“That’s my birthday cake,” Ryan retorted, “which I was enjoying until you all so rudely barged your way into our house.”
“Ryan!” she wailed through the laughter and catcalls. He joined in the laughter and she glared. “You won’t get your present later.”
He sobered. “Later? Why can’t I have it now?”
Fin flushed all over again. “Because.”
“That’s gotta be something good,” Tex said around a mouthful of chips as he launched himself into the armchair, his eyes glued to the television.
“Christ, Ryan.” Kyle slapped him on the back as he passed by into the living room. “You lucky bastard.”
“Excuse us,” Ryan said to the room. He grabbed her hand and despite her resistance, dragged her effortlessly up the hallway.
“Ryan. What are you doing?”
“I want my present.”
Another loud thump came from the front door, but it flew open before they could do anything. Rachael came through, followed by Fin’s cousin Laura and Jess, another friend from Fin’s years at university.
Without pausing, Ryan nodded towards the living room. “They’re all in there.”
Fin shrugged helplessly at the wide eyes and raised brows before she was shoved inside the bedroom and the door slammed shut behind her.
She spun around and folded her arms. “Well, that was rude.”
“I don’t care. I’m the birthday boy. I can do what I want.”
She shivered and he grinned, knowing full well how much she loved his controlling behaviour in the bedroom.
“I’ll remember this when it’s my birthday.”
“Good. I’ll look forward to it. Now take off your dress.”
“Ryan! No. We have guests, and I have a cake in the oven.”
“So we’ll be quick.” He folded his arms and leaned back against the closed door as the muffled sound of loud talking interspersed with laughter filtered through. “Take it off or I’ll rip it off.”
Fin closed her eyes, throbbing at the heat in his words.
“You’d like that, wouldn’t you? Me ripping off your dress.”
Determination darkening his eyes, he strode towards her and her breath caught in her throat. Grasping the hem of her dress in her fingers, she pulled it off with hurried, jerky movements.
Ryan’s eyes roamed over the tiny pink creation of lace that barely held her breasts together. “You know pink is my favourite colour on you,” he muttered hoarsely. His eyes lowered further and he froze. “What the fuck is that?”
“That’s your present,” she whispered.
“Get on the bed, baby, and lie down,” he ordered.
Fin felt his eyes on her as he stepped towards the bed. Climbing over the soft, cool sheets, she lay down and rolled onto her back. Ryan was right behind her. Leaning over her body, she watched as he hooked his thumbs in her pink lace panties and peeled them down a fraction. With hands that shook slightly, Ryan reached for the rectangular bandage that covered the hollow below her right hipbone. With gentle fingers, he peeled the tape from her skin and folded the bandage over.
“Fin,” he breathed. “I …” He swallowed as he stared at the tattoo of his name in swirling black script. The initial was an oversized flourish and at the end sat a tiny little pink heart. His eyes flew to hers. “It’s beautiful.”
Her eyes swam at the love so bright in his eyes. “Someone once said to me that I’ve always been his, and that even if he never got to keep me, I’d still be his. Well I’m yours, Ryan, and even if you have to leave me, I’ll always be yours.”
Ryan crawled up over her and ducked his head, his lips hovering close to hers. “It’s perfect. You’re perfect.”
“Fin!” Rachael shouted from somewhere down the hall. “The oven is screaming. Make it stop!”
“Dammit,” Fin mumbled.
Chuckling, Ryan stood and taking her hands in his, helped her off the bed. He reached for her dress and it held it out to her. “We better get out there and rescue my cake.”
Fin took the dress from his hands and slipped it over her head. “I thought we were going to be quick?”
Ryan shook his head as he stepped towards her. His hand slid around her neck, untucking her hair from the dress until it tumbled down her back. “I can’t be quick after seeing that. I need slow. I need to fall asleep with your thighs wrapped around me and the taste of you on my lips. That’s worth waiting a little longer for.”
Ryan returned to the living room as Fin raced in the other direction, heading for the kitchen to switch off the timer and rescue the cake. Tex handed him another beer after he kissed Rachael and Laura on the cheek in greeting.
“You remember Jess from Fin’s farewell party, don’t you?”
He nodded at her with a polite smile. He never forgot a face. “I do. It’s nice to see you again.”
Tex and Monty roared at the television as someone took a dive over the line with the football. Kyle peeled his eyes away and looked at him. “So don’t leave us hanging, asshole. What was the present?”