The Heart Series: Complete Boxed Set (64 page)

“I’m so happy you love it,” he said, cupping my face as a tear slid down my cheek.

“Just having you here dad is the best present of all, but this is beyond words. Thank you, it means the world to me that you would go to all this trouble to get me such an amazing gift.”

“It’s my pleasure, just to see your eyes light up is enough.” He kissed my forehead and winked before sitting down, everyone looked on in wonder, almost a little surprised by our little moment.

Elijah soon broke the tension announcing. “So who wants to follow that?”

Everyone laughed but more in a nervous like way. Mike piped up saying he would go next. I raised my eyebrows expectantly when he handed over the card.

I ripped it open and out dropped a spa day voucher.

“I thought we could both go. You and I could have a bonding session while we relax,” Kara added with a smile.

“Oh that would be amazing.” My own smile soon dropped when Elijah made a face, he instantly felt excluded. But I needed girl time as well, I hadn’t spent that much time with Kara and wanted to make up for that fact. She was great for my brother. She was witty and fiery always putting him in his place. She was what he needed, always being such a big personality himself.

I tried to ignore Elijah’s glare, he had other friends too to socialize with there was seriously no reason for him to get jealous. It would be nice to have a girly day, and to avoid the orgasmic moans that always left Elijah the moment he was massaged.

“And we also got you this.” Mike grinned producing a decorated chocolate egg from Choccywoccydoodah with twenty-one piped on the front.

It was almost a shame to eat it, but I was certain I would demolish it the moment I got home. Mike winked knowingly. He knew he’d done well. I couldn’t help but smile, there were times like this that I would treasure having a big brother, the other times not so much.

“Now my present.” My mother stepped forward and smiled, passing me her gift. I eagerly unwrapped it to find it was a white gold bracelet and inscribed were the words:

‘Life holds special magic for those who dare to dream’

My eyes filled up with tears, such a perfect quote. I looked up into her glassy eyes and leapt up giving her a hug. She staggered back slightly, and I could tell from her hold that she was taken back by my actions. She eventually relaxed and held me for a few more moments longer. When she moved back, she stroked my face staring deep into my eyes.

“You’ve made me so proud with the lady you’ve become. You’ve always been so strong and determined to succeed in life. I know you are destined for great things with your dancing. I still can’t believe my little girl is twenty-one.” She trailed off, beginning to cry.

“Mum …”

She dabbed her eyes and blew her nose. “And to think twenty-one years ago I was in labour.”

“Seriously, Mum, we don’t need that vision in our head,” Mike snapped, shaking his own. Kara batted him playfully and laughed.

“Well, you will go through that too, Mike. You never know if you and Kara—”

Mike’s eyes widened in horror. “We’re a long way from having babies. Let us just enjoy being together for a while before you marry me off with kids.”

“Time is ticking, Mike, you’re not getting any younger,” Elijah added, loving the fact he was stirring the pot.

“Yeah, you aren’t either, if those crows feet get any worse you might have to consider Botox,” he added evilly, knowing the consequences of his words.

Elijah’s face dropped. “Oh my god, Sam, what did I tell you and you said I was making a mountain out of a molehill. I am booking an appointment before they get any worse.” He stormed off before we even had chance to placate him and tell him Mike was just joking.

“Cheers for that Mike.” Sam glared before running after him. Kara slapped Mike hard on the arm.

“Owww, fuck, Kara, what was that for?”

“Language, Mike,” my mother screeched giving him the evil eye.

Kara scowled. “You know what that was for, you will go and apologise to him.”

“I will not!” Mike barked.

She moved closer. “Believe me, I have ways and you don’t want me to go there.”

“Like what?”

“You know what.” The look she gave him was enough.

“You wouldn’t dare!”

“Trust me, I would, now go apologise and be sincere, you’ve really upset him.”

“Good god, it was only a joke.” Mike stomped off and Kara gave me a wink. Oh he was definitely under the thumb. I needed to get tips.

We were busy chatting amongst ourselves when several minutes later we heard voices. I turned to see Elijah looking a little red eyed and my heart sank at the thought of him crying. He always put on such a front that I was surprised to see him take something stupid that Mike had said to heart.

“And you were just lying because I know they are getting worse. I was telling Sam I could see them in the mirror.”

“The magnified mirror,” Sam added.

“Oh those things make you look horrendous, seriously, Elijah, I would never have noticed,” Kara piped up, standing up to give him a hug. He smiled and looked a lot happier.

“Hey, come join me and Izzy at the spa. We can have a great day out, all three of us, we can get pampered, talk boys.”

“What boys do you need to talk about, you’re taken,” Mike chipped in, looking thoroughly annoyed.

“Oh shush, girls always chat about boys, we can still window shop.”

“That’s what I always say,” Elijah added with a smile.

“So you’ll come?”

“If that’s okay with, Iz,” he asked hesitantly and I nodded.

“Of course it’s fine.” I just made a mental note to not be in the same massage with him again, no one needed that much torture.

“I’ll need to book you a place, next Sunday, okay, Iz, Elijah?” Kara asked waiting for approval.

