Chapter 7 - Falling asleep

ZACK

I shake my head. 

Something I’ve been doing a lot of today, as I look across the table at Brayden.  I didn’t think it would be safe for him to eat supper with everyone since he can barely keep his eyes open today. 

His eyelids slowly slide down as his long eyelashes flutter slightly before his eyes finally close.  His head bobs slightly and his blonde bangs fall down over his forehead. 

Before his head can fall forward and into the last few bites of his food on his plate, I quickly reach across the table and gently grab his cute face.  My heart skips a beat as I get up and, while still holding Brayden’s gorgeous face, I carefully walk around the table. 

He had been hesitant to finish our conversation over a meal in his room, but I figured this would happen.  It is better for him to be here than in the dining hall.  At least he ate most of his food before he fell asleep.

I scoop him up in my arms bridal style and carry him to the bed.  For an alpha, he sure doesn’t feel that heavy.  Actually, he is really light, almost like a feather. 

In addition, his body is rather soft.  But why?  I know he has muscles, but then why does his body feel so tiny and soft? 

His arms are firm, but not as firm I would have thought with the size of his muscles. 

A crease forms along my forehead as I look down at him in my arms.  He fits so perfectly in them. 

Wait.  What am I thinking?

I quickly shake my head. 

These strange thoughts have been creeping into my mind all day long.  But no matter how much I push them away, the thoughts keep coming back. 

Halfway across the room, my feet suddenly stop as Brayden shifts in my arms and snuggles his nose up against my neck.  His warm breath cascades across my neck.  Goosebumps instantly explode across my body as my heartbeat quickens.   

In that same moment, the room fills with the scent of lilacs while I take a deep breath and savor the smell.  My arms tighten around him as the desire to have him open his eyes so I can stare into his gorgeous blue orbs consumes me. 

I try to shake my head and push the strange feelings away, but my wolf grunts, “No.  Don’t you dare.”

He has also been acting strange all day long.  However, every time I ask him about it, he won’t say anything. 

My hands tighten around Brayden again, and slightly knead his side as I choke down a soft moan. 

What am I doing?  This is completely crazy. 

All day, I’ve been telling myself the same thing, but I keep finding myself doing things I would have never done before.  No matter how much I tell myself that I don’t like guys.  It seems for Brayden, neither my mind nor body is listening to me. 

However, I can’t bring myself to walk away from him either.  A part of it is because my brother is expecting me to handle the job, but the biggest part is simply that I don’t want to walk away from Brayden.  I’m somehow drawn to him. 

I take another deep breath and soak in as much of his lilac scent as possible. 

Suddenly, a realization hits me.  Why does he smell like lilacs?  Don’t most men usually have a more manly scent, like something woodsy or some outdoor scent?  Well, lilac is a kind of outdoor scent, but it reminds me of my mother’s scent, which is also a floral smell.  She smells like roses. 

My lips press together as I look down at him.  His soft facial features almost suggest something else, but that can’t be possible. 

I quickly ignore it and continue on my way to the bed. 

With each step, the urge to keep him wrapped in my arms grows stronger while his warmth seeps through my clothes and penetrates into my body, stirring something within me.  Another warm shiver runs through my body as I savor the delicious feeling. 

I gently lay him down on the bed and take another moment to stare into his beautiful sleeping face.  This time, I take an even closer look to really examine him. 

His moist plump lips beg me to kiss him, but I quickly look away as my hand slides down his arms.  They appear to be full of muscles, but as I touch them, they aren’t as well built as what I’m seeing.  How can that be possible? 

My eyes drift over to his chest.  Just like with his arms, it appears to be firm, but is it like his arms, just an illusion?  As my hand hoovers over him, my heart pounds within my chest while my wolf paces back and forth in my mind. 

Something isn’t right here, but I don’t have a clue what it is. 

After a few moments, I softly grunt, “No.  This isn’t right.”  I quick move my hand back to his delicate arm. 

My wolf whines and paws at the front of my mind.  For some strange reason, he wants to take control, but for the life of me, I can’t understand why. 

I stand back upright and stare down at the sleeping beauty.  My eyes once again roam over his body, but this time, a small frown appears on my face as I look at business clothes.  He won’t be comfortable sleeping like that. 

Again, the urge to take care of him washes over me and before I can stop myself, I’m leaning over him and unbuttoning his white dress shirt. 

When I have half the buttons undone, my hands suddenly freeze.  Why am I doing this?  He will get mad if he realizes I have undressed him. 

However, will he be able to sleep comfortably in a dress shirt? 

My eyebrows knot together as I look down at the sleeves.  Instead of unbuttoning more on the front, I reach down and undo the buttons on the end of his sleeves.  When the fabric is finally loose around his tiny wrists, my focus shifts to his black dress pants. 

I bite my lower lip and tilt my head.  A battle rages within me.  It is somewhat like his shirt and is crossing a line that I really shouldn’t be crossing.  I have just met him.  I’m sure if he was awake, he wouldn’t want me doing this, but the thought of him sleeping in dress pants has me cringing.  That is so uncomfortable. 

Before I can change my mind, I quickly undo his belt and his pants.  I want to leave at just that, but I can’t. 

I slide my hand under his slender waist and lift his hips up. 

He is light as a feather.  How can an alpha be so light? 

I quickly push the question to the back of my mind as I carefully shimmy his pants off, making sure to not remove his boxers at the same time. 

My eyes dance around his crotch, trying to avoid it.  But my focus quickly shifts back to his long, slender legs.  His silky smooth skin begs me to reach out and touch them. 

Gulp. 

With my heart pounding hard against my chest, I quickly whip his pants off and cover him with the blanket. 

I breathe a sigh of relief as I fold his pants and hang them over the nearby desk chair.  I then turn and take one last look at him. 

Without realizing it, my feet shuffle back over to him while my focus zooms in on his plump moist lips.  The same lips that earlier were calling to me to kiss them. 

No.  I can’t. 

However, I can’t pull my attention away from them. 

As I lean down towards him, I lick my lips.  He won’t know if I just kiss them once.  But this means nothing.  I just want to see if his lips are as soft as the rest of his body. 

Yeah.  It doesn’t mean a thing. 

I swallow down the lump in my throat as my heart beats frantically.  My mind goes blank with only one thing circling around in it. Do his lips taste as good as his scent smell?