The Pain We Nurture

First Lesson is Pain

Colin woke up early the next morning and brought his work laptop to bed, wanting to watch Olivia wake up. Finishing out an email he sipped deeply from his coffee cup as she stirred.

She opened her eyes slowly. Yawning and arching into a deep stretch, moaning when her arm twitched in pain.

Colin felt himself flinch in sympathy at her small hiss of pain as her arm pulled with the movement, but was unable to stop her body’s reflexes. She slithered half down the bed with the force of her stretch, and she took a second to roll around before her eyes really focused.

Pausing, Olivia looked up the big expansive bed and saw Colin sitting up next to her. Having had an early morning meeting, he was already dressed comfortably in black attire.

He smiled at her, holding the corner of reader glasses in his mouth. “Good morning pet,” he said gruffly, flickering his eyes over her mussed appearance.

Her hair was wild, and her shirt had slightly ridden up with her stretch, revealing inches of creamy skin of her torso. “Sit back on your knees and face me,” he ordered, not bothering to close his laptop.

Colin”s eyes quickly flicked to hers as her hand reached up to pull her shirt back down.

“Leave it,” he said sharply, and her hand faltered as she slowly sat back on her heels. Her shirt had ridden up indecently high, bunched against the heavy swell of her right breast, revealing several inches of under boob. Her waist dipped in indecently, and he took in the shadows of the curves of her body against her heavy breasts.

He was so thankful for her flared hips, not knowing if he could fuck her if she was petite everywhere. He would break her.

He made an elusive humming sound as his eyes perused her form slowly. He didn”t bother to hide the feral desire in his eyes. Olivia”s nipples had visibly bunched with his request, pressing against the white fabric of her top.

“Come here buena nina, get in my lap,” Colin said, closing and placing his laptop on the portable table he had next to him in the room. She paused, her eyes flickering quickly to her phone and back to his again. His eyes remained on hers while she obviously warred with her mind.

She”s too attached to her phone, he thought with irritation.

“Did you sleep well?” she asked, licking her lips. Shuffling slightly on the bed.

Her sweet question warmed his heart and eased his irritation at her hesitance slightly.

“I did, eventually. Thanks for asking,” Colin answered, patiently waiting. His hand flexed again, and her eyes flickered to it and back, her eyebrow arching.

“Can I-” she started, her eyes flickering to her phone again.

“No. They’re fine. I already checked in with your sister,” he said, cocking his head at her patiently.

She’d better be thanking God her arm is fucked right now, he thought to himself; he didn’t usually exercise this amount of patience.

She shuffled to him awkwardly on her knees, not to hurt her arm, before tossing her right leg over him. He thought it was adorable that she’d settled almost on his knees, like that was going to save her. He flashed her another heart-stopping smile before leaning forward and sweeping his hands over her fleshly backside, yanking her gently to him. Settling her against his erection.

The action caused her pants to catch and slide down her legs slightly, revealing the very top of her bare mound. He fisted his hands in her sweats and yanked, pulling the fabric back up, the seam pressing flush against her vagina.

Her body heat seared him immediately, and he suppressed a low groan. God she is exquisite.

Olivia whimpered, and his eyes flew to her breasts as her nipples tightened hard at his rough movement. But she looked anywhere except at him.

“So, tell me, what are we going to do today?” Colin said conversationally. He leaned his head against the headboard, finally capturing her eyes with his and squeezing her butt cheeks in his hands over her thin sweats. His fingers worked firmly, just massaging her lazily.

She licked her lips before responding and swallowed hard as his rather impressive erection jerked against her.

“You don’t have to work?” Olivia half whispered. She leaned slightly back in surprise when Colin suddenly dipped his head forward and took her left nipple in his teeth through the material of her thin tank top. He groaned to himself at the feel of her nipple in his mouth again.

His fingers tightened against her, feeling her jerk as she cried out, her left hand quickly sinking into his dark hair as the warmth of his mouth quickly sank through, wetting the material against her. He nipped experimentally, ignoring her question momentarily in favor of satiating a small part of the beast that demanded satisfaction.

