I tipped my head back, this small sound leaving me, my heart racing so hard I felt it, heard it in my ears. His face had lost the grin, and now held a serious expression.
I didn’t know how long we stood there, but as he stared at me and I looked up at him, I felt the air change, shift. I felt it move around us, heat up again. I felt my arousal grow, my nipples harden, and my panties get wet. At the moment dinner was sounding like an afterthought.
I really didn’t want to have dinner right now. What I wanted was for Cannon to take me to his room and for us to do a repeat session of what we’d done last night.
He had the dish towel tossed over his shoulder and his hands wrapped around my waist, pulling me in close to his body. I got lost in the sensations.
I guess this solidified my thoughts and worries, washing them away so I didn’t even dwell on them.
There was no hesitation from Cannon. He was right here with me.
He slid his hand up my back and cupped my nape, just staring into my eyes. This moment felt surreal, as if we weren’t just two high school kids that had fallen in love, who had done some pretty dirty things just last night.
And then he leaned down and kissed me, and I closed my eyes and opened my mouth for him, sucking his tongue between my lips, letting his flavor move along my taste buds. He was masculine and spicy, with a hint of spearmint laced along his tongue.
When we pulled back we were both breathing heavily despite the kiss only lasting a few seconds. My eyes were still closed but I felt his finger move along my cheek, urging me to open, to look at him.
“Stella.” He whispered my name softly and I finally opened my eyes, staring into his blue ones. “I love you.” His words were this accelerant inside of me.
I felt myself grow even wetter, my arousal filling every erogenous zone in me until I came alive.
“Let’s skip dinner,” I found myself saying, and instantly felt my cheeks become hot at my bold suggestion. The corner of his mouth kicked up in a smirk and he chuckled softly.
“As much as I want to take you up on that offer, and probably will here shortly, there’s something I want to give you.” He took my hand and led me to the kitchen, but my legs felt weak and my pulse raced.
I kept replaying his words over and over in my head, how he’d ‘take me up on my offer shortly.’ I imagined all the things we’d do together, how dirty he’d be with me, how possessive and consuming I’d feel.
We stepped into the kitchen and I looked at the table, dinnerware set out, a bottle of wine in the center. The scent of something delicious filled the air.
“My mom loves her red wine, so she won’t miss one bottle,” he said and looked over his shoulder at me, giving me a wink.
He turned around carrying a small white box wrapped in a blue ribbon. He walked over and set it on the table, lifting his hand and cupping my cheek, smoothing his thumb along my bottom lip. But then he turned from me again and went toward the fridge, opening the door and pulling out a chocolate cake with a single candle in the center.
When he set it on the table, I looked down and saw he’d written ‘Happy Birthday, Stella’ in the center in teal. My favorite color. I didn’t want to cry, but he’d gone above and beyond, the little things that showed me he’d paid attention to detail, knew what I liked.
Before I could say anything, he picked up the little white box and handed it to me. I felt my hand shaking as I took it from him, pulled the blue ribbon off of it, and opened the lid. I could already feel tears welling up in my eyes as I stared down at the little sparrow necklace, the dainty chain, the little silver bird hanging from it, all of it having a tear sliding down my cheek before I could stop it.
“Shit. I didn’t mean to make you cry, Stella.”
I wiped away the wetness and shook my head, smiling up at him. “They’re tears of happiness, Cannon.” That had him smiling again, that worried expression leaving his face. He took the box from me, pulled the necklace out, and held it up.
“Can I put it on you?”
I nodded and lifted up my hair, turning around so he could place it around my neck.
“When I saw this, I knew it was perfect for you. I know how much you like sparrows, and I was hoping that every time you saw one, you’d think of me, of this moment.”