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The white sheets enveloped Ryan like a cloud, softly caressing his bare skin. "Hey Ry, wake up, sleepyhead!" Zach whispered, his voice a gentle breeze that rustled Ryan's hair as he stroked it with a tender touch.
Ryan mumbled a sleepy "Hmmm," rolling onto his back and slowly opening his eyes, revealing their bright green sparkle, like freshly cut grass in the morning dew.
But before he could fully awaken, Zach pounced, jumping on top of Ryan and wrapping him in a tight hug that left him giggling. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY, my favorite person!" Zach exclaimed, his voice a joyful burst of excitement, as he planted a sloppy kiss on Ryan's forehead.
Ryan laughed, wiping the slobber off his face with a mock scowl. "Ewww, Zachy, that was so gross!" he whined, pretending to be mad, but his eyes sparkled with delight.
Zach grinned, his eyes shining with mischief. "Aww, come on, Ry! I was just getting started! Do you want blueberry pancakes or chocolate chip waffles for breakfast?" he asked, wiggling his eyebrows playfully.
Ryan sat up, his eyes wide with excitement. "Waffles! But what's waffles?"
Zach chuckled, ruffling Ryan's hair. "Only the most amazing breakfast food ever! Crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and perfect for sopping up syrup and butter. Trust me, you'll love them!"
Ryan's eyes lit up. "That sounds incredible! And can we have a movie marathon too?"
Zach winked, his voice dropping to a flirtatious whisper. "Of course, my little birthday boy! And maybe, just maybe, I'll even give you a special birthday treat... like a kiss that's not on the forehead."
"A kiss on my mouth?" Ryan asked innocently, his eyes wide with anticipation.
Zach's eye's shifted suspiciously. "I was thinking more about your neck... or chest... or abs," he trailed off, his eyes sparkling with desire.
"Why would you do that, Zachy boy? The day is still young," Ryan said playfully.
"Don't worry, baby; you'll love it, trust me. You have nothing to worry about," Zach reassured him.
"Let's make you some waffles then!" Zach exclaimed, a wide grin on his face.
"Alright, but don't you dare try and get too frisky in the kitchen," Ryan warned, his voice teasing.
"No promises," Zach teased, his voice a soft purr.
They went down to the kitchen. Ryan tugged down his shirt; it was an Iron Maiden shirt that he had stolen from Zach a few years ago. He was wearing a pair of tight boxer briefs. He offered to wear this to sleep. Ryan leaned against the counter while Zach pulled out the waffle maker.
"What kind of syrup do you want, babe?" Zach asked, his voice soft and tender.
"Hmm... whatever you think I'll like," Ryan replied, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"Ooh, I like a man who's adventurous," Zach murmured, his voice thick with arousal.
Ryan giggled, a blush rising to his cheeks. He turned around, opened the cupboard, and reached up to grab his coffee mug. Zach couldn't resist the temptation and pinched Ryan's backside. "AHH!" Ryan yelped, his cheeks flushing.
"Hey! I thought you said no friskiness in the kitchen," he protested, tugging the shirt down over his ass.
"Fine, I'll save it for the bedroom," Zach conceded, his voice heavy with longing. As he pulled the refrigerator door open, a cool draft of air rushed over Ryan's exposed thighs, causing him to shiver. "Do you want blueberries or chocolate chips in your waffles?" Zach asked, his head buried in the fridge.
"Hmm, I don't know. Can I try both?" Ryan asked, his eyes wide with curiosity.
"Of course, baby, anything for my little birthday boy. It is not everyday my favorite little guy turns 45, after all," Zach chuckled, pulling out the blueberries and chocolate chips. He set them on the counter and went to grab the mix from the cabinet.
"I can't believe you remember how old I am. It's like, so weird. No one remembers stuff like that," Ryan said, his voice a mixture of surprise and awe.
"Of course, silly! How could I forget the day my best friend was born? That's like one of the most important dates of the year! And you're a year younger than me, you know," Zach teased, his eyes dancing with amusement.
"Oh, that is right, you are turning 46 soon. How could I forget? It is your birthday after all," Ryan laughed.
"Yeah, it's in four more months. But today is your day. So let's make it a good one, okay? Now, do you want blueberry or chocolate chip waffles first?" Zach asked, his voice soft and sweet.
"Uh, can I have both? I mean, I am not really sure which one I like better," Ryan admitted, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
"Sure, no problem. I'll whip us up a batch of both, and you can have your pick," Zach replied, his voice gentle and reassuring.
"Thanks, Zach. You are the best," Ryan said, his voice warm with appreciation.
"Anything for my little birthday boy," Zach chuckled, ruffling Ryan's hair.
Zach began wiping up the batch, but he kept noticing Ryan's hand trying to snatch a blueberry or two. "Bad boy! You have to wait until they are cooked," he scolded playfully.
Ryan stuck his tongue out. "Come on, Zach, can't I have just one?" He whined, his eyes wide and pleading.
"Fine, you can have one now," Zach conceded, tossing a single blueberry into the air.
Ryan eagerly caught it in his mouth, a triumphant grin on his face.
