#kaiabday2018

It’s not that I was annoyed by them, I was unsatisfied with the lack of a certain person.

I crumpled the small piece of paper in my hand as I snuck past the office doors. Holding my breath, I listened to the conversation briefly, hearing Ray and Fenrir talking over each other.

Knowing that my boyfriend couldn’t hold back his scolding, I concluded he couldn’t be in there.

I began walking and picked up the pace towards the other meeting room. I stilled by the office and listened.

Opening the crumpled up note in my hand, I double checking his instructions.

The note was shoved into the crack of my bedroom door before I had even woken up for the day.

“Kaia,

Somethings have come up, and I won’t be able to see you until dinner. Come find me before then. I promise to make it up to you.

-Sirius”

I understood Sirius was a busy man, but all I wanted for my birthday was to spend the whole morning in bed lazily eating breakfast off a tray, sipping a mimosa through a straw, while sitting next to the man I loved.

I had no such luck, and when I went to visit Sirius he was nowhere to be found. I know he wanted me to wait until dinner, but my patience was wearing thin.

I tiptoed closer to the door, pressing my ear to the solid wood. The echo of a page flipping excited me. It’s him, he’s back!

Before I could knock, I tripped on my toes and slipped into the door with a loud thud. From inside, I heard the voice express concern.

I tried to compose myself, but Sirius was already swinging the door open and I fell right onto his chest.

“Mm… Oh hey!” I backed up and waved innocently.

“Hey litt-“ I cut him off.

“I was just, ya know, walking around” I looked at my shoes and kicked the tip on the carpet. “and failed to do so correctly…”

Sirius smiled then looked both ways down the hall.

“Come in” he spoke in a low voice.

I jumped at the chance and darted into his office, I looked over at his desk that was full of files and loose paperwork.

“Oh wow… “ I gestured to the desk while he shut the door gently.

“Yeah, we got a bunch of new recruits and It’s my job to sort their new paperwork.” He shifted his feet. “Sorry I missed most of your birthday.”

I waved him off, taking note of the extra chair by the bookshelf.

“I could help you” I smiled gently.

“No, the birthday girl should take a break today. You deserve to be pampered, not made to work.” His eyes went intense for a moment.

“It’s fine, really. I’m bored out of my mind anyways.”

It was mostly true.

Sirius grumbled and grabbed the chair and moved it next to his at the desk.

“Fine, but now I will really have to make it up to you. “He seemed to take it as a challenge.

Happy to help, I began organizing the sheets of paper while he slid them into the corresponding file.

Before we knew it, the desk began to appear under the clutter. I had been scooting closer to him over the course of the afternoon, pressing against his leg.

“Wow… Thank you for all your help, Kaia” Sirius eyed the organized desk, sighing peacefully.

“I don’t think you would have been able to finish this by yourself before dinner.” I raised my brow.

He rubbed the back of his head as he turned to me.

“Yeah, probably not.” a light laugh spilled from his lips. “Are you ready for your surprise?”

At the word ‘surprise’ my eyes shot open.

“Wh-what surprise?!”

Sirius didn’t speak in the minutes that followed. He held a goofy grin on his face while we made our way outside the barracks. Before exiting, Sirius picked up a large basket and hooked it on his arm.

We took a carriage heading away from the central quarters that I had become so used to. Sirius never answer me about what was in the basket, nor where we were headed.

I would be lying if I wasn’t slightly frustrated, but I pushed past it letting the excitement build. We arrived at the side of the road next to a dense forest.

“Um, what?” I looked around at the thick canopy above.

My boyfriend smirked and reassured me he knew where we were going. We left the comfort of the carriage and headed into the thicket.

Sirius carried the basket on one arm, and wrapped his other arm around my waist. We walked over fallen branches and soon, large rocks.

I slipped a few times, but he held fast to me. The forest thinned out, and revealed a beautiful cliff side. The roar of water sounded close, but I had yet to see it.

“Look at that view..” I was flabbergasted.

The rest of the forest was down on the horizon. I followed the path of a winding river that cut through the dense trees.

“It’s almost time.” Sirius smiled, helping me over a large rock.

He guided me closer to the roaring sound, revealing a waterfall. The water raged, spewing over the edge of the land, and free falling hundreds of feet down to the rocks below.

