Alpha Culinary Love

I cleared my throat, trying to compose myself. "It\'s nothing," I mumbled, avoiding her gaze.

To hide my embarrassment, I quickly headed towards the bathroom. However, as soon as I stepped inside, I was hit by the sweet scent of strawberries, and it made me blush even more. Now I regretted the idea of sleeping with Yura.

I splashed some water on my face, trying to cool down, but the scent lingered in the air, making it hard to concentrate. Eventually, I decided to just get ready for bed and try to ignore the embarrassing situation. However, I realized that I didn\'t have my clothes here. Just as I was contemplating what to do, I heard a knock on the bathroom door, and then it slowly opened, revealing a hand holding what seemed to be my clothes. I took them, thanking Yura as she quickly closed the door.

As I emerged from the bathroom, Yura was already lying on the bed, her eyes closed. She looked so peaceful, and for a moment, I forgot all about the awkwardness of the situation. I quietly slipped into bed, trying to keep my distance from Yura.

However, as she opened her eyes and looked at me, she slightly moved closer. I couldn\'t be sure, but I felt like I could smell the scent of strawberries, even though I could see that she had put the pheromone-blocking patch on her neck.

"Are you okay, Jiyeon?" Yura asked softly, her voice breaking the silence.

That immediately made me react, and I quickly moved back, but I ended up falling off the bed. However, this sudden movement helped me regain my senses.

As I picked myself up from the floor, I felt my heart pounding in my chest. I was acutely aware of how close Yura was, and the memory of our recent encounters flashed through my mind. At the same time, I heard Yura\'s laughter, as sweet as honey.

"Jiyeon, are you okay?" Yura asked, still giggling.

"I-I\'m fine," I stammered, trying to regain my composure. "Just... a little clumsy."

"Sorry, I didn\'t mean to startle you," she said, her voice gentle. "Are you sure you\'re okay?"

I nodded, though my cheeks still burned with embarrassment. "Yeah, I\'m fine. Just a little surprised, that\'s all."

Yura gave me a reassuring smile before patting the empty space next to her on the bed. "Come on, there\'s plenty of space. Let\'s get some sleep."

Reluctantly, I climbed back onto the bed, making sure to keep a respectable distance between us. However, as I settled under the covers, I couldn\'t shake the feeling of tension that lingered in the air.

For a while, we lay there in silence, the only sound the soft hum of the air conditioning. I couldn\'t help but feel self-conscious, knowing that Yura was right next to me. Every time she shifted or moved, I was acutely aware of her presence.

"Jiyeon?" Yura\'s voice broke the silence, and I turned to look at her, my heart skipping a beat.

"Yeah?" I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Thank you... for being understanding about all of this," she said softly, her eyes filled with gratitude. "I know it\'s not an ideal situation, but I really appreciate your willingness to go along with it."

I swallowed hard, feeling a surge of conflicting emotions. Despite everything, I couldn\'t deny that there was a part of me that felt drawn to Yura, a part that longed for her closeness. But I knew that it was just the pheromones talking, and I had to stay strong.

"You don\'t need to thank me," I said, forcing a smile. "We\'re in this together, right?"

Yura\'s smile was warm and genuine, and for a moment, I felt a flicker of hope. But at the same time, I could feel my heart pounding hard in my chest, wondering if it was the influence of the pheromones or something else.

"Right," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

With that, we settled back into silence, each lost in our own thoughts. Despite my best efforts to push them away, my thoughts kept drifting back to Yura, and I found myself unable to shake the feeling of anticipation that hung in the air.

Eventually, exhaustion took over, and I felt myself drifting off to sleep, the sound of Yura\'s steady breathing lulling me into a sense of security.

But just as I was on the cusp of sleep, I felt Yura\'s hand brush against mine, sending a jolt of electricity through my body. I tensed, unsure of how to react, but before I could say anything, I felt her fingers intertwine with mine, her touch warm and comforting.

"Goodnight, Jiyeon," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"Goodnight, Yura," I replied, my heart pounding in my chest.

As sleep finally claimed me, Yura\'s hand acted like a tranquilizer.

The night was long, filled with restless sleep and a strange mixture of dreams and reality. I found myself drifting in and out of consciousness, the memory of Yura\'s touch lingering on my skin like a ghostly caress.

At some point, I woke up in the middle of the night, my heart racing and my body covered in a thin sheen of sweat. I glanced over at Yura, who was sleeping peacefully next to me, her breathing slow and even.

Unable to fall back asleep, I quietly slipped out of bed, careful not to wake her. The mansion was eerily quiet at this hour, the only sound the faint hum of the air conditioning. I made my way to the kitchen, hoping that a glass of warm milk might help calm my racing thoughts.

As I sipped my milk, I couldn\'t help but replay the events of the day in my mind. Meeting Yura\'s parents had been an unexpected surprise. At least I know that Yura\'s parents adore me. But what would happen if they could tell that my marriage to Yura was nothing more than a business arrangement? Would they be angry?

Lost in thought, I didn\'t hear Yura approach until she was standing right beside me, her eyes still heavy with sleep.

"Can\'t sleep?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

I shook my head, unable to meet her gaze. "Just restless, I guess," I replied, taking another sip of my milk.

Yura nodded in understanding, then reached for the kettle to make herself a cup of tea. We sat in silence for a while, the only sound the quiet clinking of our cups.

"Are you okay?" Yura asked, breaking the silence.

I looked up at her, surprised by the concern in her eyes. "Yeah, I\'m fine," I replied, forcing a smile. "Just couldn\'t sleep."

Yura nodded, understanding. "I know the feeling," she said, taking a sip of her tea. "Sometimes, the quiet of the night can be... unsettling."

I nodded in agreement, grateful for her understanding. "Yeah, that\'s exactly it," I said, relieved that she didn\'t press further.

We sat in silence for a while longer, lost in our own thoughts. The warm glow of the kitchen cast long shadows across the room, and I couldn\'t help but feel a sense of peace wash over me.

Yura glanced at the clock on the wall, then stood up from the table. "We should probably try to get some more sleep," she said, her voice soft. "We have a busy day ahead of us."

I nodded in agreement, suddenly feeling the weight of exhaustion settling over me. "Yeah, you\'re right," I said, pushing myself up from the table.

Together, we made our way back to Yura\'s room, the quiet of the night enveloping us like a warm blanket. As I crawled back into bed, I was just about to drift off when I felt arms wrap around me from behind. I was about to turn around, but Yura\'s voice stopped me.

"Don\'t turn around, just enjoy the moment. It\'s to help you fall asleep better," she said firmly.

I blushed instantly and didn\'t dare to move. At first, I thought she would let go after a while, but she didn\'t. Instead, I heard Yura\'s gentle breathing, and I found myself smiling before I drifted off to sleep in Yura\'s embrace.