Annabeth woke up the most comfortable she had in months, draped across Collin. Her head was resting on his chest and her leg across his. He wasn't awake yet, "He's too cute when he sleeps." She thought. She ran her hands over his hard stomach and drew little circles around his belly button with her index finger. His eyes fluttered open to see her smiling, content in what she was doing.
"I think this is my favorite way to wake up." His deep velvety voice snapping her out of her trance.
"You're welcome." She smiled at him.
He grabbed her waist and pulled her up his body to place a soft and tender kiss on her lips. Her world begun spinning again, she deepened the kiss wanting more. His tongue assaulted her mouth doing a deadly tango with her own; she nipped at his full bottom lip drawing a primal growl from his throat. She draped her leg back over him to come up on all fours hovering over him not breaking the kiss.
She heard a throat clear behind them the same second Collin tensed and grasped her and rolled her over on her back her chest rising and falling rapidly. There stood James hands on hips.
"Stella would like to speak with you as soon as possible." He said addressing no one unparticular. Once the door closed softly Collin relaxed pulling her back to his body.
"Remind me to take the key away from James." He said breathing heavily.
They found themselves back at the big mahogany doors up for more fun. They stepped out to the small sitting area that sat outside his bedroom and walked through it toward James room were Stella was being kept captive. Before opening the door Collin reached down to interlock his fingers with hers while pulling her to his side.
"You're not getting an inch away from my side this time." He said with a hint of a protective tone caressing his statement. She wasn't going to argue with him. They walked in to find James and Stella sitting on a couch with James caressing her back as she spoke to him. Annabeth and Collin both cleared their throats and put there unoccupied hand on their hip mimicking what James had done this morning.
James had to laugh Collin wasn't exactly a small man and with his hip cocked to the side he looked hilarious. Stella looked up and had to stifle a laugh. "Hey I didn't walk in on you rubbing Annabeth's back." James reminded them.
"My hands were on her back." Collin defended.
"Okay I give you that one." James said with a laugh.
"I'm so sorry." Stella butted in and looked up at them with blood shot eyes.
"I know it was something you couldn't control." Annabeth said.
Collin took a deep breath. "Me too, but from now on she will be attached to my hip."
"I have a feeling you like that." James said.
"Ha-ha." He said sarcastically turning to open the door and walk away hands still interlocked with Annabeth. They didn't get a few steps out the door to run into a young looking man maybe 18 with the same body as Collin and about the same height, but had dark brown hair with striking blue eyes.
"I've been looking all over for you Collin, everyone has been talking that you had a beautiful woman at your side now." He said glancing at Collin then smiled at Annabeth.
"I'm Eli." He said walking forward with a disapproving glare from Collin to pull her into a hug; she hugged him back with her one free arm. Eli ignored the whole thing that she was holding hands with Collin. "I'm so glad to finally meet you, Annabeth."
"Thanks I didn't know word was spreading so fast."
"When my sister Laura got a hold of it she ran around at 30 MPH telling everyone what she knew. Well that's just her." He laughed.
"Annabeth, Eli here is kind of the baby here newly turned about maybe 3 years ago. " Collin interrupted.
"Oh, and some of the leaders wanted to discuss some kind of urgent matter, the meeting is in two hours and they told me specifically you had to be alone."
"Damn it, I can't just lock Annabeth in my room." He said rubbing his palm on his forehead. "Eli, I don't want anyone but me protecting her but you are next in line."
"I'll do it."
"I really don't need a babysitter guys."
"Your right you don't need a babysitter, you need a body guard." Collin said.
~~
She sat on the bed watching Collin get ready, first a shave, and then a shower. Now he was in front of her only wearing a pair of black silk boxers bustling around trying to find the correct pieces to make a suit, she was getting sick of watching him run around at superhuman speed cursing so she finally got up to walk over to his closet put both hands on his chest and pushed him away. She walked in to his closet were row after row of expensive Italian suits where lined up, Annabeth grabbed a matching pair and walked out.
"How did you do that so quickly?"
"An impeccable eye for color and the fact the matching pants were across from the matching jacket."She laughed. He huffed pulling on his pants and tucking in his shirt.
Annabeth heard a light rap on the door and leisurely strolled and opened the door to see Eli smiling while waiting for her. "You ready?"
"Collin, I'm gone!" She yelled over her shoulder seeing Collin sitting on the bed tying his shoes.
