His Prize

Chapter 34: Choice

* * * * * * A few months later * * * * * *

I stretch, yawn and rub the sleep out of my eyes. The room is empty. Alex must be in the kitchen.

I brush my teeth in the ensuite bathroom.

Opening the bedroom door reveals a sweet smell. "You're baking?" I ask, puzzled.

"Good Morning, Birthday Girl." There's a huge cake on the counter.

I can't help but smile. "You baked a cake for me? Wait, I didn't tell you it was my birthday? And when did you learn to bake?"

"I figured it out, and Beth taught me."

Beth is one of his new friends. He met a whole new group of parbeings through Emily. Since he has been hanging out with them, he almost never goes to the bar anymore.

He hands me a piece of cake.

I wolf it down. I have no restraint when it comes to cake.

He's still on his first piece, and I'm going for my third, when out of nowhere, I hiccup.

His eyes land on me, and I hiccup again.

"Is that what I think it is?" He's wearing a smirk.

"I just ate-hic-... a bit fast. Some vinegar should clear it up." I reach up to the cupboard.

"Not so fast." He grabs the vinegar before I can.

"What are you doing. Give-hic- give it to me."

He chuckles. "What are these called again?" He searches for the word. "Hiccups. That's it. I've been waiting ages to see a human with hiccups. They're even better than I imagined."

I try grabbing the vinegar, but he lifts it out of my reach. "Not fun-hic not funny," I growl.

"You're right, it's not funny." He's still got that smirk. "It's hilarious."

He reaches for me. I run, but I'm soon captured. "Alex-hic," I whine.

"I don't know anyone named Alexhic," he jokes, lifting me up and caring me to the couch. He places me on his lap with my back to him.

I try getting up, but he puts an arm around my waist. "Let me go. Hic-."

He chuckles again. "Not a chance. This is way too entertaining."

I groan, but it's interrupted by another hiccup.

He holds me on his lap until my hiccups disappear. I was hoping he'd get bored, but even after twenty minutes, he was still finding it amusing.

"They're gone. Can you please let me go now?"

"Alright." His arm unlocks from around my waist.

I know what's coming. I've gotten good at predicting his actions. He's about to tickle me. As expected, his hands move to my sides.

I wait for the perfect moment before launching myself off him and bolting to my room. I slam the door behind me, locking it before he can get in. "Safe!"

"Okay, okay," he concedes. "You win. Now open up."

I open the door, feeling smug.

"Your present is waiting for you at work. We'll leave in around an hour."

I perk up at the word 'present'. I get cake and a present? "Okay, I'll get ready," I blurt out.

He disappears, and I pick out my clothes for the day. I lay out all my options on the cloud bed. I'm still not used to having so many choices.