Title: Prepping for an Overnight
Summary: Emma's leaving for a trip in the morning, and Graham's making sure she only stays one night.
Note: Tina's prompt: "maybe something about celebrating Graham's birthday? Also they don't know the exact date and maybe Emma needs to make it up? Does he even want to celebrate his birthday?" I know I need to get back to SB, but this got written much more quickly than the other in my drafts.
She came back into the bedroom, drink in hand. The button-up she had thrown on brushed against her upper thighs as she reached up to click the hall light back off. When she made her way back to the bed, Graham was sitting up with an arm crossed behind his head, an appreciative look plain on his face.
"What?" she asked with a smile.
He grinned, dark gaze flicking over her. "I like the look," he murmured. He reached out for her, tugging her forward by the hem.
The water almost toppled onto the sheets as she fell onto his lap, and she couldn't help the laugh that escaped her. She felt lighthearted and playful as she leaned in to press her lips to his. "It's your shirt," she reminded.
Graham trailed kisses across her jaw and down her neck. "Exactly," he said, his accent low and rumbly against her pulse.
"Is that your territoriality thing, Detective?" she teased, tilting her head to give him better access. "A leftover lesson from your brothers?"
He smiled into her skin and his fingers dug into her hips to pull her closer. "Could be," he replied.
She sighed pleasantly and curled her arms around his neck, the cool glass resting against his bare shoulders. He shivered slightly at the touch but didn't move otherwise. The lazy way he dragged his lips against her collarbone, like he had all the time in the world, was heady.
"Maybe I'll steal a couple for tomorrow," she suggested. "They're pretty comfortable, too."
"I'm going to miss you," he growled lowly as he plucked the buttons open.
"Just an overnight," she reminded. "And this is definitely encouraging me not to stay longer."
He chuckled and brought twinkling eyes up to meet hers. "You're on to my plan, then."
"Jersey is not where I was planning to spend my Saturday," she assured, then paused to take a long sip of her drink.
"He's not too bright. I'm sure you'll find him quickly," he said with a shrug. He took the glass from her hands and placed it on the nightstand, and then shrugged the shirt down her shoulders.
She helped him, with another kiss for good measure. "I thought you liked it on me?" she laughed.
His thumbs swirled across her hipbones. "I do. It's nice off, too," he observed.
"I'll keep that in mind come Christmas," she said with a smirk.
"Just consider it my birthday gift," he teased back.
She paused, cocking her head to the side. "When is your birthday?" she asked, semi-seriously.
He glanced at the clock behind them and her eyes followed his. It was just after one. "About an hour ago."
She jerked back in surprise. "What?"
He smiled, dimpling his barely stubbled cheeks. "Well, according to these memories, at least."
"Wait, I missed your birthday?" she asked incredulously.
His brow raised. "Not exactly what I'd call 'missing it,'" he said, and he captured her around the waist again, hands splaying across her lower back.
She frowned, not giving into his suggestive hold. "No, I mean … you and Henry had this huge party for me on my birthday, and … this was just a regular day!"
He nudged his forehead into her hairline. "I don't need a big party, Em. I had breakfast with you and Henry, went in late to work and still caught another bad guy, the guys went and got a cake—"
"Wait, the 20th knew and I didn't?" she exclaimed, mouth dropping open.
He smiled sheepishly. "Well, they have my personnel files," he said.
"God, and we had leftovers for dinner and Henry's off at Michael's this weekend for the project—"
"And I get to have this really amazing family that I love, and we have this amazing life together, Emma. I really don't see how I should feel like I'm missing out, here," he assured as he brushed his hands across her sides.
She leaned in to kiss him thoroughly, intent on letting him know how lucky she felt in turn. When they parted, she kept close in his space. "Did your other memories give different birthdays?" she asked, pouting her lip a little. Maybe she could celebrate the others to make up for this one.
His brow furrowed as he considered. "I'm sure the last one gave me one, but I really don't remember. Maybe it was the same?" he said, shaking his head. "I guess she determined it wasn't important. First one … well, it wasn't easy to keep track. It was anyone's best guess how old I was."
She leaned in, resting her cheek against his chest. She felt the ire at herself brew deep inside the pit of her stomach. "November 30, November 30, November 30," she repeated over and over. Shouldn't a girlfriend just know these things?
His smile went into her hair; somehow she could feel it. "I know we love each other, and I don't need to have you making some big ordeal over an arbitrary date to make it official."
She pulled back to look into his eye, blowing out a puff of air. She frowned a little deeper. "The only thing I've always had is my name and my birthday. It's important to me, those facts. It's not okay to me that we didn't acknowledge yours," she protested.
His lips pressed together, thoughtful as he looked at her. "I never had a name or a birthday in my first life, Emma. And the only time either of those things were important to me was when I was with you and Henry in this one. The fact that we spent even part of yesterday with each other? That's enough for me."
She didn't feel like it was enough. Her birthday had felt special because Henry and Graham and their friends had made it so. She wanted to help make his feel that way, too. "Come with me," she blurted out.
The silver in his cobalt irises sparkled as he looked her over in awe. "I wouldn't say no to that. But I don't want you feeling like you have to do this, either."
She shook her head. "No, I want you with me. Come to Hewitt. Sterling Forest is right there … we can make it a vacation."
Something changed behind his gaze, a wistfulness that made her heart leap that she had chosen the right point to highlight. "A forest?"
She smiled brightly. "It's still going to be warm for the next few days. The little cabin I rented … we can upgrade it, make it a long weekend instead. I mean, I'll have to catch the jumper and drop him off with the local police in the middle of it, but, like you said, he's not so smart. It'll be quick, and we can get some time to ourselves. You can show me what it was like before: show off your skills."
He hummed slightly in agreement, calloused fingertips tripping over her stomach. "Yeah, that could work," he murmured. "Obviously, you need the help of the salaried detective."
She swatted at his arm, scowling. "You can do your thing by helping me drink coffee as we stalk his regular table."
He nodded, then kissed along her shoulder again as his hands trailed upward. "That's settled. Can we get back to where we were headed, now?"
She started to nod, but then let out a short, sharp laugh as she realized something. "Sagittarius. Of course you'd be the archer."
He huffed a sigh and twisted them so she was on her back. She gave a short yelp, but grinned as he settled over her. He curved his hands around her ribs, just enough to tingle across her nerves. "Em, your younger boyfriend would like your attention to be focused slightly elsewhere," he teased.
She rolled her eyes. "Only by a month, and only in this life, buddy." She closed her eyes as he breathed along her skin, her body igniting at the brush of warm air. "But I guess I could indulge you. As a birthday favor."
"Good," he said and used his fingertips to paint upwards. "Because I have a few more ideas to accomplish before this weekend."
She brushed her hands through his curls, letting one more thought before she allowed herself to be swept back into it. "Happy twenty-nine, Graham."
"Thank you," he replied simply, leaning into her and hovering just above her lips.
She pressed forward, leaving a hairsbreadth between them, noses bumping before she angled closer. "Expect a party for thirty," she warned. "I get to spoil you, too, you know."
He smiled, the action skimming his lips to hers. "As long as you and Henry are there, it's enough for me."
She believed him, she thought as he kissed her soundly. But she also was glad she had a year to prepare for a day to show him how much he meant to her.
In the meantime, there was an easier way.