Fifty-two.

Colt woke up gently, she was in bed, and waking up to feather light kisses across her shoulder on the morning of her birthday. The feeling caused her face to stretch into a wide smile. Calum's arm was draped around her waist, locking her against his body, with no chances of escape. Not that there was anywhere she would rather be, than engulfed in the blissful warmth that came hand in hand with her mate's presence.

"Morning, Love," Calum whispered against her skin, causing it to ripple in a pleasant shiver from his breath, "Happy birthday."

Colt's smile widened and she automatically tried to turn to face him, but his arm only held her tighter in place; stopping her in her tracks and pinning her back against his front.

"Why am I not allowed to turn around, Casanova?' Colt asked curiously, wondering what exactly her mate was planning.

Calum smiled against her again, kissing her bare skin several times over before answering, "Because, we have to get up, and if you turn around and face me, the temptation will be too much, and I will be in this bed with you, for another hour at least, Love." Calum held her tight against himself, utterly loathing that they had slept in.

"I'll be too tempted huh? Your ego really knows no bounds, does it?" Colt asked with a smirk, still trying in vain to turn around with the hope of stealing at least a kiss.

"As a matter of fact, aye you probably will be. But, I was actually, referring to myself, on this occasion at least." Calum smirked back, nibbling her earlobe to torment them both further, "You see, if I were to look into those big hazy sleep affected eyes of yours, and your lips pouting in that very sexy way they do; then I might find I will never ever leave this bed at all." He explained, biting her neck lightly.

Deciding two could play at this game, Colt deliberately moved her hips while moaning, flexing against Calum's own excited reaction to their proximity, in an attempt to sway him from his plan, "Then, let's stay here," she suggested, "It would be way more satisfying, don't you think?"

"Mmmm," Calum groaned, his head flopping onto the pillow with a light thud. "You aren't playing fair, Love," he stated, his arm tightening again, though he wasn't sure if it were to stop her, or to increase the pressure between them.

"Come on, Casanova, do I have to beg?" Colt pouted, "Because if I do; then you will have to let me go, that way I can get on my knees, right?" She asked, deliberately tormenting him with her words.

Calum cried out in frustration, before pulling his lower half away and out of Colt reach. "Damn it, Woman, you are a cruel tease!" He cursed, wondering what on earth possessed him to play this game at all.

"I'm offering to do more than tease, Calum," Colt purred out, reaching her hand behind her to find his erection.

Calum smirked nipping her shoulder again. "I feel like you only want me for my body, Colt Merrier," he laughed, "But, no means no, Love." He stated, sliding out of her grasp, the brush of her fingers against him causing him to hiss in both torment and delight.

Colt attempted to thrash in his arms, her body failing to find his lower half and gain some much needed friction, "But, it's my birthday." She whined out in a last ditch attempt to change his mind.

"Aye, and your mother is likely waiting already. She told me, you were to be up by seven am sharp, and it's now eight; and as I don't fancy earning her wrath by detaining you any longer, I'm afraid my hands are effectively tied, Love." Calum whispered before jumping up out her reach, and legging it out of the room, before locking himself in the bathroom, for a much needed cold shower.

Colt huffed annoyed, and throwing her feet out of the bed she scowled in the direction of her retreated mate, before stretching her arms above her head, to help wake herself up. Colt grabbed a grey t-shirt of Calum's and a pair of pyjama shorts to head downstairs in; having decided it would be best to at least get a cup of tea, and see exactly why her Mom wanted her up so early on her birthday, especially when the spa wasn't booked till ten.

Colt was still grumping to herself when she entered the kitchen, stopping to do a double take at the sight before her. The ceiling above her was blanketed with helium filled balloons of every colour imaginable, while the floor was completely littered with it's own helping of normally blown up ones. There were metallic shining *Happy Birthday* banners stuck onto every available surface; not to mention a rainbow of streamers dangling down everywhere.

Her inner cynic wanted to think it looked like a circus had thrown up; but in truth, Colt felt as though she were seven years old again. She couldn't contain her laughter. Her Mom had really went nuts; clearly taking the *making up for last year* theme seriously.

Wading across the mass of infaltables, she flicked the kettle on, and pulled out a mug for herself and another for Calum; not that she was entirely convinced he deserved it. She placed a tea bag into her cup and some instant coffee into Calum's, before turning as she heard footsteps closing in on the room she was in, recognising the familiarity of them with a grin.

