THE SUBSTITUTE LUNA (IRIS and DRACO) novel Chapter 11

IRIS.

“It smells like you, Alpha.” I did my best not to smile, but in reality, this simple act made me happy.

“It’s my bath scent. I thought maybe a manly scent would fare better on your nose than those sweet, feminine ones. It’s Bergamot and Cedarwood. Do you think you can bathe with this?”

I wanted to tell him that I was okay with regular water, but I found myself nodding my head. The idea of sleeping with his scent around me was making my heart flutter.

I thought he would give it to me so I could pour it in the water, but he did it himself. I followed him into the bathroom but stood at a distance from where he was.

He rolled up the sleeves of his shirt before beginning to mix the soap and water with his hand. After a while he turned around. “You can start your bath.”

I swallowed. Not sure if he meant to say I would strip naked in front of him.

“I already saw you naked.” He said. It seemed he could read my mind. “And no. I’m not asking you to take a bath because I want to have sex. I just want to see your back. Then I will leave.”

I didn’t say anything more and began taking off my clothes, but I refrained from looking at him. I didn’t know what to feel. All I knew was that I already wanted to be in the water because I could feel his stare burning my skin.

But if anything, his stare was not making me feel violated in the same way that I felt with Constantine.

I climbed into the tub and lowered myself into the water. I remained seated, pulling my knees against my chest before looking at him.

He then crouched at the side of the tub, our faces parallel to each other, but despite the distance, I felt like the walls were closing in on us, making my heartbeat pick up its pace.

His fingers glided over the water before they moved to my back, trailing along my skin.

“Aside from the fresh wounds, there are others that are still bruised, but they’re not fresh ones. What happened?”

I swallowed. Not because I didn't want to tell him, but his fingers skimming on my naked skin was sending tingles between my legs.

“I’m waiting, Iris. Either you make up stories and lie to me, or simply tell me the truth.”

“The older ones are from four days ago. Marion whipped me.”

“Why?”

I swallowed again and dropped my gaze off him. “I told Constantine that I didn’t want to sleep with his guest. He insisted, and I lost it. I shoved the plates and the dishes in front of me.”

“You did?” He sounded amused, and my heart clenched. Did he think I normally sleep with other men aside from my husband?

“I don’t want to sleep with anyone… Before you, I never slept with anyone aside from Constantine.”

“I was not referring to that but to the fact that you shoved those plates and threw a tantrum.” He chuckled. “You don’t seem to be the type.”

“It’s not funny.” I had no idea how I got the courage to say that to his face, but I couldn’t help the pain in my chest that he was making fun of my actions. I could still remember how it felt when I was told I needed to please a man I didn’t even know what he looked like.

“My apology, my lady.” He said as he took a deep breath, and his hand moved to my face, removing the stray hair and tucking it behind my ear, making me hold my breath. “It might be selfish or insensitive on my end, but I’m glad they thought of gifting you to me. Or you wouldn’t be here under my roof.”

“That was my first. I never slept with another man except my husband.”

“Ex-husband.” He said firmly.

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