”Your nipples feel so good on my tongue, beautiful,” he said quietly.

Colin”s heart skipped a beat as a rush of heat suddenly flooded the space between their bodies where she was pressed against him. He pulled back slightly to look at the space between her legs, seeing the material of the sweats were slightly damp.

Colin leaned back against the headboard again, ignoring her mortified expression as she placed her hand there, blocking the sight from him. He let her take a brief comfort in hiding from him before he picked her hand up firmly, placing it next to her thigh in a silent warning. He flattened his hand against hers. Holding her there with his big hand, his warmth seeping into her skin and grounding her.

Colin watched his thumb flutter back and forth across her wet nipple, still covered by the top, pleased with how fat the nub was, and how responsive she was. He tightened his fingers, digging his nail in slightly and hearing her breath freeze as her eyes widened.

He caught her eye again with a smile.

“Not today. I took the day off so we can get you some clothes and shoes. Mary just got you the basic’s yesterday,” his hand stilled as he heard her teeth grind together.

“Stop that,” Colin said sternly, reaching up to grasp her jaw rather roughly.

“I can shop for my own clothes! I have money now. Just because I’m here doesn’t mean you do everything for me!” Olivia said indignantly. Her green eyes flashed adorably in her face. He placed his fingers against her lips and pressed hard, relishing her shocked expression.

Good, she’d better get used to it because l have a feeling I’ll be slapping that mouth often, he thought. He took a steadying breath.

“You never answered my question about period sex?” he pressed, back to her nipple and beginning to roll it between his thumb and forefinger. She squirmed, her body doing dangerous things to his on top of his erection. He regarded her patiently, just playing with her as he watched her green eyes go stormy.

“Colin do we have to talk about this?” she whined. He loved it.

“Yes,” Colin said, pulling and tugging at his leisure, enjoying the wet spot slowly spreading in her sweatpants. He moved to push the shirt that was bunched up against her right breast the rest of the way up, baring her creamy flesh to his gaze, before exposing the other one. Her breasts bounced slightly with his movement.

His mouth watered at the sight of Olivia”s heavy naked breasts and fat nipples. He suddenly made a deep growling sound in his chest, a muscle ticked hard in his jaw.

With effort Olivia knocked his hand away, feeling too exposed. He moved quickly, feeling her tense as he grabbed her left wrist hard, keeping it pressed to her thigh, grabbing her jaw again. His eyes flashed at the arrival of her obstinate spirit. It was coming back out having gotten over the shock of yesterday.

”You need to answer the question!” he bit out in a tense tone.

“I’m not a fucking idiot, I know,” she hissed at him, struggling against his hold. Her eyes were so narrow they were almost slits.

Olivia cried out as he suddenly yanked down her sweatpants at her hip and gave her five hard cracks across the flesh there. The blows sounded loudly throughout the room.

Colin bit back a growl as pure unadulterated joy met desire at feeling his hand slap against her.

“Who do you think you’re cursing at, huh?” Colin said sharply, maintaining his look at her as she wiggled on top of him, her butt burning. She pressed her lips together in a pout, refusing to speak. ”Did you speak to all of your lovers like that?” he asked sternly.

”I haven”t been with anyone since high school! You heard me tell the doctor that!” she almost yelled, trying to put her hand back there to rub her tender skin.

Colin”s eyes widened, and he tilted his head suddenly.

Olivia blanched as he leaned forward into her face.

“I thought you might be lying, because you didn’t want to talk about your side hustle. You actually knowingly entered into a relationship with a sadist, no better than a virgin?” he growled into her face.

“I know,” she hissed back at him, struggling against his hold. Groaning as her arm twinged and she gasped, curling in on herself and placing her forehead against his hard chest.

He let her go immediately and rubbed his hand down her arm gently, attempting to soothe her.

“I don’t like that kind of pain,” he murmured into her ear as he cradled her close for a second until her gasping stopped. “I’m not fucking you until your arm is recovered. Don’t worry about that. I won’t relish you being in pain that I don’t cause,” he said against her hair, his warm hand soothing down her back, her shudders taking a moment to subside.

