The cabin door was slightly ajar, and Victoria pushed it open with her shoulder, stepping into the dimly lit space with the moon's light. Her eyes immediately found James's sleeping form on the spacious bed, and her breath caught in her throat at the sight of him.
He looked so peaceful, so innocent in sleep. His face was relaxed, free from the worries and responsibilities that usually creased his brow. His breathing was deep and even, and one arm was flung carelessly across the pillow beside his head.
Victoria felt her heart begin to race as she stood there watching him. The depth of her feelings for this man was something she could barely comprehend, a force that seemed to consume her from within. She was certain of one thing, though: she could not live without him. The very thought of losing him created a panic in her chest that was almost unbearable.
Taking a deep breath, Victoria steadied herself for what was to come. She needed courage for her next actions, needed to channel the strength and confidence that had carried her through every challenge in her life.
"You can do this," she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible in the quiet cabin. "You are powerful. Be confident."
Victoria opened her mouth to speak James's name, to wake him and begin the seduction she had so carefully planned.
At that exact moment, the digital clock on the nightstand illuminated with new numbers, and its soft chime announced that midnight had arrived. Saturday, October 18th had officially begun.
Victoria opened her mouth and began to sing, her voice soft and melodious as the familiar tune of the birthday song filled the quiet cabin. "Happy birthday to you," she sang, walking slowly closer to the bed with each note. "Happy birthday to you."
James stirred at the sound, his eyelids fluttering as consciousness gradually returned. He rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand, blinking in confusion as he tried to orient himself in the dimly lit room.
"Happy birthday, dear James," Victoria continued, now standing at the foot of the bed, the flickering candle casting warm light across her face. "Happy birthday to you."
James slowly sat up, propping himself against the headboard as a small smile began to light his handsome features. The sight of Victoria with the cupcake, singing to him in the middle of the night on her yacht, was both touching and surreal.
"Make a wish," Victoria instructed gently, moving closer to hold the cupcake within reach.
James closed his eyes briefly, his lips curving into a more genuine smile as he made his silent wish. He leaned forward and blew out the small candle, the flame extinguishing with a soft whisper of smoke.
As his eyes adjusted to the sudden darkness, James began to take note of what Victoria was wearing. The realization hit him gradually, the sheer fabric of her robe, the way it clung to her curves, the unmistakable fact that she wore nothing beneath it. His gaze quickly darted away, heat creeping up his neck as he looked anywhere except at her nearly naked form.
Victoria carefully set the cupcake on the nightstand, her movements deliberate and graceful. When she turned back to face him, she was radiating confidence and determination, her posture straight and her chin lifted with purpose.
She raised her bound hands toward James, the red ribbon catching the moonlight streaming through the cabin window. "Now," she said, her voice steady and clear, "I need you to unwrap your gift."
The familiar feeling of unease that had plagued James earlier in the evening came rushing back with overwhelming force. He looked at Victoria, taking in her expectant expression, the way she held her wrists toward him like an offering. He sighed deeply, his shoulders sagging with the weight of what she was asking.
"Victoria," he began hesitantly.
"Do it," Victoria said more firmly, her voice carrying an edge of command that made James's pulse quicken. "My hands are waiting."
James remained motionless, his hands clasped tightly in his lap as he struggled with the implications of what she was proposing. The silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken expectations and mounting tension.
"Do you want to reject my gift?" Victoria asked, her voice softer now yet still carrying an underlying strength that demanded an answer.
"No," James replied quickly, then paused. "I mean, it's not that I don't want…"
"Do you plan to hide forever?" Victoria cut in, her question sharp and direct. "Don't you have plans of settling down someday? Having children?"
James blinked in surprise at her bluntness. "Of course I do," he managed to say. "Eventually, when the time is right…"
"Then open the ribbon," Victoria interrupted again, her bound hands still extended toward him.
James found himself speechless, his mind racing as he tried to find a way out of this situation that wouldn't hurt Victoria's feelings. He could see something different in her eyes tonight, something that told him she was absolutely determined to see this through. This wasn't like her previous attempts at seduction, which had been playful and easily deflected. This time, she was completely serious.
The weight of their five-month relationship pressed down on him. Five months of denying her advances, five months of careful deflection and gentle refusal. He had even turned her down on her own birthday, and now here she was on his birthday, offering herself to him in the most direct way possible. He also had to acknowledge her patience. She had been patient and restrained unlike her assertive self.
James feared that if he rejected her again, especially after she had gone to such elaborate lengths to create this romantic setting, their relationship would suffer irreparable damage. The thought of losing Victoria terrified him more than his nervousness about intimacy.
"Open the ribbon," Victoria repeated, her voice quiet yet insistent.
James closed his eyes, his hand trembling as he slowly reached toward her bound wrists. He didn't want to hurt her by rejecting her advances any longer, didn't want to see the disappointment and pain in her eyes that would surely follow another refusal. All he wanted was for Victoria to be happy, even if it meant facing his own fears and insecurities.
His fingers made contact with the silky ribbon, and he felt Victoria's pulse racing beneath the delicate fabric. The moment stretched between them, filled with anticipation and the weight of a decision that would change everything.