"Gray?"

I must have been dreaming. A pleasant dream at that.

The sound of Hayden's voice had me smiling - the nightmares cowering in the face of the happiness she so easily brought out of me.

Gone was the death and destruction that haunted my waking dreams. Acrid sand was displaced by a verdant landscape that stretched out far before me. The wind caressed my cheeks, my fingers stroking along the reeds, as I meandered through the plains I found myself lost within.

I had found peace.

It was only the feel of a hand upon my shoulder that had me awake in an instant. Before I even realized what I was doing, I was rolling to my side. My hand came up; gripping the wrist of the hand on me, hard.

With a forceful tug I pulled the individual over my body, rolling until they were under me as my other hand came up to encircle their throat.

I found myself staring down into Hayden's green eyes, a smirk slowly forming even as her eyes narrowed slightly. I felt her raise her knee, her leg caressing the outside of my thigh as her eyes beguiled me.

"Christ, Hayden." I muttered loudly, releasing her before I rolled off of her onto my back. I felt my heart beating erratically in my chest, adrenaline surging, as I turned to glare at her. "What are you doing in my house?"

"The backdoor was unlocked..." She said innocently.

I felt my eyes narrow further at her unrepentant look.

"Kidding," She giggled, clearly enjoying getting a rise out of me. "Your mom let me in."

"Damn that woman," I growled softly towards the ceiling.

She rolled towards me, her knee once more resting against my thigh as her fingers came up to trace patterns along my shoulder.

"Even if I brought coffee?"

The mention of coffee perked me up, my frown falling away as I glanced towards the clock.

"Fucking hell," I mumbled as I noted the time. 8:17. Early. Far too early for a Saturday. "What are you even doing up this early?"

"I had soccer practice this morning," She replied nonchalantly.

Her tone made me suggest that because she was awake, she figured everyone else might as well be.

"How did it go?" I found myself asking, even as I debated getting out of bed - if only to pee.

I felt the bed shift under me as she must have shrugged, "It was meh. They aren't very good."

"You must fit right in then,"

I deserved the playful slap across the arm my comment earned - Hayden's eyes glaring at me with mock disapproval as I turned back to look at her.

"Dick," She muttered, though her smile dispelled any heat within her words.

I slid out of the bed, moving towards the dresser and to where I had deposited my new clothes from yesterday. My bladder had won out.

"You're naked!" Hayden blurted from behind me.

With a chuckle, "You know, Dalton always said you were the brains of the family but I had my doubts. Clearly you are the swift and observant girl he always made you out to be."

Retrieving a pair of boxers, I quickly slipped them on before I hunted through the drawers for a shirt and sweatpants.

"Aren't you embarrassed?"

I glanced towards her over my shoulder, one eyebrow quirked, "Why should I be?"

I watched her eyes as they roamed across my figure, like that of a caress, as her slight smile returned. With a nod, "True."

She slid from the bed as I went about dressing, surprising me when she pinched my ass.

"Nice tush," She commented, her laughter bright as she left the room.

I couldn't help but grin to myself at her antics, my cheeks aching from the foreign feeling of happiness.

With my teeth brushed and my bladder relieved, I wandered into the kitchen to find Hayden alone. She sat perched at the table, coffee in hand as she glanced out the sliding door towards the backyard.

My gaze followed hers, noting the clear blue skies and glaring sun.

"Coffee is on the counter," Hayden motioned as she turned towards me, her smile returning.

"Thanks," I replied. "Where's my mom?"

"She left to get groceries." She answered, and then upon seeing my eyes glance towards the backdoor, continued, "She was here when I got here. Promise."

"Sure," I chuckled, retrieving my coffee.

I noted the white marker scrawled across the lid, '3M3SW', surprised that she had remembered how I took my coffee.

"What do you have planned for today?" I asked as I sat across from her, studying her.

I could tell she had showered before she arrived, her hair still slightly damp where it was done up in a high ponytail - a thin yellow ribbon standing out proudly. The light dusting of freckles across the bridge of her nose added character, her pink lips lush and sensual as she smiled.

She looked comfy in the baggy sweater she wore, a large heart adorning the front of it.

"Well..." She began, resting her chin in her hands. "First you are going to make me breakfast and then we are going to find a house or apartment for you."

"Oh?" I answered, sipping my coffee. The prospect of another day spent with her pleased me, her personality intoxicating.

'Not that I would let her know that,' I mused to myself, smirking internally at the thought of just how insufferable she would become if she knew - the constant gloating and teasing she would force me to endure.

As if yesterday hadn't been awful enough for my ego.

With a brisk nod, "Yup. And I'm feeling like pancakes this morning."

"I meant about the house hunting," I drawled.

"Oh," She blushed, the pink tinge of her cheeks making her appear all the more adorable. "But yes. You seem hopeless at making decisions."

"That's not true," I argued, bristling at her comment even as I crossed my arms across my chest with a frown. "I am more than capable of deciding on my own."

"Hold on," Hayden said, pulling her phone from her pocket. "I'm going to find a pond for you to play in since clearly you want to act like a silly goose."

"A... Silly goose?" I finally asked, flummoxed by her words.

"Yes," Hayden replied. "A silly goose. Since you couldn't even pick out clothes yesterday."

