Emperor of Mayhem

f i f t y - t w o

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BIRTHDAY GIRL II

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[ It's a double update today so watch out for chapter 53 after this ]

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My brows pulled together slightly when I heard a deep chuckle next to me, a soft yet deep sensual sound that kind of danced on my skin like a ballerina with way too much grace. And I couldn't even hide the secret smile on my lips nor ignore the gentle flutter of my heart. But I wasn't ready to wake up. So I snuggled further into the pillow, ignoring him.

"Leave me alone." I mumbled when again, I felt the brush of his fingers against my skin before a loose strand was tucked behind my ear.

A sudden shiver shot through me at the feel of warm lips abruptly pressing against my cheekbone, then my closed lid and then the tip of my nose, before brushing lightly against my lip, warm breath tickling my face.

"Mikhail, seriously stop." I grumbled below breath, barely sounding convincing enough because secretly, I kind of loved being woken up like a princess of some sort. Like a cute little baby that still deserved pampering you know.

All of a sudden, he started to sing.

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday Malyshka, happy birthday to you"

Then my eyes fluttered open only to connect with sharp pair of electrifying orbs that threatened to burn right through my fucking soul.

"It's my birthday?" I asked, lifting my head off the pillow a little then dropped it back. I mean I knew it was around the corner because he told me it was November sometime ago. I just wasn't expecting it to be today because he clearly didn't remind me.

"Of course." He nodded, chuckling as he combed his fingers through my hair, shifting closer to me on the bed.

"Damn," I breathed, "Nice?" Then flipped onto my back on the bed, still looking up at him, "you know there's this book on my shelf that I haven't exactly gotten around to read though I made a pledge to read it today, right and guess what? The title is Birthday Girl."

A soft grin took over his structured face, "What a coincidence then."

You could say his smile was contagious as it only widened my own. 

"Happy 19 years on earth, baby." He whispered huskily, his knuckle brushing against my cheek gently.

"19 years." I echoed to myself, "Gosh, I'm getting old. No wonder the constant back ache and weak bones." My left hand flew to palm my forehead.

"OMG, in the next few years, I could be a grandma. Eww!" I pulled the comforter over my face, my facial expression battling between a scowl and a grimace. "I would soon be twenty, then thirty and before you know it I would be the seventy-something grandma who was jealous of her granddaughter's youthfulness and beauty."

Then he started out laughing; one of the most beautiful sounds I had ever heard filled the serene room, strummed the strings of my heart like a rockstar would his guitar, and wrapped around me like the warmth of the morning sun.

He was beautiful when he just sat in his dark bubble staring into space. He was beautiful in the rare occasions he would talk about things that interested him. He was beautiful when he was looking at me like I was the only interesting thing in the world. But dammit, no beauty surpassed when he let loose and laughed carelessly like this, throwing his head backward, the corners of his eyes crinkling as he released the deepest and sweetest note on any song.