Her head was hurting so much, she should have really stopped drinking sooner the previous night. She didn't even remembered how she got to bed, but the truth was that she didn't care, as far as she got to sleep a few hours everything was fine. It was her first day back at the FBI after her suspension and she couldn't mess it up. She wasn't fully back, she still had to take a few exams but she was positive about them; everything she needed to do that day was meet with Cal at he gym and talk to Crown. She had promised Cal she would have trained with him for a bit before attending some yoga classes. Those yoga lessons had become very useful during the past month, they helped her relax and she had also learnt how to use respirations techniques if her anxiety got bad.
She decided to wear some simple clothes and headed toward her work place, hoping Cal would have already been there, she wasn't really in the mood of answering multiple questions asked by whoever would have been at the bureau's gym; plus her head was definitely hurting too much. She had never been a really talkative person and since she came back the fact that everyone had to know everything about her life without really knowing her pissed her off even more. Walking into the gym she spotted Cal on the ring, warming up before starting their training.
"Oh here she is" she heard him saying.
"Hey" she greeted him approaching the ring.
"Hey, how are you?" he answered back.
"So and so, I didn't sleep very well" she answered being honest.
"Oh I'm sorry, do you feel like training? We can do it another day if you're too tired" he reassured her, he didn't want to make her feel even more tired than she already was.
"It's ok don't worry. Are you scared I'm gonna beat you up?" she joked, joining him on the ring.
"Never" he joked back.
"I'm gonna let you win anyway" she heard him say as she started fixing her boxing gloves.
"Play fair Cal, don't do that" she answered chuckling.
"What?" he asked back confused.
"I heard you" she chuckled.
"Heard me saying what? I didn't say anything" he looked serious and confused.
Did she just imagined it?
"Never mind" she shook her head, maybe she had heard someone else talking and mistook him for Cal.
They started boxing and she could see Cal was holding back, maybe he did say it before, he just thought she didn't hear him and maybe lied to her to not make her feel bad.
"Don't hold back" she told him while boxing.
"I'm not holding back" he answered fighting.
"I'm gonna let you win, you're too cute when you are happy about beating me" she heard him say and she immediately stop.
"What?" she asked confused and breathless.
"What? Emily what's wrong?" he asked concerned.
"What did you say?" she asked.
"I said I'm not holding back" he simply answered.
"After that" she pointed out.
"I didn't say anything more" he answered even more confused. What was wrong with her? She seemed lost.
It was his voice, she couldn't have imagined it. She was sure it was his voice and she had heard him saying both this sentence and the one before they had started training. What was happening? It felt like she could read his mind. No Emily, that could not be possible. But then what was happening? Was he whispering those sentences and acting like he didn't say anything to drive her crazy? Why would he do that? He wasn't the kind of person who would joke that much about it, most of all if he knew she wasn't really feeling well.
"Should I ask her if she is ok'" she heard him saying and she looked at him.
"She looks strange, maybe we should stop" his lips weren't moving and yet she could hear his voice.
"Are you ok?" this time she saw him talking.
She tried to look around to see if she could hear someone else's voice but it looked like it worked just with him. Was she really reading his mind? It couldn't have been possible. Mind reading was impossible. It was a superpower that existed only in movies and books, all the real life mind reader just used some techniques she really wasn't interested in but she knew they existed; they used suggestions and key words to make the other person think about a certain thing. But this wasn't a magic trick, it wasn't about a single word, they were entire sentences and... did he really say he found her cute?!
"Yeah, yeah I'm ok, I think I'm just a bit lost and tired but I can definitely beat you. Don't hold back" she smiled before starting fighting again.
She caught him off guard and managed to pin him down on the floor, she could tell he really wasn't expecting it due to his wide eyes. She was now on top of him, holding him down.
"I think you're loosing" she pointed out and he chuckled.
"If you think so, I'm pretty good here" she heard him saying, once again his lips weren't moving.
So it was true, she was able to read his mind... and what the hell did he mean by -I'm pretty good here- was he referring to the fact that she was on top of him? Damn he was hot, she couldn't deny it. She had tried to think about him as just a co worker and a friend but she just couldn't. The main problem was that she didn't know if he felt the same about her or not. Suddenly an idea came up in her mind: she could use her newly discovered superpower to see what he thought about her and maybe understand if he felt the same.
Her back hitting the mat distracted her from her thoughts, how did he manage to switch them and having her pinned down on the floor without her noticing? Was she really that lost in her thoughts?
"Looks like you're the looser, not me" he smirked down at her and she took the opportunity to tell him what he didn't say before.
"It depends on how you look at it, you might be winning the game but I'm definitely good down here" she raised an eyebrow at him, waiting for his reaction.
"What the fuck is she talking about? What should I answer?" she heard his voice say as his mouth opened in shock.
"What? Don't you like being on top?" she smirked again.
"Oh trust me, I do" he answered back, finding the straight to say something.
"However I would both like to be on top of you or having you on top of me, they both will be just fine" she heard him add, his lips closed.
