Chapter 23

Friday evening, Ryan couldn't ever remember feeling so nervous.

He had to settle down or Marissa would know that something was going on as soon as he saw her. He ran over the list in his head once again, concerned that he had may have forgotten something. He needed to have everything under control.

He'd dropped Luke at the airport a short time ago and was heading home to check that everything was ready.

Her gifts were wrapped and waiting for her. He smiled as he realised that was true … except for him.

It was 5:30 and he had to collect her at 6 for their 'dinner and a movie' night that he had casually suggested at lunchtime.

Thankfully she'd agreed. There was a moment there, just after he'd asked her, where she'd hesitated, obviously thinking about the busy weekend that she had ahead of her. At Molly's insistence, she'd taken the weekend off work to prepare for the party and she was obviously wondering if she should stay at home and get started on the preparations. He didn't know if she'd noticed him pale as the thought of her possibly turning his invitation down ran through his mind, but fortunately Molly had intervened and told her to go do it because they would have enough time on Saturday and Sunday to clean the apartment and cook for the party, so Marissa should spend the evening enjoying herself before the work began.

Ryan could have kissed Molly but he restrained himself knowing that it would only set Marissa's radar off and that was something that he couldn't afford to have happen.

Too much time and effort had gone in to making these plans. Hopefully everything would go off without a hitch.

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Ryan held the door open for Marissa to hop into the car. He'd just collected her and they were supposedly on their way to the movies.

"Have you decided what you want to see?" he asked.

Marissa smiled. "I thought that after last Friday night that we'd decided that we could save the ticket price and just make out in the car?" she replied, laughing.

"That's no fun." Ryan replied and then corrected himself. "Well … it is fun … but it's not in the spirit of the evening." He explained. "But I just need to drop back to my place. I realised on the way here that I've left my wallet at home. It won't take me long to pick it up and then we can be on our way."

"I've got money with me and I'd be happy to pay." Marissa pointed out. "It must be my turn anyhow?" she suggested.

"Oh no. Not on you birthday weekend." Ryan replied.

"Birthday weekend?" she asked smiling. "I thought that it was just a birth 'day' and that's not until Sunday." She explained.

"Uh uh" he shook his head. "Didn't you know that if it's a special birthday and it falls on a weekend then you get the whole weekend to celebrate?"

Marissa laughed. "Since when?"

"Since I decided." He replied as he pulled up in front of his apartment. "This shouldn't take long. Do you want to come inside with me and help me find it?" he suggested. "I'm not quite sure where I left it. I must have put it down somewhere when I was cleaning up after Luke."

"Sure." Marissa shrugged as she hopped out of the car. "I may as well. Sitting in the car on my own doesn't sound like too much fun." She followed him inside and then waited while he unlocked the door.

Ryan stood to one side to let her enter before him and he could feel his heart start to race.

Marissa pushed the door open and was instantly overcome by the scent of oriental lilies. She loved them and as she looked about the room the smile on her face turned to one of wonder. Ryan's lounge room had been transformed. It was full of flowers and candles on almost every available surface. The fire was burning brightly and soft music was playing in the background. She turned to him. "Wh … what …?"

"You like?" he asked.

"It's amazing." She replied. "But I don't understand." She said in wonder.

"It's the start of your birthday surprises." He explained. "Are you surprised?"

Marissa nodded as she walked further into the room, admiring the trouble that he'd gone to, to make everything perfect.

"I just need to check on dinner and I'll be right back." Ryan stated as he moved towards the kitchen.

He was gone only momentarily and he returned to stand beside her. "I hope you don't mind a slight change of plans. I thought that maybe we wouldn't bother with going out to the movies tonight but that we'd stay in instead."

Marissa nodded. "That sounds even better to me." Spending time with him was all that she wanted to do.

Ryan smiled. "Good. So when do you want to start on your gifts?"

"Gifts? Aren't the flowers enough? Plus … it's not my birthday until Sunday." She replied.

"And I keep telling you that even though you may not turn 21 until Sunday, you get a whole weekend of birthday surprises." He said as he kissed her, unable to keep his hands to himself for a moment longer.