My eyes were wide at the sight.

“I didn’t know something like the existed in The Cradle!” I yelled over the roar.

“Technically, we aren’t in Cradle anymore, this is the outskirts of town.” he smiled wryly.

“Wow okay, like I was supposed to know that” I smack his arm playfully.

Sirius chuckled, then stepped behind me, and wrapped his arms around my body. He rested his head on my shoulder and sighed.

The sun was setting over the horizon, and I relaxed into his chest breathing in the fresh air.

“Just wait one more minute.” He breath into my ear, nipping at the lobe.

My body shivered at the sensation, as he continued to kiss the soft spot on my neck. I could be as patient as he wanted me to be if he kept distracting me like this.

Moments past, and the sun continued to sink down in the sky. Suddenly, the sound of a gently tinkling bell sounded over the waterfall. Sirius stilled, and lifted his head from my shoulder.

A hughe of blue mist wafted over the water like a cloud of smoke. In the next moment, violet and green smoke appeared as well.

My mouth was agape at the sight. Soon the entire waterfall was engulfed in multitudes of colors wafting over the edge.

“It has something to do with the magic crystal up the stream.” He spoke into the top of my head.

We watched for minutes at the colors narrowly mixed and spread down the river.

I was enraptured by the beauty of the rainbow falls, how the colors twisted and spread over each other, yet never mixing.  

Soon, Sirius began to guide me back from the falls, close to a tree. He sat down the basket and propped his foot up on a small boulder.

From here we could still see the magical clouds moving in sync with the water.

“I thought we could eat a small picnic here.” He removed containers of food and spread them out in front of me.

The sights and smells of the forest imprinted on my memory. This might be the only birthday I vividly remember for the rest of my life.

.

.

.

              Her boyfriend was nowhere to be seen in the room, but her eyes landed on the single rose atop the bedside table with a neatly placed envelope. Her name written in beautiful calligraphy, and the handwriting was surely his.

              Kaia snatched it off the table, breaking the seal with her index finger. “Ouch!” She hissed, watching small cut in her skin start to bleed. Irritated, she pulled out the letter to read it, all while sucking on her injured finger in hopes of stopping the bleed.

              Dear Kaia,

              Good morning, lovely. I apologize for not being beside you when you awoke on your special day, but I plan to make it up tenfold. Today is all about you. Luka is waiting for you in the kitchen with breakfast and instructions on where to go next. Take your time and enjoy yourself. I’ll see you tonight.

              Sirius

                A… scavenger hunt? She scanned the note again, a familiar burst of excitement bubbling up. He had been planning all this? Just for her? Kaia threw the covers off, spending as little time as possible to make herself presentable enough. All she wanted was to see what he had in store for her.

              The unmistakable smell of French toast hit her as she entered the kitchen. “Good morning, Luka!” Kaia said, coming up to his side. The pan sizzled as another piece was laid in the oil. “That smells heavenly.”

              Luka gave her a soft smile and lifted a plate with some French toast already on it. Powdered sugar had been sprinkled on top, and a small serving bowl filled with maple syrup. “Sirius told me that these are your favorite. I’ll have more ready in just a few minutes.”

              Kaia took the plate, sitting at the round table where cutlery and a glass of orange juice sat, as if waiting just for her. Cutting straight into the fluffy pieces, she placed the first bite in her mouth. A long moan escaped her lips. “Luka!” She had to pause, enjoying the flavor. “This is amazing! Thank you so much!”

              The younger boy flushed, turning his gaze away. “You’re welcome, and happy birthday, Kaia,” he muttered. He grew quiet, finishing up the last pieces of French toast. Bringing the plate to the table, Luka sat across from her, and said, “There’s plenty so please eat as much as you like.”

              Kaia bobbed her head in response, too engrossed in her meal for a proper reply.

              Luka sat up, remembering the letter he was meant to give to her. The moment he offered it her, he noted the cut on her finger. “You’re bleeding,” Luka said, retracting his hand and the letter. Setting it out of reach, he crossed the room to retrieve a first aid kit.

              “It’s just a paper cut,” Kaia replied, eyeing the letter.

              “It could get infected. I don’t want Sirius to blame me for it,” Luka answered, taking the time to clean and bandage the wound for her. He took his time, making sure to wipe all the powdered sugar away before wrapping the digit with a Band-Aid.

