Page 419 of Eternal
“You waited?” I ask.
“I was too excited,” he grins.
And then the next song starts playing.
And I'd give up forever to touch you… Cause I know that you feel me somehow…
“You…” I whisper, barely breathing. “Thank you.”
I close my eyes and make a wish. I wish for us to be forever, because with him… eternity isn’t scary.
When I open them, the candle’s still flickering, but Damir is already putting the cake aside.
He cups my cheek, brushing the tears I hadn’t realized had fallen.
“Baby…” he whispers, thumb warm against my skin.
And then I’m in his arms, legs wrapped around his waist, face buried in his shoulder. He rocks me gently. “Are you happy?” he asks softly in my ear.
I nod, crying. “I don’t know why I’m crying.”
“You can cry in my arms,” he says, kissing my neck. “I won’t tell anyone.”
I let out a wet, laughing breath and he pulls back, cradling my face in one big, warm hand, smiling fully. “You’re the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen.”
“Stop it,” I smile, almost shy, ashamed of the state I’m in.
“There she is.”
And I don't want the world to see me… 'Cause I don't think that they'd understand…
He sits back on the couch and settles me in his lap again, reaching for the cake.
“Now. Let me feed you.”
I shift on his lap to sit up a little straighter, but he tightens his grip around my waist, cake in hand.
“I can feed myself, you know,” I murmur, lips already curved into a smile.
He dips a finger into the frosting and brings it up to my mouth. “Nope.”
“Damir…”
He leans closer, eyes dancing. “Hey. It’s your birthday. And when the birthday girl’s with me… she doesn’t lift a single finger.”
I chuckle quietly and open my mouth enough for him to slip the frosting in. Sweet. Rich. Still warm from his skin. He watches me too closely. Like he’s cataloging every shift in my face.
“Good?” he murmurs, brushing his thumb at the corner of my lip.
I nod, trying not to melt again. “You’re ridiculous.”
“Don’t care,” he grins, breaking off a piece of the cake and holding it up dramatically.
“I can literally reach the fork from here…”
“Shhh.” He presses the bite to my lips. “You’re interrupting a very sacred ritual.”
I laugh, letting him feed me again, but this time I grab a piece of cake with my fingers and shove it toward his mouth in retaliation. He catches my wrist mid-air, licks the frosting off my finger slowly, eyes locked with mine the whole time, then lets it go with a pop.
