Like That

Chapter 27 - Happy Birthday to Me

Warning: This chapter contains sexual content. It is not written to offend or meant to be explicit. Hopefully affection has been expressed in good taste.

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For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul. - Judy Garland



Chapter 27 - Happy Birthday to Me



Cooper's POV:

She kisses me with such tenderness, taking my top lip between hers and running her tongue across it. She wraps her arms around my neck, while the fingers of one hand runs through my hair. I feel her pulling herself closer to me. My hands are busy appreciating her bare skin with light touches from nape to lower back. Her kisses become more insistent and she squeezes my arm before deepening our kiss further.

I told her I loved her in what sounded like nothing more than an excited utterance, but I will not take the words back. I do not expect her to reciprocate my feelings this early in our relationship, but I also don't want to scare her away. Her only response was this kiss, which I take as 'not' a rejection. Maybe this isn't scary for her.

I have never loved a woman as deeply as I love Emily. Not that I couldn't, but because I never tried. Every relationship in my past began with the physical...the chemistry. With Emily, it started with her...just her. I was attracted from the second I saw her, but this love grew without the physical relations spurring it along. This is the love of a lifetime, the love of my life.

As we break apart I place my finger on her lips. "I don't expect you to say it back. I want you know how I feel about you." She watches my face as I talk. "It may have felt like I said it in a flippant way, like I don't really mean it, but I do. I do I love you. I have for a while. I wasn't going to tell you, yet. I wasn't sure you were ready to hear it, but you and your gifts overwhelmed me. No one has ever put so much thought in giving me a gift as you have done today...and I couldn't help but tell you, I love you. I truly, truly love you."

I move my finger away from her and replace it with my lips. My kiss is soft, sweet, and reverent showing with my lips the love I feel for her. She accepts my kiss and deepens it...not a rejection.

I feel a subject change is needed. "I really never liked kissing until I met you." I say, giving her a cocky smirk that makes her smile.

She looks at my face and takes in every facet, and accepts my opportunity to switch gears. Her hand touches my cheek and her thumb moves over my lips. "Is that a line?" She asks with a cutesy little smile on her face.

"No, honest. When I'm with you I just want to wrap you in my arms, and drink you in." She gives me a knowing smirk and her hand squeezes mine. I say, "Thank you. Thank you for the most perfect birthday."

Her eyes light up, "It's not over, yet." She leans over and gives me a chaste kiss, "Let me check on dinner, and you still have to dance with me." She tries to walk away and I pull her back to me and worship her lips for a little while longer.

I pick up her iPod and check the songs on her playlist, looking for a song I thought I heard earlier. Sure enough, my ears were not deceiving me. "Will you dance with me?" I reach for her hand when she returns from the kitchen.

"Yes, I'd love to." I take her in my arms, and hold her tight against my body. I bend down enough for my cheek to meet her forehead as John Mayer sings a sultry song about being on the edge of desire. I stroke her back and hair, letting the words of the song speak for us.

As the song plays, a surge of electricity runs through my body sending my thoughts straight to making love, and how much I want Emily. I hear her breath hitch as my right hand holds firmly to her lower back and pull her closer to me. I place feathery kisses on her bare shoulder, and travel up to her ear. The unmistakable sound of passion can be heard in her breathing. She's feeling this and maybe even thinking this, too. I pull her earlobe between my lips, running my tongue around her earring. I can hear her breath over mine...slow down...not, yet...I tell myself. I put my forehead to hers, "I never thought such a slow song could make my heart beat so fast," I tell her.

"It was the song, was it? I thought it was the man singing in my ear."

I joke, "John was singing in your ear?" She giggles

"No, this incredibly sexy man in my arms was serenading me, and now I think I have a new favorite song." She smiles at me and I lean down and plant a kiss on her lips.

"Dinner should be ready now. Let me go get that."

"I'll help." I follow her to the kitchen, and help her put the food on plates for us.

