“Thank you, Ryder, it’s the most beautiful thing I have ever received,” I tell him honestly.“Well, besides my guitar,” I quickly amend with a grin. Ryder chuckles, pushing back a honey blonde strand before kissing me sweetly on the temple. I breath in his scent, that masculine cologne I adore, and just Ryder.
“Are we heading to the club?” I ask him.
“Yeah, we should probably go keep an eye on them all,” Ryder says in mock exasperation. We both jump in the shower and get dressed to head out to Steele. I put my hair up in a high ponytail, teasing the front up. I choose an emerald green mini dress, it's strapless and shows off my new chain. Some mascara, and a little contouring on my face and I’m good to go.
We walk into Steele and I burst out laughing at the scene we come upon. Kade and Tee are engaged in some sort of dance battle, Sasha is chatting up some sexy looking man at the bar, Layla is sitting on the bar and Jet is missing in action. I can’t help but notice that even fooling around and probably drunk, Kade is keeping an eye on both Sasha and Layla, checking on both of them every few minutes.
They all beam when they catch sight of Ryder and me. Ryder tells me he’s the designated driver, if I want to have a few drinks. I don’t really want to drink tonight, so I decline. I want to remember this night, everything about it, in vivid detail. These crazy people have somehow become my family, and I appreciate them being here to celebrate with me. I lean my back against Ryder’s chest and grind my hips in a circular movement. Ryder instantly grips my hips with his fingers, bringing my body even closer to his. We are pressed so closely together not even a piece of paper could fit between us. I rotate my hips sensually, and hear Ryder growl into my ear, “I had no idea you could move like this.” I smirk, even though he can’t see my expression, and grip the back of his neck with my right hand, my body rolling backwards into him as I do so. I can feel his arousal pressing into my behind, and the fact that he wants me again after just having me thrills me. We dance for a little while longer, and after Ryder calms down a little, I go and dance with the girls.
When Ryder walks out with another birthday cake for me, lit candles and everything, my eyes start to tear up. This is the best birthday I have ever had in my life, usually it was just me and my mum. Ryder places the cake down on the bar and sits me down on the stool. He runs and jumps on the stage, and the DJ stops playing the music, the club is momentarily silent.
“It’s my girl Lexi’s birthday today, so we're all gonna sing to her!” Ryder calls out. The club cheers.
“Happy birthday to you…” Ryder sings to me, along with everyone else. At the end I blow out my candles, and for once in my life I have to try hard to think of a wish. I have everything a girl could want. I wish for health for myself and my friends, blow out my candles, and sigh in contentment. The DJ starts to play dance music again, and I giggle as Ryder walks over and cuts me a small slice of cake, holding it up for me to take a bite. I moan as the chocolate hits my tongue, and watch as Ryder licks the remains off his fingers.
“My first time organizing anything for you, how did I do?” he asks into my ear. He says it like there are going to be many more times to come. I love that.
“It was perfect, Ryder,” I say sincerely. I don’t even need all this, but the fact that everyone put in such an effort for me makes me feel really special. Loved. Ryder throws a devastating smile my way, obviously pleased with himself, as he should be. We all party the night away, dancing, laughing and just enjoying life. We make it home in the wee hours of the morning, Ryder and Sasha crashing at our apartment. Jet and Kade take a cab home.
Best. Birthday. Ever.
The next morning Ryder makes me breakfast in bed, and we celebrate all over again.
*****
Chapter 10
Four months later
Lexi
Ryder and I have been going strong for almost five months now, and it’s been amazing. We spend all the time we can together. Unfortunately, every Friday night when he's been performing I’ve been at my other job. By the time I get home it’s late. Ryder's been begging me to come and watch him, and the next time he plays at Steele is on a Saturday instead, so I can finally go. I can’t wait to see him in action.
We're sitting in the living room, playing band hero. I’m on the guitar, and he’s on the drums. It’s so funny watching him concentrating, when he's the front man of a popular band in real life.
“Lexi!” he calls out chuckling. Oops, I was staring at him and not playing.
“You’re letting the band down!” he mock growls. After we finish the tour we're doing, we turn it off, and head into the kitchen. Ryder cooked us dinner earlier and I’m starving. I glance at my plate and my mouth waters; grilled fish, asparagus, and mashed potato. I take a huge bite enthusiastically.
“Someone needs to husband you right now,” I say, taking another bite. Ryder laughs, shaking his head.
“I’m serious! If the whole band thing doesn’t work out, you could become a chef,” I tell him.
“My mother taught me, and she knows her way around the kitchen,” he says softly, watching me eat.
“Stop watching me,” I hiss, my cheeks going pink.
“I like watching you,” he says simply.
“You’re making me nervous,” I counter. He grins and takes a bite of his own food.
“If I’m not watching you, that’s when you should be worried,” he teases.