Author's note: Did you read Playing Hooky? Remember the cat Yeats? Wonder when he first came to be? Read on to find out.

Happy reading!

Chapter Thirty

"Happy birthday!" Adrian announced when I walked into the house. He blew one of those annoying noise makers and threw confetti in the air.

I laughed. "Thank you." I pressed a kiss to his mouth as I brushed some of the stuff out of my hair.

"I made a cake! And I have tilapia ready to stick in the oven with just a hint of lemon pepper and olive oil, a nice salad of baby spinach and arugula, and some broiled sweet potatoes."

"That sounds delicious." I brushed my hands over his sides.

"And…" He kissed me and then gently picked up a package from beside the door. "Don't forget the present."

"You didn't have to get me anything. You bought the house."

"The house was for both of us. And our future children." He smirked. "This is your day."

I took the package and sat down on the couch. "I'd thought you'd forgotten."

"Of course not. But be careful with that. Don't shake it." He warned.

It was then that I noticed the holes in the box. And then I heard it moving around and crting softly. "You didn't."

"Maybe I did." He sat down beside me. "Open it up."

I tore into the package and peered in. There, staring up at me, was a small grey cat. "Hello there." I reached inside and Adrian took the box away. "Oh, he's so cute." I scratched behind his ears.

He climbed up my chest and onto my shoulder. He sniffed my hair and then pressed himself into my neck.

"They figure he's about six months old. They said he was brought in to be neutered and then no one ever came to get him. They tried calling, but no one ever returned their calls. That was about four months ago. They've just been hoping someone would come get him."

"So what should we call him? Hm? What is your name?" I held him up and looked into his sweet face. "Yeats."

"As in William Butler?"

"Yes." I giggled and held the cat to my chest. "Thank you. He's the best gift you've ever given me. But can I ask, why a cat?"

"Well, you're not sure you want real babies. So I figured we can have fur babies." He ran his hand over the cat's fur. "And I always liked cats."

I kissed him. "I'd really like a shower."

"Like a real shower or a, uh," he waggled his eyebrows, "sexy one?"

I laughed. "Can we have a real shower together? Is that possible?"

"Can I touch your boobs?" He asked anxiously.

I laughed. "I guess."

"So a real shower." He scratched the cat's chin. "He knows his way around the house already. I let him roam most of the day. And he's great about the litter box. They trained him at the shelter."

I scratched the cat behind his ears and sat him down on the floor. He looked up at me a moment.

Adrian pulled a ball out of his pocket and shook it. Yeats looked up at the sound and stood up on his hind legs, sniffing. Adrian gently threw the ball and the cat took off after it.

We watched for a little while as he played before Adrian pushed himself up off the couch. He hauled me to my feet and lifted me easily into his arms. He carried me up to our bathroom.

Actually holding true to his word, Adrian only helped me bathe and didn't try too much beyond that. He got out after a while and left me to my own devises so he could finish our supper.

Yeats made his way into the bedroom as I was dressing. He looked up at me and let out a soft meow. I kneeled down and ran a hand down his back. He purred quite audibly.

"Welcome to the family, Yeats." I stood. He rubbed against my leg and followed me out of the room, talking to me the entire way.

"I think he likes you." Adrian said when we appeared in the kitchen. He wore only a towel around his waist.

"Why aren't you dressed?"

"I didn't feel the need. It's your birthday. I'm going to give you what you want. And you know you want to see me wearing nothing but a towel." He struck a pose that was supposed to be sexy but mostly just looked absurd.

I laughed and hooked my fingers under the edge of the fabric. I pulled it away and dropped it on the floor. "Much better."

Adrian laughed and pulled me close.

I watched out of the corner of my eye as our new cat pounced on the discarded towel and started attacking it. I turned my head so I could get a better view. "He's so cute." I gushed as I watched him.

My fiancé groaned and pressed his face into my neck. "I'm standing here naked and the cat gets your attention?"

I laughed and lifted his face. "I've seen you naked on several wonderful occasions. The cat is something new. And I'd actually like you to go up and get dressed so I'm not too distracted to eat."

He grinned and pressed a quick kiss to my lips. He left the room, scooping the towel off the floor. I got a wonderful view of his backside as he led the cat out of the room, shaking the towel behind him.

I ate almost all of the food off the plate Adrian made for me. My fiancé kept kissing me and touching me and giving me a look that said he was proud of my appetite. Yeats sat at our feet. It didn't help that Adrian kept feeding him bits of his fish.

"You're going to spoil him." I warned as I sat back and stretched.

"I already have been. Isn't that the point with children? Even ones covered in fur?"

I laughed at the excited gleam in his eye. "You got the cat for yourself, didn't you?"

"Well, I wanted one. And you like cats. And it's your birthday."

"So you got yourself a cat my birthday?" I gathered a handful of his shirt and pulled him close to me for a kiss. "Well, I'm glad you did. And that you let me name him."

"Because you're good at naming things."

"You miss Hopper, don't you?" I teased.