So he did was into her after all, she didn't really have to worry about him not liking her. Firstly him thinking she was cute, now this, it was pretty clear, wasn't it?
She managed to switch them over and land once again on top of him; what firstly started as a boxe match was now just them switching positions and landing on top of each other. She couldn't help but think that the mat wasn't really comfortable and she would have preferred continuing this somewhere else. It was in that moment that it hit her, he had to work and she had to talk to Crown, plus she had her yoga lesson and she could't miss it.
"We should go, I bet you need to work and I really need to talk to Crown in order to fully be back" she explained, getting back to her own feet.
"You're right. Would you like to grab a coffe once my shift is over? I bet you already have your day planned and I'm kinda stuck here you know" he chuckled.
"Please say yes" she heard him add.
"I'd love to, what if you come to my place after work and maybe we can order something for dinner " she suggested.
"It looks like a plan" he answered as she left.
"Damn Byrne" she heard him saying as she was walking toward the exit.
It made her chuckle, knowing she could hear what he was thinking about. But how was it possible? Was she dreaming? Maybe she was. How much did she drink the previous night? Exiting the gym she totally changed her attitude, knowing she had to leave all her personal stuff outside Crown's office if she wanted to succeed in having her job fully back. She was a bit scared, she couldn't deny it, but luckily Crown told her that her results were positives and she just had to pass a couple of easier exams to start working again.
In the afternoon she attended her yoga class after meeting with her son and dropping him to his swimming lessons. She couldn't stop trying to look around and see if her new said superpower could work on someone else; not that she would have wanted to know what was going on in her son's mind, she wasn't one of those mothers, she totally respected his privacy, but she wanted to understand how it worked. Unluckily or luckily, Cal seemed to be the only person this trick worked on, she wondered why.
She didn't have time to think about it now, she needed to take a shower and at least clean the living room and the kitchen, Cal would have arrived soon. He had previously texted her during his lunch break saying he would have been at her apartment around 7pm, he needed some time to have a proper shower too and leave his work stuff at home before coming to hers. They had also agreed on ordering chinese food that would have come around 7.30pm, so they wouldn't been in a rush.
Her doorbell rang in perfect time, announcing Cal was there. She had managed to make her apartment look good and she had bought some beers just in case he wanted something to drink other than simple water. Not that she didn't have any kind of alcoholic drink in her house, but Vodka didn't really got along with chinese food.
"Hey" Cal greeted her, standing in front of her with a simple pair of jeans and a normal white shirt.
She was used to see him in a shirt but this time it was different, the shirt had two unbuttoned buttons and his chest was showing a bit.
"Why is she staring at me? Do I look that bad? Damn I knew I had to put on something else" she heard him saying.
"Hey, come in. Make yourself at home, if you wanna take off your shoes it's ok, just do whatever you want" she was nervous, why was she nervous?
She had to drink some water and calm down. Was this a date? Did she involuntary invited him at her place for a date? It was just two co workers who had dinner together right?
"If only you knew what I would like to do to you" she heard him saying and by the slight echo of his words she knew he hadn't said it out loud.
She almost chocked on her water but she managed to drink and breathe. She actually would have liked it to be a date, maybe she could push his buttons a bit and see how things ended. If anything went wrong though it would have been awkward.
"Are you ok?" Cal asked putting a hand on her shoulder, making her turn around.
"I'm sorry I just needed to drink some water. Our food should be here in half an hour, do you want something to drink? I bought some beers in case you wanted one" maybe she should have just told him that she had some beers, not that she bought some just for the fact that he was coming.
"A beer would be nice, thanks" he smiled at her and she gave him a smile back.
"Why are you so beautiful woman, don't do that" she heard him saying and she could't help but smile more, trying to hide it by turning around to look in the fridge.
She couldn't blush, which made her blush even more. She took a beer and handled it to him after removing the cap.
"Thanks" he said smiling.
"I like your shirt like that, you should wear it more often. Well maybe not at work but you look good in it" she knew he was unsure about it and decided to tell him the truth to make him happy.
"Say something nice" she had to bite the inside of her cheeks to stop herself from chuckling hearing him think.
"I- thank you, you look good too.. in your hoodie and normal jeans... like every day" he answered.
"Good job Cal, now you look like an idiot" he added.
"Thanks" she simply answered smiling.
Their food arrived and they found themselves eating together for the first time outside their workplace. It was strange, yet it felt good. They had never lacked in conversations, they could talk about pretty much anything and she was glad they had such a good relationship.
They decided they should have watched a movie together after dinner, she loved movies and it turned out he had never seen her favorite one, which made her suggest to watch it together. While they were cleaning the table she decided to wash the few cutlery they had used and he offered to dry them. She didn't have time to refuse that he was already doing it, she hoped it would have given her a few more time to calm down before moving to the couch with him but now there he was, finishing the work.
Turning around she found him nearer than she had expected, his face close to hers.
"Damn" she heard him thinking.
She didn't move, unable to do anything, his face was so close that it had only taken her to rise on her tiptoes to kiss him.
"How can someone be that beautiful? Should I kiss her? I wish I could" his eyes were looking into hers and she was looking back at him.
