CHAPTER 105: ...WAITING

Violet was overwhelmed by Cain’s sudden shift in demeanor. One moment he’d been distant and unreadable; the next, he buried his head in her arms, lifting her effortlessly back onto the bed. His arms coiled around her like unbreakable chains, and he cuddled her, murmuring something about bathing together. When she refused, bracing herself for his insistence, she was left stunned by his compliance. He let it go without so much as a second attempt, his mood taking a turn so unexpected it left her speechless.

Now, as she watched him step out of the bathroom, droplets of water cascading down his still-damp golden hair, she wrestled with the unease gnawing at her. His calm, seemingly pliant behavior felt like the eye of a storm, and Violet wasn’t naive enough to trust it.

She had to clarify what he’d meant earlier—about rings, about what this all meant. The question clawed at her, demanding an answer she dreaded knowing.

"We’ll be... sleeping together now, right?" she finally asked, her voice tentative. Cain’s response was immediate—a serious nod, his expression one of incredulity as if her question had been unnecessary.

Her unease deepened. "And... that’s all, right?" she added, immediately regretting it. The moment the words left her lips, she watched as Cain’s mood darkened like a sudden eclipse. His expression hardened, and he stepped closer, his golden-brown eyes colder than ice.

"What do you mean?" he demanded, his voice low and cutting. The intensity of his gaze froze her in place, her heart pounding in her chest.

"I-I’m just trying to confirm..." Violet’s words trailed off, her voice shrinking as she lowered her gaze to the floor. "That we’re not just sleeping together."

The tension in the room was suffocating, her regret mounting as she saw his jaw clench. She had agreed to this because of her attraction to him, but Cain was a puzzle she couldn’t solve. His motives, his feelings—if he even had any—were a labyrinth of contradictions. This wasn’t love. Someone who loved you wouldn’t try to kill you. And yet, here he was, offering a kind of affection that felt both genuine and suffocating.

But she knew better than to press him. Cain was a man who wielded power like a blade, and pushing him could mean risking her life.

’Just stay silent,’ she told herself, her mind racing. ’He seems to let me be when I don’t say anything.’

Cain moved closer, his imposing figure casting a shadow over her. His arms wrapped around her, pulling her against him, his breath warm against her ear as he whispered, "Say it again. I want to hear you say it."

Violet froze, her heart stuttering as the words he wanted her to repeat became obvious. She hesitated, then whispered, "Cain... I want you." Her voice was barely audible, her cheeks burning with the weight of the admission.

Satisfied, he pulled her closer, his warmth enveloping her as they lay on the bed together. He made no further moves, content simply to hold her. At first, Violet remained tense, her heart pounding as she waited for him to act. But as the minutes passed, she realized he had no intentions beyond this. Slowly, she allowed herself to relax, the steady rhythm of his breathing lulling her into a fragile sense of calm.

Cuddling isn’t so bad, she thought, her eyes drifting shut. As long as he didn’t hurt her, she could endure this side of Cain. This version of him, warm and subdued, was manageable. She sighed softly, letting herself drift into sleep.

CAIN’S POV

Cain’s golden-brown eyes fluttered open as he felt the steady rhythm of Violet’s heartbeat against his chest. Her breathing had evened out, signaling that she had fallen asleep.

His expression shifted instantly. The softness and vulnerability he had displayed melted away, replaced by the cold calculation that usually defined him. He studied her face, noting the peacefulness in her features. It was a stark contrast to the chaos she brought into his life, but he couldn’t let himself get lost in it.

He wasn’t a fool; he knew exactly what she was feeling. She was attracted to his body, yes, but her heart wasn’t tethered to him. Not yet. She would leave him the first chance she got. And while he couldn’t blame her, he also couldn’t allow it.

He brushed a strand of hair from her face, his gaze hardening as he considered his next move. Keeping her with threats would only push her further away. If he wanted her to stay, it had to be her choice—or at least, she had to believe it was.

’Threats won’t be enough,’ he thought, his lips pressing into a thin line. ’Fear can keep her close, but it won’t make her stay willingly.’

He reached out, his fingers brushing against the ends of her short black hair, now long enough to graze her forehead. His touch was featherlight.

’If I make her believe I’m in love with her, she’ll fall for me.’ The plan formed in his mind, as simple as it was insidious. ’Once she loves me...I’ll inform her that she’s my mate and then she’ll allow me to mark her willingly and form a bond.’ the thought that finding out sooner would make her run away faster from him was embedded in his mind.

’No more Pain! No more medicine to suppress the beast!’

His fingers twitched, the urge to take her right there and then burning through him. But he pushed it down. Not yet. Timing was everything.

Instead, Slipping quietly from the bed, Cain crossed the room to a hidden compartment in the bookshelf. He pulled out a book he had ordered and stashed away a few days ago: Fifty Ways to Make a Woman Fall in Love with You in Fifty Days.

The title was bold, almost ridiculous, but Cain didn’t care. He opened it, scanning the first step: "Get her to acknowledge her attraction toward you."

A smirk tugged at his lips. "Done," he muttered under his breath, mentally checking the box as he flipped through the pages.

He skimmed past the detailed Chapters, uninterested in the explanations. The steps were clearly outlined at the beginning of each section, and that was all he needed.

Step Two: Dominate her focus.

Cain frowned slightly as he read. He already had her focus—there was no one else in her life who could compete with him. But still, the idea of initiating more intimate moments between them appealed to him. It would strengthen their bond, make her more dependent on him.

Satisfied, he moved to the next step, his impatience growing. Step Three: Play hard to get.

His frown deepened. The idea of withholding attention grated against his instincts. Why alternate between giving and taking when he could simply keep her tethered to him? The book’s advice felt counterintuitive, and for a brief moment, he considered tossing it aside altogether.

He slammed the book shut, returning it to its hiding place with more force than necessary. The methods outlined within felt unnecessary, but he couldn’t deny that they intrigued him.

Cain’s mind wandered as he considered an alternative. ’Isn’t it just easier to chain her back in the cell and teach her to be completely dependent on me?’ The thought was tempting, a reminder of how effective pain could be as a teacher. But no, he dismissed it.

The way she shrank from him, even after he had healed her wounds, was something he couldn’t ignore. If he pushed too hard, he might lose her entirely. And that was a risk he wasn’t willing to take.

His grip on the book loosened, and he slid it back into its hiding place. Turning his gaze to Violet, still peacefully asleep, he felt the storm inside him calm slightly. For now, he would play the role of the man she wanted, the one she could fall for. He would make her trust him, love him, and when she did, she wouldn’t just stay—she would choose him.

But until then, he would wait until she needed him. And Cain was nothing if not patient.