Cassian swallowed, then looked away as he stepped back. I tried my best to cover myself with my hands. I didn't know what the hell to do. My teeth sank on my lips, almost drawing blood from the action.
I watched as the alpha unbuttoned his shirt. He took it off quickly and extended it towards me, raking a hand through his hair as he looked away. "Put this on,"
My hands moved without thinking. I took the shirt and wore it, not speaking a single word through the whole ordeal. The shock of it all made me numb and my senses were only coming back slowly.
Cassian religiously kept his eyes away from me. Goddess, I wanted to die.
"I'll go out and check if they're gone. I'll pick up your clothes and something to eat before coming back. Stay here, understand?"
"Okay…." He was out of the cave as soon as I spoke. "Shit!" I sank to the floor with my head in my hands. What kind of fucked up situation is this?
It took several minutes of me cursing myself for causing trouble, for Cassian to come back. He looked at me for a brief moment and then immediately averted his eyes. "They took your clothes," He sighed.
"What?" I stood up in disbelief. What the hell do they need my clothes for?
"For tracking your scent," Cassian replied as if reading my mind.
He placed a few fruits and berries on a rock in front of me. "This is all I could find. Eat this and let's move to a dry area inside. It's getting dark outside so we'll have to stay here for today… That shirt needs to dry or you'll catch a cold,"
I stared at him for a long moment, drinking in his frame. I'll never get tired of seeing him shirtless. It makes every rational thought of mine fly out the window. I'm damn sure it's not just the mate bond that's making me feel this way. Cassian, no matter how much of a jerk he seems, is insanely attractive.
I shouldn't think about stuff like that right now. Not when I'm stuck in a cave with him while barely wearing anything to cover myself.
Wolves can smell arousal.
I don't want to seem like a creep by getting excited at a difficult time like this. I steered my attention away from the fine man in front of me and picked up the fruits before moving further inside the cave. Cassian followed me closely behind.
"Have you eaten anything?" I don't think he did.
"I'm not hungry." He stated simply.
I sighed. I knew he would say that. I extended some of the fruit to him but declined immediately. "I'm not hungry. If I was, I would've brought more. This is for you, Ivy. Eat it." Everything he says sounds like a command. There was no room for argument so I just silently ate the fruits.
Cassian flopped down on the ground, leaning his back against a rock. "I can't build a fire here," He stated the obvious. It's not possible to get dry wood inside. "It's going to be cold. Is the shirt dry now?" He asked.
"Almost," I replied to him.
I watched him nod before he looked down, resting his hand on his knees. He then rolled his head back and released a sigh. He looked burnt out. He must've come to look for me straight after the attack.
"How did you find out about me?" I bit my lips.
"Ruth called." He breathed out. "When we came to rescue them, one of the kids told me that they saw you jump from the cliff," He told me, straightening his posture as he glared at me. The piercing look in his eyes told me that he wasn't happy with my decision to jump off a cliff.
"You jumped after me?"
"Of course, I did. What else was I supposed to do? Let the hunters get to you? Do you know how fucking dangerous it is to jump from that high, Ivy? What were you thinking?"
His brows knitted together as he scolded me. God, is this how kids feel when they're being scolded by their teacher?
"I'm sorry, I had no choice. I was surrounded…"
His gaze softened. "Were you hurt?"
"No," I looked down.
"Don't lie."
"It's true. I wasn't hurt. Everything is healed already. Only my feet need to get better." I stared at my feet.
"What happened to your feet?"
"I walked here barefoot. There are cuts and blisters on the sole of my feet but they're healing well." The healing process was a little slow because I was low on energy.
"Show it to me," He said, lifting his hand and beckoning me closer to him.
"It's alright, I—"
"Ivy, I don't like to repeat myself."
I swallowed thickly before moving closer to him. I sat down on the ground and showed him my feet. He took them into his hands and placed them on his lap, causing me to shudder from his touch. It felt electrifying.
His hands were warm and I wished he roamed them all over my body instead of just touching my feet. Cassian's eyebrows were knitted together as he examined them, his fingers tracing small cuts and blisters, causing me to flinch when he pressed a little too hard.
"You used mud to cover your scent?" He suddenly asked.
"Yes…"
"That was a clever move," His eyes lifted to meet mine and my cheeks warmed at the compliment. It's not every day you get a compliment from the predator.
"Thank you," I said, looking down to hide my rosy cheeks. The cave was getting darker and darker because of the sun going down. I just hoped he didn't see me blushing from a simple compliment.
"However I do not appreciate you going against my order and setting off into the woods even if it was to save the kids." His voice turned stern and it was evident he was angry at me for it.
"I'm sorry…. I got worried. I didn't want them to see what I did…" I fiddled with the hem of his shirt.
Cassian let out a heavy sigh. "We'll have to talk about this once we reach the packhouse. Don't think I'm letting you off the hook. I just don't want to lecture you when you're low on energy."
"Okay…." I nodded. "Ah!" I flinched when he pressed on a wound.
Cassian frowned. "There's a splinter stuck in there." He stated. "Stay still. I'm going to remove it."
