Chapter 5 Home

• Isabelle
• The rays of the morning sun fell on my face. I slowly opened my eyes and sat up. The atmosphere around felt comfortable, and as my eyes moved to the spot of the figure sitting on the couch I felt my body relaxing in a split second.
• "Good morning," Kaden smiled and walked over to me.
• "Good morning,"  I replied.
• He smiled and sat in front of me, his smell instantly wafted into my nostrils. He smelt of something woodsy and the faint hint of vetiver was there enough to make it noticeable.
• "Did you sleep well?" He questioned, his hand moved to gently caress my cheek.
• It had been long since anyone did that...
• "Yes," I nodded unable to hide the surprise, his touch had sent a whole wave of spark thought out my body.
• He seemed to notice the goosebumps on my skin and I could see something flashing in his eyes but it went covered anyway.
• "Your breakfast will be brought here at any minute," He informed, "You need to finish the entire meal, okay?"
• "Uh-huh," I nodded, and this made a smile spread on his lips.
• A few minutes of silence stretched between us and him that only included him gazing at me. His gaze was unlike anyone I'd experienced before, his one held so much affection and serenity that didn't lessen my comfort even the slightest bit.
• "Kaden?" I decided to speak
• "Yes, love?"
• "Thanks for letting me stay and everything, I'll not be a burden on you and will leave soon."
• His entire body stiffened at my statement, the darkness roofed his eyes and I saw him taking a deep breath before he exhaled it through his mouth.
• "Isabelle," Sighing he leaned closer to me and cupped my cheeks in his hands, "You can never be a burden on me and you can stay here as long as you want, consider everything here as yours,"
• A small smile crept up my lips hearing his sentence, he was too kind.
• "Thank you, Kaden,"
• "You're welcome," He pressed his lips against my forehead, causing the tingling to spread down my body. His lips felt extremely soft against my skin, so soft that I wanted them to stay there for more.
• Suddenly there was a knock on a door, Kaden moved away and glanced back, "Come in,"
• The door opened and a beautiful blonde woman entered the room, "Good morning, you two," She smiled at us and walked over toward the bed.
• She sat beside me, her eyes were filled with excitement, "Oh my God, you are so pretty!" she put the tray down on the nightstand and engulfed me in a big hug.
• I gasped in surprise. She indeed threw herself over me.
• "Cassandra, you will scare her," I heard Kaden's low yell, and she pulled away from me to look at him.
• "No, she's not going to get scared," She frowned at him before she looked back at me, "Did I scare you?" Her gaze softened.
• I shook my head in response and her face lit up.
• "We are going to get along pretty good," She again threw herself at me, her hands engulfing my frame as she let out a squeal in excitement.
• I managed to slip my hands around her despite her tight hug and lightly patted her back.
• "Shit! Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself," She spoke after once she'd broken the hug, "I'm Cassandra," She outstretched her hand to me.
• "Isabelle," I flashed her a smile and shook her hand.
• "You see this idiot right here, he's my brother," She pointed at Kaden.
• "That's nice..." I tried not to let out the laughter. The way she addressed Kaden seemed hilarious to me.
• "There are more you still need to get introduced to," She began," Jason, Carter, then there's Shelly, Arnold, and.....Layla," I could notice the mere amount of distaste as she pronounced the name Layla but she soon covered it with a smile, "You are going to have a lot of fun!"
• I couldn't help but smile at her excitement.
• "Cassandra, I think you should go now," Kaden interrupted.
• "You better not tell me what to do," She Scolded him like a child, "I'm your elder sister and I know what to do,"
• "Yeah, only for a few seconds," He rolled his eyes, and scoffed.
• "That doesn't matter, but the fact is you are my little brother and you'll listen to me and obey whatever I say," She crossed her hands over her chest.
• "In your dreams," Kaden's reply came.
• "No, you little monkey,"
• "What did you just call me?" The prior expression of Kaden faded and this time it was of pure irritation, his mere reaction caused the smirk on Cassandra's face to widen.
• "Yes, you heard me correct," She repeated.
• "Cassandra, you..."
• Kaden couldn't finish his sentence as the giggle I had been trying to hold on to slipped past my lips. I covered my mouth with my hand to stop the next few giggles but in the end, they went out anyway.
• I noticed his intense gaze falling on me and his brows eye ever so slightly in surprise. I don't know why but the heat traveled to my cheeks due to his stare.
• "See I made her laugh," Cassandra smiled looking at me before her eyes moved to Kaden.
• "Thank me, later," She winked at him and stood up. The mere reaction she got from him was a chuckle.
• "Fine, now get out," He pointed at the door to which a frown settled between her eyebrows.
• "Okay okay, don't be so eager to be left alone," The mischievous smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
• I could barely understand what she meant by that.
• "Cassandra, go, "Kaden glared at her.
• "Goodbye, little brother," she leaned and pinched his cheek, Kaden instantly swatted her hand away and huffed in annoyance.
• "I'll see you later, Isabelle," She waved at me and blew a kiss at me, and then she was out leaving me and Kaden alone in the room.
• "I'm sorry about her, she gets too excited and childish sometimes," He sighed.
• "No, it's fine," I spoke, "She is nice."
• "Here take your breakfast," He handed me the tray picking it from the nightstand. He let it rest on my lap.
• "This is too much," I exclaimed as looked at the food, I doubted I could finish even one category whereas they were so many varieties laying on the plates.
• "Not at all," He clicked his tongue and shook his head, "This is the least amount we could put."
• "The least?" I suffered in disbelief.
• "Yes," He nodded.
• "I can't finish all of these," I spoke.
• "But--"
• "Kaden, please,"
• He homed my face for a second before he heaved out a sigh, "Fine, you don't need to finish all of it but you need to eat at least half of it,"
• Even though half seemed a lot I nodded. It was better than finishing the whole meal.
• Kaden remained seated in front till I finished my breakfast, his stare didn't move an inch the whole time.
• "Done," I handed him the tray.
• He took it from my hands and let it sit on the nightstand again," A maid will take it soon," He settled back in front of me just like earlier.
• "Oh, you've got something there," Before I could even process what he implied, he leaned closer and wiped the breadcrumbs from the corner of my mouth. His thumb slowly traced over my bottom lips a second after he pulled away.
• The shiver ran down my body. Something about his touch was unbelievably surprising. It's like a flame to the fire that hadn't started yet. I could barely reach it at all.
• "Isabelle?" He spoke, his hand moving to cup cheek.
• "Consider it your home, if you need anything don't ever hesitate to ask me for it, okay?" His voice was gentle and soothing.
• I nodded at his words and he smiled.
• "Your feet are injured so I'll apply the ointment now, it might sting a bit but don't worry it won't hurt you that much," He informed and fetched the ointment from the drawer.
• He gently put my feet on his lap, I noticed his body stiffening as he looked down at the cuts
• and bruises that I had collected due to running in the forest bare feet for over two days.
• He slowly began applying the yellow ointment on my feet, on the small cuts around my fingers, and the red marks as well. He was careful, so careful that a little touch could hurt me and I got so entranced with watching him that I couldn't realize when he had finished applying it.
• "Did it hurt?" He questioned as he put my feet down from his lap.
• "No," I responded.
• "Okay, then," He smiled, "I'll let you rest sometimes and in the evening I'll show you around the house, is that okay?"
• "Yes, that's okay," I nodded.
• And then pressing one last kiss on my cheek, he was out of the room. I don't know why but I felt the butterflies fluttering in my stomach and the smile never leaving my face.
• Why was I so drawn to Kaden? And why he felt like home?