The Alpha's Unclaimed Mate (Jason and Laila) by Caroline Above Story novel Chapter 182

Chapter 182

“I can keep watch outside the door,” I told her. “If that would make you more comfortable.”

“I can’t ask you to do that.”

“You aren’t asking. I’m offering.”

“I’m f–fine,” she said, but her voice wavered.

“Don’t worry about anything,” I told her. “You get your shower. I’ll keep you safe.”

Again, she let any potential argument drop. Instead, she nodded softly, her gaze falling away from me. She went to the stairs. I followed her up, and then into her bedroom. My heart picked up speed, but I ignored it.

I was here as a protector, not a lover.

She grabbed a few clothes from her dresser and then disappeared into the attached bathroom.

She turned toward the door and started to close it, but then looked up at me.

“I’ll… uh… stand right here,” I said.

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“Okay,” she said softly, and closed the door.

I waited to hear the click of a lock but it never came. Her trust in me made something inside of me bubble with pride. I didn’t know what it was, though, and didn’t want to examine it too closely. It would take some time, but eventually Vanessa would

remember herself.

I didn’t want to say or do or feel anything I would regret when that happened.

I turned my back to the bathroom door, guarding it as promised. When the water turned on, I tried very hard not to think about Vanessa, naked, under the spray of water, with it dripping down/her body…

Gods.

Closing my eyes, I tried to picture something, anything else: a frigid cold day, baseball, eating anchovies. Yet, with each imagining, the smell of water cut right through, and my mind was back to envisioning Vanessa once more, the steam rising around her, her damp hair clinging to her face and neck…

The water turned off and I shook myself. My dick was half–risen, and I pressed down on it with the meat of my palm, Now wasn’t the time. Vanessa needed me to protect her, to keep her safe, not to think about her naked.

Some clothing shuffled beyond the door and then it opened. Vanessa was in front of me once more, her hair wet, dripping down onto a pair of soft pajamas. I tried not to notice she wasn’t wearing a bra…

We looked at each other, and then at the bed.

“I’ll sleep on the floor,” I said.

“I can’t ask you to do that.”

“I’m offering.”

She frowned, with a small line forming between her brows. “No, I… you can sleep in the bed.”

My heartbeat kicked up again, but I tried to stay calm. “Alright.”

We moved toward the bed, both of us entering from opposite sides. She turned away from me first, while I stared up at the ceiling.

After a few minutes, she started to shiver.

+25 Bonus

“Vanessa.”

“I’m fine.”

“You aren’t.”

She didn’t reply.

I inched closer, then held out my arm. “Come here.‘

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