to her room and sets her down on her bed. I pull the blankets over her before we both take turns kissing her forehead.

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