Colin stilled as she nuzzled into him harder, feeling the hair at her temple brush against his slight beard softly. His heart beat painfully at the feel of her pressed so close against him.

How long has it been since I had true intimacy?he thought sadly.

“I’ll make us breakfast, then we need to pick up your pain medicine,” Colin said, reaching over when his phone lit up and answering the incoming call.

“Mr. McDermont this is Dr. Healey’s office calling. I”m sorry to disturb you, but we have another cancellation for tomorrow and wanted to know if there was any way we could expedite Ms. Cameron’s procedure?”

Colin quickly placed the nurse on speaker, before moving Olivia off his lap and putting his computer back onto his lap, opening it. Olivia watched closely as he pulled up a rather complex calendar and began clearing his schedule for the rest of the week.

He tagged one of his employees with each click, moving it onto their schedule instead.

He paused on Monday, his cursor hovering intently over the day. He resumed the clicking quickly, crossing off his schedule for Tuesday as well, leaving Monday alone.

Colin would never not go to therapy on Mondays, Johnathan would kill him. He’d been skating on thin ice lately with his best friend/brother.

“What time?”

“Six in the morning, sir,” the receptionist replied. They both listened to the click of her keyboard in the background.

Colin looked at Olivia, who was settling back into the pillows on her side of the bed. He put the phone on mute.

“Would you ask your sister if she could come stay with you Monday? I have a therapy appointment that I can’t move,” he said gently, taking the phone off mute and turning back to his computer.

Olivia nodded, turning to grab her own phone.

“And when should she stop eating?” Colin addressed the receptionist once more.

Olivia silently took a second to appreciate him taking control of the situation, not having had someone truly looking out for her in years.

She sent him a quick text before texting Vanessa, he looked at it briefly before going back to his laptop screen, smiling at her display of manners. He”d be willing to bet this would become an inside joke between them.

Thank you, Colin. -O she’d sent, attaching a grateful emoji to the end.

“Twelve hours before the procedure. Only water after six tonight.”

“Okay, I’m ready. Give me the information,” Colin listened intently as the woman gave him instructions to the surgical center, reiterated the fasting schedule, and verified that Olivia would have a ride back home and be monitored after her surgery. He slid off of bed and disconnected the call, looking down and seeing the text she sent. He typed out a quick reply.

Welcome, baby. -C

His eyes crinkled again as he looked up. She was sitting cross legged on the bed, with her back to him as she spoke on the phone.

He smiled slightly, waiting patiently for Olivia to finish her conversation with her sister.

Soon, she hopped off the bed herself, turning to face him and twisted her lips in an adorably hesitant expression that tugged at his heart strings.

“She can be here Monday, but she’ll need to bring Ally. Is that ok? If not, I’m sure I’ll be perfectly fine without any assistance,” she said dismissively, rounding the bed to head into the bathroom.

Starting to gleam that Olivia often put on a front that she was more confident than what she seemed to really feel, he checked himself in calling her out on the dismissive tone. He realized that he desperately wanted her to let her real self show, but also knowing this was going to take time and trust.

So, Colin didn”t bother to respond to her ridiculous comment as he sat at the end of the bed and watched as Olivia brushed her teeth and hair. She washed her face gently with a dark green towel before neatly folding it and placing it on a nearby towel rack. She came out quickly, throwing him a cute glance before veering off into the closet.

He heard some rustling around before she appeared again, dressed in a clean white T-shirt and comfortable black sweats. She”d put on sleek black tennis shoes that Mary had the foresight to pick up in her shoe size.

He led her out the bedroom door. Watching as her red hair swished as she turned to look out the hallway window to the backyard.

“I’ll give Mary a heads up so she can prepare a guest room for them,” he took her left hand, pleased to see that she only pulled away a little. Still not used to that kind of intimacy.

He guessed neither of them were, but they’d navigate it together.