Marissa happily joined her mouth with his as their tongues danced together. She could feel the kiss intensifying and she pulled back. "What about Luke? Are we expecting him to arrive home any time soon?" Marissa asked knowing Luke's talent for walking in at all the wrong times.

Ryan smiled and walked to the table where an envelope rested with a small bow on top. "And so we get to gift number 1." He said as he handed it to her. "Although I'm not sure if you will consider it a gift or not?"

Puzzled by his comment, Marissa couldn't wait to open it. She pulled out the piece of paper and quickly read it and then even more puzzled she turned to Ryan. "You bought me a ticket to Portland?"

He smiled. "No. If you look at the name on it you'll see that it's a copy of the ticket that I bought for Luke to go to Portland for the weekend. I dropped him at the airport a while ago. He doesn't come back until 5 on Sunday. Just in time for your party."

Marissa realised what it meant. "So we have the place to ourselves?" she asked.

Ryan nodded. "For the whole weekend." He explained.

Marissa was overwhelmed. "Well at least the nights. Molly has me cooking and cleaning during the days." She corrected him.

Ryan shook his head. "No she doesn't. It's all been taken care of. Worker bees will be at your place tomorrow to clean the place until it's spick and span and then the caterers are delivering the food on Sunday afternoon." Ryan said smiling as Marissa's eyes formed into large saucers. "We don't have to leave here." He said and then added. "Unless of course, you want to."

"But how? I can't let you do all this." Marissa started, still trying to process all that he was saying and the implications.

"It wasn't all me. Kirsten helped." He said and then handed her the small beautifully wrapped box that had been sitting beside the envelope on the table.

"What's this?" she asked.

"Gift number 2." Ryan replied. "Open it and you'll see." He smiled.

Marissa slid the ribbon from the box and removed the lid and inside she found … a new toothbrush. She smiled as she looked up at Ryan.

"I thought that you might like to sleep over." Ryan explained but the words had barely left his mouth when Marissa threw herself into his arms almost knocking him over on the way.

Ryan held on to her and carried her to the lounge, collapsing back on to it, as she attacked him with her lips. "I'll take that as a yes." He commented as she moved her lips to his neck.

"It's a definite yes." She replied giggling between kisses … her emotions threatening to bubble over.

"Are you sure you wouldn't prefer to go away for the weekend ourselves? I thought about that too … but I just thought that maybe you'd feel more comfortable in familiar surroundings, so I got rid of Luke instead." Ryan explained.

Marissa gazed around at the flowers and candles, the fire flickering in the hob "This is perfect." She said as she resumed kissing the sensitive part just below his ear that she knew sent him wild.

Ryan's face broke into a huge grin. Her reaction was even better than he hoped for. "So when would you like dinner?" he asked.

She stopped for a moment coming up for breath and looked at him. "Before I answer that … I'd like to know just how this birthday weekend works?" she asked puzzled.

Ryan smiled. "Well … I guess that's really up to you. You're the boss. Whatever you say goes."

"What ever I say?" Marissa repeated, wanting confirmation.

Ryan smiled. He could see the way that her mind was working. "I do have a few more gifts for you but I guess that it's up to you when you want them."

"But what about …?" her eyes told him exactly what she was thinking about. "Do I still have to wait?"

"For what?" he asked amused.

"You?" she stated simply.

"No." he replied softly. "I'm ready when you are."

Marissa's eyes widened as the words sunk in. "But I thought that I had to wait until my birthday?"

"I never said that. You just assumed that's when it would be. I just wanted you to get to know me. To know who you were doing it with. And if you still want to wait … then that's fine. But I want you to enjoy you're birthday and not be nervous or anxious because you keep thinking about it … about what we're going to do. So I thought that you might like to get it out of the way earlier. That way you can relax and enjoy yourself on the day. Plus your New Year's resolution will have been taken care of. But the decision is entirely up to you. Your call."

Marissa was blown away by his thoughtfulness. Everything that he'd done was to make her feel more at ease. But all she really wanted was him. Having him to herself for the weekend was the best gift that anyone could have.

"Please tell me that dinner won't burn because I'd really like one more gift before we eat." She replied reaching for his belt and making her intentions obvious. She felt like she'd wanted him for so long now that she could barely see straight.

