My trembling hand Ch 56_Bonds at War: The Untouched is Mine

Chapter 56 Honey

 Chapter 56 Honey

 ARDEN

 “How is it?” Cade asked as hey next to me, ncing over with a curious expression.

 “Do you really have to ask that?” I groaned, unable to hide my embarrassment.

 He smirked, his gaze fixed on the ceiling. “Well, it was your first time,” he muttered casually.

 “It’s nice.” I whispered almost to myself, hoping the admission would stay between us.

 +5 Free Coins

 “What was that?” he asked, but I could tell from his teasing tone that he wasn’t buying my attempt at nonchnce. I nudged his shoulder without looking directly at him.

 A deep chuckle escaped his lips, somehow reminiscent of his moans, and it made me feel even more self–conscious.

 “Is it true?” I asked, attempting to shift the conversation away from the current topic.

 “What?” he replied, momentarily distracted

 “That you weren’t sleeping around in Elite.”

 I felt him pause beside me, and when I nced over. I saw an unreadable expression cross his face.

 “Why’d you ask? Were you monitoring me?”

 “No!” I quickly eximed, my voice a bit too loud. “I–I just heard from someone.”

 That was true! Tessa was the one who told me.

 “Sure, sure,” he muttered, though it felt like he didn’t fully believe me.

 I groaned and turned to face him. “Just answer my question.”

 He let out a deep breath before responding, a hint of hesitation in his voice. “Yeah,” he muttered.

 My breath caught in my throat. “But you were kissing someone back then–in the lockers.”

 “That was the first andst time I did that,” he confessed.

 “So, you got all your points from other areas?” 

 “Hmm,” he hummed thoughtfully. “Extra points from teachers. From the clubs I’m in. Assessments.”

 “It’s troublesome to sleep with others,” he added.

 I turned to him again, and this time he appeared genuinely softer than before.

 “If it’s troublesome. then why’d you sleep with me?” I pressed, curious about his reasoning.

 He didn’t respond Instead, a small smirk appeared on his lips as he pulled the covers up over his body and turned away from 

 “Good night, Arden, he said, leaving my question unanswered.

 The familiar warmth I always seemed to crave was the first sensation that greeted me when I woke up. I smiled to myself. feeling surprisingly good despite the early hour.

 My mind was still hary, but the longer Iy there, the more the memories began to ship back in, crystal clear.

 The fact that this bed was the very same where I had lost my virginity made me feel both exhrated and on edge.

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 Chapter 56 Honey.

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 My cheeks med red immediately, and I had to bury my face into the pillow to muttle the embarrassed grean building an my throat. What bad I done?

 It hadn’t been wild or messy like the rumors people always circted at Elite. Instead, it had been… slow

 Almost–dare I say–sweet.

 Cade had taken his time; and when it was over, we did it again.

 That part reyed in my head more than anything else.

 Cade was still asleep behind me. At that moment, I knew I should get up.

 Despite my reluctance to acknowledge it, I knew this was supposed to be a one–time thing only.

 Was I supposed to sneak out, like the girls Kieran used to brag about–how they slipped away before morning came and feelings could ensue?

 However, somethingpelled me to stay.

 I turned slowly, my gazending on Cade’s side of the bed. Hey turned slightly toward me, his features soft in sleep–darkshes resting against his skin, lips parted ever so slightly. I found myself studying him intently.

 Was it weird to think that someone could be that handsome? Because Cade really was.

 Unintentionally, a smile crept onto my face. Just a little!

 Then, suddenly, his brows furrowed.

 At first, I thought he was waking up, maybe sensing my gaze on him. But his eyes remained closed, and a low murmur escaped his lips–so faint I almost missed it.

 Honey

 1 froze, my breath caught in my throat as I stared, my heart pounding fiercely for an entirely different reason. Had I really heard that right? Honey?

 Who was that?

 Why did he sound like he was in pain?