"Morning, Dad." Colt smiled, as Kalvin entered the room looking horrified at seeing her there, and not at all wearing the happy fatherly expression she was expecting from him.

"Shit! Princess, what are you doing here?" He asked in a panic, rushing over to her.

"Erm, getting a cup of tea? Also, in case you forgot, this is my house." Colt answered, confused and laughing awkwardly at her father's strange reaction.

"No, no, no. You can't be here," He stated, beginning to try and usher her towards the hallway.

"Dad!" Colt objected, "What are you doing? My tea!" She complained as Kalvin all but manhandled his daughter out of the kitchen.

"Go back upstairs, before your Mom comes in from the car! Quickly now!" He whispered in a panicked rush.

"What? Why? Dad, stop pushing me." Colt moaned, failing to get back to the kitchen and the now boiling kettle.

"No, go." Kalvin stated firmly, "She hasn't finished yet, don't ruin it..." He trailed off, looking towards the front door, to make sure Isla wasn't coming in yet, "And act suprised, when you come down, Princess." He added, as Colt gave in and began to make her way back upstairs.

"Dad," she paused halfway up, smirking at how he was shuffling anxiously from one foot to the other, "You shouldn't enable her you know, it's not healthy," Colt joked with a smile, making her Dad roll his eyes.

Kalvin laughed, Colt's comment calming him down some what, as he waved his hands at her shooing her the rest of the way.

When Colt, still thirsty and denied twice over, arrived in her room Calum was stood dressed and smelling fresh from his shower. He looked up as she clicked the door closed behind her with an exasperated sigh.

"Oh, Love, what's wrong?" Calum asked, concerned when he seen her pouting, and the crease that had appeared between her brows.

Colt huffed, moving in to get a cuddle from his already open arms. "Mom's lost her freaking mind and now, Dad says, I can't have my tea." She grumbled.

Calum was failing to hold in his sniggering, "So you went downstairs then?"

"Yup..." Colt answered, pulling back suddenly, "Wait, you knew?"

"About the decorations? Aye, but last night, she told me she would be done by now." Calum admitted, "If I'd have known she wasn't ready, I would have taken you up on that kiss earlier, and most likely wished you a proper happy birthday," he flirted openly with her.

Colt huffed again and pushed him away, deliberately acting petulant. She went and sat on the edge of their bed, her head tilting as she studied her mate thoughtfully. Then with her mind made up, she knew exactly what she would do.

"Does that mean, you are going to make it up to me?" She asked, pulling his t-shirt up and over her head, while pouting at him inticingly, before biting her lip.

Calum's pupils dialated as he looked at her, sat in nothing but a pair of tiny pyjama shorts. His head tilted back as he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, to clam himself.

"You're a temptress, mate," he sighed, jumping slightly when her hands began to slide up on the inside of his t-shirt, "Hmmm, you are getting far too good at that." He stated, impressed at how quickly she had picked up his stealthy style of moving.

"I learned from the best, Casanova." She purred out, beginning to explore his body, by skimming her hands across his tight abdominal muscles.

Calum opened his eyes, looking into Colt's eyes with longing. His hands automatically came up to grab her hips and he gave his head a small shake in delighted disbelief. He had discovered she had lost her shorts as well, in her short journey across the room to suprise him.

"You're awfully confident, Love." Calum whispered, teasingly. Despite knowing full well he was lost to her whims at this point.

Colt smirked back, removing her hands from his stomach to snake them up and around his neck. Capturing him physically as she began guiding his head to her own.

"Well, I'm placing my bet, on the fact that you wouldn't ever leave me wanting. Never mind on my birthday of all days. I mean it just wouldn't be right." She spoke in husky voice, pressing herself against him, and crushing her breasts to his chest.

"Fuck." Calum muttered, before crashing his mouth onto hers in a searing kiss. He broke away to look into her hooded eyes once again, "Now, I'm gonna be late, Love." He stated, walking Colt backwards to the bed.

"Are you really complaining?" Colt smirked in triumph, as he lowered her down onto her back.

"Not in the slightest." Calum smiled, looking every bit the cat that got the cream, as he began removing his own clothes, "Not in the slightest."

*Author's Note: Sorry about the quiet front. Not only did I have a touch of writers block for moving forward, but I also had to deal with dreaded tax returns and organising the calendar for the 2022 holiday let season.... Bloody life admin getting in the way. B x.