[Third Person Pov]
After their time at the aviary, Gwen stepped out with a noticeable spring in her step, her energy light and effortless. The wide smile on her face hadn't faded for even a second, making it obvious she had enjoyed every moment they spent there.
Peter followed beside her, carrying the bags of souvenirs in both hands. He carefully balanced everything as they made their way back toward the car, adjusting his grip every so often to keep things from slipping. "It seems that the car really was the best choice…" he commented, glancing over at her.
"Agreed," Gwen nodded, her voice warm as she smiled at him. She moved closer to help him with a few of the bags of everything he had bought for her, easing the load before they both climbed into the car and got settled.
By the time they left, it was already late into the afternoon, the sunlight starting to soften as the day edged toward evening. Even so, Peter still had one more place he wanted to take her before the day was over.
He drove her to a restaurant he had reserved ahead of time just for her. When they stepped inside, it was clear that everything had been arranged in advance. The space was filled with people waiting for them, all gathered to celebrate Gwen's birthday. The atmosphere immediately felt warm and welcoming, and it didn't take long before they were seated and enjoying dinner together, sharing the rest of the evening with everyone there.
After they finished eating, the table was cleared, making room for a cake that had been specially prepared for Gwen. As it was brought out, everyone joined in to sing her happy birthday. Throughout it all, Gwen's smile never wavered, her expression bright and full of genuine happiness from start to finish.
Once the celebration began to wind down and the sky outside had fully darkened, people started to move about, chatting and helping clear the space. During that time, Gwen quietly stepped away from the group and made her way over to Peter.
She was still wearing the tiara on her head, the sash draped over her shoulders marking her as the birthday girl. Without saying anything at first, she walked up to him with her arms already reaching out, wrapping them around him as she pressed herself close. She buried her face into his chest, holding onto him as if she didn't want to let go.
"What's wrong?" Peter asked softly, a small smile on his face as he noticed she wasn't speaking and was just staying there against him.
"Nothing's wrong… it's honestly the opposite," she replied after a moment. He gently lifted her head so he could see her face. Her lips trembled slightly, and her eyes had started to water with fresh tears. "Everything about today has just been absolutely perfect. I can't even begin to describe it."
Peter didn't interrupt her, simply resting a hand against her back and rubbing it in slow, reassuring motions. He leaned down and kissed her temple. "I'm glad you had a great time."
"I had more than just a great time," Gwen said, her voice soft but full of feeling. "Truly, Pete, I feel absolutely blessed. And it's mostly thanks to you. Thank you… I love you in ways words can't describe." Her eyes shimmered even more as she spoke, her sincerity clear in every word.
Peter responded by pulling her into a tighter embrace, kissing the top of her head a few times. "Hey, it's the least I could do. You put up with so much of my bullshit, you deserve to be spoiled rotten when it matters."
Gwen let out a small laugh as she leaned further into him. After a moment, she lifted her head and rose onto her tiptoes, pressing a soft kiss against his lips. She let it linger, putting all of her appreciation into it before finally pulling back.
"So far, it has been the best birthday ever," she said with a playful grin, gently brushing her nose against his. "You're going to have a tough time topping this next year."
"Challenge accepted," Peter replied without hesitation, a confident grin forming on his face. "Although, before we put an end to this great day, there's one more present I have for you."
"Really?" Gwen asked, her curiosity immediately piqued. "What is it?"
Peter's grin shifted into a slight smirk. "I don't have it with me right now. I left it back in your room. I'll show you when we head back."
"Oh, come on," she protested, her expression turning into a small pout. "You can at least tell me what it is, can't you? Don't do this to me."
"As adorable as you are, I can't tell you yet," Peter chuckled, reaching up to hold her face gently. "It would ruin the surprise. Just be patient." He leaned in and gave her another kiss, clearly enjoying her anticipation as much as the moment itself.
…
They were walking side by side down the hallway of Gwen's home, their footsteps quiet against the floor as she kept glancing over at him with growing curiosity. She finally broke, tilting her head and giving him an expectant look. "Can you tell me now?"
Peter let out a small laugh at her impatience, clearly amused by how badly she wanted to know. "No, I cannot," he said, shaking his head. "But I need you to do me a favor. Close your eyes—and no sneaking a peek with your spider-sense while I go get it."
Gwen's lips twisted into a small, exaggerated pout, her brows knitting together. "…Fine. This better be good," she muttered, though there was a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. She raised her hands and covered her eyes as instructed, the small goody bag hanging loosely from her arm.
"Don't worry, you're going to love this. Just give me a few seconds, I'll be quick," Peter assured her before hurrying off. She heard his footsteps pick up speed as he slipped into her room, the door closing behind him with a soft click.
Left alone in the hallway, Gwen shifted her weight from one foot to the other, tapping her foot lightly against the ground as she kept her eyes covered. Her curiosity only grew stronger with each passing second. What could he possibly be doing in there? The anticipation gnawed at her, and for a brief moment she considered cheating, letting her senses stretch just enough to get a hint.
She stopped herself almost immediately, exhaling through her nose. No. Peter was clearly putting effort into this, going out of his way to surprise her. The last thing she wanted was to ruin it by peeking early. Still, that didn't make the waiting any easier.
"Peter, how much longer do you need me to wait?" she called out, unable to keep the impatience out of her voice.
From the other side of the door, his response came slightly strained. "Just… give me… a second…" There was a pause, some faint shuffling, and then, "Alright, you can come in! It's ready for you."
Gwen frowned slightly at the tone, lowering her hands from her face as she stepped forward. "Just what are you doing, you doofus—"
The rest of her sentence died in her throat the moment she pushed the door open and stepped inside.
She froze where she stood. For a second, she didn't move at all, her brain taking a moment to catch up with what her eyes were seeing. The goody bag slipped from her arm and dropped to the floor with a soft thud, completely forgotten.
Peter was lying on her bed, completely bare, surrounded by scattered flower petals. A long red ribbon wrapped around his body, looping across his torso and limbs in a careful arrangement. His oiled skin had a faint sheen under the warm glow of candlelight, the soft flicker reflecting off him. A large gift bow had been placed over his private parts to preserve some modesty, his hands were positioned above his head, bound together with the same ribbon.
He wasn't looking directly at her at first, his gaze turned slightly away, as if suddenly shy despite the boldness of what he had set up.
Gwen slowly lifted her hands toward her mouth, her eyes wide, her expression caught somewhere between shock and disbelief.
Peter shifted slightly on the bed before finally glancing back toward her, his expression softer now, a bit earnest.
"The last present you have left to unwrap…" he said quietly, his voice turning a mix between sensual and bashful, "…is me."
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