"Hey, save the rest for the waffles," Zach warned, his voice stern but teasing. He picked Ryan up and placed him on the counter. "I'm keeping an eye on you."
"You can't make me stay here! I'll be good, I promise," Ryan whined, his voice a childish plea.
"Ryan Tedder, would it kill you to stay still for two seconds?" Zach asked, his voice heavy with exasperation.
"Fine, fine. I'll stay," Ryan grumbled, crossing his arms and pouting.
Zach shook his head and turned back to the waffle batter, his lips curling into a mischievous smile.
Ryan sighed and watched Zach carefully.
"So, how does it feel to be a grown-up?" Zach asked, his voice full of humor.
"I have been grown up for 27 years, Filkins, so you tell me," Ryan answered, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Oh, come on, Ry, you know what I meant. It's your birthday, man! It's a big deal! And you're going to be 45!" Zach exclaimed, his voice bursting with enthusiasm.
"Yeah, yeah, I know. I am getting old, and my youth is fading away," Ryan sighed, his voice heavy with resignation. "I don't like getting older, Zach."
"Aw, come on, Ry, don't be such a downer! You're still young and sexy," Zach teased, winking at Ryan.
Ryan blushed, ducking his head shyly.
"Don't look so modest. It's true. And, hey, there's no rush. You've got plenty of time. You are a Grammy-winning producer; you have written songs for some of the most famous artists in the world, and we have OneRepublic and an album that is good to be released in 16 days. What is there to worry about?" Zach reassured him.
"I'm just scared of getting older and losing what I have," Ryan admitted, his voice soft and vulnerable.
"It'll be okay, Ry. Don't worry. You're always going to have me. And we're going to rock this album," Zach said, his voice full of infidence. "And no matter what we do and how things go, we will get through it the way we get through everything... together."
Ryan smiled, his eyes shining with hope. "Thanks, Zach. That means a lot."
Zach poured the first waffle on the waffle maker, watching as the batter sizzled and cooked.
"What is that smell?" Ryan asked, his voice filled with excitement.
"Oh, it's the waffles. They smell delicious," Zach replied, his voice laced with amusement.
"Wow, those sound really good," Ryan remarked, his eyes wide with anticipation. "But not as good as you."
Zach glanced up with a wicked smirk on his face. "Are you flirting with me, Mr. Tedder?"
Ryan's cheeks flushed a bright red. "Maybe."
Zach winked and flipped the waffle over.
"When are you going to take your clothes off, Zachy boy?" Ryan asked, his voice innocent.
"Why? Do you want me to take my clothes off, Ry?" Zach asked, his voice filled with suggestiveness.
"Well, I'm sitting here half-naked, and you are not. Not fair, not fair, not fair," Ryan grumbled.
"Well, since you put it that way..." Zach said, removing his leather jacket. Ryan took it and draped it over his shoulders.
"Now we are even," Ryan said, his voice triumphant.
Zach rolled his eyes and went back to cooking.
"Can you hurry up, Zachy boy? I want to cuddle with you," Ryan whined.
"Just one more waffle, and I will be done," Zach replied, his voice thick with lust.
Ryan grinned and started to pull off his shirt, but Zach stopped him. "No, no, no, no, no! That's cheating, and we agreed to play by the rules," Zach chided, his voice a low growl.
Ryan didn't listen and threw the shirt on the ground.
Zach stared at Ryan's bare chest, six-pack abs, and sexy V-line. "Okay, maybe we can have a quickie," Zach conceded, his eyes dark with desire.
He finished making the second waffle and carried it over to Ryan. "Here, birthday boy. These are all for you," he said, placing the plate in front of Ryan.
Ryan placed the plate aside, looked down, and noticed his hard dick was sticking out of the boxer briefs. "Why didn't you tell me that it was showing, Zach?" Ryan asked, his voice full of innocence.
"What? That your cock is hard and sticking out?" Zach asked, his voice a seductive purr.
"Yes," Ryan whispered, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
"Well, it is. It is just another part of you, and I'd argue one of the best parts, second to your brain," Zach chuckled.
Ryan smiled and wrapped his arms around Zach's neck, pressing his bare chest against Zach's.
"I love you, Zachary," Ryan murmured, his voice thick with emotion.
"I love you too, baby," Zach replied, his voice heavy with affection. He pulled Ryan into a tight hug and planted a soft kiss on his forehead. Zach scooped Ryan up and threw him over his shoulder. "Let's go upstairs, my little birthday boy."
*~*~*
Ryan rested his head on Zach's shoulder, his eyes closed in contentment. Zach rubbed his back gently and pressed a soft kiss on his cheek. "You feeling okay, Ry?" he asked, his voice quiet and soothing.
Ryan nodded, nuzzling closer. "Mmhm, I'm good. Just happy," he mumbled, his voice soft and sleepy.
"Happy 45th birthday, Ry," Zach whispered, his voice thick with affection. He pressed another kiss on Ryan's cheek and pulled him closer, letting him rest against his chest.
Ryan sighed and snuggled deeper into Zach's arms, a small smile on his face. "Happy birthday to me," he murmured, his voice drowsy and content.
He closed his eyes. His birthday was not even over, but he knew it would be one to remember.