by Lossefalme, for QueenMee (Marian! ... who else?)

“Close your eyes!”

Marian sighed heavily, rolling her eyes. “But WHY? This is ridiculous, Jess… I’m not a child you know!”

Jess’ face beamed with glee and Marian felt herself grow ever the more curious as her friend practically bounced down the hallway to Marian’s bedroom door. “Just do it, Marian! Or you can’t have your present.”

Marian groaned, closing her eyes and putting her hands over her face for extra measure. She felt stupid and childish, but she was too interested in finding out what could have caused Jess to get so excited. Then again, Jess did get excited quite easily, and often things that got her wound up hardly caused Marian to lift an eyebrow.

Still, she let Jess take her elbow and guide her to the bedroom door. She barely refrained from peeking through her fingers as she heard the door open. Her friend pulled her inside the doorway and then released her, falling into a bout of hysterical giggles.

“SURPRISE!” Jess yelled between her squeals. “HAPPY BIRTHDAY!”

Marian dropped her hands and opened her eyes, then gasped at what she saw sitting on her bed. It was none other than Orlando Bloom, comfortably propped against her headboard, looking at her with shining dark brown eyes beneath a head of perfectly mussed black curls.

She gaped, feeling a spike of adrenaline course through her body at the sight of that man on her bed. He was wearing only dark jeans and a t-shirt, but even in such common attire he was the sexiest thing she’d ever seen. She blinked repeatedly, but he remained on her bed, there in living flesh before her. He grinned at her suddenly, showing off his dimples, and she felt her legs grow weak. She reached over to lean on Jess, who was still mad with giggles at her friend’s reaction.

“How…” Marian struggled to speak, but her mind was still in shock, and she could hardly manage a strangled whisper. “How did you… how could you…?” Her words faltered as she stared at him, she couldn’t take her eyes off that face… or that body.

Jess gripped Marian’s arms, helping to hold her up. Her face was aglow as she read Marian’s thoughts. “How did we manage to get a PetOrlando for you?” she finished for her incoherent friend.

Marian nodded mutely, her mouth falling open as Orlando shifted slightly on the bed, somehow managing to make himself even more tempting…

“Josh and I did the planning, and your dad helped in… well, most of the financing…” Jess leaned in to whisper in Marian’s ear. “Your dad thinks this is RomanticOrlando!”

Marian finally ripped her gaze away from the god on her bed and locked eyes with her friend. “He thinks it’s RomanticOrlando?” she repeated. Her face contorted into a frown as her mind raced. “Ohhkay… but it’s really…?”

Jess’ grin grew wider, if it were at all possible, and she looked both ways over her shoulder before leaning in to whisper again. “This,” she said, taking on a very dramatic tone, “is none other than your very own, original, authentic, genuine PredatoryOrlando!”

Marian drew back suddenly, numb waves of shock once again coursing over her, and her jaw dropped for the third time in minutes. “What?” she exploded. “But how is that possible?! I thought those weren’t even on the market yet?”

Jess snickered. “They’re not! Well not for everyone… but your dad did some sweet talking and made a deal… you’ve got the first one!”

Marian gawked at her friend, hardly daring to believe this was happening at all. She looked back to her bed; found Orlando still there and watching her intensely. PredatoryOrlando… a thrill went through her at the thought. He was hers, her very own… she faced Jess again, suddenly overwhelmed with an excitement and glee that far exceeded even Jess’ highest moment. “Oh my God!” she burst out. “Jess… I LOVE you! You’re the greatest!”

“So you like him?” Jess asked, a knowing glint in her eye.

Marian nodded vigorously. “Like him? HA! He’s the best birthday present EVER! I LOVE him! He’s great! I’ve gotta tell Josh… oh my God this is perfect! You guys are the best friends I could ever have!”

Jess laughed. “I’ll tell Josh for you. You’ve gotta stay here and take care of your PetOrlando… you know, get him settled in to his new home.” She winked, and Marian grinned back at her friend, casting another sideways glance over to her Orlando.

“Oh,” Marian sighed dreamily, “that won’t be too hard to do…”

Jess began to back toward the door. “Just remember, he’s supposed to be RomanticOrlando… don’t forget! Your dad would kill Josh and I if he found out otherwise!”

Marian nodded. “I won’t forget, trust me! And THANK YOU SO MUCH! I love him!”

“I knew you would. Well you can tell me all about how he’s adjusted tomorrow… but I think I’d best leave you two alone now. Happy twentieth, Marian!” She gave her friend a final salute and Marian waved as Jess left the room and shut the door behind her.

Once Jess was gone Marian stood facing the door for a second, trying to compose herself. She swallowed hard and took a deep breath, then turned around to look at her very own PredatoryOrlando. He smiled slowly at her, a gleam coming to his eyes that arrested her air. She could hardly breathe looking at him; the lustful expression on his face promised such things as she could only imagine… things she hardly dared even think about.

“Just you and I now, eh love?” he asked quietly, his voice starting her from her immobility.

She smiled at him, finally bringing herself to move closer to the bed where he waited. She stopped beside him, looking down at him, fighting to keep her mind focused on what she should say to him. But it wasn’t working. She cleared her throat. “Orlando…” she started.

He reached out suddenly and grabbed her hand, bringing it to his lips and kissing her palm. “I know,” he whispered gruffly against her skin. “I’m yours.”

Marian stood with her mouth open, speechless; amazed at the chills those simple words could bring coursing over her. Of course, part of it could have been from the feel of his lips against her palm. He kissed the inside of her wrist, looking up to her with those deep eyes.

“I’m yours, Marian,” he said again. “Your word is my pleasure…” he sat up on the bed, kissing the sensitive skin on the underside of her arm, “your pleasure is my happiness…” his lips moved up her arm, found her neck as he rose to his knees on the bed. “Whatever you want, love,” he whispered into her ear. “Tell me what you want…”

Marian closed her eyes, engulfed in the rush of sensations he aroused in her. She formed the words in her mind, but before she could speak he claimed her mouth with his own, and his hand gently took her hand, guiding it to the hardness that bulged beneath his jeans. Marian stroked him, coaxing a groan from his lips, and then she pulled away from his kiss long enough to speak her wants.

“I want you, Orlando,” she whispered hotly, staring hard into his gleaming eyes. “And I want you now.”

He did not hesitate, but caught her up into his arms and pressed her body to his. He kissed her hard and passionately, pulling off her clothes, laying her back on the bed and climbing over her. She reached for his shirt, quickly pulling it off over his head. She tossed it away and then moved her fingers to the zipper of his jeans, freeing him from his pants. He helped her push the jeans from his legs, and then he turned back to her, a naughty grin spreading across his face. “Happy Birthday love,” he said, his lips falling to her neck once more. He nipped at her earlobe. “I hope you like your present,” he whispered against her ear. Marian could only manage a weak nod as he lowered himself over her. She knew nothing but bliss from that moment on, as he showed Marian just why he’d been named PredatoryOrlando.