Chapter Thirty-Five
Iris
I woke up to the sight of the biggest rose bouquet I’ve ever seen in my life for my birthday.
I’m not kidding. It was as tall as me. Before I could admire and touch it, I was screaming Kian’s name as he ate me out until I came twice, which is our morning ritual at this point.
Crawling over my spent body, I received the sweetest and most romantic kiss ever, with him whispering, “Happy Birthday, Rainbow. Thank you for being born and making my life complete.”
I swear I shed a few tears.
The surprises didn’t stop throughout the day.
He cooked me breakfast, which we had on the balcony decorated with balloons. He brought out a cake lit with candles and made me make a wish. After making love to me right there underneath the blue sky, we stayed cozied up because he wasn’t ready to share me yet with my friends and family.
I was still on a high from the morning when, in the afternoon, he took me to the theater. He had booked it entirely for the two of us and had them play my favorite movie. A mystery-slasher movie directed by the infamous Mallik brothers.
The real surprise came at the end when we were shown the director’s cut, never ever seen by the public and played just for me. Kian happens to know the eldest Mallick brother and arranged this lovely surprise for me. I was in a complete daze as I had walked out.
My big, bad wolf is a romantic at heart.
Who would’ve known?
“Are you having fun, Rainbow?” Kian asks, his sexy dimples on display.
I sway closer to him as we slow dance to the seductive music playing at the rooftop restaurant he booked to throw me a party with my friends and family.
Slightly tipsy from the wine I’ve had all night, but mostly drunk on him, I purr, “I’m on freaking cloud nine and don’t want this day to end. All because of you.”
Twirling me around, he dips me low and bends to lock our lips together. Moaning, I part my mouth to let his scotch-dipped tongue slip inside and lick every crevice. My body comes alive, burning up, desire increasing under his dominance and rough kiss.
God! I need him inside me. Pounding into me. Owning me.
When he tilts me upright and rips his mouth, I’m ready to demand he take me home and fuck me senseless. His metallic eyes are mirroring my depraved need.
Suddenly, a throat clears. “Mind if I cut in?”
Blinking, I twist my head and see Nova standing before us.
“Do you plan to be disrespectful to her?” taunts Kian, before I can reply.
“I deserved that,” admits Nova. “I’ve come to apologize. Let me talk to her.”
I’m confused about the tension between the two men. Did they have a fight about me that I didn’t know about? When did it occur?
“It’s fine, love,” I calmly tell Kian. “Nova’s my friend.”
Shame shadows Nova’s face, perplexing me even more. I’ve never seen him anything but cocky. He silently waits for Kian to answer.
“Two minutes,” grits out Kian.
“Thanks, man.”
After giving me a kiss on the cheek, Kian walks away. Nova steps forward, his palm outstretched. I accept it and let him pull him close. He maintains a polite distance, his hand resting in the middle of my back.
“So,” I lick my lips as we sway to the beat, “what did you want to talk about?”
“I owe you an apology.”
“For?”
“For calling you a cheater behind your back and without hearing your side of the story. Rosalie told me the truth about you and Nathan. I’m sorry I said those things, Iris.”
There’s no malice in his tone. He genuinely regrets it. I’m not mad because I know where he was coming from.
“Your loyalty is with him,” I say.
“He’s my best friend.” He sighs. “We’ve stood by each other through thick and thin. I’ll always be loyal to him. But that doesn’t mean I won’t admit when I’m wrong.”
“I understand. I forgive you.”
His shoulders relax, but his face remains serious. “I have a feeling there’s more going on between you two than you’re sharing.”
I tense at his observation.
“You don’t have to tell me,” he softly says. “But if you need help, don’t hesitate to reach out to me.”
“Has Nathan talked to you yet?”
His jaw tightens, hurt reflecting in his eyes as he glances over my head before meeting my gaze. “No. I’m worried about him. He’s not acting like himself.”
“No, he isn’t.” I hold back from revealing anything else.
“How close were you both?”
“I thought he was my best friend.”
“How come you never told him you were in love with Kian? If you both were just friends, it wouldn’t have mattered to him.”
I tilt my head, raising my eyebrow in disbelief. “Does he ever talk about his brother? That one topic was even off-limits to me.”
“It’s a sour topic.” He heaves in frustration. “If you knew about his childhood, you’d understand why.”
“Kian isn’t the villain Nathan paints him out to be, Nova.” My protectiveness rises. “None of you has ever bothered or cared to get to know him. If you did, you’d know what an amazing and loyal person he is.”
“Well, he’s going to be in our lives. So, I guess I have no choice but to get to know him.
” His own protectiveness surging, he states, “Either way, Nathan will always come first for me. I’m sure he’s done a shitty thing for you to hate him, but he isn’t a villain either.
It’s always the circumstances that make one so. ”
A shadow falls, then Kian’s deep voice rumbles, “Time’s up, D’Cruz.”
“Happy Birthday, Iris,” Nova says, stepping away from me. “I’ll see you around.”
“Everything good?” Kian demands, taking the other man’s space and pulling me flush against him.
“Yeah, he was genuinely sorry.”
“He should be.”
“I don’t want to talk anymore.” Rising on my toes, I tug him down for a kiss. “Take me home. I need you inside me, sir.”
His eyes flash with all-consuming lust. “Soon. I haven’t given you your gift yet.”
“Kian!” I blush. “You’ve given me nothing but gifts since this morning.”
“Surprises aren’t gifts.”
I chuckle. “Give me my gift then.”
Taking my hand, he walks me to a table for two in the corner. Once we sit side by side, he pulls out an envelope from inside his suit pocket and hands it to me. “Here.”
Highly intrigued, I flip it open, frowning at the piece of paper inside.
I glance at him, but his expression gives nothing away.
He nods at me to read. I unfold the letter, making a couple of pictures slip out.
They’re turned over, so I can’t see what they are.
I focus on the letter first, my pulse pounding, thinking he wrote me a love letter.
It’s something else entirely.
A real estate registry in my name.
As my wide eyes finish reading it all, I stop breathing in disbelief.
He. Bought. Me. An. Island.
A freaking island.
“What… wait… I… This… You…” The paper flutters in my palm, my fingers going numb. “It’s… it’s a prank, right?”
Nobody just buys a motherfucking island like it’s candy.
Oh crap. My head is spinning.
“You wanted a house on the beach,” he rasps.
“This is an ocean!” I yelp, jerking my wild eyes to his handsome face watching me intently and adoringly. “Kian… love, this is crazy. You don’t just gift someone an island.”
“You’re not someone. You’re the love of my life.
” Cradling the side of my face in his large palm, he strokes the top of my cheek.
“My reason to wake up in the mornings. The sunshine and colors in my life. If she dreams of a house on the beach to raise our kids, then I’m going to give her the very best. Trust me, it’s nowhere close to the things you’ve given me, Iris. Fucking incomparable.”
The air whooshes out of my lungs at rocket speed at his breathtaking confession. My entire body is trembling, tears blurring my vision as his words keep repeating over and over in my head.
He called me the love of his life.
“Please don’t cry, baby,” he begs as the first hiccup escapes. “Come here.”
I bury my face against his neck as he picks me up and settles me on his lap.
“Stop pulling at my heartstrings like this. Every day, I fall harder and harder in love with you, Kian. I can’t wait to have our children, raise them with the best dad in the world, and grow old with you.
” Inching back, I kiss him on the mouth before peering into his beautiful eyes.
“You’re my dream come true. Everything else is the cherry on top. ”
Crushing his mouth against mine, he expresses all his love with his lips and tongue. Until the world disappears.
Then, he takes me home and does it all over again.