MHA #6, Wednesday Evening

[firstofitskind]

To say the last few days had been busy for the two of them would be one hell of an understatement, but that didn't mean Liam was going to let Verity's birthday just go by in the aftermath. He did, however, call JGoB and have them make a last minute change to the cake he'd ordered. Which was sitting in a non-descript cardboard box in the kitchen for now, waiting for the reveal later.

(Yes, he'd promised the mice a not-insignificant portion of said cake in return for their patience, as well as their assistance in holding Verity to her promise not to peek prematurely.)

All they needed now was dinner, and Liam was just about finished taking care of that too- or at least, taking care of paying the delivery person from Outback Steakhouse.

"Food's here," he announced, having finally managed to send said delivery person on their way.

[ooc: for the birthday-haver!]

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[firstofitskind]

"That so?" Liam drawled. "Well then. I won't make you wait any longer..." He pulled away, somewhat reluctantly, and went over to the counter where the cake box was still resting. A moment later, he was back, and the box was placed on the table in front of Verity.

[arboreal_priestess]

"I finally get to look?" she asked and didn't wait for him to answer, popping open the top.

And then bursting into laughter as soon as she saw the dragon on top.

[firstofitskind]

That was precisely the reaction he'd been hoping for, and Liam couldn't help a goofy grin of his own from spreading across his face. "Thought you'd like that," he said, a bit smugly.

[arboreal_priestess]

"Course I do," Verity said. "Memorializes my grand discovery, putting me on the map as a historic cryptozoologist, as is right and proper."

[firstofitskind]

“They had ‘realistic’ looking cakes, but I figured that would be kind of weird, all things considered.” They liked William after all.

[arboreal_priestess]

"I am not cutting into a realistic dragon," Verity said immediately. "Definitely too soon. This is perfect."

[firstofitskind]

"Glad you like it," Liam said, leaning over to give her a quick kiss. "Now hurry up and make that first cut, I've been looking forward to this all night."

Only partially true. He was looking forward to cake, for sure, but mostly to what they'd be doing after dessert.

[arboreal_priestess]

In fact, Verity cut herself a much smaller piece than normal. Not because she didn't want cake, but because her brain was very firmly fixed on 'after dinner.' "How much do you want?" she asked, knife posed over the cake, but the husky timber of her voice turning it into something distinctly more inviting.

[firstofitskind]

"You're the birthday girl," Liam said, something in his eyes betraying the fact that he wasn't really all that focused on the cake either. "Why don't you decide."

[arboreal_priestess]

Verity cut him a slice a little thicker than hers and then a third slice, a decent chunk of the remainder. "We should set this aside for later," she said. "The the rest..."

There was a handy ritual she was thinking about invoking soon.

She set their slices onto two more plates, and then lifted a forkful to her mouth. "Mmm," she said, eyes closing as the rich flavor exploded on her tongue. "Oh, this cake is good."

[firstofitskind]

Liam watched her appreciatively, lips curling up in a slow grin.

"Hmm. You've got..." he trailed off, leaning forward as his tongue darted out to take care of the dab of icing at the corner of her mouth.

[arboreal_priestess]

Hnngh.

"Did I?" she asked, smearing a little more on his lower lip. "Is it all gone?"

[firstofitskind]

Liam felt a shiver of pleasure, anticipation- some combination of both- run through him at the sensation of her finger on his lips. "I don't know," he mused. "Suppose it warrants closer, ah- investigation," he added. Logically.

[arboreal_priestess]

"I think you might have some riiiight..." Verity didn't finish her sentence, just leaned forward and caught his lip, catching it between gentle teeth, and licked.

[firstofitskind]

Liam moaned softly at the sensation, his own tongue darting out to meet hers and deepen the kiss.

[arboreal_priestess]

Do you know what Verity didn't need? Her own chair. Not when Liam's lap was right there to slide into, arms curling around his neck.

[firstofitskind]

Conservation of chairs was extremely important!

Especially since it meant Liam could slide his hands under the hem of Verity's shirt as he pulled her even closer.

[arboreal_priestess]

Which, if you really thought about it, was exactly where his hands were supposed to be in the first place. "I know what present I really wanna open," she said, tipping her head back to offer Liam a chance to use that mouth of his on her throat.

[firstofitskind]

And who was he to refuse an offer like that? Especially on her birthday.

"Yeah?" he said, breath ghosting against her skin for a moment before he kissed the hollow of her throat that she'd so thoughtfully made accessible. "That can be arranged."

... Though if they were gonna skip right over the rest of the cake they really should at least put their share away in the fridge. In a moment.

[arboreal_priestess]

Liam was free to do that as soon as he was willing to pull himself away.

An action she was going to make more difficult to accomplish by sliding her hands to his chest and starting to unbutton his shirt.

Hey, she didn't have roommates. They technically didn't have to leave the table for this last 'present' if they didn't want to.

[firstofitskind]

Yeah, he was not exactly in any rush to go anywhere.

One hand was slipping back out from Verity's shirt, though, to trace the line of the necklace chain before he leaned in again, this time to press a kiss just beside where the pendant was resting.

[arboreal_priestess]

Verity shivered, a soft sigh escaping her throat. "Hey," she murmured, looking down at him. "I love you."

It still felt kind of foreign on her tongue, but she had faith it would come easier with time.

[firstofitskind]

And the thrill that shot through Liam at hearing those words was just as intense as the first time she'd said it. "Hey," he replied. "Love you too," because saying it felt just as nice as hearing it.

[arboreal_priestess]

"Well aren't we just a matched set then," she said, cheeks a little flushed; words she'd only said and heard from family before. "That makes things a lot easier."

[firstofitskind]

"It does work out," Liam leaned forward again, this time briefly, gently catching Verity's earlobe between his teeth, "rather well."