"I didn't know your favorite food, and since I had only thought of this yesterday, I didn't want to ask and ruin the surprise." I told her it looks great. "I chose food for the pickiest man I know, CJ. If I thought he might eat it, then maybe you would like it, too. Is that wrong?"

"No, that's great. I'm not very picky when it comes to food. And like I said this looks and smells amazing." She made roasted lamb, summer vegetables with rice pilaf, and a Caesar salad. We each took a salad and dinner plate to return to our little oasis on the deck.

"Do you want to continue with your Merlot or would like a glass of Malbec?" She asks, as she picks up another bottle of wine, and tucks in under her arm. I've never tried a Malbec, and she explains the difference and how each pairs with the lamb. Even though I feel more comfortable with the Merlot, I'm willing to try something new.

With the sky changing in colors, and the music playing in the background...this is like a tiny piece of heaven. Emily lets me open the wine as she sits down, and then I sit beside her...watching the sunset as we eat. "This is amazing. When did you make this? I was with you the whole afternoon." Appreciating the food before me, made by the woman I adore.

"Some women would be upset that the boyfriends don't pay attention to what they are doing. I on the other hand am pretty happy about it, or at least I am today. I was finishing the food prep, when you came in for me to help with your tie." She says as he smoothes the tie down my chest. "Now, tomorrow, I may get upset. So, watch it." She smirks, and I salute her with a hearty "Yes, ma'am."

For a long time we sit in silence letting the music and lights set the mood. The dishes sit empty, stacked neatly in on the table, and I hold Emily's hand rubbing my thumb over her knuckles. "I love you," I whisper and kiss the back of her hand.

Her eyes sparkle and she reaches over to kiss my lips. "I made you a birthday cake. If you're ready for dessert." I nod. I help her take the dirty dishes into the house, as she pulls cake from the refrigerator.

"Italian Cream Cake?" I ask as she places my cake in the middle of kitchen island. "You told me once that this was one of your favorite desserts. I hope you like it." It wasn't even a question she had asked. I remember I had seen it on the menu, and I told her it had been a while since I endulged in such a rich dessert...but it's always worth it...it was said in passing...she remembered. And her thoughtfulness is amazing...my heart begins to pound. God, this woman is unbelievably perfect.

She cuts a slice, settles some on a fork, and then holds the fork for me to taste. I rake the bite into my mouth with my lips, and then lick the fork suggestively watching her eyes darken as she watches me. "Delicious," I say mirroring her look. The fork drops, and her mouth is devoured once again.

"I want to stay tonight." She nods, as she tries to catch her breath.

We take our cake outside to enjoy, and turn off the small Christmas lights. With only the candles, it is easier to see the fireflies at the edge of the woods. I ask her dance once we finish the last bite of cake. I help James Morrison sing about being a better man while holding her in my arms.

In her room, I stand beside her bed as walks to me. She looks nervous, timid, and maybe a little bit shy. "I'm just wanting to hold you. As much as my body wants to make love to you, we are not ready." Her face looks puzzled and I kiss her forehead, as I put my hand on the center of her chest. "I'm not here, yet. And with you, I am very patient." I hear her expel a deep breath almost as a thank you.

"That doesn't mean I'm not going to worship you with my mouth...a lot." I tell her. She looks at me in awe, as I take in the gift of her.

Making myself comfortable on the edge of the bed, I run the back of my hands down the sides of her body. I watch her face as my right hand finds her zipper. She nods her approval, and I unzip her dress. My fingers travel inside her dress to the edge of her panties, before both hands make a return trip back up to her neck. With my eyes I ask permission to unbutton her dress. Again, she answers with a nod.

My breathing increases, and I can hear her labored breath, also. "You are so beautiful." I say before her dress is released from my fingers. "So, so beautiful," as my eyes scan her body. From head to toe, she is the most beautiful creature I've ever met. Her long dark blonde hair is full of soft curls that flow down her back; her blue eyes darken as she watches me memorize her.

