Reject My Alpha President (Iris and Arthur) novel Chapter 98

Chapter 98

Iris

I wake to the sensation of warmth surrounding me, but it has little to do with the morning sunlight spilling through the window. It’s a pair of arms around me that I feel instead.

Warm, sturdy, familiar arms.

On instinct, I nuzzle deeper into that embrace, inhaling the familiar scent of my mate. It wraps around me like a cocoon, calming me to my core, far more than the sweater ever did. His arms tighten gently around me, tugging me a little closer, and his lips brush the top of my head in a tender kiss. I can’t help but smile softly at the sensation.

For a moment, it feels as if the last five years never happened. As if I’ve just woken up in my old bed, wrapped in Arthur’s arms, a smile on my face. I imagine the two of us waking up slowly together, perhaps making love, his lips trailing across my throat and my shoulder….

And then maybe heading downstairs, perhaps making breakfast together in our underwear before we start the day.

It would be bliss to experience those days again.

But then reality comes crashing back, just like it always does.

I don’t belong here. This isn’t my bed–not anymore, anyway. And I certainly didn’t fall asleep here last night–I clearly recall falling asleep in my studio after hours of frantically painting, too exhausted to even walk down the hall to the guest room–which means only one thing.

At some point, while I was fast asleep, Arthur took me to his bed last night.

“Hey!” I sit up, smacking his arm with my hand. “What the hell, Arthur?!”

He stirs, his eyes shooting open instantly. He looks confused for a moment, and then extremely shameful. “I didn’t—It wasn’t-”

“Don’t be a creep,” I hiss, scrambling out of bed onto shaky legs. “Did you think you could get with me again if you brought me to your bed without my consent? Did you carry me here in my sleep, or what?”

Arthur sits up, dragging a hand through his dark hair. “I didn’t mean to,” he says, his voice rough and gravelly with sleep.

I plant my fists on my hips. “Is that so? Were you just sleepwalking, then?”

He looks up at me, and something in his face hardens. “No. I was drunk. Trust me, Iris, if I had been sober, I never would have brought you to my bed.”

For some reason, hearing him say that out loud sends an unexpected pang through my chest. I wonder for a brief moment if all of the dancing, the laughter, the tenderness would have happened at all had he not been inebriated, and although I don’t want to feel this way, it makes me sad.

But I choose not to dwell on it, and pull my shoulders back

“Don’t do it again,” I say, turning on my heel and leaving the room.

“Trust me,” Arthur calls after me, “I won’t.”

Another ache reverberates through my heart at the sound of those words, but I ignore it, refusing to let it get to

1. me.

1/3

Chapter 98

Miles already seems to be feeling better just from a good night’s sleep, and after breakfast, I set him up in the living room with his kitten, some cartoons, and a cozy blanket.

Once Cliff is able to come upstairs for a bit, I hurry out to pick up Miles‘ prescription. Afterwards, I pass by Abbott Gallery, and decide to run inside. I’m already wearing my ‘Flora‘ glasses and wearing my hair in my signature, messy bun my constant uniform whenever I go out lately, since apparently I need to constantly be in disguise around here so I don’t hesitate before going inside and approaching the receptionist with a smile.