Exception (65 page)

Leaning forward, Taylor fit his lips around the lower curve of her mouth and gently suckled it. “Wasting good syrup is a crime, and you had some here.”

Part of Emily wanted to knock the fork out of his hand and jump straight to dessert, but the visual of him feeding her while she straddled him, naked, was the most erotic thing she had ever experienced in her life. Each forkful he placed in her mouth and every drink he offered drove her deeper into the scorching fire that was melting her insides.

He had just given her the last of the eggs when his free hand made its way to her knee. With a slow, deliberate pace Taylor made his way up her thigh, skimming the tips of his fingers along the inside of her leg. His eyes were like two torches, watching her, gasping for air as his fingers met the most sensitive part of her and moved in slow circles.

“You enjoyed that?”

She didn’t know if he meant the food or the slow caresses he was delivering, but either way the answer was the same. “Yes.”

Smiling, he lowered his mouth to her neck and ran his tongue over the curve. “You want more?”

Her answer was a simple nod, and a second later his right hand brought another forkful to her lips while his left continued to unleash pleasure on her. The taste of the pancake and syrup had barely registered in her mouth when his lips found one of her breasts. He took it into his mouth, nibbling and sucking the soft skin, making her groan through her full mouth.

Everything was quickening inside her, a rainbow of sensations begging to be set free. “More?” he asked once again.

“Yes.”

“Last bite of pancake or fruit?” The breath that followed his words made her nipples point further.

Knotting her hands in his hair, she brought his head up to meet hers. “Neither . . . Tay, please,” she begged incoherently.

His fingers and his lips sped up, giving her exactly what she wanted until her body shattered in a million pieces as she called his name. Tossing the fork aside, he cupped both hands on her bottom and flipped her on her back so that he was hovering over her. His eyes glanced deep in hers, asking for permission, which she granted by clasping her legs tightly around his hips and pulling his face down so his lips met the sated smile curving hers.

He entered her as their lips danced together spreading another wave of shudders and pleasure over her. They found their familiar rhythm; rocking against each other, and allowing the love they shared to consume them until any barrier that classified them as two separate people was gone, and all that was left was the burning desire and the pleasure that quenched it.

Emily’s nails dug in his shoulders as she called his name, finding her release. With a last roll of his hips and a kiss to her lips, Taylor followed her, whispering words of love against her skin.

They lay completely wrapped in each other, hands and arms, legs and feet knotted, prolonging the feeling of unity they shared while making love.

“Did you like your breakfast?” Taylor asked in a low whisper.

“I more than liked it. Is it too greedy of me to want to have all of my meals like that?”

Taylor chuckled and kissed the corner of her ear. “Not at all. We can even add that to the rules.”

“Rule number ten: no meal shall be eaten unless we’re both naked with me straddling you, and by the time we’re finished eating, all of our appetites must be sated.”

He laughed at her words. “I hope you know that that’s my new favorite rule. But we’ll have to start that tomorrow, because I’ve got plans for us today.”

Emily angled her head to look him. The curiosity flashing like fire in her eyes made him laugh and shake his head. “Don’t look at me like that. It’s a surprise, so I’m not telling you anything. And we better get that lovely ass of yours in the shower, otherwise we’ll be late.”

After a quick kiss to her lips Taylor hopped out of bed and swaggered to the bathroom, his naked bottom moving in a way that left Emily a bit light-headed.

Alone, Emily walked around, admiring the twenty-eight amazing flower arrangements scattered around the room. She felt like she’d been transported to some kind of wonderland.

Attached to the last bouquet of flowers was a white card with a simple metallic silver heart printed in the upper-right corner. With the goofiest smile on her lips, Emily opened it and read the short words scribbled in Taylor’s handwriting inside.

She read the words three times. Even without the sea of flowers, the card alone would have been the best and most romantic birthday present she’d ever gotten and, once she joined him under the hot water of their spacious shower, she made sure to show him how much her feelings for him were the same.

Staying away from each other long enough to get ready was a daunting task for the heated pair, but eventually they managed to accomplish it and, a little after ten in the morning, they stepped out of the elevator into the lobby.

Emily had been trying to figure out where he was taking her since their shower, but was having no luck whatsoever. Taylor was as tight-lipped as she’d ever seen him, which made her efforts to uncover the surprise an even more entertaining game. However, her guesses had been completely wrong until the cab Taylor insisted on taking, since Emily had never had that experience, parked in front of the Whitehall Ferry Terminal.

Stepping out of the car, Emily looked from the beautiful building to Taylor, her wide eyes blinking a few extra times. “We’re going to Staten Island?”

“Yep,” he replied folding his arms around her middle and kissing her below the ear. “You’ve never been, right?” Emily’s head bobbed in agreement, and he continued, “Good, and you’re gonna love it, babe. But before we get going, this is for you.” He kissed her cheek again and raised his hand, displaying a tiny white card with two silver hearts on the front.

Looking over her shoulder at him with an awed expression, she took the paper from his hands and opened it.

Her eyes watered as she looked from the paper in her hands to the brown eyes, so filled with love, staring back at her. Without saying anything, Taylor winked and pulled her hand towards the entrance of the terminal.

His excitement as he navigated the ferry, moving them to his favorite spot by the upper railing was contagious, and the moment they pulled out of the harbor Emily understood why. The view the ferry provided was even better than the one from their apartment building. Emily was mesmerized by it, and just when she thought it couldn’t get any better, the statue came into view and took her breath away.

She stared at the skyline in front of her, completely awed, thinking that, if riding that ferry was all Taylor had planned for her birthday, it would have been enough, because that was perfection. The sweet kisses to her cheek and neck, and the tiny card with three silver hearts and another beautiful love declaration he gave to her, made it even more so.

Arriving at the island, the simple yet adorable surprises Taylor had planned continued. They walked around, had ice cream and snacks, visited the zoo and rode a rowboat, and in every activity and at all of their stops, he handed her another card with more beautiful words scribbled on it, and one more heart on the cover. It was a perfect love-filled birthday.

For a late lunch, Taylor took Emily to his favorite Italian restaurant on the island. It was a cantina-style place that he and his family had gone to so many times during their trips to city as he was growing up. It wasn’t the most romantic restaurant, but the food was incredible, and he had another birthday surprise in store for her there.

Signore Ernesto was a tall, slim man in his late eighties, who greeted Taylor with a heavily-accented voice, a warm hug, and humorous complaints about not seeing him in so long. Taylor introduced Emily to him with a wide smile on his lips, making sure to mention that she spoke fluent Italian. When the older man smiled and greeted her in his own language, swinging his arms around her for a hug, Emily looked at her boyfriend with a wide smile, and he winked at her, knowing how happy she was to get to practice her Italian, something she hardly ever got to do.

The old man was probably the most charming person Emily had ever met and, in less than two minutes, the two were fully engaged in an animated conversation. Taylor had no idea what they were saying, but judging by Emily’s swooning expression, he guessed Ernesto was telling the story of how his parents fled Italy to escape their rival mobster families who would never allow them to be together. He’d heard that story so many times growing up that he knew it by heart.

Walking slowly with the aid of his walking stick, the old man took them to a secluded table by a window that had a gorgeous view of Manhattan and the statue. Not bothering to return to English, Ernesto wished them a good meal and promised to send a complimentary piece of his famous tiramisu for dessert.

“I think he’s in love with you,” Taylor teased, smiling lovingly at her as he handed her a menu. “Can’t blame him though.” Emily laughed and opened the black leather folder. Inside was yet another card.