Chapter 97

Strings of Fate 97- Purring and problem–solving My muscles have tensed up and what was a very comfortable position is now very not. This isn’t the first time we have slept in the same bed, it shouldn’t be so awkward. I suddenly realise that Bellamy’s breathing isn’t slow and deep like I would expect from someone who is asleep or nearly asleep. Also his arm on my waist is tense again. I’m about to ask what’s wrong, but Bellamy beats me to it.

“Something is upsetting you.” He says, his tone is dark. I stammer out a response.

“I just noticed that you’re… well. Maybe I should move away a little bit?” I suggest. Bellamy groans.

“That’s why you’re anxious? I’m still on high alert, your discomfort makes me want to keep. you as close as possible, but it’s my proximity that’s the problem.” He sounds horrified.. I see his dilemma though. I’m anxious so he doesn’t want to let go, and his holding so tight is making me anxious.

Although it’s not so much that he’s close as that he is clearly still aroused and I’m awkward. How is this so embarrassing?

“I don’t know how I’m supposed to react.” I explain quietly, my voice barely more than a whisper.

Bellamy is quiet for a minute, still holding me close.

“You’ve never said anything any of the other times.” He comments.

“O–other times?” I ask, confused and sort of horrified. Bellamy chuckles behind me.

“Yes other times. Almost every time we’ve shared a bed if I’m completely honest. You never noticed?”

He sounds amused.

“No I didn’t! My voice is a high pitched squeak.

“I can’t imagine how you haven’t realised until now… But either way it’s not your issue, it’s mine. We could lay some other way if it’s making you uncomfortable, you really can just ignore it though. Nothing has changed.” He assures me. I can’t help but let out an almost. sarcastic laugh.

97- Purring and problem–solving How is moving supposed to help? I still KNOW. Unless it will help your situation?” I suggest. Bellamy still sounds like he finds the whole situation hilarious.

“I doubt it. But you need to sleep. Are you going to stress about this all night now?” He asks and I cringe a little.

“Probably.” I admit. Bellamy lets out a deep breath.

“Okay, well that’s not going to work. You’re exhausted and you need sleep. I have an idea…” he trails off. He suddenly releases me and climbs out of bed. I’m immediately a little cold as the air hits my back, he’s left the blanket off.

“One second,” he adds. I can hear the soft rustle of his clothes. What is he doing?” A moment later I feel the bed dip beside me again and something soft brushes against me.

“B–Bellamy?” I ask, confused. A warm and furry body lays down beside me. Oh. It suddenly clicks in my brain. He’s shifted. Well, I suppose that does fix the awkwardness a bit. I don’t know how I feel about this as a long term solution, but he’s right that I need sleep and that we can talk about it later when I’m less of a zombie. I curl up beside him and he almost wraps himself around me. I can feel his tail on my leg and the warm weight of one of his paws pushed up against my shoulder. I snuggle in closer and he… purrs? I can’t help but giggle a little and the tension in me drains away. I focus on the steady purring beside me and it doesn’t take long for my eyes to fall closed.

I wake up in the morning groggy and weirdly sore? I suppose it makes a little sense. I was really tense and pumped up on adrenaline so my muscles probably got tight. I shudder to think how achey I would be without the hot bath. Bellamy is still wrapped around me in his black cat form. Now that I think back on it, I do feel like I was being a little dramatic last night. Then again, I don’t think either of us were our most calm and reasonable selves. In the daylight, it doesn’t seem real anymore. I can’t believe someone trashed my place and threw a rock through my window! I’m going to have to apologise to Maggie. I know she won’t actually be angry or anything, But I am definitely going to have to pay for that window, it wouldn’t be fair otherwise. I sit up, stretching and groaning.

“Ugh, what time is it? I don’t feel like I slept that long.” I grumble. Bellamy gives what I can best interpret as a cat version of a shrug. He then hops down from the bed and stretches deeply, curving his back then leaning forward. It reminds me a little of some yoga poses I saw 97- Purring and problem–solving once. My back certainly doesn’t bend that way. It’s strange, in this form our red thread still exists obviously, but it sort of comes from underneath him, I suppose a cat’s chest faces the ground more. I’m so caught up watching Bellamy in his feline form that it doesn’t occur to me to look away when he suddenly changes back in a weird blur of twisting and magic.

“Good morning.” He greets me. I yelp and cover my eyes. Bellamy laughs.

“My bad. I thought you knew what I was doing and would look away. You did ask a question. How else was I going to answer you?” A tugging feeling around me tells me that Bellamy is grabbing a blanket off the bed.

up, “It’s safe to look now.” He promises, a laugh in his tone. He’s wrapped the blanket around his waist and sits on the bed beside me. I have to work not to stare. My word is he is pretty. Seriously, why did I have to end up with a guy who is so much prettier than me? We just woke he has no right to look this good.

After a minute I realise we are both just sitting on the bed staring at each other. I’m watching him and he’s watching me watching him. I blush pink and he leans in towards me. I think he’s about to kiss me but suddenly he leans back. His gaze darts to the messed up bed then back to me. Instead he reaches out and takes my hand. For a second I’m confused. Why did he stop? Then I remember how I reacted last time he tried to kiss me in bed and I freaked out. But this is different… sort of? I’m not lying on my back and not trying to start anything. Although he is naked…ish. I’m not sure a blanket really counts. Still, I appreciate the care he is taking to respect my boundaries. It helps me feel brave enough to push them a little bit. I lean in and kiss him. It’s barely more than a peck but Bellamy grins at me and uses his free hand to push a strand of my messy blue hair back behind my ear and out of my face.

“How are you feeling this morning?” he asks gently. I sigh.