              Kaia thanked him before returning to her delicious breakfast. Clearing the plate and drinking every last drop of the fresh orange juice, she leaned back in the chair, stretching her arms over her head. “That was delicious!” This had been a perfect wake up for her.

              “Here,” Luka said, offering her the letter again. This time he had popped open the seal, so that the same incident didn’t happen twice.

              Slightly offended that he assumed her to be that clumsy, she accepted it.

              Dear Kaia,

              I hope you enjoyed your breakfast with Luka. I tried to tell him exactly how you like your French toast, but he immediately told me that he knew what he was doing. Now that you’re fully awake after our escapade with the group last night, Fenrir has something for you on the training grounds.

              Sirius

                It seems he’s gotten everyone involved in this! Kaia thanked Luka one last time before she skipped out to the training grounds. It was empty, save for Fenrir standing in the middle. His hands were on his hips and he stared up at the bright blue sky, unaware of her presence.

              A perfect opportunity to sneak up on him. She snickered to herself, raising to the balls of her feet. Each step she took was deliberate, but the closer she got to him, the quicker her steps. She’d hardly noticed the wooden box until it was too late. Her body lurched forward, smacking against Fenrir.

              Luckily, he’d turned in time to catch her. The grin grew on his face and he set her upright. “Were you trying to sneak up on me?” He laughed, patting her on the head as he spoke.

              “What’s with the box?” Kaia asked, ignoring his question completely. She nudged it with her foot, a little bit afraid of what might be in it. The elongated box bore no markings to give a hint. It could be anything, or it could be a prank. She shook off that idea. If Sirius planned this, then it wouldn’t cause her any harm.

              “Open it up and see for yourself!” Fenrir placed his hands back on his hips, clearly excited to see her open it.

              Kaia crouched, carefully lifting the lid off and setting it aside. Her mouth dropped open. “A new bow?” She traced her fingers over the polished wood of a dark mahogany color. The craftsmanship was too beautiful for words. She took it out, feeing the weight in her hands. It was just right.

              A closer inspection had her admiring the crystals adorning the top and bottom where the string and wood met. “It’s gorgeous!” Kaia said. There were arrows lined carefully side by side in the box, and they had crystals on the tips as well.

              Getting overly excited himself, Fenrir urged her to try it out. “They’ve been specially made for you. Oliver worked for days on this piece of art!”

              “Oliver made this?” She made a mental note to stop by his and Blanc’s house to thank him properly. Removing an arrow from the box, Kaia pulled the bow string back with it, and couldn’t believe her eyes. This is unheard of!

              The crystals lit up, making a light red line of light. The ones on the bow led to the tip of the arrow, and the arrow itself had a line of light the went straight ahead, about 50 meters or so. The tree she had it pointed at had a small red dot on it. This would be perfect for more accurate shooting.

              Kaia loosed the arrow, and it flew across the grounds and embedded in the tree. It hit the exact spot the line had showed. “I love this! I can’t wait to spend my time learning all it’s tricks!” She lifted another arrow, and another.

              The sun had moved past it’s peak, signaling that she had been practicing with her bow for over an hour. Sweat beaded on her forehead from the heat. She could spend the rest of the day doing just this, but Sirius had other plans for her.

              Fenrir also held a letter for. He ran off to retrieve all the arrows while she read over the neat handwriting.

                Dear Kaia,

              You’re an excellent archer, you know that? I’m amazed every time I see you practicing the courtyard late at night. It might seem pointless to give you a gift that you already own, but I hope that you will enjoy the extra features that come with it. Oliver complained for days about having to make it, but in the end, it turned out much better than I anticipated.

              Better not spend too much time today with it. There’s a carriage waiting for you at the front gate. It’ll take you to your next destination.

              Sirius

                “Fenrir! I’m going to go on to the next thing! Can you put this away for me?” I called as I folded the letter to fit into my pocket with other one.

              Fenrir gave me a thumbs up and yelled back “Sure thing! Get going!”

              Thankful for his willingness to do that, Kaia headed for the main gates, where indeed, there was a carriage awaiting her. A Black Army solider held the door open and refused to speak of where he was taking her. A secret, he said. An order from his Queen. It made her smile how much thought he’d put into it.