I nodded, furrowing my brows and closing my eyes as I anticipated the pain. What the hell am I scared about? It's just a splinter. I've seen worse things.
It's alright. It'll only hurt like an ant biting you. Oh god, Ivy. Are you being serious right now? It's just a splinter. It's nothing.
Goddess, am I turning into a soft girl? I need to continue my—
"Ah!!" I jerked my feet away and covered my mouth immediately as Cassian pulled out the splinter.
"It's okay, it hurts because your feet are sensitive now." He said and then paused. I followed his line of vision to see that the shirt I was wearing was ridden up to my stomach, exposing all of my lady area.
I squeaked and immediately pulled the shirt down, covering myself as much as I could. Goddess, I hope this cave falls down on me and kills me right at this moment because I cannot look at his face again after this.
Cassian gripped my leg as he looked away. "Goddess, Ivy." He breathed. "Are you testing me?" He pressed his thumb and forefinger on his forehead as he threw his head back.
"I-I'm sorry…I didn't mean to…I just-just—"
"Forget it," He blew his cheeks out.
I clutched the shirt in my hands. Did I annoy him?
"Lie down and get some sleep. It'll be dark soon. We'll go out as soon as the sun rises." Cassian told me and I complied without any protest. At this moment, sleeping was the only thing I could do to get away from this awkward situation.
He released his grip on my leg and I silently curled up on the ground and shut my eyes tight, hoping to fall asleep. It wasn't easy no matter how tired I was. The bone-chilling cold air was cruel, keeping me awake and forcing me to replay the indecent incident that just occurred.
Indecent incident? Says the one who straddled him and stripped herself on top of him. I cringed at the memory. I must've seemed so desperate then.
I don't know how long I lay there, trying to fall asleep. I couldn't. I was starting to shiver so I wrapped my hands around myself, rubbing them up and down to produce a little warmth.
Cassian was sitting there, his head resting on the hand that he propped on his knee. I don't know how he's able to sleep like that. That's not a comfortable position at all even though he looks very cool like that. And isn't he cold?
"Why aren't you sleeping?"
He was awake?!
"I-It's cold…" Maybe I should shift into my wolf form.
All of my thoughts flew out of the window when I felt hands around me. I held my breath as I felt his warm hand wrap over my waist and pull me closer to his sturdy chest as he lay next to me."C-Cassian?"
"Go to sleep."
How can I? How am I supposed to sleep when he's hugging me like this?
I could feel my wolf begging to take over. She wanted me to turn around, wrap my hands around him and nuzzle into his warmth.
I know Cassian must feel the same because even I could feel his wolf, fighting to take control. The presence of the beast was immense, drowning me in it but Cassian seemed to have great control.
I stayed still for a few minutes. Cassian seemed to have fallen asleep as the time passed. His breaths were softer and calmer.
I took a risk and slowly turned around. I needed to take a good look at him. This is a golden opportunity.
It was dark but my eyes have adjusted to it and I could make out his form. He looked so calm and divine that it made me wonder if he was real or just a figment of my imagination that I made up to escape this cruel world.
I let my fingers slowly caress the hand he had over my waist. I could feel the roughness of it that years of training had gifted him. His hand was so big compared to mine and I liked that. I wanted his veiny hands to touch me. I want to feel the roughness of it all over my body.
I pressed my palm on his bicep. The muscles flexed when he flinched for a bit then went straight back to sleep. He's so strong… I clenched my thighs together. A familiar feeling formed between my legs. Something I could only describe as yearning. I yearned to feel his touch there and that thought made my cheeks heat up.
I must be a pervert.
I wanted to hide my face in his chest. Bury my embarrassment in his warm sturdy pecs. Goddess, I want to lick him so bad. Is that normal?
I wonder if there will be a day when I won't have to resist touching him. How would it feel like to go to sleep cuddling against him every night?
Feeling brave, I rubbed my cheek against his chest. So warm. I almost melted from the feeling. Can I stay like this forever? I'll do anything for that.
My hand wrapped around him and I rubbed them over his back. He has wide shoulders. I never thought something like that could be attractive. Every single thing about him is so attractive that it's driving me crazy.
I wanted to dig my nails into his back as I hugged him tight, leaving my marks on him even if it's only for a moment to tell the world that he's mine. I held myself back. I can't wake him up and he's not mine. Yet.
Goddess, this is torture.
I inhaled his scent, clouding my mind with it. My canines were aching to bite him and leave my marks on him. How am I supposed to wait till we finally mate? My whole body was aching for him. I want his strong arms around me as he touches, kisses, and devours me in every way he wants. Is that too much to ask for?
I felt the wetness in my lady area drip down to my thigh. I'm desperate.
My half-lidded eyes lifted to meet his closed ones. I traced my fingers on his jawline. Sharp as a knife I'm afraid it would cut me. The stubbles on his face made me smile.
His lips looked soft. I swallowed thickly. We've never kissed and that thought sent a pang of pain to my chest. When will I get to feel them on mine? Is it ever going to happen?
"Goddess, Ivy, you're testing my control."
I flinched and squeaked when his lips moved suddenly. My eyes met his dark hooded ones and I wished I
had kept my hands to myself.
"You were awake?!"