Colin took her downstairs and made her the most ridiculous breakfast possible of pancakes, turkey sausage, complete with sunny side up eggs. Her favorite, and he was so happy that he’d paid attention to his mom when she’d taught him how to cook before she died. She’d told him all women loved a man who could cook for them, and seeing as how he hadn’t had much time with his mom, he took all her advice to him and memorized it. Sealing her words deep into his heart.

Even though he could barely remember what she sounded like anymore.

He listened to Olivia teasing him, giggling as she got a kick out of watching him freshly squeeze her a second glass of orange juice. Looking around and saw he kept his kitchen well stocked with a variety of fresh fruit options.

She glanced at him with an arched eyebrow and grinned teasingly at him. He grinned back, arching his own in response. He handed her a glass of juice.

“Man, what you must have thought of my place?” she said with a little giggle. She leaned back to look at the expansive skylight above the island.

She tilted her head towards the counters seeing various fruit bowls, onions, potatoes, garlic, and even real plants with climbing vines all over the area. It was seriously homey and he hoped it made her feel comfortable as well. He’d fired enough people over his house when he was having it built, and he was a proud man when it came to his assets.

He gave a half laugh that ended with a sexy hum, watching her lick her lips at the erotic sound.

“I was highly concerned. Thought you might be a serial killer, there was no sign of life in there until I got a peek at your bedroom,” he teased with a grin as he finished off a piece of sausage.

Olivia watched him chew with interest, and he decided he loved how astute she was. Wondering if it spoke to deeper issues to how carefully she paid attention to her emotions.

When Colin was sure she was full, he then cleaned up efficiently, making her sit at the island and watch him. Ignoring her irritated look. He led her into the garage, through the mudroom off of the kitchen. He smiled, ignoring her shocked and slightly judgmental expression at the multitude of expensive cars and multiple bikes as he led the way to his BMW.

Colin made a mental note to make space for her Porsche that was being delivered in next couple of days.

***

Olivia watched mesmerized as he efficiently backed them out and revved the engine as they roared around the house and up the drive. Olivia was struck by the difference between getting out of his property and backing out of her sister’s tiny driveway, not having a driveway of her own to think about.

Man, the rich live fine, Oliviathought. Then she was stuck dumb again by the realization that her sister was now a millionaire, thanks to Colin.

She chanced a small peek at him out the side of her eye. Colin was studiously driving, seemingly lost in thought, as he navigated the car confidently. He’d slipped on a pair of sunglasses that set off his skin tone handsomely. The windows were down, and the eastern breeze ruffled her hair comfortingly as she picked up her phone to shoot her sister a message asking her if Allison was feeling better.

“Are you on the pill?” he asked suddenly.

She paused, remembering the text from her sister. “Nooo…” she stated slowly, her eyes turning to his.

Did he read my shit? she thought,a small frown gracing her face.

“I need you to set a doctor’s appointment. Call them real quick and see if they can squeeze you in,” Colin murmured, resting his elbow on the window, and checking carefully before merging onto the highway.

She watched him for a minute, the slight dark hair and his tattoos on his arms doing something to her brain, making her blank out momentarily. Once he merged, he put his hand on her leg, curling it under, thumb stroking the top of her knee.

Olivia picked up that he seemed to like that spot on her body, and she realized she really enjoyed his hand there, too. It felt comforting and intimate.

She pursed her lips and called her doctor obediently, asking if the nurse could see her quickly for a quick appointment for birth control. The woman said yes, but she’d have to come in within the hour. Thankfully, because she’d always stayed up to date on appointments and pap smears, she didn’t have to be a new client anywhere and deal with their wait.

She set her phone navigation and listened as the car did a fancy beeping, moving the music to the background and giving step-by-step instructions. Her phone went black, but the GPS kept playing. She frowned, tapping the screen, giving it a little shake as if that’d help.

“It’s my software,” Colin explained. “When I synced your phone to the car, I installed the software that would disable your phone to keep from using it if the software notices you are texting, or using apps on the phone that would distract you. It also pings the nearest police station if your car is driving erratically. Such as if you’re swerving or driving dangerously, and the software gives them your car information and location.”