Ryan smiled as he grabbed her hand. "Dinner won't burn. I made sure that it was something that would keep. But you need to just wait a minute. There's something else that I need to give you." He leant over and picked up a large gift wrapped box that had been sitting on the floor at the end of the sofa and handed it to her.

"What's this? I told you not to spend any money on me."

"I assure you that I didn't over spend. But this is what you asked for." Ryan replied.

Marissa couldn't remember asking for anything but she quickly removed the wrapping and lifted the lid to find a whole box full of ribbons and bows of all different colours. She looked up at Ryan and started to laugh.

He smiled loving the fact that she was enjoying herself so much and he explained. 'I didn't know what colour you wanted me in."

"I think that we should try a few of them out and see which one goes best with your skin tone." She suggested.

"Don't you mean with what I'm wearing?" he asked.

Marissa shook her head. "Uh uh. Because you won't be wearing anything. I need skin. Lots of skin … before I can make a decision."

Ryan looked at her and smiled.

"And since I am the boss." She said getting into the game. "I think that you need to get out of those clothes now and show me some."

"You're not serious? You don't expect me to just strip while you sit their watching." Ryan asked.

"Sure I do. And don't bother being in a hurry. Just take your time." She exclaimed, now laughing at his obvious discomfit.

"How about I'll take a piece off and then you take a piece off." Ryan suggested.

"Sure. If you can't undress yourself then I'm happy to help you." Marissa replied.

"That's not what I meant." Ryan explained.

Marissa went quiet. "I know. But I enjoy undressing you." She said softly. The tone of the conversation had suddenly turned from laughter to something more serious.

"And I enjoy undressing you." He replied. Their eyes met and the flames of passion flared between them.

Marissa ran her hands up under his t-shirt and pulled it over his head to reveal his toned torso. She threw the unwanted shirt across on to the spare chair. "Well I don't see why you should miss out on all the fun." She said as she stood up, kicked her shoes off and then turned to allow Ryan easy access to the zip on the back of her dress.

He quickly accepted her offer and the dress pooled at her feet within moments, leaving her in only her skimpy lingerie.

She turned to face Ryan and noticed that his eyes had darkened with desire. She held her hand out for him to join her standing up and he quickly acquiesced until they were standing face to face, the passion between them evident in the smouldering looks that were passing between them.

Marissa quickly divested him of his belt and jeans, his shoes and socks joining the growing pile of discards on the floor and then she reached for his boxers … she went to push them down but his arousal prevented her and she hesitated looking to him for his approval. Ryan quickly assisted and removed the offending garment and as she cast her eyes over his naked form, she thanked God yet again for giving her this divine specimen.

Ryan unclipped her bra and then hooked his fingers inside her panties and very slowly, he drew them down over her legs until she too was completely naked standing in front of him.

Now everything seemed to be going in slow motion.

She couldn't help herself but to run her eyes over his naked form. He was magnificent. She could see the glisten of precum leaking from his erection and yet still he hadn't moved. When he'd said that it would happen when she was ready, he had meant it. He was obviously waiting for her to make a move. But she didn't know where to start … so she dropped to her knees and licked the glistening tip but he quickly pulled back and dropped down beside her taking her tongue into his mouth as their bodies met and they melted into one another. His hands were roaming over her ... touching her, caressing her and leaving a trail of flames in their wake. She went to lie down upon the rug in front of the fire but Ryan hesitated.

"Wait." He said as he reached for a soft cotton blanket that was on the end of the couch and he spread it out under her and then joined her upon it. He glanced into her eyes. "Are you sure?"

"I'm positive. I want this ..." and then she corrected "I want you … more than I've ever wanted anything in my life." Marissa assured him.

Ryan brought his lips to hers again. Taking it slowly he sipped from the nectar of her mouth and then moved his lips down over her body. Nipping, sucking, caressing, worshipping, every square inch until he reached her core where he dipped his head to drink from her essence.

Marissa was on fire. She was trying to remain still but the feelings that Ryan was evoking were threatening to erupt. The ache that she had for him deep within her had reached epic proportions and she knew that nothing but having him buried inside her would quench it. She started to buck her hips wanting him to go further.