If he was unsure she would have given him a little help. She flicked her eyes quickly to his lips, then looked into his eyes again, trying to make him understand that he could do what he was thinking about.
"Is that a sign?" he thought and she had to stop herself from chuckling.
It was a sign, if only he could stop thinking and just act. She definitely wanted to kiss him as badly as he wanted to kiss her and unlike him she had to make her move. She knew he wanted her, she was sure about it. He had been thinking about her all day and either her mind was just tricking her or she had heard it. Before he could think or say something else she grabbed the collar of his shirt with both hands, pulling him down to let their lips connect.
"What's happening? Is this real? I should stop thinking" he thought.
Cal's hand found her cheek and he angled her face to start kissing her better and deeper, making a moan leave her throat. His other hand found her hip and she pushed herself up against him, the friction making her moan again.
"This is so hot please do it again" she heard him thinking.
Somehow knowing what he was thinking about turned her on even more, knowing he wasn't faking and she turned him on too. She hooked both her arms around his neck and raised on her tiptoes, rubbing her body against his again and making him groan. She felt her legs go weak as his hands landed on her hips and his body pushed back into hers; luckily she felt the kitchen counter behind her and she used it to gain stability.
She needed to breathe, needed some air in her lungs but she didn't want the kiss to end, she had waited for so long for someone who could make her feel so good that in that moment it felt like a dream. Air became necessary and she parted her lips from his and they both took a breath. Their eyes met as they both panted on each other's lips.
"Say something please" she heard him think.
She didn't want to say something, she didn't want to ruin the magic of the moment. She kissed him again, letting her tongue enter his mouth another time. Tasting him and moaning again as his hands travelled up her back. She left his lips with a pop, opening her eyes and looking at him once again.
"I-" he started breathless, stopping before he could finish.
"Love you" she heard him think.
Love was definitely something big and scary for her, but she would have been a liar if she had said that she wouldn't have wanted it too.
"Yeah, me too" she smiled up shyly at him.
"I was about to say that I think you're kinda uncomfortable with your back against the counter, so you agree?" he chuckled.
"Something tells me that you weren't going to say that" she answered smiling.
"Oh really? How?" he asked chuckling.
"Cause I can read your mind" she whispered, raising her head to let their lips almost touch.
"Oh yeah? Ok what am I thinking about?" he laughed.
"I love you so much. You really can't even imagine how happy I am when I'm with you, please stay with me forever" she heard him think and her heart melt.
She loved him too, she was so happy to have him in her life. She wanted to stay with him forever too.
"You're thinking about how much you liked that chinese food we ordered before and that you're glad I suggested it. Plus you mentioned me being the best one at choosing restaurants" she joked, she didn't really need him to know she was serious and that she heard him.
"Ma'am you're a mind reader! It was exactly what I was thinking about!" he gasped, pretending to be shocked.
"Well maybe we can order in again another time" she suggested.
"It depends, do I get another kiss after dinner to end the evening?" he asked.
"Why end the evening now when it could continue?" she answered raising her eyebrow and looking up at him.
Waking up with a big headache was actually normal for her; thinking back of the day before when she found herself being able to read her partner's mind wasn't. It hadn't gone that wrong after all, they had dinner, kissed, kissed again and she ended up cuddling naked on his chest, they were getting dressed when she asked him to stay for the night and he agreed... except that her bed was empty that morning. The clothes on the floor gone, she was completely dressed and the headache was back. Had it all been just a dream? Had she imagined it?
She got up as quickly as possible, running to the bathroom to look at herself in the mirror. She looked normal, nothing strange, maybe too good for being in hangover. Stepping into the kitchen she smelled coffee and she was sure she hadn't prepared any the evening before.
"You're awake" Cal said as she entered the kitchen.
So it was real, it wasn't some kind of strange dream, Cal was there. It would have been impossible for him to enter her apartment without being invited in and he was wearing the same clothes she remembered him in, so it was real.
"Morning" she smiled looking at him.
She tried to see if her superpower was still working but unfortunately she couldn't connect with his mind. Now she was just awkwardly staring at him.
"Are you ok?" he asked confused.
"Uhm... yeah, yeah. How are you?" what kind of question is that Emily?
"I'm good, what about you?" he chuckled.
"I'm great" she smiled at him, trying to avoid the fact that she couldn't read his mind anymore.
"Soo, I wanted to thank you for the dinner and, you know, last night" he said handling her a mug of coffee.
"Well, the feeling is mutual" she chuckled looking at her coffee.
He reached for her, raising her chin to make her look at him before kissing her lips. She managed to put the mug on the table to wrap her arms around his neck to kiss him back. They were glad that no one of them had changed their mind during the night, it would have been a problem; but most of all she was glad it hadn't been a dream.
It would have been a fun story to tell though, after all they managed to got together thanks to her ability to read his mind for a whole day... which she couldn't prove to anyone anymore. Not that anyone would have believed her, she actually kinda didn't believe it herself... but it didn't mattered. They were together now and it was everything.
-The End-