She gaped at him as the GPS chirped in the background, decidedly non-distractible.

“That’s…helpful,” she mused, thinking about her parents, wishing this technology was around back then in order to save them from the drunk driver who hit and killed them when she was in middle school.

Too little too late to save them, she thought sadly to herself as they sped off down the highway. She smiled thankfully as he reached into the console and got her out a pair of her own sunglasses.

Olivia placed her hand softly on his, twining her fingers in between his as they drove, and she felt her heart flutter as his thumb captured hers, pressing firmly.

***

The rest of the day went by eventfully. She received a prescription for three months of birth control, and he took her shopping at her favorite store. They only fought twice; once when she tried to buy her own clothing and realized just how much money he’d deposited in her account. And another time when he took her to some incredibly fancy boutique to get a few dresses for some upcoming charity events and galas that he wanted her to attend with him.

Olivia relinquished to not paying for her clothing. But when he pulled her into a Nordstrom Rack and another expensive boutique, she saw a dress he was trying to get her to try on that was worth over four grand. She dug her heels in obstinately.

“I don’t need a pretty woman moment, Colin! Literally!” she muttered angrily at him, shaking a thick lock of her red hair in his face and storming off, cursing him out under her breath.

“Fucking what am I, Julia Roberts?” she hissed.

And then she’d learned a valuable lesson that day about disrespecting him in public while she was with him. He grabbed her elbow and quietly walked her to the intimate dressing room with his other hand at her lower back and dismissed their shopper.

“Colin,” she hissed as he closed the door behind them, backing her knees into a plush seat in the middle of the room. “What are you doing? That was rude!” she bit at him, feeling her face flame, embarrassed.

Giving her a hard look, Colin walked past her to sit on the bench. He reached forward, taking her left arm and maneuvering her easily to drape over his knees.

“You will not storm away from me while we’re out. You will listen to what I say. If I want to buy you a four-thousand-dollar dress and make you wear it once just to take it off and burn it, that’s my prerogative. Understand? These are not your rules anymore, and when you signed that agreement, you relented to obeying me.”

She wiggled as she felt his big hand press down on her shoulder blades, stilling her.

‘Colin, not here. Please, not here. This is embarrassing,” she whimpered, feeling her sex slicken with his words. But she was angry with him that he dismissed the shopper and embarrassed her.

“How do you think I felt when you cussed at me then stormed off in front of our shopper? I pay good money for you to enjoy, and now I’m afraid I’m going to spank you harder because you have robbed me of being able to absolutely relish spoiling you to my fullest extent today. Hold still, pretty girl. This might hurt,” Colin”s voice came out sternly, and she knew better than to try to continue to fight with him over this.

Her heart pounded, her head falling as she went limp over his lap.

Colin slowly lowered her sweats down her bottom and spanked her so hard he left red handprints on her ass. He gave her twenty slaps to her bottom. The hard punishment made her more wet than she already was, and he wouldn’t do anything about it. Because he wasn’t touching her like that until after her surgery.

Olivia sniffed as he helped her off his lap and leaned against the doorway, with his arms and legs crossed, quietly watching her pull herself together.

Throwing him a evil look, she wiped a tear from her eye before they went out and he had the shopper finish picking out dresses, more intimates, and shoes. Olivia was fuming, admitting to herself that she was turned on from the pain.

The rest of their interactions were mutually stoic, and she accepted every dress that he and the shopper threw at her. Closing herself off.

She observed rather nervously that Colin hadn’t lied to her when he told her that her interaction stole his joy. He was completely stone faced when the shopper presented him with the bill, forty-five grand. He paid quickly before loading up the SUV with their purchases and went back to her side of the car and opened her door again. He leaned in close, his minty breath washing over her.

Olivia pouted, lowering her eyes to her lap. Her hands were wrapped around her torso tightly and she was blinking away the tears.

Don’t look at me, I’m sorry for fucking up so soon, she thought.

She made a small sound when Colin suddenly leaned forward and took her mouth in a gentle kiss. Uncaring that they were in the middle of the parking lot in view of others.

