Desired By Three Alphas; Fated To One novel Chapter 21

Chapter 21: On My Bed

Hailee’s POV

Fuck!

My face burned with heat as I realized exactly what was pressing against me.

I panicked and quickly tried to shift away, but the sudden movement caused Nathan to stir.

Crap.

I froze... and then did the only thing I could think of.

I stayed perfectly still and pretended I was just moving in my sleep.

I heard a low curse.

"Shit," he muttered under his breath.

I kept my breathing soft and even, trying my best to stay still. My heart, though, was pounding wildly.

He was awake.

And he definitely noticed his arousal.

I expected him to move away... maybe get up and leave. But he didn’t.

Rather, I felt something on my face.

His fingers.

Soft. Barely brushing my cheek.

A gentle stroke—featherlight—as if he was scared I’d disappear if he touched me too hard.

"You look so beautiful like this," he whispered.

My breath hitched.

His fingers trailed slowly from my cheekbone to my jaw, pausing at my lips.

He brushed his thumb against them gently, his touch tender, almost reverent. Then—

He leaned in and placed a soft kiss on my mouth.

Quick. Gentle.

But it sent my heart into a frenzy.

I had to act.

My eyes fluttered open, and I shifted slightly, pretending to be drowsy.

Nathan didn’t jerk away. He didn’t even look startled.

He just smiled softly, like he’d been expecting me to wake up.

"Good morning," he said, voice low and husky. "How’s the pain?"

I blinked at him, completely thrown off.

"You’re still here ... you spent the night here?" I mumbled, still dazed.

He nodded.

"Yep."

I swallowed hard and pushed myself upright, resting my back against the headboard. I didn’t dare glance down—I already knew he was still aroused. I expected him to move away from the bed, but he didn’t.

He lay there, clearly trying to hide it.

So funny.

I cleared my throat and spoke. "Thank you... but I think you should go. I don’t want my mother walking in and seeing you here. Or catching your scent."

Nathan didn’t respond. He just stared at me.

Not in a creepy way.

But like he was searching for something—something in my eyes I didn’t even know I was showing.

It made me uncomfortable... not because I was scared, but because I felt too seen. Too exposed.

I looked away, pretending to fix the blanket on my lap.

"I mean it," I murmured. "You should go before my mom catches your scent."

Still nothing.

I sighed and looked back at him, narrowing my eyes.

"What? Why are you looking at me like that?"

He didn’t answer.

Instead, his eyes darted to the floor—just behind me—and his expression suddenly changed.

"Hailee," he whispered, his voice low and urgent, "Don’t move."

My heart jumped.

"What?" I froze.

"There’s a snake," he said, his eyes widening. "Right behind you. Don’t scream."

I flinched.

I didn’t care what kind of snake it was or if it was poisonous or not—I leapt. With zero hesitation, I jumped straight onto Nathan, arms clinging to his shoulders and legs trying to get as far away from the floor as possible.

"Where?! Where is it?!" I yelled, practically on top of him.

And then...

He laughed.

Not just a chuckle. A full, amused, unbothered laugh.

I blinked, confused and still halfway on his lap.

"What—?"

"There’s no snake," he grinned. "I was just messing with you."

My eyes widened. "You what?!"

I shoved his chest playfully, even though I was still clinging to him. "Nathan! That’s not funny!"

"It was a little funny," he smirked. "You should’ve seen your face."

I glared at him—but I couldn’t hide the tiny smile tugging at my lips.

"You tricked me just to get me to jump on you, didn’t you?"

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