Josephine

It's already almost my birthday.

Two months have flown by so quick yet so slow with Leo.

I've been cherishing every single second with him.

Every glance, touch, kiss...

Most times we spend it at my place just doing nothing, or cooking, or watching a movie...

But we also spend a great time making out and getting to know each other better in both a physical and emotional sense.

Each time I open my door, he enters my apartment, frames my face and we look at each other for a few seconds before we maul each other's faces.

We never go further than just making out and I'm not sad about it. It's like we're both teasing each other with kisses and touches, daring the other to take the plunge into the next step, but neither of us really does. We're both enjoying this phase we're in.

My brothers have somehow been texting me before they come over. They don't ask for permission, though, they just let me know. But at least it's better than nothing, so I'm taking what I can get.

And I've picked up the habit of locking my door when I'm at home, so I'm not surprised anymore. Roman still pretends this is his place and comes whenever he likes. But he knows when I'm at work and he only comes over when there's no one home.

I don't mind one bit.

Tomorrow is my birthday but I have to work, so Leo told me he wants to spend this morning with me as in the evening, I'm spending time with my family.

Someone knocks on my door, and I know it's Leo.

"You can just come in, you know." I tell him when I open the door to let him in. "You still have a spare key from last time."

"I know." He approaches me and cups my jaw. "But what if you were naked?"

I smile. I always say that to my brothers when they just enter my apartment.

"Would that be so bad?" I fire back.

He hums, his eyes glinting as he lowers his face to mine and kisses me.

My arms wrap around his waist and I raise to my tip toes for better advantage.

A soft sigh leaves my lips at the way his body feels against mine. We fit together so well, even though we're not nearly the same height.

His arms tighten around me, and my toes lose their contact with the ground as he lifts me.

"Are you done getting ready?" He barely pulls away to ask.

"I was waiting till you get here so I can apply lipstick." I kiss his cheek.

He sets me on the ground, grabs my arms so they wrap around his neck instead of his waist.

"Good, because I would've smeared it all over your face." His fingers give my ass a squeeze and I giggle.

Suddenly, he hoists me by the back of my thighs and I instinctively wrap my legs around his hips.

"Where's your purse?" He's already walking to my bedroom.

"I have legs." I chuckle as I leave soft kisses on his face.

"You do?" He snatches my purse. "Is your lipstick in here?"

"It is. I'll put it on in the car."

He resumes walking outside my room and locks my front door with me in his arms.

When he takes the first step down, I wiggle so he can put me down, but he tightens his hold on me.

"We're going to fall. Let me walk."

"It's your birthday." He kisses my temple. "No walking for you today."

"Oh, yeah?"

"Oh, fucking yeah." His teeth sink into my top lip and he pulls on it.

My body tingles and my stomach's in knots at the action. It's so hot.

He's so hot.

He opens the car door and sets me inside, helping me secure my seatbelt.

"So, what are we doing? If I can't walk today." I ask him when he sits behind the steering wheel.

He turns his face to me and gives me a secretive smile. "It's a surprise."

"I like surprises." I shrug.

He collars the back of my neck with his large hands and leans into me for one last thorough kiss before starting the engine and driving off.

•••

"A hot-air balloon!" I screech, turning to face him.

He pulls the car keys from the ignition and faces me. "You like your surprise?"

I gape at him. "I love it." I unbuckle and open the door. He's in front of me before I can jump down.

"Nuh, uh." He tsks. "No walking, remember?"

"You're serious?" I thought he was joking.

"Dead serious. You deserve to be pampered extra on your special day." He glides one arm under my knees and the other over my back. He picks me up bridal style and I muffle my laughter in his neck.

"This is crazy."

"You love it."

"I do." I confess and peck his neck. "Oops."

I've left a pink lipstick mark on his skin.

"Leave it." He winks at me. I feel a wave of shyness suddenly and hide my face in his chest. "We'll be the only two on the ride, along with the aeronaut."

The workers set everything up while Leo keeps me in his arms. I protest and tell him to put me down, but he refuses. He eventually has to put me down so we can climb into the box.

"Ha." I point at the ground. "I'm on my feet."

He cages me with his hands on the railing next to me.

"I have no problem having you in my arms for the next two hours."

My hands glide from his chest to his biceps. "Hmm. Are you sure?" I tease.

He glided his nose along my neck, and his breaths land on my ear before he speaks. "My arms are strong enough to hold you for hours. And for more."

My lower region jumps at the tone of his voice. Grave and daring.

I'm about to ask what this 'more' he's talking about is, but the driver of this thing tells us to hold on as we raise in the air.

"This is amazing." I whisper, then turn my face so I can meet his eyes. My back is to his chest as he hugs me from behind and we're both looking at the view. "Thank you."

He answers in a dazzling kiss.

•••

Leo kills the engine after he's parked in front of his parents' house—excuse me, I meant castle. It's huge and reminds me of one of those castles you see in historical movies.

He needed to grab something before he dropped me off and I said yes since we'll be riding past his place, anyway. More time to spend with him.

"Wanna come with?" He asks. "I'll be quick."

"Sure." I bet the inside is even more extravagant than the outside.

I roll my eyes as he puts his arm under my knees and the other around my shoulders and picks me up again.

"You're ridiculous." I laugh.

When we enter, it's dead silent and there's no one in sight.

"My parents are out." He tells me.

Only a few lights are on, enough to guide us.

"So, what did you need to grab?" I ask as my eyes try to capture every little detail. There's a modern aspect to the design but you can tell they tried to keep as much of the old fashion architecture as possible.

"An ax." He says in a mock scary voice.

I fake gasp. "So you can murder me?"

We both laugh and I'm slightly surprised when he puts me down. He opens a glass door and slides it to the left before taking my hand.

It's around nine at night and I can't see anything. That's until he flicks a light and people jump while screaming 'happy birthday' at me.

Surprised, I take a step back to see everyone standing there.

My two best friends, Candice and Ananya. Leo's brother and his fiancé. A blonde woman I vaguely remember is his cousin's wife and lastly Nicole.

Leo's arms wrap around me from behind, and he rests his chin on my shoulder.

"Happy birthday, honey."

"What..." I murmur, still in shock. Candy and Anya run to me and hug me tightly.

My eyes turn heavy as I tear up when everyone hugs me and wishes me a happy birthday.

When I've greeted everyone, I face Leo and his eyes are already on me.

"Leo..." I whisper, my voice hoarse from all types of different emotions.

I've never had a surprise birthday party before. And it means everything to me that he planned this day full for us.

"I asked Julian if it'd be okay if they celebrated your twenty-third in a few days instead of tonight." He tells me, one hand on my cheek and the other around my waist.

"This is amazing. Thank you so much."

How can he be so perfect?

Izzy ushers me to the cake that's in the shape of a cupcake. "Make a wish and then blow out the candles."

Nicole snickers and she and Leo share a smile. Probably some inside joke between them.

I think about what kind of wish to make, but there's nothing to wish for, really. I'm content with everything I now have.

So I blow out the candles while meeting Leo's eyes.

• ••• •

A/N:

Where's my own Leo so he can carry me on my birthday? 😩😩