              She couldn’t fathom what would come next.

              “Seth, what is all this?” Kaia asked, taking in the utter disaster that was the hotel room she currently stood in. There were boxes everywhere, a mountain of shoes in the corner, beautiful jewelry laid out on the bed, and various make up items and hair accessories on the couch.

              Seth ushered her into the bathroom. “Never mind that! I’ll deal with it. You take a nice warm bath and put on the dress that’s been hung on the back of the door.” He pulled the door shut before she could protest.

              The bath water was at the perfect temperature and smelled of lavender. It soothed her aching muscles from practicing with the bow for so long in the heat. The mess in the other room stayed on her mind and kept her from taking too much time in the bath.

              Standing in front of the mirror with the mid-length black dress on, Kaia couldn’t fathom what she would need this for. It fit her perfectly, hugging her in all the right places. Its off the shoulder half-sleeves were made of pure lace, and the design was lovely.

              A light knock on the door drew her attention. “Are you ready for me to fix your hair?” Seth asked.

              She sat on the stool that he’d brought in and watching him through the mirror. Seth had a puzzled expression as he held her up and then set it back down. He started a braid and then quit, mumbling to himself as he tried to find the perfect style.

              “If it helps, I think I would prefer it up this time,” Kaia offered, laughing a little. It warmed her heart that the others had pitched in to help Sirius and were dedicated to making it a wonderful day for her, even if the one she truly wanted to be with wasn’t with her yet.

              Seth went into a deep concentration, raking his fingers through her hair. Kaia watched in pure amazement as he expertly twisted and braided it into a beautiful updo. The bun on the back of her head had been delicately wrapped with a Dutch braid. “One final touch,” Seth said, sliding in a hair pin with a glittering golden rose pendant on it into my hair.

              “You really are very good at this,” Kaia commented, turning her head left and right to admire his work.

              “Thank you, beautiful birthday girl! It’s been my honor to help out with your surprise. Sirius picked out that dress and he has wonderful taste!” Seth retrieved a pair of red high heels, gently slipping them onto her feet.

              Kaia wobbled as she stood but refused to admit that she wasn’t so great in them. She attempted a few steps, holding her arms out slightly to keep her balance. “Did he leave me a note?” she asked, staring down at her feet. It’ll be fine. She can do this.

              Seth nearly squealed as he remembered and shot into the other room. It took him a solid five minutes to find the letter, but he returned with it. “Here you are, my dear!”

              Kaia could hardly wait to open it.

                Dear Kaia,

              It’s finally time, I believe. Seth should have pampered you properly and given you the dress I chose. It’s elegant and sexy, just like you are. I’m awaiting my princess at the final destination. Ray should be there to bring you straight to me. We’ll be together very soon, and I cannot wait to spend every last moment of your birthday with you.

              Sirius

                Ray came to pick her up, just as Sirius promised. Atop his horse, caged in by his arms, Kaia had to question what was happening. “Why aren’t we taking a carriage?” She didn’t mind, but she was a little afraid of ruining the dress that had been given to her.

              “Carriages have a hard time reaching the area we are going. It isn’t too far from here, I promise,” Ray said, digging his heel in to the side of his horse and clicking his tongue. He urged the horse into a canter, taking the two of them out of town.

              This had been an area of Cradle that she hadn’t experienced. The forest grew dense as they rode into the mountains. The town disappeared from view. It took nearly fifteen minutes to arrive at the destination.

              Kaia could hardly believe what she was looking at. Nestled deep in the woods, a decently sized log cabin sat in a small clearing. Magic crystals lit the path up to it, and Sirius stood on the front steps a warm smile on his lips. He strode toward her, helping her off the horse.

              The two thanked Ray, who left them almost immediately. Sirius slid his arm around her waist, pulling her close and placing a chaste kiss on her lips. “Happy Birthday, Kaia,” he said. “You look exquisite.”

              She couldn’t keep the smile off her face. “This has been a wonderful day, and everyone was so kind to do this—”

              Sirius placed a finger on her lips. “We aren’t finished yet. Come inside,” he took her hand, rubbing his thumb over her fingers as they walked. He faltered mid step, feeling the Band-Aid on her finger. “What did you do?”

