Chapter 005

When morning came, light seeped in through the window, falling perfectly on Ikaros's shoulders and chest, making his beautiful skin glisten. In moments like those, I could see the scars on his body, crossing his chest and shoulders, as well as some moles that looked like constellations. His jeans clung so low on his waist that it felt like I could see parts I'd seen before, but seeing them again would catch my heart unprepared.

There was a tattoo on his ribcage, only the tip of that tattoo that I could see because the rest was covered by his hand.

Carefully, I tried to move his hand away. But as soon as I touched Ikaros's back of the hand, it suddenly turned to grip mine, pulling me forcefully against his chest, while his other hand instinctively grabbed the vase of flowers on the nightstand—ready to smash it against my head.

I screamed loudly. "Aaaaa!"

"Damn it!" he cursed, angry, while letting go of me. I retreated and slid off the bed, then moved away as far as I could until my back hit the wall. "Damn it. Don't touch me sneakily like that!" he scolded.

My heart pounded so fast as he put the vase back, then his eyes carefully met mine. Then, those fierce eyes softened as he realized he just scared me and caused my heart to race.

"Hey, come here," he said.

"No," I refused. "You were insane when you just waking up."

He laughed. A charming laugh. "Yeah, get used to it," he said, and my cheeks blushed. Yes, that man, with a face as handsome as sin, a great body, and a dangerous playfulness (especially when he'd just woken up and wasn't fully aware) was my future husband. So, yes, I had to get used to him from then on.

"Have you had breakfast?" he asked me.

"Not yet. I just woke up too," I replied.

He nodded. "Yeah, and touching me while sleeping seems to be your cute little habit."

I rolled my eyes. "Oh God, how narcissistic," I said, covering my blushing face.

Without taking offense, he got off the bed and then walked to the bedroom door.

"Where are you going?" I asked, observing his broad chest. "You can't possibly go out like that, can you?" I inquired again. "Jay would think all sorts of things."

"He's not in the apartment," Ikaros replied casually. Then he tapped his right ear. "Get used to using your werewolf senses," he told me, then left the room.

I sighed with relief. After Ikaros left the room, I finally felt at ease. Being around that guy for too long wasn't good.

I walked to the bathroom, washed my face, and brushed my teeth. Then I brushed my hair. But there was one more problem: I smelled.

"It's pheromones," a voice inside me said. "Pheromones that arose because you wanted to mate."

What!? To mate!?

"Ikaros should be able to smell that scent," the voice continued, sounding so cheerful, its emotions so pure, like a child's, yet its voice so mature, like mine. So innocent that she wouldn't understand how embarrassing it would be if Ikaros were to smell the 'want to mate' scent from me.

And with horror, I quickly turned on the tap, filled the bathtub with hot water and soap, and immersed myself. I mustn't let Ikaros smell whatever those pheromones were!

*****

When I stepped out of the bathroom, only wrapped in a towel, I saw Ikaros already sitting on the edge of the bed. Beside him was a tray with a bowl of delicious-smelling meat soup, some slices of bread, and hot milk.

"What's this?" I asked.

"Your breakfast," he answered with a smile, and I was almost touched. No one had ever treated me like this before. He then handed me the tray. "While I'm here, I want to make sure my child gets enough nutrition," he said again, and I felt like slapping him with the tray. Of course, an Ikaros Alexandrovich, that annoyingly handsome guy, was only being nice to me because I was carrying his child. I snorted, then sat beside him and ate.

I was so hungry, and somehow the food didn't make me nauseous. So, I ate eagerly.

After finishing, I looked at Ikaros who had been watching me eat. When he saw me finish eating, he took the empty tray and bowl, then placed them on the bedside table.

"Aren't you eating?" I asked, surprised. "Or have you already eaten?"

"Not yet," he answered shortly. "Actually, I was thinking of a different kind of breakfast."

I raised an eyebrow. "What kind of breakfast?" I asked.

He laughed. "Are you pretending to be innocent right now, or do you really not know?" he asked me. Suddenly, he leaned towards me, and my cheeks flushed at how close his face was to mine. "This... kind of breakfast."

"Back off," I said, trying to sound very annoyed. "I had to go to campus."

I pushed him away, but he pushed me back, making me lie down on the bed. He climbed on top of me, trapping me between his muscular arms. One knee sank into the bed between my legs. My face warmed. "Pheromones don't lie," he said, with a small laugh that made me want to flee to Kentucky because of the embarrassment of having my shameful secret exposed by a guy like him. "Want to sleep with me again, Azalea?" he asked with that damn little laugh that from now on I'll associate with the laugh of the devil.