Chapter 131 131. Butter Cream
"A... what?" I stared at the golden key in my palm, my brain refusing to process what Lucien had just said.
"Your penthouse," his thumb brushed away a tear on my cheek. "I'll never forget those dreamy eyes whenever you talked about wanting your own penthouse."
"Lucien, a penthouse costs-" I couldn't even finish. An impossible dream I'd mentioned to him on a whim. "I can't believe you even remembered."
"I remember every single thing about you. Every wish, every word, every dream you've whispered to me. It's the least I can do to the woman who brought light to my darkness." His voice was velvet and steel.
The key slipped from my fingers as I launched myself at him. My arms wrapped around his neck, legs around his waist, and I was bouncing, unable to contain the explosion of joy in my chest.
"Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God!" I kissed him everywhere I could reach. His cheek, his jaw, his temple, his lips. "You bought me a penthouse! An actual penthouse!"
His laugh rumbled through his chest into mine as he caught me, hands gripping my thighs.
"I've been planning this for months and had it specifically designed. Every single detail is to your taste, and there's room for adjustments in case I got something wrong. I especially can't wait for you to see the library, mi amor."
I kissed him again, pouring every ounce of gratitude and love into it. Breaking away, I was breathless and grinning like an idiot.
His golden eyes burned into mine. "Let's get this birthday started, shall we?"
My phone buzzed incessantly throughout the morning. Birthday calls flooded in from Maya, Damon, Seraphina, even Natasha sent a brief but surprisingly warm text. Mama Cortez sang to me in Spanish while Rafael shouted happy birthday in the background.
Lucien made us breakfast, and unlike the Swiss alps, he had everything under control.
And he baked my birthday cake!
"I followed a recipe online while you were asleep," he placed the cake at my front. The body of the cake was naked, but the top had "Hot N' Sexy" written on it. "My first time baking and decorating a cake."
"I can tell," I joked. The writing on the cake wasn't smooth so it was obvious. I swiped my fingers across the cream for a taste, which messed it a little further.
"Hey! We haven't blown candles-" he was silenced by my cream covered finger in his mouth. Lucien froze.
His eyes widened for a fraction of a second before they darkened, the gold turning into something molten and amber. His hand shot out, locking around my wrist like a velvet-lined shackle.
He didn't just taste the cream; he claimed it.
His tongue swiped across my fingertip before his lips sealed around it. The pull sent a sharp jolt of electricity straight to my core. His gaze stayed on me the entire time, effectively pinning me in place without needing to move a muscle.
He released me, but his grip on my wrist lingered, a silent warning that he wasn't finished.
I pulled my hand back slowly, the skin still tingling from the damp heat of his mouth.
With agonizing slowness, I slipped that finger into my own mouth, looking right at him.
I sucked on it, my eyes hooded as I held his gaze, ensuring he felt every second of the provocation.
A small, dangerous smirk played on my lips.
"The cream is nice," I murmured, my voice dropping to a sultry hum. "But I think I like it better when it's been in your mouth."
Lucien's breath hitched, a small sound that vibrated in the small space between us. The "Hot N' Sexy" frosting was now a blurred smear of white, but neither of us was looking at the cake anymore.
"Is that so?" he rasped.
Instead of answering, I leaned in closer, the scent of vanilla and warm sugar clinging to the air. I swiped a second finger through a thick dollop of cream near the edge of the cake, gathering a heavy peak of it.
I kept my eyes locked on his-watching the way his pupils dilated until that amber glow was just a thin, frantic ring around the black. Slowly, I brought the cream to my bottom lip, smearing it there, then flicking my tongue out to catch a taste.
"You missed a spot," I challenged. Lucien lunged immediately, his hand sliding to the back of my neck, fingers tangling in my hair to tilt my head back.
His lips were hungry and desperate against mine, tasting of sweet buttercream and the sharp, saltier heat of him. He groaned a sound of pure surrender into my mouth.
I bunched the fabric of his shirt as I pulled him closer, needing to feel the solid weight of him against me.
He broke away for a fraction of a second, only to swipe more cream with his thumb and press it against the corner of my mouth. He caught it with his lips instantly, his tongue tracing the line of my jaw with a ferocity that made my thighs shiver.
We were a mess-flour on his shirt, cream on my cheeks, and the cake completely forgotten on the counter. Every time I tried to catch my breath, he'd find another spot of sweetness to claim, his laughter mingling with mine as the intensity finally broke into something lighter.
Eventually, he pulled back just an inch, his forehead resting against mine. We were both gasping for air, chests heaving in sync.
"I think," Lucien panted, a lopsided, breathless grin breaking through, "that recipe might have been a little too effective."
"And I think I got my birthday wish."
I video called Maya by evening time but she didn't pick. I had missed her five calls all afternoon because I was busy getting 'messy' with Lucien.
Since we became friends, she was always the first person I see on my birthdays, but of course, today was different.
"Goofy Maya must be up to something," I said in the car. "I think she's planning a surprise for me. Can you drive me to my apartment after we see the penthouse?"
"Do you even have to ask, Fiera?" He squeezed my hand.
Minutes later, we pulled up to a building in Tribeca.
"Ready to see your penthouse?"
My hands trembled as I stepped out of the car. The building was stunning-and it just made my heart ache in anticipation.
Lucien threaded our fingers together as we entered the lobby. The elevator ride up felt endless.
When the doors opened directly into the penthouse, I gasped. I was only a few steps in and already in love with the city lights twinkling like stars from the floor-to-ceiling windows.
"Lucien..." My voice broke.
"SURPRISE!" Voices screamed, startling me.
I spun around to find everyone bursting out from various corners. Maya and Rafael, Damon and Silas, Seraphina with Iris, Mama Cortez and Javier, even Natasha was... smiling?
"Happy birthday!" they chorused.
I burst into tears for the-i'd lost count. Maya rushed over first, wrapping me in a tight hug while I ugly-cried into her shoulder.
"Stop crying, you're going to ruin your makeup," she laughed, but her own eyes were wet.
"What are you all doing here?" I laugh-cried.
The next hour was a blur of hugs, laughter, cake and champagne. Damon gave me a leather jacket he'd designed himself. Silas and Seraphina presented me with the first edition of my favorite childhood book. Even Natasha's gift-a silk scarf-felt genuine.
It became surreal at a point, to be this loved and adored.
"Thank you," I mouthed to Lucien across the room who wouldn't stop watching me with that possessive intensity.
"Always, Fiera," he mouthed back.
By eleven PM, we were on the private jet, exhaustion finally catching up to us both. I kicked off my heels and curled into Lucien's side as the plane lifted off.
"We're really going to Vienna now," I murmured against his chest.
"We are. Just in time for that ball."
"Wait." I tilted my head up to look at him.
"French kiss me if I'm wrong," I started and paused. Something had been nagging at the back of my mind all day. "The number of each gift you gave me..."
He raised an eyebrow. "Yes?"
"They spelled out C-A-M-I-L-A-H-A-Y-E-S-A!"
His lips curved into that devastating grin. "Took you long enough to notice, Mrs. Hayes."
"I'm not Mrs. Hayes..." but my heart was soaring. "Yet."
"Camila Hayes Aveline," he murmured, testing it. "Isn't that just perfect?" He pulled me back against his chest.
"Tch! Where's my french kiss?"
He gave it to me, soft, slow and full of promise. I settled back against him, his arms wrapped around me, and let the steady rhythm of his heartbeat lull me toward sleep.
"Thank you for the best birthday ever..."