Chapter Eighteen - Promises-2

"Really?!"

"I can't believe I'm agreeing to this."

I jumped out of the chair and hugged him.

"Do we still have to wait?" He asked me.

"We've waited this long. How hard can it be to wait a little longer?"

Really hard.

It was like my mind knew I had decided to keep my promise to Mrs. Chandler and wait.

As soon as I opened the door to the bedroom that night after helping Liu put the final touches on the Centennial, I saw Adam walk out of the bathroom in a towel. Sweet mother of Moses, those abs.

I got flustered quickly as he noticed me staring and winked.

"How is the planning coming along?" He asked me as I shut the bedroom door.

I just nodded, my voice caught in my throat.

"Everything alright, love?"

"I'm-I'm fine," I assured him.

I walked past him quickly and into the bathroom, closing the door.

God, it would be so much easier if he wasn't hot!

I undressed and got into the shower. I washed my hair quickly and took some time just to stand under the hot water.

Maybe it wouldn't be wrong if I didn't wait, I thought. It isn't like Adam's not the right guy, he's my mate for crying out loud.

But what if the hundred days doesn't work out? What if something happens? I would still be breaking a promise...

I sighed, turning off the water and grabbed my towel. Drying off, I walked out into the bedroom to grab my pajamas.

I wrapped the towel around myself and opened the wardrobe, all the while trying to ignore Adam sitting on the couch reading a book in his boxer briefs.

As I grabbed a t-shirt and opened my underwear drawer, I felt his presence behind me.

"These are nice," he said, pulling a pair of pink, lace panties out and holding them up with the crook of his index finger.

I blushed and yanked them from his hand, closing the drawer.

"Do I get to see them on you?" He asked with a smirk.

"Unless you have x-ray vison and can see through the t-shirt," I said, holding it up as I made my way back into the bathroom.

I changed and hung the towel to dry before walking back out.

Adam was seemingly waiting for me, leaning against the bedpost and watching me as I exited the bathroom.

"Can I help you?"

"I could think of a few ways you could."

I rolled my eyes. "You have a very dirty mind."

"Sure I do, and right now, you're running through it... naked."

His eyes drifted up and down my body as he bit his bottom lip.

"You're not making this any easier on yourself," I reminded him, walking around the bed.

Adam groaned and threw his head back.

"Remind me again why I agreed to this?"

"Because I made a promise."

He shook his head, following me around the bed. He picked me up and sat me on the mattress.

"Give me ten minutes," he pleaded. "You don't have to do a thing, just let me touch you."

I put my hands on his chest.

"As much as I want to say yes..."

He groaned.

"...that sounds like a husband privilege," I finished.

Adam was clearly angry as he backed away. "I need to go for a run."

"It's freezing and dark outside."

"I've got fur, Mother."

Wait, fur?

"You're shifting?" I asked him.

He nodded, walking around the bed.

"Can I come?"

Adam stopped.

"That's probably not the best idea."

My eyebrows furrowed.

"Why?"

"I'm not completely trusting of my self-control when I shift," he smiled, menace dancing in his eyes. My breath hitched in my throat. "Besides," he continued. "You've never shifted yourself. You wouldn't be able to keep up."

He grabbed a pair of sweatpants and his pillows.

"I thought you were going for a run?"

"I am," he assured me. "I'm just not coming back for a while. I'll sleep in one of the guest rooms down the hall tonight so I don't wake you." My eyebrows furrowed as he left the room.

I tossed and turned that night.

I couldn't fall asleep if it would have saved my life.

If only Adam were here...

I shook my head and turned over.

You don't need him to fall asleep, silly girl. You did it just fine without him for the past twenty years.

I sighed.

I knew he was mad at me for waiting until that day to bring up my promise to Mrs. Chandler.

I should have never let things get as far as they did. It would have been better if I had just mentioned it to him from the beginning.

Nonetheless, I had laid awake and seriously considered what would happen if I forgot about the promise like I almost had the day before.

I knew, at the end of the day, it didn't matter. I had met the man I was going to be with for the rest of my life, there were no questions about that. I didn't have to worry about him hurting me or leaving me. But there was a knot in my throat at the thought of breaking a promise.

You were fourteen, you didn't know what you were doing when you made that promise!

But it was still a promise, one that I had kept for six years.

I shook the thought from my head and rolled over, facing an empty left side of the bed.

I groaned and got out of the bed.

I walked out of the bedroom to see the guards still standing by Malcom's door.

Immediately I felt my cheeks heat up, remembering I was in a t-shirt and not much else.

I hurried down the hall and tried to pick between the two doors which I thought Adam would be sleeping behind.

It's one of these... they're the only other guest bedrooms on this hall except for Malcom's.

I picked one and opened the door slowly.

I sighed in relief when I saw him. His shoulders rose and fell as he breathed heavily and the prominent muscles in his back weren't covered by the sheets.

I stepped into the room slowly but froze seeing the sheets next to him move.

My heart sunk as I watched her roll over and cuddle up next to him.

Moonlight that poured into the room through the window illuminated her black, curly hair.

Vega?