 The warmth from earlier suddenly felt colder, reced by a heavy weight in my chest. I curled my fingers into the sheets and watched him intently, but he didn’t stir again. Whatever dream had taken hold of him seemed to pull him even further away from me. My throat tightened, and I couldn’t help but wonder

 Was he thinking about his first love while we were lying together in the same bed?

 I stayed there, watching as Cade murmured that name again under his breath

 I swallowed hard and tried to keep the pounding of my heart at bay.

 I should go. I needed to

 I slowly began to rise from the bed when a hand suddenly reached for mine.

 “Don’t leave,” he muttered, his eyes still closed

 But, in that moment, I felt he wasn’t directing that statement at me.

 Mill. I stayed for a while longer. I leaned back down beside him, wrapping my arms gently around his waist and burying my face into the warn skin of his back.

 He let out a small, contented breath, like the storm inside him had finally passed. His muscles rxed beneath my touch,

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 Chapter 56 Honey

 his breathing evened out, hulling me e into a sense offort that I couldn’t quite shake.

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 I stayed like that for a few minutes longer, ensuring he had fallen back asleep. When I was certain of it, I slowly slid out of the bed, doing my best not to wake him. He honestly looked like he needed a good rest. Yeah, I should really go note

 With that thought in mind, 1 quietly gathered my belongings and tiptoed toward the door. My legs wobbled slightly as I moved, and pain shot up from between my thighs. I winced, nearly toppling over, but I managed to steady myself and open the door before shutting it quietly behind me.

 The hallway was blissfully silent as I stepped out. I entered the elevator, and there, a full–length mirror revealed the disheveled state I was in. My cheeks were still flushed, and there were several marks trailing down my neck. However, the distinctive white pattern of a storm wasn’t mingling with the other red marks that Cade had left with his mouth

 Keeping my head low, I pulled up my hoodie, obscuring my face. As I walked out of the apartmentplex, the sunlight greeted me with its warm embrace. It was early enough that the streets weren’t yet bustling with students. Thank the Moon

 for small mercies.

 As I walked, everything felt real all over again. It was over. My virginity was gone. On the brighter side, I was with the North now. With Cade. I could protect myself and my friends much better. Along with that, I would no longer be a target of the True Alphas. Life would be much quieter now!

 Just then, my phone buzzed in my pocket, and I pulled it out to check the screen. To my surprise, it was Elias‘ name shing on the disy. We had exchanged numbers when we discovered we would be representing the freshmen together in the uingpetition.

 I noted that he had texted me a few hours earlier–right at dawn. Why would he contact me so early? My brow furrowed as I clicked on his message.

 Elias: Meet me at the Silver Lounge. I have something to talk to you about.

 A sigh escaped my lips as I hovered my thumb over the keyboard, weighing my options. Finally, I responded.

 Me: If it’s about the uingpetition, can we talk tomorrow instead? We don’t have club duties today. The reply came almost instantly, surprising me once again. It felt like he had been waiting for my response. Elias. It’s not that Meet me

 e now. I’ll treat you to a mea!.

 I stared at the message, feeling confused and intrigued. Why now? Shaking my head, I reasoned that perhaps he hadn’t heard the news about Cade and me. Yeah, that must be the case. With that thought, I slid my phone back into my pocket without responding

 I was about to cross the street when I felt a firm hand grasp my wrist. Startled, I turned to find myself met with familiar blue eyes. Instead of the usual spark of mischievousness, he looked more conflicted than ever. I nced back and noticed he had juste from the Evermore Cafe.

 “Rowan?” I said, surprised.

 He let out a soft sigh. “So you chose Cade.”

 I

 Slowly. I pulled my wrist back, feeling a mix of emotions. “I chose peace,” said quietly, managing a small smile. “My virginity’s gone, so you shouldn’t want me anymore.”

 “Goodness, Arden” he ran a hand through his hair, frustration clouding his features. “That’s not fair.”

 “What’s hot fair!” I asked, tilting my head to the side.

 He didn’t directly respond to my question. Instead, his grip on my wrist tightened just a little. “Go on a date with me.”

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My trembling hand Ch 56