“Sunday is fine with me,” Elijah chirped, by the look on his face he was already looking forward to the prospect of a spa day together.

“Yeah, Sunday’s fine with me too,” I said.

“Oh, it’s going to be so much fun,” Kara squealed, clapping her hands excitedly.

“Jeez, glad I’m not going. Fancy going to the game?” Mike turned to Joel. He didn’t need to be asked twice. He was already grinning at the thought.

“So everyone is happy then? Oh Elijah wait till you meet Gavin. He is going to blow your socks off. Talk about eye candy, my eyes were out on stalks last time.”

Mike spluttered on his beer and Kara laughed evilly. My brother gave her a pathetic sad look; there was no mistaking the jealousy that was present in his eyes. He had fallen hard, and I was glad he had someone like Kara to keep him on his toes.

“Oh baby, you know I love you really, but a girl can still check out the goods.” She walked over to a disgruntled Mike pecking him on the lips to appease him.

Elijah laughed and hugged me hard. “Here’s my gift to you.”

I took the envelope from his hand and looked at him in wonder. He had already bought me a beautiful vintage lace dress; the material was so exquisite that I was almost hesitant to wear it in case I ruined it. But he had insisted that I wore it on my big day, and if that wasn’t amazing enough, he bought me heels to match. He knew my wardrobe skills were non-existent so he’d taken it all out of my hands and for that I was grateful.

Ripping open the envelope, I read the card inside, then squealed and hugged him hard. He grinned at my reaction as everyone stared on in sheer disbelief. I couldn’t keep the smile from my face.

“What is it, Iz?” Joel asked, looking mystified by the whole thing

“Elijah bought me my own star.”

“Oh my god, I want one.” Kara pouted and glared at Mike. “You never get me anything like that.”

“What? You never asked.”

“I shouldn’t have to.” She scowled shaking her head.

“What am I a mind reader now?” He took a long draw on his beer as if to avoid talking any further.

“Ugh men!” Kara rolled her eyes and then walked over to read the official certificate.

“Awww, Elijah, that is the sweetest thing ever.”

“You remembered,” I whispered, feeling overwhelmed by it all.

“Of course I did.”

“What?” Joel asked looking confused.

“We were talking about things we’d like to do, to achieve, it was one of those deep and meaningful conversations, and Izzy said she would love to have a star named after her, and that she found nothing more beautiful than a dark sky full of stars. Well, now you have your own, it’s another thing to tick off the Izzy list.”

“You have a list?” Kara asked and I nodded.

“Yeah.”

She bit her lip in contemplation. “I need a list, especially dating your brother, because he isn’t someone who takes hints easily.”

“Oh, you have to learn to manipulate them without knowing,” Elijah added, winking and tapping his nose. “That way you get what you want and they think that they did it all by themselves.”

“Wow, I’m loving this guy more and more.” Kara grinned. Looking like she had won the lottery. I guessed she’d be regularly tapping Elijah for tips in the future.

“He is a fountain of information,” I added.

“I am a guy, but I am a great manipulator too. I have Sam wrapped around my finger like seriously, I can get him to do anything. I am spoilt really, but what’s a guy to do.” He shrugged like it was out of his control.

“Oh I need you to give me tips, like seriously, with your brother, I could shout it from the rooftops and he wouldn’t take the hint. It’s a good job he’s good in the bedroom.”

“Oh sweet lord,” I murmured, trying to fight the visions from invading my head, no one needed that.

Kara pulled a face. “Oh sorry, Iz, I keep forgetting, and at times I don’t have any filter.”

“Bit like me then, I think we’re going to be great friends, wait till you meet my cousin B, you will love her.”

“We’ll see,” I murmured under my breath, but Elijah managed to hear. I swear he had some sort of super power.

“Now now, Iz, I thought you two were friends, she has been trying, you have to admit.”

He was right, she had begrudgingly apologised and I had accepted, but I still felt like it was all for Elijah’s benefit to keep the peace. We had hung out the odd time, but I tried to stay away from it being just us, making sure there were others to talk to when Elijah disappeared off for drinks and food. To her credit, I think she wanted to say a lot more but knew the drama it would cause, so she bit her tongue and kept her opinions to herself, which was something I never thought possible. She had always been vocal in the past, but from what Elijah had told me she was really trying to make an effort since she came back here for good.

She and Ryan were still going strong. I was pleased for them. That’s what I told Elijah over and over. We were back to being friends, but there would always remain to be an awkwardness between us, which saddened me. I hoped that we could build on our friendship and get it back to how it was, but a part of me knew with Brianne in the picture that wouldn’t happen. We had come to agree that we wouldn’t discuss either partners when we met up at Starbucks for a coffee. We still had our Netflix addiction, just now it wasn’t together. But we’d intensely discuss the latest episode of The Walking Dead in such detail, I don’t think anyone else would get it but that was our thing. I was happy that we got to still feel like the old days, well at least for a while.

“Izzy, are you even listening to me?” Elijah shook me lightly on the arm.

“What?”

“She always does this—zones out. We’ll have to get together at mine, call it a little soiree. It will be amazing.”

