Embarrassing: Aelira
892 Words
For the first time in years, I slept peacefully.
No nightmares.
No memories.
No fear.
Just warmth.
Comfort.
Safety.
Slowly, I blinked awake. For a moment, I didn’t move. Something felt different. Then I realized I wasn’t in bed. I was curled against something warm. Something solid. My eyes widened—a chest. An arm wrapped securely around my waist.
Oak and coffee.
Kaiden.
The events of yesterday came rushing back—the mate bond.
The couch.
The kiss.
His promise to come back. He had actually came back. My heart fluttered. After he left I changed into some shorts and a T-shirt and sat on the couch well I scrolled on my phone waiting for him or Alex to come back. It was my first time alone so I didn't honestly know what to do with myself. I must have fallen asleep a lot happened yesterday. I suddenly felt coldness on my back. Then I looked down. And immediately froze.
Oh.
Oh Goddess.
Sometime during the night, in my half-asleep attempt to cool off, I had apparently gotten rid of my shirt. Which wasn't uncommon for me if I had a nightmare. Heat flooded my face so fast I thought I might combust. My boobs were pressed directly against Kaiden’s chest.
My face turned scarlet red.
Please tell me he was asleep.
Please.
Very slowly, I tilted my head upward. Kaiden’s eyes were already open. Watching me. The traitor looked amused.
“A little warm last night?”
I wanted the floor to open and swallow me whole.
“You were awake?”
His grin widened.
“Just now.”
I narrowed my eyes.
“I don’t believe you.”
A laugh rumbled through his chest. The sound somehow made the situation even worse. Or better. I wasn’t entirely sure.
Embarrassing.
Definitely embarrassing.
What made it worse was that he wasn’t acting weird about it.
No teasing.
No inappropriate comments.
Nothing.
He simply tightened his arm slightly around my waist. Like making sure I was okay mattered more than anything else. The realization made my embarrassment fade just a little.
“You slept better,” he said quietly.
It wasn’t a question.
I blinked.
Then nodded.
“I did.”
His smile softened.
And somehow that expression affected me far more than the awkward situation I’d woken up in. Because it wasn’t satisfactory. Or smugness. It was relief. Like knowing I’d slept peacefully was the best part of his night. And for some reason.. That made my chest ache. And my face burned.
Kaiden looked entirely too amused by my embarrassment.
Without saying a word, I reached for my discarded shirt and quickly pulled it back on.
“Better?” he asked.
“No.”
His laugh rumbled through his chest. I groaned and buried my face in my hands. Now sitting up straddling him on the couch.
“This is the worst morning of my life.”
“Really?” he asked.
“Absolutely.”
His fingers gently wrapped around my wrists, lowering my hands. When I looked up, he was smiling. The sight made my stomach flutter.
“What?” I asked.
“Nothing.”
“Liar.”
His smile widened.
“Maybe.”
For a moment neither of us spoke. The morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting soft light across the room.
It felt peaceful.
Easy.
Like we’d known each other longer than a single day. Kaiden’s gaze softened.
“I was thinking.”
“That’s dangerous.”
“I’ve been told.”
A laugh escaped me. His eyes brightened immediately. There it was again. That look he got whenever I smiled. Like he’d won something important.
“I was wondering if you’d spend the weekend with me.”
My heart skipped.
“The weekend?”
He nodded.
“Classes don’t start until Monday.”
I hesitated.
The old part of me wanted to say no. Wanted to pull away before I got attached. Before I got hurt. But another part of me—
A stronger part—
Wanted to say yes.
Wanted to see the campus with him.
Wanted to learn more about him.
Wanted to be around him.
Kaiden must have noticed my hesitation because his expression softened.
“No pressure, little wolf.”
The nickname still affected me far more than it should have.
“We can do whatever you want.” I raised an eyebrow.
“Whatever I want?”
“Within reason.” I smiled.
His eyes immediately followed the movement.
“Then maybe.” he said.
A grin spread across his face.
“Maybe?” I wondered.
“Maybe.”
His hand found mine and laced his fingers in it.
Warm.
Steady.
Hopeful.
“I’ll take maybe.”
Before I could second-guess myself, I leaned forward and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek.
Kaiden froze.
Completely froze.
The reaction surprised me enough that I laughed.
“The big Alpha gets surprised by a kiss on the cheek?”
His expression was priceless.
“I wasn’t prepared.”
“Good.”
His grin slowly returned.
“Oh, little wolf.”
The way he said it made me instantly suspicious.
“What?”
“You’re going to regret giving me confidence.”
I laughed.
For the first time since arriving at Darken Moon University, the future didn’t seem scary.
It seemed exciting.
- Writer
