Page 96 of If It Can't Be Us

He drags his hands over his face and into his hair. “Goddamn.” He breathes heavily, staring at the ceiling. “Best blow job of my life.”

He chuckles and looks at me as a wicked grin spreads across his face. “You don’t think I’m going to let you get away with that, do you?”

I smile, moving up to his face, hovering above him. I kiss his mouth. “Well, it’s my birthday, so I get whatever I want,” I say boldly.

“Yeah, that’s not going to happen.” In one smooth motion, he flips me over, nestles his head between my thighs, and reciprocates until I’m limp as a noodle, sweating, panting, and completely satisfied.

Happy fucking birthday to me.

* * * * ** * * * *

Saturday, June 1

I slip into the metallic Michael Costello

dress, its rose gold, gold, and silver tones shimmering under the light. The fabric hugs my curves with a form-fitting stretch that makes me feel like a goddess. A one-inch-wide strap wraps up one side and crosses over to the back, leaving my shoulders bare and cutout. The long sleeves start mid-bicep, giving it an off-the-shoulder look, and cover my arms perfectly. The dress hugs my boobs and then cuts away with a large cutout on one side of my torso, extending around my back and leaving most of my midriff exposed. The side with the cutout has a six-inch fabric panel that transitions into another cutout—a two-inch by six-inch keyhole on my hip, teasing the upper portion of my tattoo.

The dress hits mid-thigh, a mini length that’s sexy as hell. I chose it with Leo in mind, knowing how much he loves my stomach. I want to drive him wild tonight, teasing him with one of his favorite parts of my body. Plus, I wanted to feel sexy and youthful as I step into my thirties. Leo had even given me his credit card and told me to buy any dress, shoes, or bag I wanted for my birthday. It felt indulgent but also incredibly sweet. The dress was totally affordable, but the Jimmy Choo clutch and Christian Louboutin shoes? Not so much.

Leo walks into the bathroom wearing a light-gray suit. Frozen except for his eyes, he slowly moves them down, undressing me in his mind.

He chuckles softly, “Jesus, babe. This dress is a weapon. I can’t walk around all night with a hard-on. You know I’ll have to steal you away for a shag, yeah?”

I stride over to him. “Can’t wait,” I murmur.

* * * * ** * * **

“Where are we going?” I ask Leo in the Uber. His hand rests on my thigh with mine atop his, fingers intertwined.

“It’s a surprise.”

“Come on, we’re almost there. Just tell me, so I know what to expect.”

He glances at me. “Fine… We’re going toAurora Sky Lounge, a rooftop venue in the heart of downtown. It has incredible views of the city’s skyline. Fantastic food too.”

I smile. “That wasn’t so hard, now, was it?” I say sarcastically, then turn serious. “I’m excited to see it. Thank you for planning something special for me.” I give his hand a squeeze, prompting him to kiss me in the back seat.

We arrive ten minutes later and take the elevator to the top floor and step out into a dimly lit room that buzzes with energy. The lounge is packed with people, and one wall is open, revealing the stunning rooftop patio outside. A row of semi-private cabanas lines the patio, each offering an intimate escape with a view of the city skyline.

We weave through the crowd, the sound of laughter and clinking glasses filling the air. I follow Leo as he guides me past the bustling bar and into a quieter hallway behind it. The sounds from the lounge become muffled as we walk further.

Just as I start to wonder where we’re headed, we reach a set of doors guarded by bouncers. Leo flashes a wristband, and the bouncers nod, opening the door and letting us through. We step into a spacious event area, and before I can take in my surroundings, a chorus of voices erupts.

“Happy Birthday!” a crowd of people yell.

“Jesus,” I laugh, clutching my chest. My heart races as I look around, my eyes wide with surprise. The room is beautifully decorated, with soft lighting casting a warm glow over the elegant setup. There’s a DJ booth in one corner, a dance floor ready for action, a small bar along the back wall, and cocktail servers moving gracefully between guests, offering drinks andhors d’oeuvres. The far wall of the event space is open, connecting to the shared rooftop patio, but bouncers are stationed nearby.

As I process the sight of my friends gathered to celebrate, a wide smile spreads across my face. I turn to Leo, who’s grinning from ear to ear, and now behind him stand Sarah and Ryan.

“Oh my God!” I cry out, and she runs to me. We embrace tightly, screaming and laughing with joy.

“Ahhhh, when did you get here?” I ask.

“Two days ago. It’s been killing me not to see you, but Leo didn’t want to ruin the surprise… I didn’t either, but I was tempted.”

I look to Leo. “How did you arrange this? I’m shocked, truly.”

“It wasn’t easy,” he says. “I had to steal your phone to get Sarah’s number, which was not as easy as it sounds because I had to do it while it was still fresh and open from you using it… I don’t know your password. We met two days ago when she arrived, and she helped me with some last-minute details of the party.”

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