Yeah, Ryan and Joel in the same room…Not!

“I don’t know, I think—”

“Look, we all have to get along, it will be fine. I’m telling you, we will be such good friends. I can feel it in my bones.” He smiled reassuringly and I had to admire his optimism, because I sure wasn’t feeling it.

Yeah, whatever.

I smiled sweetly, I didn’t want it to put a damper on the day. It was my birthday after all. We continued chatting until I felt Joel’s soft breath against my neck as he placed a tender kiss there. “Are you ready to go home, Iz?”

He didn’t have to ask me twice.

I said a quick goodbye to Elijah and Kara before they became engrossed in their conversation again. They were getting on well and I was glad, maybe our duo had now become a trio. I gave my mother and Mike a hug and then kissed my dad. He was staying on to chat with Mike, so I told him that I’d see him tomorrow. As he was only here for a week I knew I needed to spend as much time with him before he’d head back down under, which the thought alone made me sad.

After a short drive home, I dropped the keys down onto the table and squealed when Joel grabbed me.

“Joel.”

“You are mine now. I’ve had to share you all day, but now it’s you and me, and I get to do delicious things to you, starting with these.” He opened a bag that contained four cupcakes.

“I’m going to enjoy eating these off you. Now strip, as much as I love that little dress, I prefer what’s underneath it.”

He didn’t have to ask me twice, the anticipation at what was ahead was enough for me to shed the layers. I stood there naked before him as his eyes filled with an intense lust. He licked his lips as I bit mine. God, I wanted him right now.

“I think you’re wearing too many clothes yourself,” I added and he smiled, ripping the T-shirt over his head. I took all of him in. Those abs would be my undoing. His body made me melt every time. He was my weakness, when he was around I had no self-control. He slid his jeans down followed by his boxers as he stood there to attention. My eyes focused on it, and I licked my lips.

“Eyes up here, Iz.” He looked amused as I blushed a little.

“You know you’re not the only one that wants to lick icing off their body.

He clenched with excitement. Oh, he loved my mouth on him. Sometimes I almost came just hearing the satisfaction my mouth gave him.

“Well, I think that can be arranged, but first of all, I want you on the bed now.”

I didn’t have to be asked twice.

I lay there in anticipation as he pulled out the first cupcake. The icing was warm melting against my skin, he placed a blob of icing on my nipple, swirling it around so that it was spread evenly. His tongue sent shivers down my skin as he sucked off all the sweetness. I could feel myself become even more aroused, and he had barely touched me. He did the same with the other nipple, gently lapping and sucking the sweet sticky icing off before nudging my legs open.

I gasped when he spread the icing on me, then groaned when his tongue lapped and sucked and eventually teased my clit.

“Joel—” I groaned, his mouth was always my undoing. He began to speed up, introducing his fingers so the sensation was overwhelming. I screwed my eyes tight, trying to concentrate on the pleasure that was filling every pore. It was intense, and my body screamed for a release. I needed it so bad.

My fingers gripped his hair as my eyes rolled back at that moment of euphoria, screaming out my pleasure before slowly returning to earth.

Joel soon kissed his way back up my body with his usual cheeky smile in place.

“Did the birthday girl enjoy her first orgasm of the night?”

“I think you know that already,” I added dryly. The smirk he was wearing told me he needed no reassurance.

“I need to know, a guy likes to have his ego boosted once in a while.” He brushed his nose against mine waiting for a response.

“Oh I think me screaming is an ego boost in itself.” How much more reassurance did he need?

“Yeah, but I need to hear it, baby. So, how about you just give me this and pander to me.”

“Fine, it was good.” I shrugged.

“Just good?” His eyebrows raised as his eyes scrutinized my face.

“Pretty good.”

His eyes widened in annoyance. “That’s even worse.”

“Okay, it was great,”

“That’s an improvement, but I thought I did better than that. How about freaking amazing, you totally rocked my world?” he added with a smirk.

“Well, I wouldn’t go that far.”

“Right, that’s it.” He grabbed my arms pinning me down so I was at his mercy. His eyes stared deep into mine. I could see the amusement there as he tried to keep a straight face.

“Tell me I rocked your world,” he ordered.

“No.”

“No?” he repeated, looking more amused by my stubbornness.

“You heard.”

“I might have to unleash the tickle torture until you decide to change your mind.”

“Please, Joel,” I begged.

Not that.

“Please, Joel, what?” he teased.

“Rather than tell you, I want to rock your world too.” He looked at me surprised, even more so when I rolled him over so I was straddling him. I grabbed the bag and pulled out the cupcake, the soft icing clung to my fingers as I swiped it teasingly licking it with my tongue.

Joel swallowed, looking transfixed by my little act. I knew I had his full attention.

“Remember I said that we would share this birthday? That you would get to experience your twenty-first again? Well, happy birthday, Joel. I hope you like your birthday surprise. I lathered the icing down the length of his cock, and he gasped looking on in wonder as my mouth headed towards the part of him that needed me the most.

“Best fake birthday ever,” he groaned as my mouth left him speechless.