The Wolf King's Luna novel Chapter 38

CATHERINE.

I wake up to the sound of heavy breathing and a heavy weight on my waist.

It takes all the strength in me to not fly out of the embrace. A short second really, I realize that it is Damon's hand on my waist.

It is a strange occurrence for me, to wake up with anyone. 

I always locked my door whenever I went to bed back at Skylight Pack. I could never risk it.

I begin to very carefully, move from under his embrace, not wanting to wake him up. I am almost out when he grabs me and pulls me deeper into his chest.

"It is still so early," he rumbles sleepily. "Where are you going?"

"Uh…, a bath?" I mumble into his neck.

He raised his head to look across the room at the hanged clock.

"It is almost seven. Do you have somewhere to be?"

"No. Nowhere."

He drops his head back to the pillow. "Then sleep. We have the whole day."

He does have a point.

And he smells nice.

Really… really nice.

I fall back to sleep, lulled by his rhythmic heartbeat.

When I wake up the next time, it is to see Damon staring at me.

"What?" I say, a yawn taking over the words as I stretch my whole body.

"You are really beautiful," he drops on me.

I freeze in my stretched position before slowly, turning my head to him.

"What?" I ask.

"You are beautiful. Especially when you sleep. You look so relaxed and free. I want you to always feel that way, even when you are awake."

Nobody has ever called me that.

"...scarecrow…"

"...rat…"

"...runt…"

And even the words that one would consider a compliment were always said in a way that would make my skin crawl.

I was never seen as someone… desirable.

Someone who could be loved or admired.

I didn't know how much that hurt went until Damon called me beautiful.

Someone called me beautiful, and he meant it.

"Cathy? Cathy? Catherine! Earth to Catherine."

"Yeah, what?"

"I have been calling you. Are you okay? Was it something I said?" he asks, his time and eyes bearing the worry he feels.

"No. I mean yes, but not the way you think. Thank you," I tell him. "For saying that."

"For saying what?"

"That I am beautiful."