29. Bennett

Bennett

Dawn"s soft light filtered through the curtains as I tiptoed out of bed a few days later, careful not to disturb Xander"s sleep. Today was a special day, and I was determined to make it unforgettable. Barefooted, I headed to the kitchen to start the ball rolling.

Cracking eggs into a bowl, I whisked them, imagining the smile that would soon grace my baby's face. Bacon sizzled in the pan, its aroma mingling with freshly brewed coffee. The breakfast tray was shaping up beautifully.

"He"s going to love this." I tried to ignore the nagging thought that the bacon might be a tad too crispy. I placed sliced strawberries on the plate, arranging them meticulously.

Balancing the tray, I slipped back into the bedroom. Xander"s sleepy eyes met mine with a smile, like a sunflower opening up in the morning light. His gaze landed on the breakfast-laden tray, and his face brightened, a sight that flooded my chest with warmth.

"Happy first of many birthdays together, babe." Emotions welled up inside me. I cleared my throat. "I hope we get to celebrate all your future birthdays together."

His soft "Thank you" was followed by him pulling me down for a kiss that tasted of sleep and morning breath but was sweet nonetheless. It was tender and full of promise.

As we broke apart, I noticed his eyes shimmering with unshed tears. My heart dropped, fearing I might have stirred up a painful memory.

"My parents… they never really celebrated my birthday." Xander"s face twisted into a wistful expression. "Being born on December 30th seemed like the worst luck in the world, at least to my mom. ‘Alexander, dear, your birthday is just too close to New Year's Eve.'" His voice softened with a hint of bitterness. "My earliest memories are of their annual New Year's Eve party, where they entertained their wealthy friends and business associates and claimed they were celebrating my birthday too." He paused, staring out the window, lost in thought. "They never had a separate celebration for me."

With a nonchalant shrug, he pulled himself out of the painful memory and continued speaking. "As I grew older, I learned to ignore my birthdays altogether." He swung his gaze to me and said, as if the thought had suddenly struck him, "How did you know it was my birthday?"

"It"s my business to know everything about the man I love."

Xander chuckled, but there was an undercurrent of emotion in his laughter. "I'm embarrassed." His cheeks flushed a deep red, and he rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. His eyes darted away, unable to meet mine. "I can"t believe how emotional I am over a stupid birthday..."

I stepped closer and gently tipped his chin up, ensuring our eyes met. "The only people who should be embarrassed are the ones who failed to acknowledge their son"s existence. And there's absolutely nothing stupid about your birthday." I hoped my voice was steady and reassuring to his ears, but just in case, I held his gaze for a moment longer, letting my words sink in. Then I smiled and lightly squeezed his shoulder. "Now let"s eat before breakfast gets cold. And brace yourself, babe. I have a lot planned for you today."

My boyfriend's eyes sparkled. "This is my first truly celebrated birthday," he said as he set the tray carefully on the floor. His gaze shifted back to me, intense and predatory, like a hungry lion sizing up its next meal. "Lose the robe, Ry."

My mind went blank for a moment. "But…" I stuttered, taken aback by this change of events.

"Off. Now." His command was firm as he positioned himself at the center of the bed, legs splayed invitingly.

Swallowing my surprise, I complied and let the robe slide off my body.

"Get the lube and come here," he instructed again, patting his lap.

Well, that was an invitation I couldn't refuse. With adrenaline coursing through my veins, I quickly followed my man's instructions. The warmth from his hand seeped into my skin as it wrapped around the nape of my neck, pulling me into a dizzying kiss while simultaneously prying the lube from my grip. He deftly applied it to both our cocks before tossing the tube aside.

"Wrap your legs around me," Xander whispered against my lips as he hoisted my thighs onto his shoulders. Obliging him willingly, I tightened my grip around his neck with anticipation humming under my skin.

With my legs draped over Xander"s broad shoulders, I pulled him closer – his hands gripping my hips as our bodies moved in a rhythm that was as merciless as it was passionate. The friction between us was intoxicating – the way our erections slid against each other, setting a pace that had my heart pounding in my chest.

"Xander," I gasped out, my voice hitching as the pleasure spiked. His name tasted sweet on my tongue, like the finest of wines or the rarest of delicacies. His grunts of satisfaction were music to my ears, low and primal, driving me further into this wild frenzy.

