A Dance with Danger

Chapter Sixty-Four

**Estelle's POV**

It was the one day of the year when I had an excuse to spoil my husband, and I wasn’t going to waste it.

Growing up, birthdays had always been special to me. No matter how simple or extravagant, they were a day to make someone feel loved. I’d always felt that way, even as a child. Birthdays weren’t just about receiving gifts, they were about making the people you cared for feel valued. And today, as much as any other, was no different.

I woke up early—earlier than usual—to make him breakfast. It was a tradition of mine to bake a birthday cake, something I would never skip. But this year, I wanted to start the morning with something even more special.

Waffles.

Golden brown, perfectly crisp on the edges, topped with a generous layer of whipped cream and fresh strawberries. A side of crispy bacon—because Tiberius loved it—and, of course, freshly brewed coffee, just the way he liked it: dark and strong.

And, of course, I was only wearing his oversized white t-shirt and my panties.

I smirked to myself as I balanced the tray in my hands and climbed the stairs, the soft fabric of his t-shirt hanging off one shoulder. It smelled like him—cedarwood, musk, something deep and undeniably masculine. It was the scent that never failed to make my heart race and my skin tingle.

Pushing open the bedroom door, I found him just as I’d left him—on his stomach, sprawled across the bed with his dark hair a mess against the pillow, his broad back rising and falling with each steady breath.

God, he was gorgeous.

I set the tray down on the nightstand, taking a moment to admire him, watching the subtle rise and fall of his chest. There was something about watching him sleep, seeing him in this peaceful state, that made my heart swell.

But I wasn’t going to let him sleep through his birthday, not when I had a plan to wake him up in a way that was much more interesting than a simple “Happy Birthday.”

I climbed onto the bed, straddling his waist, letting my hands glide over the warm skin of his bare back.

He let out a low, gravelly moan at the contact, his muscles flexing beneath my touch, the familiar heat of his body making my pulse quicken.

I grinned as my fingers traced the hard lines of his back. “Morning, birthday boy.”

He hummed, his eyes still closed, clearly not ready to face the day yet. “Mm. Keep touching me.”

I chuckled softly, massaging the tension from his shoulders. “You’re so demanding for someone who just woke up.”

He cracked one eye open, his forest green eyes darker than usual, sleep still lingering in them. “You’re sitting on top of me wearing nothing but my shirt. What did you expect?”

I bit my lip, trying to hide the smile threatening to break free. “Mm. Good point.”

His hands came up, gripping my thighs and squeezing just enough to make me shiver. “You planned this, didn’t you?”

I leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to his bare shoulder blade. “Maybe.”

I took the opportunity to slowly trace the edges of his tattoo with my finger, feeling the inked design beneath my touch. “I made you breakfast.”

He exhaled slowly, his grip tightening on my thighs. “You woke up early for that?”

I nodded, my heart swelling with love. “Yes. I’ll do anything for you.”

A low growl rumbled deep in his chest, and before I could react, he flipped us over, pinning me beneath him with a fluid, effortless motion. His weight pressed me into the mattress, and I felt the familiar warmth of his body against mine. His face hovered just inches from mine, his breath warm against my skin.

“That’s dangerous, малышка,” he murmured, his lips barely brushing against my ear. “Because I’d do anything for you, too.”

Heat flared between us, the air growing thick with desire.

I reached up, tracing his jaw with my fingertips. “Then kiss me.”

He didn’t hesitate. His lips crashed into mine, claiming me in a way that left me breathless. His hands roamed my body, fingers teasing beneath the hem of his shirt, sending shivers of anticipation through me.

I moaned against his mouth, arching into him. I wanted him—I wanted him now—but for just a moment, I let myself savor the feeling of his lips on mine, of him touching me like I was the only person in the world.

Tiberius reached for one of the plates on the tray and set it on his lap, clearly ready to dive into the breakfast I’d made. I sat back on my legs, waiting for him to hand me my plate. But when I saw him cut the bacon into pieces and stab it with his fork, I was confused.

“Tiberius?” I said, tilting my head slightly. “What are you doing?”

He didn’t answer at first. Instead, he picked up a piece of the bacon and held it in front of my lips. His dark green eyes glinted with amusement.

“Eat,” he commanded, the simple word holding a tone that made my pulse race again.

I stared at him, unsure of what to do. Was he joking? Was this some sort of game? I had no idea, but I wasn’t going to make a scene. 

I leaned forward slightly and took the bacon from his fork, biting into it with a small smile. The crispy, smoky flavor filled my mouth, and I couldn’t help but hum in satisfaction.

“Good malyshka?” he asked, his voice low and deep, watching me closely.

I nodded, still chewing. “Very good.”

“Good.” His hands were now free, and they reached for the waffles, cutting a piece and offering it to me just the same.

“Eat.”

I raised an eyebrow, but I didn’t protest. I opened my mouth, taking the bite he offered, savoring the sweetness of the waffle and the whipped cream. The strawberries were perfect, just the right amount of tartness to balance the sweetness.

“This is ridiculous,” I muttered, laughing despite myself. “You really want me to eat all of this?”

He smirked, clearly enjoying the control he had over me in this moment. “Yes, you’ll eat it all. Every bite.”

I rolled my eyes, but the smile on my face was genuine. Tiberius always had a way of getting what he wanted, but the thing was, I didn’t mind giving it to him. Not when he made me feel this special, this adored.

After a few more bites, he took the other full plate and started eating.

“Are we done with breakfast now?” I asked, my voice teasing as I ran my fingers through his tousled hair.

“Not quite,” he murmured, his lips brushing against my neck. His breath was warm, and I could feel the heat radiating from his body as his lips trailed down to the sensitive skin beneath my ear.

My heart pounded faster. “Tiberius…”

He smiled against my skin, the corners of his mouth curling up. “I think I need to thank you properly for all the birthday treats.”

Before I could reply, he kissed me again, slow and deep, his hands sliding under my t-shirt as his lips moved against mine, making the world fall away. I was so lost in the feeling of his touch, of the way he made me feel, that I didn’t care about anything else in the world. All that mattered was him.

And in that moment, with his hands on me and the soft glow of the morning light pouring in through the window, I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate the day.

Tiberius growled again, pulling back just enough to murmur, “I should thank you for my birthday surprise properly.”

I grinned against his lips, breathless. “I won’t stop you.”

And with that, the morning was officially perfect.

*********
It's official 😭😭, we will soon say goodbye to this book. Just a few more chapters.