Page 26 of Whimsical Ink

Make Ella get me drunk and bring those brownies her friend Lily makes. I brush a finger across his cheek and land on his lips, and he kisses my finger.

When we go home and everything returns to normal, I’ll drink, cry into baked goods, pick myself up again, get another tattoo, and move on with my life. Maybe go on a date. Surely Ella knows someone?

But that’s enough thinking tonight. Enough thinking since I finally have Daniel here with me, and he actually seems interested in me.

Has all day.

I brush hair off his forehead. “Thanks for a perfect day.” I duck my head and draw circles on his chest. “I’m kinda glad you kidnapped me and forced me here.”

I wasn’t expecting to have as much fun as I did. Am having. And will have the next few days.

Never imagined I’d enjoy my birthday this much. Especially not with his family here while pretending we’re dating when I wish we were. But it’s the best birthday I’ve had in a long time. Because they treated it like my birthday. Not Christmas Eve. My birthday. He made it special. Mademefeel special.

Loved.

His fingers grasp my chin gently and raises my head. “You had a good day?”

“Yeah, I did. And it was because of you.” I force myself to keep looking at him and ignore the heat creeping into my cheeks. “You’re so thoughtful. Thank you for everything.”

He hugs me closer and tugs me up his chest. “I’m glad you had a good day. That’s all I wanted. I love you, you know. And you don’t deserve everyone leaving you for the holidays.”

My breath catches and the ache returns to my chest. Tight and heavy.

I know he means as a friend. He loves me as a friend and looks out for me in the same way, but I can’t help but wish he meant he wasin lovewith me. That we’ll come back next year and see who the champion is. Make new traditions together.

I swallow the cloying emotion in my throat. “I love you too, even though you kidnapped me and forced me to wear a bucket hat.”

“Which you looked adorable in. Next time, I’m getting us bright yellow hats.”

I blow out a laugh and rest my chin on my crossed arms. “Why yellow? I’m not sure it’ll be our best look.”

“I look good in everything.”

He does. But I’m not telling him that. “Even feathers?”

“Even feathers.” He goes quiet, brushing his fingers in distracting circles on my lower back. “I’m sorry if it got out of hand at the beach.”

“What do you mean?”

His throat bobs. “The kissing and touching.”

I trace patterns on his chest and ignore my hands trembling and the blood rushing in my ears. “I didn’t mind it,” I whisper.

“You didn’t?”

I shake my head and force myself to look at him. “No. You’re a good kisser.”

“You liked it?” He drags me up his body, until my face hovers above his, my breath brushing his lips.

“Yeah.” I gather the scrap of courage I have and say, “I know this is to convince your family, and they aren’t here now, obviously, but maybe we could?—”

His lips cut me off, and I melt into him. We can figure everything out later. My body sags, and he threads a hand through my hair, guiding my head to the side to deepen the kiss. To brush his tongue against my lips until I open my mouth and let him in. A groan escapes me. He tastes like champagne and the cake he surprised me with. Warm and heady.

I move my legs to straddle him, and his hands run up and down my back, squeeze my hips and then his hand is in my hair again, keeping it out of the way and scratching deliciously through my scalp.

He pulls away and kisses across my jaw and down my throat before returning to my lips and devouring me. Consuming me like he does my thoughts.

His cheeks are rough with stubble, and it grazes my skin as he moves his mouth.

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