              Kaia’s cheeks flushed, and she turned her gaze away. “I, um… sliced it on the envelope this morning.” She had meant to take it off before meeting him and had completely forgotten.

              “I can’t leave you alone for two moments, can I?” Sirius asked with an amused expression.

              At that same moment, her heel caught on the step, sending her body forward. She squeaked, but Sirius had swept her up into his arms before she could hit the steps. She peeked up at him meekly. “T-Thank you.”

              Sirius kissed her forehead and took her inside. The interior had been lit with magic crystals as well, leaving a dim glow in the room. He carried her through the living room and out to the deck on the other side. “I hope you’ll join me for dinner this evening,” he said, returning her to her feet.

              The table had been elegantly set, with an array of food on the cloth. Rose petals were scattered about, and the sun had begun to set, leaving hues of orange and purple across the sky. The view from here overlooked Cradle and she was in utter bliss. Unable to tear her eyes away from the horizon, Kaia replied, “I would love to.”

              He stood behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and holding her close. “I’m so thankful that you came into my life, Kaia. You bring me joy every single day, and I cannot imagine my life without you in it. This wasn’t near enough to express my love for you,” Sirius said softly.

              Kaia shook her head, turning it to look at him. “This was lovely, and it could quite possibly be the best birthday I’ve ever had. I’m so grateful that I found you, and that you love me in return.” She captured his lips in a kiss, to show her love for him in another way.

              They stayed there for a while, admiring the view. As the sun disappeared, the light of the crystals glowed brighter, giving a candle light effect for their dinner. They spent the evening laughing and talking of their future together, dining on incredible food and drinking an expensive bottle of wine.

              “There’s also a hot spring just around the back of the cabin,” Sirius mentioned casually, just as they had finished.

              Kaia’s eyes lit up with excitement, and she couldn’t help but ask, “Are clothes optional?”

You were in your room braiding your hair when you suddenly heard a knock on the door. he door opened to reveal Sirius and his gorgeous smile.

"Happy birthday, Kaia," he grinned, and bent down to give you a kiss on your lips. You were pretty short, so the height difference between the two of you was pretty noticeable. "l finished my work early just so that I can see you." He admitted, a blush creeping onto his cheeks. "Sorry I couldn't see you earlier."

You smiled at him and grabbed his hands into yours. "Well, it was worth the wait. Thank you, Sirius. You looked at him lovingly. Anyway, I came in here to tell you to dress nice tonight. I want to take you somewhere special."

"Ooh, like where?" You asked excitedly, but Sirius placed his finger over your lips.

"What's the fun in telling you?" He smirked. Suddenly, due to your dirty mind, you had an idea. You opened your mouth, and started licking and sucking his finger sensually.

Sirius sucked in a breath and pulled his finger away. Lust clouded his eyes as he pushed you down on the bed and hovered over you. "Don't tease me like this, little one," he growled, his Daddy!kink taking over. "Or else we'll have to forget about your surprise and just spend your birthday in here."

You were extremely turned on and wanted to feel his hardness deep in you, but you also wanted to find out where he wanted to bring you. So you feigned a pout. "Sorry, daddy" You whispered innocently as you pulled yourself off the bed. "But I want to go tonight."

It took Sirius everything in him not to take you right there. He got up and before he left, he whispered in your ear, "Daddy will have to punish you later then, little one." He patted your ass gently and left you room, leaving you a hot mess and excited for later. But first, you needed to get ready for your date with him.

There were no girls around to help you pick out a dress, so you decided to ask Seth to help you pick out a dress to wear to your special date with Sirius. Of course, Seth obliged happily, and the two of you spent the late afternoon shopping for dresses. After going through many dresses, you finally settled for a purple one that brought out the brown in your eyes. Thankfully, you and Seth were able to successfully sneak the dress back to your room without any run-ins with Sirius.

Fortunately, you knew how to do your own hair and makeup. You decided to wear your hair differently than what you usually had. You wore your hair long and straight. Finally done, you made your way into the living room to wait for Sirius. A few minutes later, you saw him. He looked up at you, and did a double take, his eyes widening. He was absolutely amazed to see such a gorgeous creature in front of him. It took him a while to find the words to say to you.

"You look absolutely.....stunning, Kaia." Sirius was blushing all to the tips of his ears. After a moment to collect himself, he held out his arm, "Shall we go, little lady?