Olivia trembled as he savored her mouth slowly. His tongue coaxed hers gently, parting her lips and slipping inside to tangle with hers. She made a hurt noise and tried to pull away, but he just pressed deeper, putting a hand to the side of her face and cupped her intimately, his warmth seeping in.

Hearing his groan she melted, nuzzling into him, beginning to respond to him and kiss him back. After a minute, he pulled away and stroked his thumb across her cheek, staring into her dark green eyes.

“Thank you, sir. For the dresses,” she whispered, telling him in her own way she was sorry, just as he showed her with his kiss that he was sorry. She supposed they were going to have hiccups as they got to feel out each other and their roles in this arrangement.

He grinned at her, giving her a wink which made her cheeks turn pink.

“You’re welcome, baby,” he said, leaning forward and pressing his lips to her forehead. Leaving her stunned at the small action. She blinked in surprise as he closed her door and rounded to the driver’s side and slid in smoothly.

Colin drove them home and reheated Mary’s chicken and squash orzo in the oven while he made multiple trips bringing bags upstairs. Just on time at five in the evening. Olivia mixed them a drink for dinner, having observed that he’d loved a drink in the evenings, before shouting in surprise as he poured hers out. She shouldn’t have alcohol before the procedure, but he made it better by mixing her a delicious mocktail.

“Colin,” she said softly, watching him take a couple plates from the cabinet. He looked over at her, pausing at her expression before turning to lean a hip on the counter next to them. He gave her undivided attention and she appreciated that. “I’m nervous…. scared, actually. About tomorrow. I’ve never had surgery before. And I don’t know how I… act.”

Colin tilted his head and gave her a slow smile. She wasn’t sure if she imagined his intense stare softened slightly with understanding, but she relished it all the same.He stepped towards her, spreading his hand against the side of her face and kissed her forehead again. Her eyes closed briefly.

He can be gentle.

“You don’t have to worry about anything. I’m here, Mary is available, and your sister and Allison are coming too when Allison gets out of school to spend the night. I thought of everything. And I believe you’ll be too drowsy to have to worry about how you might act. So, stop stressing and let”s enjoy our food and the rest of the evening.”

Olivia let her tension go with a sigh of relief. His effortless confidence settled her, and soothed something inside of her she didn’t know she needed tending to. She snuck him a look through her lashes, wondering if all the details he’d put in the contract was just a front. He couldn’t have been serious about some of that stuff.

Then she remembered him ripping up the money and him spanking her and blinked. Not a front after all.

Just because he was a sadist, doesn’t mean he can’t be decent, she told herself.

Colin plated their food and took it out on the outside terrace, where they settled against the plush cushions of the outdoor furniture. He busied himself turning on the big outdoor flatscreen onto the show she’d had on the night before. She breathed deeply., taking in the unique crisp smell of the evening fall air and marveling at the sky, seeing the sun starting to set.

They dug into the food. Colin smiled at her when Olivia told him that she’d never had orzo before. She was so happy with the meal that she even snuck bites of his chicken off his plate. He let it go with a chuckle and told her he was happy she was eating well.

Then he realized how content he was to have someone steal food off his plate, not having considered it something that he”d missed prior to her presence.

Colin pulled her against him, careful not to jostle her shoulder too much. Though she was tense and shy watching the initial love-making scene with him, she’d got through it. She ignored him chuckle at every time she blushed and hid her face in his chest shyly. It’d been so long since she’d been able to sit through an adult show and it felt like learning a new social norm for her.

Olivia cheered when she discovered one of the main characters was a redhead. Stating to him excitedly that you didn’t see them depicted very often in the media. They finished the show right as six o”clock rolled around, and he let her know it was time to get ready for bed.

Olivia helped Colin clean up after dinner as much as he’d let her, before they went upstairs together to get ready for bed early ahead of her procedure.

She showered, and he tenderly rubbed the muscle ointment in again before placing her under the covers. He slapped a brief kiss on her plump mouth and said he was going to work in the bedroom lounge for an hour and ordered her to relax. He briefly disappeared to grab his work laptop from his study, quickly returning to the bedroom and settling into the wide leather seat facing the television.

