(April’s POV)
Stepping out of the bathroom, I tightened the towel around my body, letting the warmth of the steam curl around me for just a little longer. My muscles felt loose, my body finally relaxed after everything that had happened tonight. But my mind? My mind was still racing.
Cassius’s bedroom was bigger than my entire apartment above the bar, but that wasn’t what threw me off. It was the warmth. The sense of comfort. The way everything here smelled just like him-earthy, woodsy, and something darker, something dangerous. It made my stomach flip in a way I wasn’t ready to unpack.
And then I saw the clothes on the bed.
I hesitated, running my fingers over the soft fabric. They were his. A simple black shirt and a pair of pajama bottoms that looked way too big for me, but the moment I picked them up, his scent engulfed me. My knees nearly buckled.
God, what the hell was wrong with me?
I shook my head and quickly slipped into the clothes, rolling up the sleeves and tying the drawstring tight around my waist. The fabric hung off me, drowning me in warmth, in him. I swallowed hard, pushing past the ridiculous reaction my body was having.
I needed food.
Making my way downstairs, the scent of something warm and rich filled the air, and my stomach growled in response. Cassius was already seated at the dining table, but the moment he saw me, he stood-like a damn gentleman.
“You’re finally here,” he said, his voice smooth, deep. He was freshly showered, too, hair still damp, a fitted black shirt stretched across his broad chest. He smelled amazing.
“I was enjoying my first real bath in forever,” I muttered, still feeling the warmth in my skin as I took in the table. It was already set, a spread of food waiting. “You didn’t have to do all this.”
Cassius pulled out a chair, motioning for me to sit. “I wanted to.”
I hesitated for a second before taking the seat, and he pushed me in before sitting across from me. His gaze flickered over me, lingering a second too long. I glanced down at myself, at his clothes swallowing me up, and my cheeks heated.
“Stop staring.”
He smirked. “Can’t help it.”
I rolled my eyes, reaching for my fork. “So, are you always this charming, or is this some kind of Alpha hospitality?”
He leaned back, watching me with that unreadable expression. “You’re in my home, wearing my clothes, eating food I had made for you.” His lips quirked. “You tell me.”
I pointed my fork at him. “Don’t get used to this.”
He chuckled but didn’t argue, and for the first time in days, I felt something settle between us-something easy, something light.
And damn, if that didn’t scare me more than the rogues ever could.
–
Later that night, after too much food and too many stolen glances, I found myself curled against his chest in his bed. His warmth surrounded me, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat lulling me into something dangerously close to peace.
I wasn’t supposed to be here. I wasn’t supposed to want to be here.
But as his arm tightened around me, as sleep started to pull me under, I realized something terrifying.
I felt safe.
And I didn’t know if I could ever give that up.