Avelyn managed a smile, the first one in what seemed like forever. “Tell me more about the clan.”
“Later, my dear. You have to eat now.”
Christine grabbed the tray from the nightstand and placed it across Avelyn’s lap. She lifted the lid off the plate and the room was invaded by the smell of steak and steamed vegetables. Avelyn’s stomach rumbled, reminding her how starved she was.
“I’ll run a hot bath while you eat. Then, you need to get some sleep. I can’t stand to see those deep, dark shadows under you pretty eyes.”
Christine stroked her cheek and Avelyn didn’t pull away. For some reason, she felt she could trust the old woman.
The food was delicious, and the hot, scented bath was even better. To say that she loved the bathroom was an understatement. The moment she had stepped on the warm tiles, the room took her breath away. It had the biggest tub she had ever seen, all made of crystal. The design of the whole bathroom was exquisite, and the dominating colors were golden and red, which gave off a feeling of warmth and safety. Of course, the tub faced the tall window on the right wall, and the sunlight made the soap bubbles which were threatening to spill over the rim shine like diamond dust. Avelyn was now submerged in the hot water, the white, rose-scented bubbles rising up to her chin. She felt her body relax, all the aches in her legs and feet from walking the other night being slowly soothed to a dull sensation she didn’t quite mind. She was so sleepy that she could barely form coherent thoughts, so she gave up thinking of anything. Max, the Schloss, Jocelyn, who lived somewhere in the castle, the fear that no one would ever accept her, the constant reminder that she didn’t need acceptance, anyway, because she had no intention to stick around… all these would have to wait, because Avelyn’s mind refused to function on a full stomach and surrounded by hot water.
When she felt the water grow cold, Avelyn made an effort to wash her hair and get out of the tub. She dried herself as well as she could with the huge towel Christine had given her, and then she wrapped herself in a thick, fluffy bathrobe. All she could think of was the bed and the soft covers she would sneak under. She left the bathroom as it was, thinking that someone would surely take care of it later. With slow, lazy movements, she closed the door behind her and took a second to enjoy the way the pelt covering the bedroom floor felt under her toes. She got bored of that and strolled over to the bed, ready to drop her bathrobe and plop herself on the pillows. She stopped when she heard a faint movement coming from the sofa.
When he heard the door to the bathroom open, Max put his papers down and took his time to admire Avelyn as she stepped inside the room, her body so relaxed and heavy with sleep that she could barely keep her eyes open. He saw her wiggling her toes in the soft bear pelt on the floor, then walking lazily to the bed, and reaching for the belt that kept her bathrobe wrapped around her. Then, she felt his presence and the spell was broken.
“You startled me,” she said.
Max was glad that her first words hadn’t been an insult or a not-so-kind invitation to get the fuck out of the bedroom.
“I’m sorry. I just wanted to make sure you were fine and had everything you needed. Then, I realized you were taking a bath, and I thought I would wait for you.”
Avelyn tightened her belt and sat down on the bed. It seemed that Christine had taken care of her clothes and smoothed the sheets. She started combing her wet hair with her fingers, untangling some knots and making it flow in wide curls over her shoulders.
Max was mesmerized by her delicate movements. He knew she had no intention of making them look seductive, but that was exactly what they looked like. He could barely see a patch of creamy skin where the bathrobe was slightly parted on her chest. He would have loved to see her bare feet and her small, cute toes, but the fact that he was on the other side of the bed prevented him from seeing anything below her knees. His fingers ached to sink into her red hair, and his cock hardened when she moved ever so slightly, adjusting her position and causing the bathrobe to reveal more skin on her chest.
“You have no idea how hard it was for me to wait here while you were bathing.” The words had come out low and husky.
Avelyn’s movement ceased, and she watched him with curious eyes.
“The thought of your naked body in the hot water…” His green eyes sparkled with something that could be called hunger. But it was another kind of hunger. He rose from the sofa and approached the bed carefully, his palms slightly raised in front of him in an attempt to show her that he meant no harm, that he would stop the moment his proximity made her uncomfortable. He couldn’t chase away the image of the white marks he had left on her arms. He stopped at the foot of the bed. “I want to hug you so badly.”
Avelyn’s body tensed just a little, and she held his gaze. As she was sitting there, exposed, with nothing under her bathrobe, she remembered the way his lips had felt when he had tasted her skin the day before, during the interview. The memory of his gentle kisses and caresses clashed in her mind with the sting she still felt in both her arms, where his strong hands had squeezed her some hours before.
“I… I’m so tired,” she told him. Maybe that would make him understand she didn’t want to flee from the comfortable bed which was beckoning her to lie down and fade in the dream realm, but she didn’t want him to get any closer either.
“Of course,” he answered immediately. “If you allow me, I’ll… I’ll just tuck you in and be on my way.”
“No, it’s fine. I got it
.” She smiled weakly, hoping he would get the hint and just leave her alone.
“Sure.”
He hesitated another moment, not wanting to leave the bedroom. He dreaded the idea of going back to his business and the meeting he had scheduled for later with Jocelyn and their Betas, while he knew this red-headed beauty would be sleeping sprawled on his bed, the bed where he had spent so many cold, sleepless nights. But after the way he snapped at her a few hours ago, it was better to let her decide the pace of their relationship. Or, whatever this thing they had could be called. Marriage? No. Not yet. Not before the ritual. So many thoughts were going through his head, there were so many things he wanted to tell her. That he was sorry for earlier, that he would never treat her that way again, that things would get better, that she could trust him. He would make her happy if only she gave him the chance. None of that came out of his mouth. He felt like his tongue was in a knot and he couldn’t articulate a single word.
“Well,” Avelyn said. “The lunch was great, so thank you. And I like Christine.”
“I’m glad to hear that.” He knew that was her civil way of inviting him out of the bedroom. He would have loved to, at least, kiss her forehead before he let her sleep, but he had to suppress the urge. Later, he told himself. “I’ll leave you now. Rest well.”
“Thanks.”
Avelyn watched him turn around and leave the room. Only when she heard the key click in the lock she could breathe normally, allowing her body to relax. Then, a realization hit her. “Shit. This is his bedroom, after all. He’ll come back later and want to sleep here, won’t he?” She thought out loud and slapped her forehead in frustration, cursing herself for not thinking about it sooner. Maybe she could have convinced him to sleep somewhere else? But would he have agreed? “Of course not, stupid. Good luck with making an Alpha sleep somewhere else than in his own bed, with his own bride.” She cringed when she said the last words. At least, she could see now there was no way she could sleep naked, or wrapped up in the bathrobe.
She rushed to the dressing room and looked for her clothes. She found a pair of black panties, some old, overly-washed trousers, and a loose jumper. She felt more comfortable in her own clothes, and she hoped that the old, worn-out garments would turn him off. “But for how long?” Things she hadn’t thought about until now invaded her mind, and she realized she was, indeed, in pretty deep shit. She closed the door to the dressing room, and finally lay down on the bed. She moved to the left side, as close to the edge as possible, and gathered the covers around her, wrapping herself in them like in a cocoon. “I’ll think about it later. It’s not even 5 PM, so I’ll just sleep for a couple of hours and be up before he comes back. I’ll find a solution then, when my brain will actually function.” She felt so warm and comfortable that she decided she could spend her entire life under those covers. She was out in a second, sleep taking over her senses and drowning her exhausted mind into a dreamless void.
***
Avelyn stretched her arms above her head and rolled over. It had become too hot under the thick covers, so she sneaked out one leg, stretched it lazily, then let it drop over them. Her knee hit something hard, and her eyes flew open. “Shit.”