Reborn As Cursed Alpha's Mate-Chapter 22: Sleeping In His Arms

(This Chapter is for my lovely reader @AtanoAiko. Get well soon girl.)

Her saffron-like scent swirled around him, making him dizzy. Saffron was the spice of his lands, and just like it, his mate was rich and rare with her slightly sweet and earthy tones. He believed it was no coincidence that she smelled like the spice which gave them their livelihood.

Siroos finally drifted into slumber lying down. The carriage was not a very wide space and as his arm stretched in the sleep, it landed on Cassandra.

It was heavy and sweaty but it contained his essence. The mate bond weaved around them like tendrils and brought their sleepy bodies close. Cassandra was still recovering from all that blood loss and injuries while Siroos had been sleep-deprived.

He hadn’t slept peacefully since she had been injured. Constantly keeping guard on her so no one would dare hurt her again. It would be his biggest regret if she was to be injured under his care. Last night those creatures had almost climbed inside her safe place and it gnawed on his soul.

Now his sleepy mind tugged him closer to her, and like a sleep-inducing elixir, she seeped into his very pores. His arm securely wrapped around her waist he unintentionally pulled her into himself, letting her back collide with his bare torso.

’So soft!’

’Lick her!’

’Scent her!’

’Roll her over!’

Different animal spirits inside of him put forward their suggestions but Siroos was too tired to entertain them. He just wished to sleep with her tucked safely in his burly arms.

A curtain of calmness fell over Cassandra like a missing piece of her heart and soul had been clicked into place when he tugged her into his corded arm. She snuggled with him. The nights in this region turned cold irrespective of the days being hot because of sand.

Their frames were perfectly moulded together.

Siroos buried his nose into her soft curls, his lips resting on the silkiness and then on her scalp. He hadn’t felt this sleepy and calm in his entire life. It was a different feeling, the feeling of being bonded to this woman in his arms.

They slept until the first rays of the sun filtered through the tinted window. They were supposed to leave at dawn but everyone knew their Alpha was sleep-deprived and didn’t disturb him. He hardly ever slept, the turmoil and duties mostly kept him awake.

Cassandra was first to stir when light hit her face and for a few seconds, she couldn’t understand where she was and why her heart was so beyond calm.

And then she felt him, all of him.

All his ruggedness.

The strength of his arm.

The softness of his lips.

The grip of his hand.

The warmth of his breath.

Every muscle in her body went taut at the implications of sleeping in a man’s arms. She had never slept in a male’s embrace before and hence the feeling wasn’t foreign.

Her whole skin tingled like tiny sparks dancing on the very parts that connected with him.

The crevices of her brain had these memories which weren’t hers and yet they were there. This touch somehow didn’t seem foreign to her. She felt safe in his soothing embrace and didn’t wish to push him away and yet she knew this was far from appropriate.

Finally, her brain fully awakened, and Cassandra tried to wriggle out of his hold; his arms seemed to be built from iron, for they wouldn’t budge.

"So much for the promise I won’t touch you, what a liar," she mumbled as her heart thudded inside her chest while she pushed his arm with both of her hands.

The light garment she had worn had lifted from her milky thigh, bearing it as his bronzed muscular one was draped on it.

And now she could sense something poking her back. Her eyes suddenly expanded from the realisation and Cassandra fully panicked.

"Let go!" She voiced out, heavily. Ignoring the titillating sensations her body was experiencing. She didn’t understand these conflicting emotions, this pull towards this rude man.

Siroos slowly lifted his leg and slackened his hold on her waist so she could shuffle away. He had awakened when she had stiffened for the first time but wished to behold what she would try. ƒrēenovelkiss.com

Cassandra dragged herself away but there was no room to escape. Her back hit the carriage window and she gathered her legs, plastering them to her heaving chest.

With eyes blown wide and sweaty hands, she stole a glance towards the man who had her wrapped in his embrace like a precious treasure, his treasure.

His molten gold eyes had flickered open and there was this softness and want with which he stared at her.

Those soft brown curls cascaded over his eyes as he forgot to blink, watching the timeless beauty that she was. Her one-of-a-kind fragrance was a torture to his senses.

A drop of sweat dripped down the side of her neck, down the perfect arch-shape that connected to her slender shoulders. It glistened in the early rays of the sun before merging into her fabric.

How he wished to grab her dainty ankle, pull her from it and have her sprawled underneath him. To kiss the very skin that oozed such scent which was driving him insane with every passing day.

Instead, he bent his arm and placed it under his cheek using it like a pillow to watch her with desire-filled eyes.

The awkward lull between them prolonged as Cassandra finally lowered her gaze, unable to hold onto his penetrating one. The one which made her aware of her womanly parts for they had begun to ache. She cleared her throat.

"Did you need to climb on me to sleep?" Cassandra asked, slowly.

"It wasn’t intentional but was certainly enticing and definitely won’t be the last time." His deeply hypnotic voice was even more alluring this early in the morning as it resonated all around her.

"Keep your limbs to yourself," Cassandra sternly instructed, coiling further into herself.

Siroos knew falling asleep in her vicinity was dangerous. He had lost control and had no clue he had gathered her in his arms. But that was the best sleep he had in years. That was the dangerous pull of the mate bond and now he knew he was screwed.

"Noted!" He grunted, more annoyed at himself. He had entered the carriage to speak with her and instead, he had fallen asleep.

And now he had gotten a taste of what it felt like to sleep with one’s mate. Like a forbidden fruit, his wanton desires craved her more now.

But could he have her?

Frustratedly, his lithe fingers raked his silken tresses away from his forehead, and he sat up straight.

They needed to head out; the sun was rising fast, and he had slept for far too long.

"We are leaving soon, freshen up," he snorted in annoyance while throwing the door open and climbing out.

A few more seconds with her and his mind would be numbed. He needed to get his mind in the right place and curb the temptations. This was going to be a hell of a life.

How does one escape the temptation of the mate bond?

Updated from fr𝒆ewebnov𝒆l.(c)om