Page 94 of Filthy Hot

“I fuckin’ love you, Kyle. I know you never had a birthday party, so here you go. Happy Birthday.”

My tears do not stop, they do not slow, they are in a steady stream rolling down my cheeks. I open my mouth to tell him thank you, but his lips touch mine, and his tongue slides inside, swirling and tasting me before he takes a step backward and releases me.

In the next breath, I’m surrounded by all my friends. Bren and a couple of the girls from the club, plus Shawn and Ryan. Vixen and Firecracker are also hanging in the back, careful not to get too close, but when my eyes meet theirs, they smile and give me a small wave.

Dennis stands a few feet behind Bren, his eyes focused on her, and I can’t help but smile at the sight of him here. They’re new, he and Bren, but I know he’s on cloud nine right now.

The girls don’t say anything to me, but what they do is start singing, and then the whole room erupts into the birthday song as the girls who are surrounding me part and show me the table behind them.

It’s not just any table.

It’s the dessert table of all dessert tables.

And in the center is a gorgeous three-tiered cake. It’s covered in beautiful pastel yellow and pink buttercream icing rosettes.

Not an inch of the cake is without a thick layer of rosette frosting, and on top, there is a glittery black topper that hasHappy Birthdaywritten in cursive and two hot pink candles—a three and a one, which are lit and burning.

I can’t even look at the other desserts that are displayed gorgeously everywhere, because the cake is clearly the centerpiece and absolutely stunning in a million different ways. It’s just beautiful.

I’ve never had a cake like this before, never thought I would. I’m frozen in front of it, unsure of what to do and unable to even move. That is, until I hear Shawn tell me to make a wish and blow out the candles.

Leaning forward slightly, I close my eyes and make a wish as I blow out the candles. It’s a wish to top all wishes, but I decide to go big, considering I’m already living a fantasy that I couldn’t have ever even dreamed of a year ago.

When I open my eyes, everyone is clapping, and I look over to Ryan, who has her hands covering her mouth as her eyes shimmer with wetness as she stares at me. I don’t understand what’s happening.

Then I look beside me, down on the floor, and I see it.

Rider is on one knee, and he’s holding out a blue box with a diamond ring nestled inside of it. I gasp at the sight, my knees growing weak and about to buckle beneath me.

“Happy Birthday, Kyle. I can’t imagine spending another one without you. Marry me.”

Except it’s not a question. It’s a statement. Marry him. And I will. I do. Always.

“Yes,” I whisper. “Yes a million times.”

Rider takes the ring from the box, tossing said box onto the floor as I hold out my left hand. I’m trembling as he slips the ring on my finger, then he stands and wraps his arms around me, his lips slamming against mine in a bruising, owning, perfect kiss.

When the room erupts into cheers and applause, he’s swept away to the bar and my hand is taken by Bren.

“Oh my God, it’s massive,” she cries.

The ring is just that. It’s stunning and beautiful. It’s an Aquaprase, a stunning green, pink, purple gemstone, with diamonds surrounding it and along the sides.

I’ve never seen a stone like it before in person. The only reason I know what it is, is because I saw it online a couple of months ago and showed it to Rider.

He remembered how much I liked it, and he bought it for me.

A fresh wave of tears flows down my cheeks. He truly thought about me, about what I would want, and he delivered. This is going to be my husband. This man is my future, and I’m right there with him when he said that he can’t imagine another birthday without me. Not ever again.

I never want to be without him.

Rider Cruz is my everything.

GNAW

ONE MONTH LATER

Movingmy fingers on my iPad, I finish the scheduling. There are a lot of changes going on within the club, with the distribution and everything that entails, and it’s up to me to ensure that everyone goes where they need to go and that all orders are fulfilled.

---