Page 68 of The Restoration Program
The birthday candles reflected in Ryan’s eyes, but he was looking ather.
“I wish I could freeze time,” he said. “Remember this moment exactly how it is right now.”
“Amateur,” she said, popping a hand onto her hip. “Now it won’t come true.”
“Maybe my other wishes will. You look…incredible. I thought you threw that dress away.”
Nicole’s cheeks glowed from the praise, the way Ryan adoringly looked over the sequined gown hugging her body.
“I decided I was just waiting for a special occasion. Now hurry up, I specifically ordered a cakewithoutcandle wax all over it.”
He leaned forward and blew out the candles. As the smoke cleared, he kissed her on the cheek. Nicole touched his chin and pulled him into a deeper caress. She broke away just as abruptly, excitedly pressing the living room light switch on the phone app and running to grab the parcel behind the cake.
“Babe, I can…” Ryan reached half-heartedly to help her, but she wouldn’t hear of it. Nicole dragged the package over to him like it was a hefty sandbag. She flopped to a seat on his arm, motioning for him to tear into it.
“I can’t believe you did all this,” he said.
Her jaw dropped. “Youcan’t? That’s insulting.”
He chuckled. “You’re right. I forgot who I’m dealing with.”
She swayed from the movement as he gingerly unwrapped the present. Although Darlene had tried to help, Nicole had insisted on taping it up on her own. The result was less than perfect, but she was proud nonetheless.
The moment he looked at the shirt waiting under the wrapping paper, she knew she had picked the perfect shade of green to make his blue eyes pop. He touched the fabric contemplatively.
“It’s… different,” he said.
“All you wear is white and blue!”
“And gray sometimes.” He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “Thank you. I love it.”
Nicole scooted off his arm when he reached for the knife to cut into the cake. After serving himself a generous piece, he started to work on cutting a tiny one for her. By the time he finished with the delicate task, she was already leaning over the side of his plate and helping herself to his slice.
“Hey.” He looked at her in disbelief. “I thoughtIwas supposed to get the first taste.”
Nicole sat on the edge of the plate and crossed her ankles, innocently licking frosting off her fingers. “Oh, my bad. Here, babe.” She muddied her hands again by grabbing a fistful of chocolate cake and frosting. Holding it up, she beckoned him closer.
His playfully offended expression twitched into intrigue. Eyes glinting, he leaned in. Instead of feeding him, she reared her hand back and smacked the cake onto his cheek, smearing it.
Gasping, he pulled back and reached for his slice. In one smooth movement, he gathered a dollop of frosting on his finger and lashed back with it on her cheek in retaliation.
“Oh come on, that’s like my entire face!” she whined, scrambling away. She scooped up more and threw it up high, hitting his chin.
“You started it!” He wiped the frosting away and chased after her with his hand.
She yelped and clambered behind the cake. He moved the plate aside easily and didn’t give her a chance to find more cover. His fingers locked around her waist and swept her off her feet, bringing her in front of his face.
Her protests melted into giggles as he kissed the frosting off her face. The tip of his tongue nudged up and down her cheek, making her squeal. Somewhere along the way, his teasing morphed into tenderness. His kisses became deeper, slower.
When he finally pulled back to look at her, neither of them had to say a word to know what they wanted next. He abandoned the cake, whisking her off to the bedroom.
This wasn’t the fuck she wanted, but it got the job done. The rhythm was becoming a familiar one. Ryan’s breathing swirled around her like a hurricane. Nicole fisted the sheets beneath her with one hand—the other was busy working the wetness under the veil of her thong. Ryan jerked himself off mutually.
One of his hands was pressed into the bed beside her; his muscled body was the sky above her. He descended on her with too-large kisses against her neck, her breasts, her face. Nicole bit his lip when he lingered, eliciting a pleased noise that rumbled into her center.
He kissed her neck again and Nicole leaned her head back, sighing. He lookedfantastic, but it was an Olympic feat for her to feel sexy while she was rocked on the bedding. The desire that had flooded her earlier flickered like a dying light despite her attempts to hold onto it. She did her best for his sake to make her gasps shrill and brimming with ecstasy. When Ryan gave a loud moan and finished, she tried not to look too relieved that the ordeal was over.
He rolled off of her, stretching out on his back to her right. Nicole crawled closer to him.
