Page 58 of The Academy
“Thank you.”
“Anything for you,” Cayden says without hesitation.
He walks back into the wardrobe, and when he returns, I feel my cheeks heat again. He’s in a pair of sweatpants, his shirt gone, his chest on complete display for me. I can see every defined muscle, carved like a sculpture that makes my eyes widen.
He’s beautiful. Cayden always was beautiful, but like this? It makes my brain short circuit.
“If you’re uncomfortable, I can sleep with a shirt. I just never do.”
I shake my head, trying to squash down the eagerness I have in seeing this for longer. “I’m not uncomfortable. Besides, I don’t want you changing your habits for me.” His chuckle fills the room as he gets into the bed beside me.
“I would change everything for you, love. Now come here.”
His arms open, and I don’t hesitate lying my head on his chest and feeling my body relax slightly after the whirlwind of information I found out.
“I don’t want to talk about it tonight, I just want to forget for the night.”
“Then forget, love. I’m here, I’ve got you.” I nod, bringing my hand up to his chest and gently tracing his lines and muscles. Cayden’s breathing changes slightly, becoming heavier, but he doesn’t stop me, he doesn’t move away.
“Does this hurt?” I ask, confused, not wanting to hurt him but not understanding the change in his breathing. Then he laughs at me. Asshole.
“No, darling, it doesn’t hurt.”
I nod, my brows knitting in confusion, but I don’t comment on it. Maybe he’s embarrassed? Maybe he’s nervous? Whatever it is, it has provided a useful distraction to the reality that’s threatening to come crashing down, but for tonight, I’m locking it away.
“Where is your sister? You’ve mentioned her, but I’ve never seen her.”
“She’s not here. When the world was taken over by the new order and everything turned to shit, her and my mother moved away. I stayed to make sure no one would ever find them.”
“I don’t understand why you would put yourself in harm’s way for someone else.”
“Love makes you do silly things, darling.”
Chapter 22:
The sun glares through the window, blinding me as I try to blink my eyes awake and adjust to the light. The sun, I get to see the sun. Cayden is snoring softly from behind me, his arms wrapped around me, holding tightly, like he’s afraid to let go even in sleep.
His breath warm on my neck is comforting in a way I’ve never felt before. In Cayden’s arms, I feel safe, calm. The thought alone is enough to nerve me out of bed.
Struggling to break free from his grasp, I gently remove his arms from around my waist and get out of the bed without waking him. Walking to the bathroom, I get ready to go back to The Academy.
I might not want to go back, but we both know I don’t have a choice.
Putting on my training uniform, I lace up the boots and quickly try to find a spare toothbrush to brush my teeth with, but come up empty. Instead I find a bottle of mouthwash, something I’ve never used before.
I read the back for the instructions, making sure not to swallow the mouthwash (it was in bold letters in the writing) before spitting it out into the sink and turning back to the bedroom.
I don’t even realise Cayden is standing, watching me in the doorway, leaning against the frame with his arms crossed over his chest. His eyes are still half-lidded with sleep. He looks so soft this morning; there’s no creases or wrinkles. He’s still breathing heavily from sleep, his scent warm and comforting filling my senses just like it did before. It makes my heart race at how simple everything becomes when he’s around. When I see him, everything else falls away.
I hate it.
“Usually it’s the guy who sneaks out before the girl wakes up.” He chuckles, but I don’t understand the joke. “I’ve never seen this uniform before, training?” I nod as he walks over to me. He’s close, too close.
Cayden’s arms wrap around my waist and his lips press to my forehead. His lips are so careful, so gentle, yet his hands on my waist are the opposite. He’s holding me tightly like he’s afraid to let go, but he doesn’t hurt me.
Cayden would never hurt me.
“You’re not going back today, love. Neither is Bella. Get out of this, and we will burn it.”