Ryan kept his tongue on her bud as he slipped first one and then two fingers into her. She was beginning to writhe on the rug and he knew that their moment of truth was getting close. He slipped a third finger into her and she let out a soft moan.

"Ryan … please?" she asked.

He removed his fingers and hastily donned a condom, for once thankful for his plentiful experience that made the task simple and then moved on top of her. He settled in to the cradle of her hips and his throbbing erection was nudging at her centre. They were so close.

And then suddenly… he had a moment of doubt. What if he hurt her? It hit him like a bolt of lightning that he loved her. If he hurt her, he would never forgive himself.

Marissa writhed beneath him waiting for what was to come.

She glanced at Ryan and it was as if she could read his mind. She raised her hips in silent invitation and reached down with her own hand to guide his penis between her folds and into her.

Ryan let her take the lead. He very slowly and gently pushed inside her until he met the expected resistance of her hymen. He stopped and looked at her questioningly.

This was it. The final barrier. She felt so good with her walls clenched tightly around him and yet he still didn't know if he could do it.

Marissa saw the hesitation clearly evident in his eyes but she had never been more certain of what she felt for him. She firmly gripped his buttocks and as she bucked her hips she pulled him forcefully towards her until she felt the momentary pain as the final barrier fell and for the first time she felt him deep within her.

Ryan was startled by her actions and instantly concerned. "Are you alright?" he asked softly, still refusing to move in case he hurt her.

She turned to look at him and he watched as the corners of her mouth slowly curled into a small smile. "Never been better." She said as a single tear emerged from the corner of her eye and ran down her cheek.

He caught it with his finger. "I don't want to hurt you." He pleaded.

"You didn't hurt me. I feel …" she started and then hesitated as she tried to work out exactly how she did feel. "I feel … complete." She said as she began to move under him, the short lived pain had eased off and she was trying to get used to the feeling of him inside her.

Ryan was still hesitant and she could see the uncertainty in his eyes. "I know that I'm only new at this but I think that you're supposed to move too." She whispered.

Ryan couldn't help but chuckle at her words as the nerves and tension suddenly evaporated and as he did so Marissa joined in. This was definitely not what either had expected but it only made it that much better. They were so close that they could talk about anything.

The feeling of him moving inside her as he laughed served to re-ignite the passion that had momentarily subsided and the laughter quickly was replaced by a need greater than either had felt before.

"Make love to me Ryan." Marissa softly begged and Ryan needed no more encouragement. He instantly started to move within her. Very slowly he began to withdraw watching her all the time until she looked bereft at which point he gently pushed back into her all the while concerned that he might be hurting her.

"Faster." Marissa whispered as she began to move with him.

Ryan took her at her word and began to quicken the pace, each thrust getting slightly more forceful and each time he was met by the tilt of her hips as she joined him in their passionate dance. Ryan could feel the tug starting in his balls but he tried to ignore it. This was about Marissa. He was not going to disappoint her. He glanced back at her face concerned that he may have been hurting her but there was no pain evident only a beautiful wanton woman that had lost herself to the passions between them.

Marissa couldn't believe how good it felt to have Ryan inside her; for them to finally be one. He was touching nerves endings that she didn't even know existed. The waves of pleasure were building and even though she wanted this to go on forever she didn't know if she could take too much more. She writhed and bucked beneath him and he thrust into her in an age old rhythm until she suddenly cried out as the waves of her orgasm washed over her.

Ryan felt her walls clench around him and it pushed him over the edge. Thrusting in to her one last time, he shuddered his release as he collapsed on top of her. Within moments his first thought was of Marissa and he went to move off her.

"Please. Stay where you are?" she asked softy.

Ryan gulped. "I thought that I might be squashing you." He explained.

"No. I …" she wanted to tell him just what she was feeling … thinking that by sharing it, it would somehow reassure him about what they'd just experienced together. "I want to feel you inside me. I want us to be connected … to be one." She said.

Ryan quickly swiped at the moisture that he could feel threatening to escape his eye as the full impact of her words hit him.

"Thank you." Marissa said softly.

Ryan shook his head. "I should be thanking you. You've given me the greatest gift that a woman can give a man."

"Well there's no one else that I'd ever want to give it to." Marissa replied.

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