Take My Hand

[Tree]

"Only if you feed it to me. "

Marina answered with a cute little smile.

[Sushi]

Ryder grinned.

"You have no idea how happy I would be to do that."

[Tree]

"Oh really now? Pamper me like a proper queen and everything?"

She asked, slowly moving to be nearer him, kissing his thigh while she waited for him to sit back down with her.

[Sushi]

Ryder came over with a box and some drinks.

"I'll pick off the pepperoni and feed them to you one by one if you like.'

[Tree]

Marina smiled at him.

/mmmm, only if you promise to stay naked the entire time. /

[Sushi]

"anything my lady wishes," he crooned, popping a lid off for her

[Tree]

Marina giggled, grinning up at him and opening her mouth for him with a tiny little smile.

/ You're good for pieces of me that forgot what it's like to be taken care of like this..../

[Sushi]

/I enjoy you letting me love you just like this./

He trickled some into her mouth before pressing her lips closed with a kiss.

"Drink it all the way down."

[Tree]

Marina flushed a bit, shifting to rest back, drinking slowly as she watched him..

/ Parts of me don't want to let it happen. Like it's silly or self centered..... are you sure this is all ok with you? /

[Sushi]

He happily tore a morsel free to feed her.

"Sweetheart, it makes me happy to be able to take care of you. It's like you're accepting my love. I feel more connected and fulfilled."

[Tree]

Marina reached to lightly trace a finger down his cheek.

/ When I'm pushing against you? When I'm fighting being cared for? It's not too hurt you... it's trying to protect myself. /

She admitted softly, kissing his fingers as he poked another bite into her mouth.

/I never knew you were benefiting from caring for me, especially not that much. /

[Sushi]

"I know that. It's part of why I don't mind being patient."

He kissed the middle of her belly.

[Tree]

Marina flushed with a warmth radiating throughout her entire body.

/ You're going to eventually adjust my standards to crazy high if you keep treating me like I'm some sort of precious treasure. /

[Sushi]

"I can only hope."

He ate some pizza himself because he was pretty hungry too.

[Tree]

Marina watched him, prefectly connect to wait until he offered another bite.

/I want your birthday this coming year. Unless something happens between now and then? /

She asked him, mind turning.

[Sushi]

Ryder chuckled.

"You wanna steal my birthday? You need two?" He teased.

[Tree]

Marina smirked at him.

"Well considering mine is rather unimportant? Yes. No. I want you with the birthday, obviously. "

[Sushi]

Ryder's smile faltered.

"Okay..."

He put another bit in her mouth.

"Marina, I'd be honored to throw you a birthday party," he told her eventually.

[Tree]

Marina blinked.

"I was joking. Darling.....I just wanted that date to celebrate with you? "

She looked a bit concerned as she shifted to kiss him.

"I don't celebrate mine by choice. I -do- wish to celebrate you. I love you very dearly. "

[Sushi]

Ryder nodded.

"That's fine, and I know you were joking, but I wasn't."

He scooted up to her level, brushing her hair back and gazing at her intently.

"I would love to do something to let you know how loved you are and how glad I am that you were born.

[Tree]

Marina felt her mouth go dry, eyes falling.

/I... I don't think I'm comfortable with that idea. I'm sorry. /

She was trying to communicate clearly. She pressed her forehead to his chin, swallowing hard.

/I wasn't... I feel badly.. I.../

She'd just had an idea that he might enjoy with her. She thought it might be prefect for his birthday. Now she was doubting even asking cause she felt almost sick. She didn't mean to turn this about, and when he'd posed throwing a party for her it hadn't even been given with a light or smile.... so it made her feel even worse, like he felt pressed and...

She just inched a hand over to the one near hers on the floor, trying to hold it.

[Sushi]

"shh."

Ryder leaned down and kissed her lovingly. Again, he stroked her hair.

"It's okay. Just stay with me until you feel better."

More kisses as he waited.

[Tree]

Marina slowly cuddled into him.

/I just wanted to love you. I wasn't wanting a thing for me. Except your time. I didn't mean to make you feel obligated.... it was silly. I'm sorry. /

She just remembered all the little things the two had done for their birthdays. It was special to them. She wanted to treasure it with them. It was priceless to her.

[Sushi]

He shifted, cupping the side of her face and turning it towards him.

"I didn't feel obligated to do anything. I meant exactly what I said. I would truly be honored if you would let me make you feel special on your special day."

He stroked her cheek with his thumb.

"I'm not asking to do this because I think you want it. I'm asking because I think you don't. I'm asking because talking about it so disparagingly makes me think there's something bad attached and I want to try to help you undo some of that hurt. If you can't say yes right now, could you at least think about it for a while before deciding?"

Ryder smiled gently

"If you want you throw me a birthday party, I'm fine with that. No strings attached."

[Tree]

Marina shook her head slowly, blinking back tears.

/ But you looked so unhappy.... /

She was trying to reconcile body language to words, letting her body ease in his touch.

/I dunno. It's too much to think about for now..... but as for you.... it wasn't a party?/

Was he wanting a party? She threw solid parties.

[Sushi]

"I wasn't unhappy," he told her simply.

"I was just serious."

Ryder kissed her again.

"Whatever you want."

[Tree]

Marina eased a tiny bit, though her hold on him tightened.

/I don't know if I can do that..i dunno if I can let that happen yet. ... but ... I'll think about it more later? /

Cause it felt too big to hold right now.

[Sushi]

"thank you."

He nuzzled her.

"So do you want the whole day or just part of it?"

[Tree]

"The evening if you're wanting to share with others. But I'm flexible. It doesn't have to be the actually birthday even, if you'd rather not. "

Hey, she was back peddling a tiny bit. But at least right now it was more obviously nerves and tiny blips of panic rather than an urge to bend to his will.

She bit her lip.

" and like I said, there's always the risk of life happening..
"

Cause it did sometimes, .... then she looked at him and eyes going wide.

"If something happens you're not gonna think you don't matter, will you? Cause that's not the case, I love you so much and..."

Definitely panic.

[Sushi]

Ryder chuckled and shifted backwards.

"Not at all. Here, have a drink."

[Tree]

Marina took the drink. Her face was epic as she choked down the straight vodka, coughing a bit as she sat it down and moved to kiss him..

"I feel really weird...... let's go back to not difficult things for now? "

Like cuddles or pizza or even orgasms and cake?

[Sushi]

"was the drink difficult?" He asked playfully

[Tree]

"It was spicy water. "

She confirmed for him with a tiny smirk.

[Sushi]

"sounds to be that was just what you needed?"

[Tree]

"You'll probably be pushing electrolytes at me later, certainly. "

She smiled at him, moving to pull him over her for kisses

[Sushi]

"yeah, that sounds like something I would do."

He was all too happy to give them.

[Tree]

Marina took kisses and snuggled, letting him feed and love on her throughout the evening. She would pass out in his lap, tipsy and happy to let him pet her hair and talk to her.

She would wake holding her hand over her eyes, flinching at the thunder.

/ The storm is still here. /

She didn't mean to tell Ryder and Ryker. It was more that she was just tipsy enough still that she was struggling to separate them. She kind of reached about, not entirely sure why her bed was so lumpy.

[Sushi]

Ryder grunted when she elbowed him.

"Take it easy."

[Tree]

Marina recoiled, trying to make sense of it all.

/ oh, sorry. Are you alright? /

[Sushi]

"just winded," he confirmed.

"Does the weather really have you that spooked?"