"He could come back. You know he could." He encouraged gently.

I shook my head and kissed him again.

"Got room for cake and sherbet?" He asked, stealing yet another kiss.

"You sure do know the way to my heart." I reached for our plates and he stopped me.

"It's your birthday, honey. Relax." He cleared the table and made himself busy at the counter.

I held out my hand to Yeats as he looked off toward Adrian. "Come here, you."

The cat meowed and rubbed his head against my hand. He purred loudly. I picked him up and he curled into a ball on my lap just as my fiancé came over with a small cake. There was a single candle in the middle of it.

"Thank you for not reminding me how old I am."

"You're not that old. You're still in your twenties. Early twenties. So, no need to fret. Just make a wish and blow out your candle so we can eat cake."

I chuckled and closed my eyes. What to wish for? I smiled. I knew, of course. I wish that Adrian and I have a comfortable life together. Cheesy. Ridiculous. But it really was the thing I wanted most in that moment. I opened my eyes and blew out the candle.

"So what did you wish for?" He asked as he handed me a slice.

"Not supposed to tell. It won't come true." I took a bite of the cake. "Delicious."

He sighed and kissed me. "Mm, sugar."

I smiled. "Thank you for this."

"You are very welcome, Sydney. And after this, I'll rub your feet while you read whatever book is in the lineup."

"That sounds lovely, sweetheart."

He kissed me yet again.

I didn't eat much of the cake, but I inhaled the sherbet. Part of my mind was calculating all the calories I'd just consumed. The other part squashed that and I rubbed my fiancé's knee while I continued to pet the new cat.

I went to the room to retrieve my book. Adrian handed me a cup of hot chocolate and sat at the other end of the couch. He took one of my feet in his hands and started rubbing circles into the soles with his thumbs with the perfect amount of pressure. I opened my book and started reading.

Adrian snorted.

I looked over the cover at him. "What?"

"What to Expect the First Time." He read. "I thought you already knew all that."

"I want to be prepared." I went back to reading.

"Do you know there's such thing as too prepared? You'll end up over thinking and freak out." He smirked. "You already know what it feels like to be pleasured."

"I do." I turned the page, trying to ignore him.

"Do you want to talk about it?" He asked gently.

"Not right now."

"Why?"

"Because I'm thinking of all the practical things about it and you…"

"I like to think practically about physical things like that. Do you want to talk about it?" He asked again.

"I…No. Not until it's closer."

"Okay." He kissed my foot and then moved on to the next. "But if you have any questions, I could try to answer them."

"I know you could." I sighed and put the book down. "I don't want to think about that. Let's discuss wedding things. Our save-the-date cards need to be sent out this week. And we need to start looking for caterers and book a photographer."

"The invitations are on their way. I have most of the addresses, I think. We can work on that tomorrow. We're not working on our wedding on your birthday."

I smiled. "Do we still want to do breakfast foods for the reception?"

"I really did like that idea. It'll be something memorable."

"It would be. Carly was excited when I told her."

"I really like her. We should try to get her over for dinner one of these days. Isn't she seeing someone?"

"Yeah. His name is Stephen. She thinks it's real this time. I hope it is."

"We all can't be lucky, baby." He kissed my foot and then started rubbing my calf. "Let's see if they're free this weekend."

"I know she is. We have a fitting." I sat up. "Want to go to bed?"

He smiled. "I've been aching for you to ask." He kissed me hard. "But we don't have to go to bed, necessarily."

"Right here?" I stroked his cheeks.

"Why not?" He lowered himself to the floor. "Don't hold back."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because I know you still are. Just a little." He pulled my hips toward the edge of the couch and pulled my pants down around my hips.

"What do you want me to do?"

"Talk to me. Tell me what you're feeling." He pressed a kiss to the inside of my thigh as he draped my legs over his shoulders.

"It feels too weird to say things."

"You'll find a way." He pressed his mouth into me. He started slowly.

"Oh." I sighed. "That's lovely."

He chuckled into me, making me shiver.

I tangled my fingers into his hair. "Can you go a little faster?"

He went on with gusto, his lips and teeth moving against me. Words escaped me. All I had left were incoherent noises. I pressed myself closer, cradling his head in my hands as my voice got louder and louder.

Adrian looked up at me and I tried to keep his gaze, but it was just all too much. My head fell back against the couch with a loud, low groan. My body shook and it was almost more than I could take. He held me close, kneading my hips as he helped guide me down.

I collapsed against the cushions and laughed. "It's still such a shock."

"I hope it stays that way for a while." He gently rubbed my legs.

I combed my fingers through his hair and watched him for a while. "It makes me sad sometimes how jaded you are."

"You've helped heal that. In a lot of ways. This being the least of them." He kissed my knee and then stood. "Let's take this upstairs." He lifted me into his arms.

"The lights."

"I'll come back and get them. You're my special queen tonight. You're feet aren't touching the floor unless it's necessary." He kissed me and then headed up to our room.