Page 68 of Brighter Than Gold

That was one thing I knew outright. There was no question how my body reacted to Callan.

I was sure no one would come into our room unannounced, but I still felt as though it would be safer to peel myself out of bed. And Gods, I had to pee so bad.

I slid out of Callan’s arms as gently as I could. I heard a half-conscious groan as I did, and couldn’t help but smile.

“Come back,” he whimpered, his voice was thick and rough from sleep. He still hadn’t opened his eyes.

I smiled again, watching his giant form so soft and vulnerable. Something in my chest warmed and fluttered.

Fuck.

“I have to pee,” I whispered, ignoring the tug in my heart and rounding the bed to change. “Go back to sleep.”

“Are you coming back?”

“No, I smell coffee.” My mouth watered.

He sighed a deep breath and pushed himself up on to his elbows. “All right, let’s go then.”

“No stay, really. I’ll be fine.”

“That’s not how this works, Princess,” he said fighting his curls back.

“I’ll ignore that one since you’re still half asleep.” I kicked back off the slippers and rolled over him, back onto my side of the bed.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“Staying in bed. So you can sleep.”

Callan finally opened his eyes and looked down at me, a half-smile threaded on his lips. He chuckled once, then slunk back into the sheets.

“I don’t think you hate me anymore,” he whispered into the pillow. I sighed.

“I don’t know if I ever did.”

I pulled one of Callan’s massive arms over me and nestled my backside into his lower half.

“Careful, Princess,” he warned.

I smiled a tiny, triumphant smile and closed my eyes.

* * *

When I woke again, the bed was cold and Callan was gone. And fucking Gods, I had to pee. I pulled my slippers back on and rushed out the door. I spotted Callan immediately, reading something on the landing of the stairs. He looked up at me for a brief moment as I ran to the bathing room.

Once relieved, I met him at his table.

“For you,” he said pushing a mug of steaming coffee towards me. I eagerly blew into the cup to cool it.

Callan was eyeing me with a strange, cocked brow, like I had something on my face.

“What?” I asked slightly embarrassed.

“Do you feel ‘hot’ the same as I do?”

I laughed. “I mean, I think so. Could you drink a coffee this hot?” He shook his head. “Then I guess I do.”

“After you eat, Yates has asked to speak with you.”

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