All that remains of her clothing is her blue lace boy shorts and her heals. She is standing before me as a dream, no more like a fantasy. "I love you." Her breathing increases and her eyes begin to glisten. A tear escapes the corner of her eye, and I wipe it away and wrap my arms around her. "I'm sorry, don't cry. Does it bother you that I tell you how I feel?" She shakes her head, and I kiss her temple.

She licks her lips and pulls my face to hers. She gently moves her mouth over mine, tasting my lips with hers. I let out a groan, as my hands settle on her butt. My fingers trace the lace pattern of her underwear. Suddenly the kiss changes from want to need, as her tongue invades my mouth and our dance begins.

My lips move away from hers and travel down her neck, as my hands move her hair to one side. I take one finger and mark to route of which my mouth will travel, across her shoulder, back to the center of her chest, to her right breast, around her nipple, and then repeat to the left side of her body. I sear my path with my lips and tongue and teeth, while her heart pounds in her chest and small sounds escape her throat.

"I...oh...I..." I place my finger over her lips. "Don't. Don't say it, just feel." No words need to be said, because our hearts are busy talking. Mine is saying 'I love you,' while hers is saying 'I'm getting there."

Her hands move to my neck and she takes off my tie, and begins to unbutton my shirt. I stand so she can un-tuck, and pull it from my shoulders. Small adoring kisses pepper my neck, shoulders and linger on the center of my chest...her favorite place. She takes a step away from me, without words she asks to unbutton my trousers. With my nod, her small hands glide my pants to the floor, and I watch her as her eyes travel the length of my body. I hear her breath hitch. "I don't know what to say," she whispers.

"I don't understand."

"I don't think I'm supposed to call you beautiful, but handsome doesn't sound good enough." I chuckle. "Say what ever you want then." She nods her head.

"You are one amazing site. You are an absolutely beautiful man." She says as she runs her hand down my chest. My body is screaming at me to take her, to love every part of her intimately...but my mind knows better. There is nothing more important right now than to feed this desire, but not extinguish the flame. My lips taste hers in a reverent, but passionate embrace.

I sit on the bed; take off my shoes, socks, and pants (that were still around my ankles). Emily slips off her shoes, and comes to sit on my lap. Her breasts softly touch my chest, as she lets me kiss her. Without a word, I pick her up, move the covers back, and lay her in the bed.

I move beside her, and she places her cheek on the center of my chest. I love it when she does that. Even with my heart racing, I can almost feel my blood pressure drop. It's funny how her touch can excite me and set me on fire one minute...but be peaceful and calm the next. "I love you." I say and she places her lips to the center of my chest.

For a few hours we touch and kiss and hold each other, never more than gentle exploration...no action is used to tease, just to give pleasure. It is a chance for our bodies to become comfortable with one another. As future lovers we learn each other's wants and needs.



The shades are drawn, but the sunlight still filters through the room. Emily covers her naked breast by being cuddled up against my back with her hand on the center of my chest...déjà vu. I know we fell asleep with her in my arms and her head on my chest, but she has moved us around into this position, again. One of my hands travels down her leg before finding a home on her hip, while my other hand covers her hand. "Hmmm," escapes her throat. "Good morning," she says in a very sexy sleepy voice.

"Good morning. I could get used to this," I tell her, before I flip over to admire her beautiful face.

Before I left work yesterday, I had planned to go in late...now I want to play hooky. I want her all to myself for as long as I can. Making the most of the moment, my mouth blazes a trail to her breasts, and our morning exploration begins.

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Please comment and/or vote

Your feedback helps me stay focued and motivated.

I have posted the song Edge of Desire by John Mayer (instead of James Morrison's Better Man, which I was expecting to post),

I also posted a picture of Emily's deck, it just needs a dining table.

In my head Cooper's singing voice is somewhere between Darius Rucker and James Morrison...soulful and soothing.