Page 16 (1/2)

"I appreciate it," I told hiet a handle on your anger ement, then I think I can help you But you need to listen and take , and I’ll take you to the top"

"Done," I agreed with a rare smile

Chapter 7

I loved to watch E in the world to watch her pulse tick gently at her throat while her chest moved slowly up and down Every protective instinct in me flared to life, like my body knew she was at her most vulnerable and it was my job to protect her

Usually I could watch her sleep for hours Usually Today I paced back and forth in front of the bed waiting for her to open her eyes I’d already been for a five-y but it hadn’t worked What if she didn’t like it? Today was her twenty-first birthday I’d spent my twenty-first in a series of bars and fuck knohere after that I had no oing to be different though With everything that had gone down this year, she needed a day filled with happiness, and I was going to give it to her Her flushed, warrinned, amused by my excitement

"Happy birthday, baby," I whispered

"Best birthday ever," she replied

"How do you know? You’ve only just woken up," I asked

"Because it’s the first birthday I’ve ever woken up with you," she told me

God, sometimes it’s like she reached into my chest and held ed to her

Her ansas rewarded with another lingering kiss before I bounded from the bed to the kitchenette, full of excitey I opened the oven and put the pastries I had war on a plate, then placed them on the tray next to the expensive coffee I prayed was still hot Frowning down, I figured the tray needed so a couple of paper towels off the countertop, I folded theami style into a sailboat and placed it next to the pastries Placing the folded tea towel over my arm in my best imitation of a butler, I turned to look at her

"Ma’am, breakfast is served"

I’d like to say I walked the tray through to the breakfast room but our flat was so tiny that you were literally in the bedrooling in delight she sat up against the pillows and groaned sexily when she poured the coffee

"This is wonderful I can’t believe you did this," she squealed in delight

"I’ll be back in aa kiss on her forehead, I disappeared to get everything ready When I came back breakfast was over, and she was in the kitchenette washing dishes