Loving Him With Pain

Brewing Feelings

Katie stirred awake, her body cocooned in warmth.

Her fingers brushed against the silky texture of the blanket covering her. The bed felt foreign—not the lumpy, stiff one in her room but plush and inviting.

She sighed, smoothing her palm over the luxurious sheets and sinking deeper into the comfort.

Hugging the pillow close, she inhaled its scent, a faint, woodsy cologne mixed with something uniquely him.

It calmed her for a moment, but then, like a jolt of electricity, realization struck.

This wasn’t her bed.

Her eyes flew open, darting around the unfamiliar room. Fear wrapped its icy tendrils around her heart.

The large room, with its masculine furnishings and soft lighting, was undeniably Jerome’s. Panic bubbled within her as she shot upright.

Oh no. Oh no. What have I done?

Her thoughts raced. If Jerome found her here, alone in his room, she couldn’t predict his reaction.

She scrambled to the edge of the bed, desperate to leave without waking him. But as her toes hovered above the floor, her gaze landed on him.

Jerome was slouched on the couch, his head resting in one hand, his breathing slow and even. The tension in her chest eased slightly. He’s asleep.

Heart pounding, Katie stood, adjusted her gown, and began tiptoeing toward the door.

She moved carefully, each step deliberate to avoid making a sound. Her fingers brushed the cool metal of the doorknob, and she began to turn it.

Click.

The sound was deafening in the silence. Before she could react, a shadow loomed behind her.

And the air grew heavy as she felt him.

Jerome’s hands slammed against the door on either side of her, trapping her in place. Her breath hitched as she turned slowly, her wide eyes meeting his piercing gaze.

“And where do you think you’re going so suspiciously?” His voice was low, rough from sleep, yet it carried a teasing edge.

Katie swallowed hard. “I-I didn’t want to disturb you. I was just going back to my room—”

Before she could finish, Jerome bent down, scooped her up effortlessly, and carried her back to the bed. He laid her down with an intensity that made her heart race.

“You think you can just leave after putting me in this situation?” he growled, his face inches from hers.

Confusion and panic flared in her eyes. “What situation? Jerome, I didn’t do anything! You told me to stay here, and I just... I just fell asleep!”

His smirk was infuriatingly smug. “Fell asleep, huh? Do you have any idea how hard it’s been for me, watching you move around like that?”

Katie blinked, stunned. “Like what? I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

Jerome caught her hand, guiding it lower until it pressed against him. Her eyes widened as she felt the heat beneath the fabric.

“Feel that? That’s your doing,” he murmured, his voice dark with desire. “You have to take responsibility.”

Heat flooded her cheeks as she tried to pull her hand away, but his grip held firm. With his free hand, he began unbuttoning her gown, exposing her to his intense gaze.

The air around them felt suffocating, charged with an unspoken tension.

But then he paused, his hand resting against her abdomen. A flicker of curiosity crossed his face as his fingers pressed lightly.

“Why does your stomach feel... different? It’s like it’s getting bigger every day.”

Katie’s breath hitched. Her mind raced for an explanation, but she had none. “I—I don’t know. I haven’t noticed anything.”

she watched his lips curve into a sly smile, as he dismissed his own question

. “Doesn’t matter he said. I don't care if you are getting fatter.”

His words sent a strange shiver down her spine. He had a way of saying things that made her feel special, cherished even.

Yet she knew better than to trust it completely. Moments like these always seemed fleeting, giving way to something colder.

Her heart thudded against her ribs as he leaned closer, his hand brushing against her cheek.

“You drive me crazy, Katie,” he whispered, his breath warm against her skin.

Katie froze, her back pressed against the bed as Jerome loomed over her.

She tried to avert her gaze, turning her face to the side in a futile attempt to create distance.

But he leaned in closer, his presence overwhelming.

This time, his breath ghosted over her cheek. To her surprise, it was heavily tainted with the smell of alcohol.

Before she could go deeper in thought his lips brushed her neck.

And a shiver coursed through her body.

His mouth was warm, his movements deliberate as he began to suck on her skin, leaving tingling sensations in his wake.

Her breaths quickened, her body betraying her as it responded to his touch.

But just as the moment built to an unbearable tension, it unraveled in the most unexpected way.

Jerome stilled.

Katie blinked in confusion, her heart pounding as she realized he wasn’t moving.

Then she heard it—a soft snore against her neck.

He fell asleep.

The realization hit her like a bucket of cold water. Katie stared at the man now slumped over her, his weight pressing her into the mattress.

Carefully, she began to shift, rolling his body off hers with deliberate slowness to avoid waking him. It took effort, but eventually, she succeeded, his form sprawling beside her.

Sitting up, she adjusted her gown and exhaled deeply.

Her eyes flicked to Jerome. He was fast asleep, his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm.

Katie reached for the blanket and carefully draped it over him, tucking him in as if he were a child.

And for a moment, she just sat there, staring at him.

In the soft glow of the room, his features looked peaceful, his usual sharpness softened by sleep.

She found herself noticing things she had ignored before—the sharp line of his jaw, the way his dark lashes fanned against his cheeks, and the faint curve of his lips.

Her heart betrayed her, beating faster as her gaze lingered.

Why didn’t I notice this before? she wondered.

When she had sold herself to him, betraying her pack, she had seen him only as cold and ruthless, someone who commanded fear and someone she could use.

But now... now, there was something else. Something she couldn’t ignore.

Her chest tightened, and she tore her eyes away.

She couldn’t let herself feel this way, not for him. Yet, as she sat in the silence of the room, her thoughts betrayed her.

He looked... handsome. More than that, he looked human. And for reasons she couldn’t explain, it made her heart ache.