You smiled and grabbed onto his arm, "We shall."

After you both walked out the door, Sirius suddenly stopped. "Wait, you need to close your eyes for this, Kaia." He said.

Usually, you would "agree" and mess with Sirius by closing your eyes halfway, but you were too excited for this surprise. So you obliged and closed your eyes. You held on to Sirius, as you couldn't see where you were walking. He held a protective hold over you, just to be safe that you wouldn't trip and fall. After about 20 or 30 minutes of walking, you heard Sirius' voice, "You can open your eyes now, dear."

Finally, you opened your eyes. Before your eyes was the most beautiful sight you've ever seen. Every inch of darkness was lit up by magic crystals. The trees glistened with color. There was also a small pond, sparkling with the magic. "This..." You were at a loss for words to describe your astonishment.

"Lance, Harr, and I would use this area as a secret hideout when we were schoolboys." Sirius said softly. You knew that he was talking about the current King of Hearts when he said Lance. Feeling him place his hand gently on your head, he continued. "We were the only ones who knew about this spot. But I swore to myself that one day, I would bring my future beloved to this sacred beauty."

You looked up at Sirius, you could see the love in his eyes as he gazed down at you. "As soon as I met you, Kaia, I knew that you were someone special to me. That's why..." His voice trailed off as he bent down on one knee.

As Sirius got down on his knee, you let out a gasp. You could feel tears welling up in your eyes as you saw him pull a small box out of his pocket. "I might not be worthy of someone as beautiful, kind, and strong-willed as you, but I will certainly do whatever I can to make you the happiest woman in Cradle. So will you, Kaia (y/m/n) (y/l/n), return the favor and make me the happiest man by marrying me?"

Too choked up to speak, you gave Sirius your answer by pulling him close and kissing him long, hard, and passionate. He immediately kissed you back, just as passionately. Once you pulled away, you finally spoke. "Yes, I will marry you, Sirius."

He pulled you close again and rested his forehead against yours. His thumbs wiped the tears that had leaked out of your eyes. "Happy birthday, my little lady." He smiled gently.

"I love you. So much." You smiled back at him.

He kissed your forehead. "How about we head back home?" He suggested. You obliged and took his hand as you went back. That night, you both savored in each other's bodies. But as for that punishment he warned you about earlier, let's just say it never happened because you were both in too much of a vanilla mood tonight.

“Who’s there?” Sirius’ voice rang out in the hallway, stern and unyielding. If she were a black army soldier, she was sure she would be shaking. But Kaia had long learned she didn’t need to be afraid of her man, no matter how much of a scolding mood he got in.

Before Kaia could discern where to run and hide in this dark hallway, the queen of spades appeared, staring down at her with an unamused gaze. “Kaia… Again?” He advanced, pushing her back until she hit the wall.

Okay, so she had a habit of sneaking out at night. Okay, so it was because she wanted a midnight snack. She shot him a sweet smile, putting her dimples on full blast. “Just pretend you didn’t see me tonight, okay?”

He raised an eyebrow. “No can do.” A hand hit the wall next to her head as he bent down, lowering his mouth to her ear. “Now, how should you be punished?”

Kaia gulped, not expecting the words to be growled so, especially in that deliciously low register. “U-Um…”

“No ideas, my little troublemaker?” Now his lips were nibbling her ear, toying before he moved to capture her lips. His tongue traced the curve of her mouth, tasting her sweetness.

“S-Sirius…!” She gasped when he picked her up all five-foot-one of her so easily, pulling her legs so that they hooked around his waist. His hands went around her ass, enjoying the softness. Kaia grinned as she tried to kiss him again, but he dodged her attempt.

“Not here,” he whispered. “Or I won’t be able to control myself.”

Thankfully, his room was only a minute away. He all but kicked the door open, carrying her all the way to the bed. She was met with softness as her back hit the blankets, the weight of him on her. His lips never left hers as their tongues danced. His fingers trailed up her legs, getting closer and closer to where her arousal reached its fever pitch.

“Kaia…” He was groaning himself as you reached for him, cupping his bulge with a hand.

While normally you would have taken your time, would have loved to tease him, the hunger in his eyes said he couldn’t hold back any longer. His pants were off as your skirt was hiked up. There was a desperate need inside you both to be connected, to have the intimacy only lovers could.