"That's different,"

"Oh?" She asked. "How so?"

"Picking clothes is easier," I finally relented, mumbling softly.

"That's what I thought," She smiled in satisfaction, eyes glinting. "Looks like I won again."

'Perhaps it might be worth losing more often,' I thought. 'If only to see that smile.'

Taking another sip of my coffee, I set it down before pushing myself to my feet. "Pancakes it is,"

"Such a good boy,"

I couldn't help but grin in response to her words, the pure confidence she seemed to exude - at least when it came to me. It was far too charming.

Hunting through the cupboards, I finally found what I was looking for. A half opened box of Aunt Jemima buttermilk pancake mix sat pressed against the wall, an unopened bottle of maple syrup beside it. Retrieving them both, I turned to find Hayden bent over slightly as she looked through the fridge.

My eyes raked across her form, lingering on her ass as it pressed against the thin fabric of her gray sweatpants. I could make out the sensual undulations as she wiggled from side to side, muscles flexing as she hummed to herself.

"Gotcha!"

My gaze quickly snapped upwards as Hayden backed away from the fridge, a half empty carton of blueberries in her hand.

Her pale green eyes turned towards me, a hint of a smirk playing at her lips.

Idly I wondered if her movements had been on purpose, hoping to draw my gaze. It still hadn't fully set in that she was no longer the little girl she had been when I ran away all those years ago. Instead a beautiful woman, full of grace and sensuality, had emerged to take her place.

With an internal shake of my head, I took the blueberries from her outstretched hand.

"Mind grabbing the milk and eggs for me as well," I asked, moving over towards the stove.

With a large bowl in hand, I began mixing the ingredients together even as the pan on the stove began to heat up.

Hayden sat perched on the counter beside me as I made breakfast, keeping me company with a constant stream of commentary. She talked at length about her soccer team; letting me know who was either good or bad on the team as well as her hopes for the spring season that had just begun a few weeks prior.

If she were to be believed; a three win season would be the equivalent of winning the lottery.

"Goooood," Hayden mumbled around a mouthful of pancake, bouncing slightly up and down in her chair - feet rocking.

The sight of a drop of maple syrup slowly dripping down her chin held me in rapt attention. The desire to lean across the table, to lick it up, reminded me just how long it had been since I had last lain with a woman.

Too long.

With a grace only women possessed, she scooped up the errant drop before sliding her finger into her mouth to suck it clean. The act nearly tore a groan from my lips, the way her cheeks indented with obvious suction.

An erection slowly formed as my mind ran amok - throbbing pleasantly in my sweatpants in tune with my heart beat.

Her eyes met mine as she slowly withdrew her finger, saliva making it glisten slightly under the kitchen lighting. Lips curved upwards slightly in a smirk while her jade eyes possessed a nearly feral gleam to them.

I couldn't help but gulp audibly as I felt like that of prey before her studious gaze.

"Thank you," She finally said, leaning back in her chair as she patted her tummy. A look of pure contentment settled upon her face, softening her features.

"You're welcome," I answered. "It's the least I could do after you broke into my house and rudely woke me up."

Her bright laughter filled the kitchen, eyes shining their pleasure. "But I brought coffee. That must atone for something!"

"You're still alive, are you not?"

"Pft," She dismissed my claims with a wave of her hand. "I could take you. Hayden is a strong woman."

I watched in amusement as she flexed both arms, noticing that neither sleeve moved.

"Right..."

I went to collect the plates before Hayden stopped me with a touch on my wrist.

"Leave them - I'll tidy up. Go get cleaned up."

I glanced down at my outfit before meeting her gaze, raising an eyebrow. "What's wrong with my clothes?"

Her smile was teasing, "Don't you want to look nice for me?"

I was tempted to point out that she was wearing the exact manner of clothes but held my tongue. Women logic wasn't my forte, and after the previous days' events I knew that arguing with her was an exercise in futility.

"Yes mistress," I answered, offering her a dramatic bow. "I live to serve."

As I ambled out of the kitchen, still amused by her antics, Hayden called out from behind me, "Wear those jeans we got you yesterday. They'll really show off the booty!"

"You're incorrigible!" I yelled back, my grin not wavering a fraction.

---

The sound of the garage door closing behind us broke the silence as Hayden looped her arm through mine, leaning against me.

A slight breeze stirred the air, the morning still cool even with the blinding sun above.

Squinting against the glare, my gaze swept across the car parked alongside the curb at the end of the driveway.

The beat up black Toyota Corolla looked as if it had been put through a blender. Rust rimmed both sides above where the wheels sat, a dent along the passengers' side appearing like the result of a hammer blow.

"You're driving?" I asked, my movements slowing before I came to a stop completely.

Her car appeared as if it would fall apart at a moment's notice. I couldn't actually see the tape holding it together, but I could imagine it.

Hayden stopped as I did, turning towards me. "Yeah. Is that a problem?"

My eyes shifted back and forth between her and her car, eying each both warily. "Just... women drivers, you know?"

I saw the flash of indignation within her eyes, lip jutting out slightly in a pout.

"Oh, don't be so sexist." She finally admonished, looping her arm through mine before she continued to steer me towards her car.

"It's pronounced sexy." I corrected, smirking.