Trying Not To Love You ~ JHTBY Book II

13. Open Arms

                         Gaige's POV

I opened my eyes on Saturday well before the sun rose – not really sure why though; the training yesterday tired even me out...and that's saying something – and glanced at Aria as she slept soundly, pressed into my side. I smiled down at her...I don't know how I got so lucky.

As I stared down at her, my mind wondered off to her birthday. She'd be eighteen today, and I was determined to make her day special...even if she doesn't want to make a big deal out of it. As I lay there thinking, she slowly started to shift around. Finally, she opened her beautiful, emerald eyes that managed to knock me breathless every time she looked at me. She blinked a couple of times, and I placed my hand on her cheek, smiling softly, “Morning, beautiful,” I all but purred at her, causing her to blush a light pink color.

“Morning,” she said, placing her hand on top of mine. She smiled lightly up at me, yawning.

“Happy birthday,” I said smiling and she laughed.

“Thank you,” she replied, drawing patterns on my bare chest with the pads of her fingers. She looked up at me and slowly brought her lips up to meet mine. I slowly pulled back from her and pulled her into my chest, wrapping my arms around her waist. I buried my nose into her hair, sighing.

We laid there together quietly, not saying anything; only the sound of our breathing filling the room. To be honest, I think that this is the happiest that I have been in a while, even with the current situation with the rising tension about the war, just being with my mate. No interruptions. Pure bliss.

Just as I thought that, I could hear three loud raps on my door. Of course I knew that it was Lanee and Claire. “Aria! Get up and get dressed! We have to pick up Halle in twenty minutes,” Claire yelled and I groaned, causing Aria to laugh.

“Alright,” she yelled back and then buried her head back into my chest. “I guess I'll be back in a little while, babe.” She leaned up, kissing me on the lips and then slipped out of the bed.

I growled and pushed my head into my pillow. Well, there went my bliss.

Look at it this way, now you have time to think of something special to do for her birthday, my wolf said and I grinned to myself.

Yeah, you're right, I said back and started crawling out of the bed as Aria was coming out of the bathroom, dressed in a simple superman t shirt and a pair of shorts. I walked over to her and kissed her forehead, “Have fun with the girls, babydoll, I'll be here when you get back,” I said smiling

“Ok,” she said and slinked her way out the door. As soon as I heard her and her friends leave, I pulled on a pair of jeans and a t shirt.

“Alright,” I spoke to myself as I made my way down the stairs and into the living room, “I have got to work fast, now what exactly can I do..,” I said and plopped down on the couch next to my beta and best friend, Jason.

“Hey man, whats going on,” he asked as he mindlessly flipped through the channels.

“Today's Aria's birthday and I have no idea as what I am supposed to do for her,” I said running my hands through my hair.

“Oh,” he said, settling on MTV. “Well, for Lanee's birthday, I just recreated our first date..I mean girls like that sort of stuff.”

I gave him a deadpan look. “Yeah, girls like that sort of stuff, but you seem to be forgetting that we are talking about Aria,” I said, then chuckled at his I have no fucking clue how yo help you, man look.