“Oh…” She shuddered with pleasure when he entered her, when his fingers dragged along her clit as he sank himself into her addicting heat. There was no one quite like Sirius, no other cock that could fill her in such a way. She swore she was moulded to his shape, for there was no other explanation for the bliss he sent into her with each thrust.

“I love you.” He didn’t have to say it; she could feel it in the way he hugged her against his chest, in the way he focused on bringing his lady pleasure. Still, it was lovely to hear it all the same, especially as he massaged her.

“I love you, unh, more!” She cried out as she came, his hands still keeping that pace on her clit as her body throbbed, hummed with bliss. Clinging to him, she surrendered to sensation as she pulled him into climax alongside her. And for a moment, everything was blinding, everything was passion.

And when the lust passed, what remained was love, tender and saccharine. He stared into her dark-chocolate eyes as he held her, satisfaction written in every inch of his lazy grin. “Do you think that was enough punishment?”

The note was unsigned but she would know Sirius’s elegant script anywhere. Note and rose clutched in her hands, she hurried to the next destination, almost immediately spotting the clue. A beautiful spray of purple-blue blooms rested on the side table beside a plush chair, the very same chair Sirius had held her in while they read together, seated on his lap and leaning against his shoulder. The memory of that night brought a blush to her cheeks but she ignored it and picked up the flowers, carefully extracting the note.

Delphiniums for ardent attachment. When I look into your eyes, I am consumed. You will find the next flower in the courtyard.

A mad dash out of the library - where she just managed to avoid face planting when she tripped over the carpet -  and down the stairs led her to the courtyard and she skidded to a halt, searching frantically for the next clue. Several soldiers were practicing, but they steered clear of a section of the grounds and she went to it, finding another flower. Delicate purple stock that smelled wonderful and another note.

Stock for beauty and the promise of a happy life. I did not know true beauty or happiness until I met you, and am grateful every day that you are mine. Come find me in the garden.

Kaia clutched the flowers and notes to her chest, overwhelmed by the love she felt for this man, and then ran toward the garden. Distantly she was aware of the soldiers watching her with varying degrees of amusement and affection because they had to know why she was running around, but no one attempted to stop her as she found the path and wound her way through the flowers and vines until she reached the very center where Sirius stood waiting.

His smile was like sunshine and his laugh when she threw herself into his arms filled her with joy. He was so warm and he smelled of the flowers he had left for her but she hadn’t picked up lavender, so why did… She pulled away and saw that he held several sprigs of lavender for her, the fragrance an enchanting addition to the little bouquet she now held. Sirius gently took the flowers from her and arranged them into a proper bouquet with the lavender, deftly tying the ribbons around the stems in a bow before handing it back.

“What does lavender mean?” she asked after she had stepped back into his arms, bouquet held carefully in one hand so it wouldn’t be squashed between them.

Sirius smiled, violet eyes warm. “Devotion.” He brought her free hand up to press against his chest. His heartbeat was unusually fast, but the love in his eyes was steady as ever. “To remind you that for the rest of my life, I am yours.” He brought her hand to his lips, brushing soft kisses over her fingers. The softness of his lips and the intensity of his gaze made her heart race and she knew she was blushing but she couldn’t stop the smile that spread across her face, tears pooling in her eyes that she had no hope of holding back.

She couldn’t speak. The tears fell down her cheeks and she hiccuped when he gently wiped them away, leaving kisses lighter than the brush of a butterfly’s wings on her cheeks.

“Kaia, I love having you in my life. In my arms.” His eyes darkened and his lips kicked up in a wicked smirk that promised sin. “In my bed.” There was no way he missed the shiver that raced down her spine at those words but instead of teasing her more, he kissed rested his brow against hers, brushing light kisses over her lips.

She kissed him back through her tears, unable to keep from smiling as she leaned into him. “Thank you, Sirius.”

“Happy birthday, love,” he murmured, stroking her hair and finally deepening the kiss, his mouth slanted over hers and she melted into him. The notes slipped from her fingers and she absently thought she should probably pick them up but then Sirius ran his tongue along the seam of her lips and her mind fuzzed because really, there was no thinking when he did that.

He eased back to so they both could catch their breath and she grinned up at him. “Sex now?”