My Love Journey's
The Morning Run

"Hey, wake up." My dream was interrupted by Paul's heavy voice.

I grumbled and looked at him as soon as I opened my eyes. "What's wrong?"

"We're gonna run in the morning."

I groaned while writhing unhappily while closing my eyes again. "In your dreams, Paul. What time is it?"

"Hour 7. Come on, love, wake up. I've been feeding the demon cat, I think it's starting to soften on me. Get up quickly, we'll run for a little while, just a few kilometers."

"A few kilometers? It's still too early, let me sleep for a little while longer." I protested, rolling to the side of his back. I let the blanket that fell on the floor and tried to go back to sleep.

Paul kissed my shoulder while his hand stroked the curves of my body. "Just for a moment, not many people are coming out this early, so nothing will bother us" he told me, his hot breath sweeping my skin and his lips down my back. I feel comfortable.

"Fine, then make me some coffee." I surrendered. I thought it would slightly smooth my blood flow and I could learn today.

Paul stepped into the kitchen while I climbed upstairs to take a shower and get ready. Sport is not my habit, but I don't think it hurts to do that once in a while.

***

"There's a park there, right?" paul asked as soon as we walked out of my door.

"Yes," I said, buttoning my jacket zipper. "By the way, where did you get that shirt?" Paul was wearing a white T-shirt and basketball pants, which came out of nowhere. It was highly unlikely that he would find those items in my closet.

Paul turned his head while grinning and raising his shoulders. "I called Alfred and asked him to bring clean clothes."

I chuckle. "You really are a shitty boss. Did he ever sleep?"

"He, you're funny." She brushed her hair with one hand. "Come, we don't have much time, I have two hours to practice."

I cringe. "You're going to practice and now you're taking me for a morning run? Weird."

"Yes. Now, stop your rant. We run around the park and go back to your house, okay?"

I said slowly, all I wanted to do was open the book and re-learn everything Dr. Grey, instead of running in the morning. Especially with Paul Klug.

Slowly we started running towards the park not far from my house. The weather this morning was quite sunny and just like Paul said, not many people were outside at these hours. After all, who's going to run in the morning on Tuesday?

"It's fun, isn't it?" Paul smiled, casually running next to me.

I grumbled in my heart. It felt like we had been running for hours. Even I did not have time to enjoy the scenery around the park because it was too busy regulating my breath that was wheezing.

"Yes" For you, not for me. My feet are burning!

"What if we go into the woods and turn around and go home?" Paul stepped even faster then turned to look at me and ran in a backward motion.

"Yes" I nodded once. "But, can we just slow down?"

"Hm? I just wanted to tell you sooner, but okay..." He laughed for a moment then turned his body back and led me towards the small forest.

I saw some cyclists and pedestrians carrying dogs. It seems that they don't care about Paul, and pay more attention to the other handsome men around them.

"My feet are shorter than yours" I murmured. "And you're playing... Uh!"

Just as we were about to enter the forest, my foot caught in one of the roots poking out of the ground.

"Oh, God... Are you okay, love?" Paul lifted my body.

He stood in front of me, wiping away the mud stuck to my hair and the front of my jacket. "I'm fine. You know, I'm not a runner." I sighed while pinching the base of my nose.

"You're pretty good, birdie." He smiled, for a moment surprised me.

He looks very handsome, too handsome for me who is messy and tired with a body full of sweat. And on top of that he was being very nice to me, running at my pace without commenting, even though I knew he could have done it twice as fast.

"You're very persistent, I appreciate it." she added, her voice slowly sinking as she lowered her head. "Damn it, your feet are bleeding."

I followed the direction of his gaze, the sudden pounding of my heart crazily as I clashed with him made me not feel the skin of my knees being peeled off. Geez, my sweatpants are even torn.

"Ah, it's just a small wound." I muttered, chuckling softly. I shook my head to drive out any wild thoughts about Paul starting to get into my brain. "I'll clean it up so..."

Paul moved closer, one hand still cupping my jaw. "You want me to hold you?"

My eyebrows shot up high in response to his offer. I want to get away from him, his charm offensive that hit me is not something I want to happen right now. We are in the woods!

"I'm fine, Paul." I muttered again.

Just before she managed to kiss me, I pulled away from her. It's not that I don't want it, but it's an open place and I'm still a little paranoid, someone could have hidden behind the trees and stolen our photos and spread them around. It's disastrous!

"Nobody's here, love." Paul turned my face to look at her, his thumb gently rubbing my cheek.

I took a breath as soon as our gazes collided back. All over my body reacted in a very shameful way, my blood rippled and my heart was beating violently. Really, it's beyond my ability to control it. For a moment I hated Paul's charm that was so powerful it pulled me into him, the longer I stared at him, the more I fell on him.

Goddamnit!

I gave up on my desire. I slowly pushed aside the distance between us and directly attacked Paul's mouth with my mouth, it didn't take long for him to return my kiss. I completely lost my mind, both of my hands wrapped around his neck while Paul hugged tightly around my waist.

Then suddenly I heard a 'crack' from behind Paul, as if someone had just stepped on a dry tree branch. I hurriedly pulled away from him and turned my gaze over his shoulder.

"Calm down" Paul murmured while looking back. "Look, there's no one, love."

I was both nervous and scared. I'm sure there's someone hiding behind trees or shrubs around us. "Let's go home, before my blood comes out more."

Paul grabbed me by the shoulder while laughing softly, then he led me out of the forest and straight to my house by taking a detour.

Once home, the rest of the morning was filled with ridicule, seduction, quick kisses, and carefree laughter coming out of our mouths. It was the simplest yet best moment I felt for a while, after I decided to let go of all the doubts and worries for a while.

After Paul finished cleaning the wound on my knee and covered it with plaster, we were together before he came home. Paul's training schedule is getting longer and tighter as they prepare for the World Cup.

I was still standing at my door like a fool, somewhat dazed to feel the hot parting kiss from him before he got into the car. Then he went inside and saw his jacket left on the sofa.

I groaned slowly and grabbed the jacket, the black jacket with the logo of the football club who recruited him outside the World Cup, Bayern Munich.

To: Paul: Your jacket was left in my house. I'll bring it in tonight.

From: Paul: Keep it. See you tonight, love xx

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