Not So Golden

Two - Cooper

Some habits are hard to break, which means I am awake before dawn. On a normal day, it meant it was time to get up and head out for my daily run. When the sidewalks and streets are less crowded, like they are in the early mornings, running is a routine I savor. However, there was something better to savor this morning.

Callie.

I push up on one elbow so I can look at her. She's asleep on her stomach, with her tangled hair falling into her face. It makes an interesting parallel to the past, back to when this whole thing really started. She definitely looks better sleeping naked, with the smell of sex still lingering on her skin, than she did wearing my shirt. With a slow tug on the sheet covering her, I enjoy watching her skin exposed inch-by-inch.

A soft sigh escapes, and she shifts in her sleep, one leg pulling up and arms tucking under the pillow. Before it disappears, I spot the faint marks around it. There are also bruises across her hips in the shape of my fingers. That her skin bruises so easily was a delicious bonus, a physical reminder that she was mine.

It triggers an idea I hadn't considered before, a way to mark her that wouldn't go away and show that she is mine forever. Cock stirring at the idea, I reach out to slide my palm over the curve of Callie's ass and down to slip fingers inside her waiting cunt.

"So wet," I mutter, curling my fingers into her. Callie let out a soft whimper. It's enough to end any patience. I shift to straddle her hips and my phone sends up an alert to signal someone is entering through the front door.

There are only three people who have the codes to my brownstone, and only one of those didn't live in the house. I lean down and press a kiss to her shoulder before rolling away. On the way out, I snag up my boxers off the floor and pull them on.

Mick's already in the hallway when I step out and pull the door nearly all the way shut behind me. His brow lifts and his eyes run over my bare chest. With a smirk he nods and says, "While I'm sure the women of New York, and probably plenty of the men, would appreciate the view, I sincerely hope you aren't planning on running in that."

"No," I snort softly. "I'm not going for a run at all this morning."

"You? Mr. Habit himself is skipping his morning run?" Mick asks, shaking his head in disbelief. "The same man who gets after me every time I decide to skip? Did they replace you with a pod person when I wasn't looking?"

"Let's just say I plan on doing a different type of exercise this morning," I say, leaning against the doorframe.

Surprise flickers over Mick's face. "Really? What then? You want us to do a round in the ring at the gym or something?"

"Nah, Mick. No offense, but you don't exactly have the parts for what I am going to do this morning."

Mick's eyes flick to the door. As he gets the meaning of my words, he grins. "Are you telling me you're skipping out on a run because of a woman? Damn, she must have a magic pussy or something to get you to do that."

"You could say that. She's definitely not just any woman."

"Oh, it's a special woman, is it? Don't tell me it's Katherine," Mick says with a snicker, bringing up the woman I was dating.

I shake my head, and knowing exactly how much of a shock this will be, I push the door open and tilt my head to signal for him to look. He steps closer, rolling his eyes but playing along. I can tell the exact moment he recognizes who is in my bed.

His head whips around and he opens his mouth, but I hold a finger up to tell him to wait while I tug the bedroom door close and gesture towards my office. Last thing I want is Callie to wake up before I fuck her awake like I plan.