Scrolling through her phone, Olivia glanced over to the other side of the room contemplatively.

Colin had his bare feet propped up on the coffee table listening to the news with his laptop screen working, swirling a glass of whiskey in his hand. He looked delectable in dark gray sweatpants and nothing else. Olivia briefly thought how comfortable the day had been, except for the event in the dressing room today. Remembering the hot sting of his hand on her bare flesh, she blushed, betraying complex feelings.

She sighed to herself, missing the exhausted feeling of working herself to the bone like she’d been for the last four years. She”d relished the feeling of letting go as Colin was spanking her as well as the pain it had provided and wrapped that feeling close to her.

Frowning, she realized that she felt slightly unsettled even now. Propped up against the huge comfortable pillows in bed, scrolling through her phone as if she had all the free time in the world.

Which she supposed she did, technically.

Opening her phone to FaceTime Aaliyah, Olivia smiled happily when she saw her pretty light-skinned face show up on the screen. She sported a new nose ring and her curly hair was styled in a short cut, betraying her butch style. She squealed with laughter when Aaliyah made a hilarious face at her in greeting. Aaliyah was in the car driving, her face alternating between being in shadow and being illuminated by streetlights.

Colin looked over at her laughing on the bed, amused.

”Hey bitch! Long time no see, where the actual FUCK are you right now? Is that a hotel?” Aaliyah’s voice came through loud, making her turn her volume down and put a finger to her mouth.

Olivia looked over and gave Colin an apologetic smile. He’d looked up from the computer and was sipping his whiskey, staring at her over the glass. He licked his lips, giving her a slow once over.

She moved to get off the bed.

“Hang on Beau, I’m going to another room. Can you be quiet for a-“ Olivia paused and inhaled sharply as Colin suddenly snapped his fingers hard at her a couple times. Catching her attention. She furrowed her brow as he pointed back to the bed silently with a thick arm, gesturing for her to lie back down. His eyes remained unwavering on hers.

She stood there, her eyes flickering back to her spot on the bed, unmoving.

“Finish your conversation right there, mama,” he said across the room, turning his attention back to his laptop.

“EXCUSE me! Who was that missy? You’ve got some explaining to do and I’m here for the tea,” Aaliyah said, her humorous voice chuckling over the phone. “Shit, he sounds dark and dangerous. Is he?” Olivia rolled her lips into her mouth, trying to hold back her giggles.

Colin raised his eyebrows as he took another sip before he set his glass down on a side table and took his feet off the table, putting his laptop to the side. Olivia hurriedly scrambled back into bed.

“Come on Aaliyah, he’s right here. I’m staying with someone for a little while,” she huffed, throwing herself back onto the pillow and turning slightly away from Colin, who”d resumed with his work..

“I’m staying with someone for a little while,” Aaliyah’s voice sounded hilarious, mocking her through the phone. “Cut the fucking crap Ollie, I’ve already called your sister, and she wouldn’t tell me shit. You know how hurt that made me? I don’t like secrets. Don’t make me come find you.”

“Beau-” she started groaning as her oldest friend continued to bulldoze the conversation. Olivia rolled her eyes.

“Don’t Beau me. Spill the beans. I have a hard fucking time actually believing someone stole your heart and you’ve moved in and are playing house. YOU, Ollie, this is YOU we’re talking about. Forever alone, slaying dragons solo, saving the world one beat-“

“Heyyyy!! FUCK Beau, will you shut up? Jesus!” Olivia sat back up, her heart pounding in her chest. Aaliyah almost blurted out her secret. She hurriedly scooted out of bed, racing to the bedroom door and slipping through, ignoring Colin”s scowl and reprimand.

Jesus, I can have a freaking phone call to myself!she thought stubbornly, hurridly taking the elevator down to the first floor, slipping through the door quietly.

“Jesus, where the hell are you, Olivia? Were you just in an elevator? Can you talk now? That’s a really nice place!” Aaliyah’s brows slammed together. “God, that’s a gorgeous place babe, he has a Monet?”

