Tank shifted against her and she rubbed his thick neck. “I’m an idiot, Tank.
His tail thumped on the ground and she bent and kissed the top of his head. “C’mon, big guy, I’m about to make you real happy and sneak you a burger.”
* * *
“Happy Birthday, Princess.” Gideon’s arm slid around her waist and he kissed the side of her neck as he pressed his body against hers.
She shivered and set her glass of water on the counter. Gideon had disappeared upstairs as soon as they’d returned home, and she’d assumed he was having a shower.
“Did you enjoy your party?” he said.
She turned and draped her arms over his shoulders. “I did. Your sister is the best.”
“She’s okay,” he said.
She laughed and poked him in his flat stomach. “Be nice.”
“I’m always nice.”
She studied his odd coloured eyes before pressing a kiss against his mouth. “Let’s go to bed.”
“Soon,” he said. “I have something for you.”
He stepped back. A small white box with a red ribbon tied around it sat in the palm of his free hand. Grace immediately grabbed it and he laughed. “Have I ever told you how happy it makes me to watch you open gifts.”
“I love gifts. I know how that makes me look, but I really do love them. Its probably because my parents weren’t big gift givers.”
That wasn’t entirely accurate. They gave plenty of gifts to each other but when it came to their kid, they were remarkably absentminded about gift giving.
No, they were cruel, Gracie. Stop making excuses for them. They were cruel and neglectful parents who don’t give a shit about you and never will.
As if he was reading her thoughts, Gideon said, “Did you hear from your parents today?”
“No.”
A scowl descended over his face – a black angry cloud that she could practically hear thunder rolling out from – and she said, “It’s fine. I didn’t expect to hear from them.”
“That doesn’t make it fine,” he said.
She didn’t want to think about her parents, not when this was turning out to be one of her best birthdays ever, so she held the box out to him. “What is this?”
“Open it and find out, Princess.”
She untied the ribbon and lifted the lid from the box. “Oh my God. Gideon, it’s beautiful.”
“Do you like it?” he said.
She lifted the delicate gold bracelet from the box. “I love it. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
He took the bracelet when she handed it to him. “Can you help me put it on?”
He clasped it around her wrist, and she traced the lettering that spelled out her name. “I love it so much. Thank you.”
She kissed him and he slipped his arms around her waist to pull her in tight against him. He brushed his lips against hers in a slow caress. His soft and delicate kiss was light years different from how he usually kissed her.
This made her feel safe and loved. Like it didn’t matter what happened or what people thought, they would be together forever.
He pulled back and studied the tear that was sliding down her cheek. He wiped it away with his thumb. “Don’t be sad, Grace.”
“I’m not,” she said. “I promise.”
He kissed her again and this time she could taste the heat and the need in it. She pressed up tight against him, sliding her hands into his thick hair as he cupped her breast. He nuzzled her neck before smiling at her. “Is the birthday girl ready for her birthday spanking?”
Heat zapped her insides and stole her breath. She arched into his touch, not even the least bit ashamed by her obvious eagerness. “Yes.”
“Yes, what, Princess?” Gideon’s fingers pinched her nipple hard through her bra.
She moaned. “I… oh God… yes, please, sir.”
“Then follow me, birthday girl.” He gave her another sweet kiss and led her out of the kitchen.
* * *
Gideon checked his watch. Grace was running a bit late from work and it wasn’t helping his damn nerves. He glanced at Tank who was stretched out on the kitchen floor and snoring loudly. “Tank, it’s Saturday for God’s sake. How many root canals do they even do on a Saturday?”
Tank raised his head and stared blearily at him before farting. Gideon rolled his eyes. “Gross. Bad dog, Tank.”
The front door opened. Tank scrambled to his feet and raced from the kitchen. Gideon followed him, grinning a little when Tank rammed his large body against Grace’s and knocked her into the wall.
“Tank!” Grace pushed at the big dog. “Seriously, buddy. My ass is already sore and bruised.”
Gideon leaned against the wall. Watching Grace walk through the door of his house like she belonged here would never get old. Tank still had her pinned to the wall and his smile widened when she glanced at him and said, “A little help here? Your dog is trying to kill me.”
“Can you explain to me why Tank is now more excited when you get home from work than he is when I walk through the door?”
“I’m amazing and he knows it?” Grace pushed on Tank again and squeezed out from between him and the wall.
“Or you secretly feed him bacon when I’m not around.”
“It’s bits of hot dogs actually,” Grace said.
He laughed and kissed her when she stopped in front of him. “How was work?”
“Busy. Sorry I’m late. Did you go into work today?”
“For a while this morning. I had some paperwork I wanted to finish,” he said.
“Did you already start supper?”
“Actually, I have a birthday surprise planned for you. Change into casual clothes and comfortable shoes and then we’ll leave.”
“My birthday was yesterday.” She hooked her arms around his waist and kissed his chest.
“It’s the birthday weekend extravaganza.”
“Hmm,” she reached down and squeezed his ass. “I like the sounds of that. Does this birthday weekend extravaganza include lots of sex?”
“It’s definitely on the agenda.”
She smiled up at him. “Cool. But no more birthday spankings. Two different people at work today asked why I winced every time I sat down. I had to make up a story about pulling my groin at yoga.”
He laughed until tears came to his eyes. She palmed his ass before giving it a light spank. “It’s not funny, Sheriff Walker.”
“It’s hilarious.” He rubbed her ass lightly through her scrub pants. “But I’ll give your ass a few days to heal. Unless, of course, you don’t follow the rules.”
“I didn’t break the rules yesterday.”
“It was a special occasion.” His cock was hard just thinking about how Grace had looked last night, bent over the bed with her ass in the air. He’d probably spanked her a little harder than he should have, but she hadn’t safe worded. When he’d spread her legs after her spanking, her pussy and her inner thighs were soaking wet and she’d orgasmed at the first touch of his tongue against her clit.
The realization that Grace loved to be spanked and loved a little pain with her pleasure, made the idea that this would have to end soon even more difficult to accept. How the fuck was he supposed to live without her when she was the perfect woman for him?