Chapter 145: Overslept

"You overslept," he said as he stood by the side of the bed.

"I overslept," Maya replied. The words didn’t mean anything to her; she was completely distracted by his naked frame.

"Maya," he called.

Her heart beat wildly in her chest at the way he called her name. Was that amusement in his expression? Was she missing something?

"I overslept!" She yelled out as his words finally made sense.

She turned her head from side to side, looking around the room. How had she not noticed how bright it was? Sunlight poured through the partially open windows.

She could see the fully risen sun baring down its rays. How did she oversleep this much? There was no way she would be able to make it to the dining room in time.

She turned back to look at him as a thought occurred to her. Did he stay in bed with her because she was asleep? She scrunched up her face, remembering how coiled up she had been around his arm.

Why do I keep doing that?

"I am sorry," she whispered.

He narrowed his eyes and started walking away from the bed. "Palmer will be here soon. Try not to go back to sleep."

He walked toward the wardrobe and Maya couldn’t stop looking at his back. This was unreal. He was talking nicely to her even though she had kept him in bed. Considering she would usually get punished for getting to the dining room late, this was better than anything she could imagine.

"I won’t," she mumbled, bending her knees.

She wrapped her arms around herself as she waited. Keenan took his bath first. She watched him get dressed. He would glance in her direction a few times but didn’t say anything.

Eventually, it was her turn to get ready. Palmer had brought her dress from her bedroom. Worry spread over her at the thought of how she would face Margaret. The maid didn’t know she hadn’t slept a single night in her room. She hoped Margaret didn’t panic.

"Did Margaret give you the dress?" She asked after Palmer helped her get into it.

The bath water had been warm and it was particularly soothing. She had been more sore than she realized. She was more exhausted than she realized. The day before was a lot; it explained why she was still nauseous.

She was glad Palmer didn’t say anything about the marks on her skin and in a way, she was relieved that it was Palmer helping her dress up.

"Yes," Palmer replied, adjusting the dress, then she led Maya toward the dresser.

She blushed slightly as she sat in front of it. She suddenly felt a gaze on her and instinctively turned around to see Keenan sitting not far from the bed.

His palm folded into a partial fist as it rested right on his lip. There was a hint of a smile on his face but Maya couldn’t be sure—she couldn’t quite see from this angle.

Palmer moved quickly as she brushed her hair, then she put some color on her cheeks. After she was done, she stepped away from Maya and bowed to the Alpha before she exited the room.

Keenan was on his feet in an instant. She sat stiffly, hearing him approach her. She had half-expected him to leave while she was taking her bath, but he was still here.

"Do you have no intention of having breakfast?" He asked when he got close enough.

Maya jumped and immediately became embarrassed. She knew he was walking toward her—why did she still react like that?

"I do, but aren’t we late?" She was standing on her feet.

"I took the initiative to send a message to Agnes to make breakfast a little later than usual when Palmer came by earlier."

Had Palmer come here earlier? Maya hadn’t heard a single thing. She had been fast asleep.

Wait! Did she see me coiled around Keenan’s arm?

"What is it?" He asked at her change in expression.

"I am sorry for putting you through the tro—"

"Shut it," he said and started toward the doors. "Your apologies irk me."

"I—" she started to say but stopped and just rushed after him.

He stopped in front of the doors and opened them, but instead of exiting. He helped the doors open for her.

"Thank you," she mumbled as she rushed past.

He closed the doors and walked in step with her. Maya glanced at him with a wide smile on her face. He glanced at her and shook his head before he turned away.

Maya pouted slightly and kept her gaze straight. She couldn’t help that she was happy. He had not only waited for her but had given instructions so she wouldn’t be late for breakfast and now they were walking to the dining room together.

She blushed at the idea that everyone would know what had happened. Perhaps they would just assume they had run into each other. She highly doubted that. Their rooms were in opposite directions.

When the doors of the dining room finally appeared, her face was hurting from all the smiling. He opened the doors for her again and she mumbled her thanks as she walked in first.

"Look who decided to waltz in nearly an hour after breakfast was supposed to start—Alpha Keenan." Alaina’s voice changed immediately. "I didn’t see you there."

"I am sure Palmer told you breakfast would be late, Alaina," Keenan replied as they parted ways.

"I-I wasn’t talking to you," she replied with a feeble smile.

"Really? Then pray tell who you were talking to."

Keenan was by his seat now while Maya sat next to a smiling Winnie, who lightly elbowed her side with a smirk so wide, Maya wanted to cover her face. If no one already knew what had transpired between her and Keenan, Winnie’s expression was enough announcement.

"I misspoke," Alaina said and dejectedly took her seat. She didn’t even glance in Maya’s direction.

The servants quickly moved to serve breakfast and Maya dug in. She still felt a little nauseated from this morning but perhaps because her heart was full, it hardly bothered her appetite.