Chapter 42

It was warm. Much warmer than usual.

The cold morning breeze made me curl my toes, but somehow my blanket felt much more… larger. It almost felt like it was hugging me like a grown man.

I found the notion worth a snort and turned around to snuggle deeper into my blanket. At first, it was nice, until I realised something was very much wrong with my blanket, and my eyes shot open.

I was staring directing into a broad, well-toned chest.

I blinked.

It was still there.

The slow rise of tiny breaths. The authentic and undeniable sound of soft breathing. And the arms that wrapped tightly around me.

I knew who it was immediately.

Why they were here, I didn't have a clue.

Slowly, to not wake him, I pried away from him. Noticing how he didn't have anything on him except a robe. He hadn't even pulled the blanket on him. He had just… hugged me.

No part of me hurt or aches uncomfortably. He hadn't done anything strange to me at all, but it did feel uncomfortable knowing he had just walked in while I was sleeping.

But the fact that he didn't attack me made me feel a strangely warm feeling in my heart. One that made my stomach feel strange. I wasn't sure why, but I pulled the blanket over him and found myself staring at him.

He was beautiful.

Every inch his mother.

The bright blonde curls, the paleness of his skin. His sharp jawbones and strong nose bridge. And his lips…

Just like before, I was strangely transfixed. I felt strange electricity drawing me closer and urging me to press his lips on mine.

I didn't move any closer. I couldn't.

Instead, I played with his hair. Just like I did years ago when he slept together. Back then, he would stir. Sometimes he would even complain, but today he seemed tired.

Circles are evident under his eyes.

"Isabelle".

The sound of him saying my name had me jumping back in fright. My heartbeat was so loud as my tongue started searching for excuses.

But he didn't wake up.

He was still sleeping.

Was he dreaming of me?

"Yes?" I whispered back, wondering if he would reply.

His lips twitched, and I moved closer to him to hear. There was nothing and then.

"Stop playing with my hair".

And that made me jump back once again. Face redder than a tomato as he smirked at me.

He- He was awake the whole time???!!

"Cai-Cain, I can explain!" I exclaimed.

"Shhh", he pulled me back into bed with him. Holding me against his, evidently very naked self, "people are sleeping. So let's speak much more quietly", the feeling of his breath on me stirred the feeling of electricity once again.

I couldn't.

"Why are you here?" I whispered.

"This is my mansion. This is my slave", he tapped my head with an amused face.

"I see".

My face was warm. Very warm.

"Why were you touching my hair so… seductively?" His words made me stiffen.

Was that… seductive?!

"I didn't mean to imply anything- I just- I just thought… it looked soft".

"What did you think looked soft?" He teased.

I looked once again, knowing that he was playing with me, but they looked soft—his beautiful lips. I wanted to feel them.

My Hand brushed them, pressing them to see if they genuinely were soft. I was truly out of it until he parted his lips and held my finger between his teeth, hot tongue pressing on it.

His gaze was… feral.

I pulled my hands away with a gasp.

What came over me?

"Don't play such cruel pranks on me, Bella. You don't know how I yearn for you to touch me", he spoke, voice vibrating across my neck. I felt his fingers trembling. He wanted to touch me. But he held back.

"How did you get here?" I asked, wanting to pretend I wasn't in the same position.

"I wanted to see you".

"Why?" I found the question somehow terrifying to ask, but I was tired. And tired people do not fear.

"Did you know you reach for people when you sleep? You grasped my hand even though you were asleep", he avoided the question so tactfully I forgot I even asked.

"I'm sorry", I felt my body get even warmer. Embarrassment mixing in.

"Don't be. I liked it".

His crimson eyes gazed at me, lashes fluttering, veiling them as he looked down at me. The emotion in them rendered me speechless.

Maybe it was his words. Perhaps it was the wait. Or perhaps it was the sleepy dawning sun that made me do it.

I had grasped his face and crushed his lips on mine. Fingers laced through his hair as I pressed him closer. He reacted just as quickly, pulling me closer as he leaned over me.

The feeling of his lips pressing against mine sent the butterflies in my stomach on a rampage—electricity buzzing between us as the kisses became more desperate, our bodies pressing against one another.

It was so hot and so tantalising. I couldn't stop.

He let out a moan.

His hands were all over me, lifting my arms above my head. Tongue gliding down my throat. Sucking on the skin.

I was panting, enjoying every moment of his hands which caressed my breast. Gently and smoothly.

"You are beautiful. You are beautiful", he said between gasps.

"Not as much as you", I replied, my voice letting a strange squeal.

I was doing it.

I was kissing Cain...

Maybe that thought was what stopped it. Suddenly, Cain and I looked at each other. Bare flesh against one another, we realised just what we were doing.

He was the first to pull away. Although from the look on his face, he didn't want to.

I sat up.

Shock sinking in as it hit me.

I liked that. I really enjoyed that. I even wanted more.

"I shouldn't do this to you. Not like this".

That got me thinking elsewhere.

"What do you mean?" I asked, wondering how else this could go down.

He gave me a helpless look and turned away, covering his eyes with his hands.

"Please cover up first".

At his words, I glanced down and gasped. The nightdress, which had a ridiculous neckline from years of tear and was relatively short since I had used it since I was young, was doing a terrible job of being a dress and might as well be a necklace.

I pulled my blanket around me. Face burning in shame.

"My apologies", I muttered.

"It wasn't your fault", he sighed with a cheeky grin, "I don't want to… do anything to you while you're a slave here.".

I was speechless.

"While I'm a slave?" I repeated, unable to comprehend his words.

He nodded. Gaze sharpening as he turned back to me. His eyes held the sincerity of a knight. Who swore an oath to their King.

"Not while you're anything except, … the duchess".