No One

Chapter Two

Complicated

The mattress below shifted and a gust of cool air pulled Preston out of his slumber. He yawned and lazily reached to the other side of the bed, huffing in disappointment when he discovered the beautiful blonde had gotten up and taken to the bathroom. He was hoping to wake up to her still in his arms.

With another yawn and a good stretch of his legs, he sat up and sluggishly rubbed at his eyes. After sliding on his boxers from the night before, he ran a hand through his hair to tame the bedhead before stumbling his way into the kitchen.

He went through the motions of making coffee for himself and the beautiful woman in the other room without much thought. He had done this many times, after all. He was no stranger in her kitchen, and knew her coffee preferences by heart.

Preston was just finishing her cup when her arms wrapped around his waist from behind. "Mmm," she sighed, pressing herself up against his bare skin. "Coffee."

With a chuckle, Preston turned around and offered her coffee to her. "Mornin' to you too, Syd."

Shushing him and pressing a well manicured finger to his lips, she took a long sip of the dark beverage before sighing in content. Preston smiled fondly, pecking her finger before turning to his own mug and taking a sip.

Sydney leaned into his chest, taking his free hand and wrapping it around her waist. "Now it's a good morning."

Preston snorted, rolling his eyes playfully. "Someone's feelin' a little clingy," he mused.

"You like 'em clingy," she muttered into her cup, taking another sip. Preston couldn't deny it as he shrugged one of his shoulders. His love language was very much physical touch oriented, and Sydney's wasn't much different. Not like he would ever turn down the chance of having a beautiful woman in his arms.

And holy shit, the look of her in that robe was sexy as hell.

She pressed herself further into his chest, her fingers absently tracing down a long scar trailing down the middle of his chest. The sensation sent a wave of goosebumps over his skin. He shuddered as his mind was drawn back to the accident. The flashing lights, the sirens, the rain mixing with blood.

The feeling of suffocating in that body bag.

Preston gently took her hand in his, stopping her from causing more unwanted memories. "If you want to enjoy your coffee," He brought her fingers to his lips, lightly kissing them. "I wouldn't continue doin' that."

Sydney took another sip to hide the faint blush that arose on her fair cheeks. "Maybe I'm okay with letting this cup go cold."

Preston gently took the cup from her hands, his baby blue eyes cautiously watching to make sure she wasn't about to take one of his fingers over it, and set it beside her. She raised an eyebrow at his actions curiously before shrieking as he scooped her up by her waist and set her on the counter.

He chuckled, positioning himself between her knees. "If you're so sure about letting the cup go cold," he mused, his hands sliding down her hips and thighs, "then I'll carry you back to bed right now."

Tiny goosebumps arose in the wake of each finger as he lightly scraped them across her skin. She leaned forward, as if to give him a kiss, and pecked his nose, scooping up her cup of coffee and holding it close. "I don't mean to be a tease," Yes, you fucking do. "but I'm happier sipping this beautiful cup of coffee than I would be having to shower. Again."

Suddenly he found himself laying on his back, his lungs burning for air as blood and rain pooled in the back of his throat. Every breath agony as he coughed and fought for every second of life. There was movement in his peripheral vision, one slow glance revealing a slim, twisted scrap of metal pulsing rhythmically as it stood up from the hole it had torn in his chest.