Page 44 of Rescued By the Beast
He bends down as soon as he sees me, picking me up with a care that still surprises me. The nausea I felt before when being carried doesn't appear this time. Maybe I'm getting used to it, since I arrived here, I've spent most of my time in his arms.
"I brought your bed to my room." He climbs the stairs with me nestled in his arms, his voice soft, as if he wants to comfort me. "I also put a little bowl of water there, so you don't have to go downstairs if you need it. You must still be in pain."
Only then do I really let myself feel the throbbing in my back. The pain is bearable, but whenever I move quickly, I feel a twinge, as if the stitches were being pulled.
"I want you to feel at ease, Kitten." He raises his elbow and looks at me. "Here you have the freedom to be and do whatever you want."
I just stare at him, trying not to show that I understand everything he says.
I would laugh nervously if I were in human form.
Freedom?
Do whatever I want?
Darling, what I want is to go back to my house and pretend none of this ever happened!
As soon as we finish climbing the stairs, there is a small corridor with two doors. He enters the one on the left, which is already open.
The room is huge, maybe my entire flat could fit inside. In the centre is a giant bed, covered with a white sheet and a plaid blanket folded at the foot. Next to it is an oak bedside table with a lamp. The large window, with open curtains, overlooks the forest. On the other side of the room, I see the private bathroom; the half-open door allows me to glimpse the interior with white marble details.
Between the window and the bed is the pet bed. That's where he takes me, carefully settling me into it.
He remains crouched for a few long seconds, staring at me with an intensity that makes my heart race. I know I exude fear; I can't help it.
He blinks, frowning, before standing up.
"Sometimes I forget that I'm scary, even when I'm not trying to be," he murmurs.
Mark steps away and stops in front of the bed, shirtless, and only now do I allow myself the luxury of observing his imposing body. The joggers, hanging from his narrow hips, leaves little to the imagination, and I can see a considerable bulge marking his front.
He glances at me fleetingly, absent-mindedly running a hand over his toned abdomen.
The heat he exudes is still fresh in my memory, and I feel my skin burning. I can't believe I was in his arms, nestled against that bare chest...
If I were in human form, I would be blushing embarrassingly.
I hide my face between my paws and close my eyes, pushing away unwanted thoughts.
Do not covet your predator...
I peek out again when I hear the rustle of the sheet and see him lie down on the bed. He turns off the lamp beside him and the room is plunged into darkness, except for the soft light of the moon, which casts delicate shadows on his body, illuminating his silhouette in an almost ethereal way.
He turns on his side, his wolf-like eyes sparkling in the darkness, and I feel their weight on me.
"Good night." His hoarse, low voice makes the hairs on my body stand on end.
For a moment, the urge to meow back arises, as a natural response, but I hold back, resting my head on my paws and trying to maintain my composure.
Although I know sleep will not come anytime soon, I close my eyes, trying to ignore the absurd situation I find myself in.
Patience.
Tomorrow, as soon as he leaves for work, I'll search every corner of this cabin, look for a way out, and escape.
Chapter 15
Sandra