The scent of him filled my nostrils – sweat and musk mingling with the faint hint of his body wash. It was an intoxicating blend that made me dizzy with desire.

Our eyes locked together; his were dark and intense, burning with passion. The sight of him, strong and powerful yet so tender in his touches, overwhelmed me.

"I need you," he breathed out against my skin, his lips brushing against mine in a tantalizing tease before claiming them with fervor. His words echoed in my mind like a mantra, reinforcing what our bodies already knew – we needed each other.

My fingers dug into his back while our groins continued their dance, every brush of skin against skin drawing out moans from both of us. The sensation was overwhelming, our bodies slick with sweat.

"I can"t hold back..." That familiar tightening sensation coiling within me was like a spring ready to snap at any moment.

His response came through gritted teeth, "Neither can I..." And then we surrendered to the pleasure together; climaxing in unison as we rode out wave after wave until we were spent, our bodies entwined.

Later, when we entered the locker room to get ready for our pre-game preparations, Xander discovered the other surprise I had orchestrated. Balloons floated from the ceiling, banners adorned the walls, and streamers crisscrossed them. In the center stood a table with a birthday cake decorated in our team colors: teal, turquoise and maroon, surrounded by a group of our smiling teammates. Jester, wearing a silly birthday hat, busted out an impromptu dance that had us all in stitches. Then he presented Xander with a card signed by everyone.

"Damn, Ry, you really went all out." The birthday boy grinned, his eyes sparkling.

"Anything for you." I'm not gonna lie; I was relieved that the surprise had been successful. "Now let"s win this game for your birthday."

The guys cheered.

As we prepared for the game, my mind kept drifting back to that sleepy smile, my lover"s body pressed against mine. Love and desire coursed through me.

Focus, Bennett.

The arena lights cast a warm glow on us as we entered the final period, sweat glistening on our bodies. Our breaths came out in huffs, visible in the chilly air. Xander was playing like a dream

"Come on, boys! Let"s do this for Xander!" Adrenaline coursed through my veins.

"Copy that, Bullet!" That mischievous glint in Jester's eyes never faded even in the heat of battle.

With teamwork and sheer will, we fought tooth and nail against our opponents. Each goal was a victory not just for us, but for Xander"s birthday too. When the horn sounded, we emerged victorious with a score of 3-1. We could hardly contain our excitement as we threw our arms around each other, celebrating our hard-fought victory.

"Damn, you guys were on fire tonight." Xander beamed as we made our way into the locker room.

"Of course, we had to give you a proper birthday win." I grinned, leaning in for a quick kiss before we were pulled apart by our teammates, clapping our backs and sharing hugs.

The night was filled with camaraderie, but it was the moment we returned home that I had truly looked forward to.

"Thanks, Ry. This day has been incredible." Xander wrapped his arms around me, his body fitting perfectly against mine.

Warmth and fulfilment washed over me, knowing that I had brought so much happiness to the man I loved. The meticulous planning and execution – every bit of it was worth this moment. Settling into the familiar contours of our worn-out couch, I pulled Xander close to me. In my hands, a customized keepsake box rested, its polished surface gleaming in the muted light. I handed it over to him, watching as his fingers traced the engraved words etched on the lid – "To My Sunshine. Strength. Love. Victory. Always. Berry."

"Open it," I encouraged gently, my heart pounding in anticipation of his reaction.

My boyfriend"s eyes widened as he took in the intricate design and craftsmanship. He carefully opened the wooden box, revealing a small collection of our shared memories – photos, ticket stubs, the pick from the Orion Skye concert, and other mementos from our relationship.

"This is amazing." His voice was thick with emotion. "You have no idea how much this means to me."

"Every moment we"ve shared has been priceless. I wanted to give you something that symbolizes our love and commitment to each other." My own emotions threatened to overwhelm me.

"Words can"t express how grateful I am for everything you"ve done today," Xander murmured, pulling me into a tight embrace. "I love you, Berry."

"Love you too, Sunshine," I held him close, our hearts beating in sync. "And if you ever tell anyone about the bacon, I"ll deny it."