Olivia stared down at the phone and walked down the hallway to the lounge area across from the kitchen, plopping herself down on a single chair. She curled her legs up and rested her head on her knees.

“A whata?” she shook her head, dismissing her question. “Thank you, I can’t say too much, ok? I’m staying with a friend who is helping me with some…things,” she whispered. Knowing Colin was upstairs and couldn’t hear her, but feeling the need to whisper anyway.

“Like, did you lose your apartment or something? Ollie I would have helped you. Why didn’t you say anything? You’ve always been so stubborn, Jesus, you’re stupid sometimes,” Aaliyah tsked, her face lit up by sirens from an emergency vehicle that rode past.

“No, I didn’t lose my-“ Olivia’s heart crawled into her throat as she saw a shadow appear behind her on the screen. Colin. She swallowed her scream and let out a few panicked quick gasps.

He reached over her shoulder and plucked the phone out of her hand.

“Time for bed,” he ordered as he jerked his head at her to get moving. Olivia got up hastily and yelped as he patted her ass sharply for her to move faster. He followed close behind.

“Um excuse me,” Aaliyah’s voice sounded irritated through the phone in his hand. He lifted it up, carefully arranging his features into a pleasant, however slightly irritating, look.

“What’s up? My girl’s supposed to be in bed. She has surgery in the morning,” he said, baring his teeth in a semblance of a smile.

“Oh okkkaaayyyy. Your girl, huh? Well hello. Better be glad I’m a lesbian, I’d fuck your world up mister. I’m Aaliyah. What’s your name?” Colin smiled at her boldness.

His lips twitched with amusement as he got a good look at Olivia’s friend.

Olivia rolled her eyes as they walked, looking anywhere but at him.

“Colin. It’s nice to meet you. Olivia’s staying with me for a while,” he shut the elevator door, pinning Olivia with a stern stare.

Olivia flushed; she”d been disobedient. She was looking away, avoiding his eyes.

“A while? I mean…I can get her an apartment set up man so you don’t have to-”

“Not necessary. Would you like to say goodnight?” he asked as they exited the elevator and made a right into the hallway.

“Hey be still for a second,” Aaliyah said sharply, staring hard into the phone. “Move your head to the left.”

Olivia’s eyebrow arched as Colin smiled and moved his head slightly, giving her the view he knew she wanted.

“Yo, do just have fucking Monet’s all over the house or something, bruh?” Aaliyah said, chuckling.

“I might have a couple.”

“Anyways, as I-” Aaliyah started talking again.

“Give me the phone!” Olivia tried to reach for it but he pulled his hand away.

“No, as I was saying,” he interrupted. “Olivia has surgery in the morning and needs to be in bed. I’ll let you know tomorrow how she’s doing.”

“Bye Beau, I love you, girl,” Olivia craned her neck around to try to get into the screen with him. He tilted the phone so she didn’t have to strain herself unnecessarily.

“Ok, well, let me know what the fuck is going on with you. Colin, you’ll be hearing from me. Ollie Ollie oxen free-I love you and you got this girl. I’ll be checking up tomorrow. Night,” And with that, she hung up.

Olivia gave Colin a rather pretty pout, taking her phone from him and sauntering off to her side of the bed.

”Establecerse,ahora,” he said in his elegant voice, his lip curling as she raised a knee to crawl back on the mattress.

”Lo que sea,” she mumbled back, scrunching her nose at him.

Colin tilted his head amused.

”Mi idioma suena bien en tu lengua, nina,” he rasped back, giving her a sexy smile.

Olivia crawled back under the covers without too much fuss and accepted his possessive raunchy kiss before he resumed his spot in the lounge.

Thank God he’s not punishing me. What a day, she thought tiredly.

She checked on her sister and Alison and soon settled in between the covers and willed herself to sleep. Not feeling when Colin crawled into bed behind her an hour and a half later.

He nestled in and touched her hair, his eyes skimming her sleeping form. Content, he curled around her, following her into sleep.