Page 59 of Forced By the Bratva King
Standing at the bottom of the steps, I saw a note that I must have missed while rushing down. Peeling it off the railing, I read the content:Upstairs.
She chose tonight to play games with me. Classic.
I shook my head with a grin spreading across my face as I ascended the stairs, willing to play her game and see how it would end—what she was up to.
There was yet another clue plastered on the wall, and I read it silently, “Silent as the moonlit night. Where dust dancesin the beams of light. Find the place where echoes dwell, where shadows fall.” Scratching the back of my head, I muttered, “Are you kidding me…riddles?” I hated riddles, but I had to at least attempt this one.
Having considered the structure of the riddle, repeating the words over and over again in my head, I concluded that I finally got the message. With a triumphant smile lining the corner of my lips, I walked to the empty room directly opposite our bedroom.
Gently, I pushed the door, and it creaked open, allowing me to see the damsel, the goddess with a baby bump that was standing in the center of the room with a cake in her hand. She was dressed in her white nightgown, and her hair fell perfectly on her shoulders. She had a radiant smile that caused her eyes to sparkle, and under the moonlight filtering in through the window, her skin glowed elegantly.
She looked, in simple terms, divine.
Her divinity caused a chuckle to escape my lips as I stepped into the once-empty room, now decorated with balloons, some dim lights, a stack of gifts, and a banner that said,Happy Birthday.
I was so proud, and my heart was filled with gladness, so much that I couldn’t help smiling all the way to my ears, wondering where she’d gotten the time or the energy to get this done. It wasn’t grand, but it was amazing.
“Happy birthday, sweetheart,” she said with a tender, loving voice that melted my heart.
The closer I got to her, the more my nose was filled with the aroma of her pastry. I halted in front of her, my eyes locking hers in. “You know, I actually forgot that it’s my birthday,” I confessed, holding her delicately by the waist.
“I know. And that’s why I decided to surprise you,” she replied, placing the cake on the table by her side.
“Thank you.” I combed my fingers through her hair, my tone tinged with sincerity. “No one has ever surprised me like this before.”
Sierra sighed softly, dropping her head on her chest. “That’s a relief,” she said. “Because I went through a lot of stress to get this done.”
“How?” I inquired, marveling with slightly lifted eyebrows.
“Well, I bought these balloons—and by the way, they’re quite expensive—then I baked this cake, and—”
“Wait, youbakedthe cake?” I’d already suspected before, but hearing her make the claim hit me differently.
“Yes, now pay attention,” she said and continued. “It was difficult to have this room cleaned up without you noticing, but I didn’t do it alone; Irina helped a lot.”
“Sierra,” I called softly, but she wouldn’t stop talking. It was one of the side effects of being pregnant; at least that was what Irina told me. “Sierra,” I called her again, catching those eyes that wouldn’t stop darting across the room.
“Yes?” She gazed at me with heavy breaths, overwhelmed by emotions.
“You did good.” I cupped her face in my palms. “And I love you even more for that.”
Her cheeks flushed, lighting up her face with a radiant smile—a rather contiguous one that warmed my heart. “I love you, too,” she said, batting her lashes at me. “Now, make a wish.” She gestured at the cake and the lone candle towering on top of it.
“I wish—”
“Ah-ah-ah,” she cut me off. “As much as I’d love to hear your wish, you’re meant to say it in your heart.” She tapped her index finger against my chest.
In my defense, I wasn’t used to these sorts of celebrations, but in fact, that was intentional. I wanted to see her reaction, and it was just as I had predicted.
Leaning toward the cake, I shut my eyes, made my wish, and blew out the candle.
I wish for our love to never die.
She clapped for me and pulled me to herself, then kissed me with closed eyes. “Happy birthday once again,” she whispered, looking right into my eyes.
I placed a palm over her big belly and caressed it lovingly. “How are the kids?”
“They’ve been on their best behavior recently, which is kinda weird because Dr. Everest said that I’m…ahh!” The slight pause came when I drew backward; she was slightly bent over, with a hand on her belly.