Chapter 7
Ella's Pov
I felt the car come to a stop and the slight brush of a hand on my thigh, when I open my eyes I see Merrick smiling back at me.
"We've arrived, let's get inside before it rains", I see his hand reach out for mine as I pull myself upright in the seat. When our hand's touch, I feel the spark of electricity almost like the mate bond but muted.
When a lycan takes a chosen mate those sparks start to show and I was surprised at how easily they formed but it was quickly overshadowed by guilt. I hated that I had those feeling for anyone other than Paul. Phillip showed us into our suite and began to secure the room.
" I just want to check out the room before I leave you two", He said as he examined the room. I could hear the rain coming down on the window in the bedroom and the small claps of thunder made me jump a little. I feel my heart start to beat faster as the rain pelted the windows. My lycan and I never really liked storms and even the smallest bit of thunder made my lycan shake.
Merrick seeing me get scared came to offer comfort. I laid my head on his chest and relax in his arms.
"I hate bad weather," I say softly.
He smiles at me and kisses my forehead, "me too." Phillip joins us back in the room after everything is checked. He smiles at us and begins to leave when out of nowhere a loud crash of thunder shook our suite. In an instant Phillips's large arms covered both of us. I could feel Merrick shaking under the weight of Phillips's strong arms.
"It's ok Rick, I'm here, it's just thunder," He said trying to calm down the already panicked Duke.
My head and hand fall on Merrick's chest and I can feel his breath start to even out and the panic that filled his eyes, leave almost instantly. Phillip removed his hand and went over to the bar and poured him a glass of Wine. Still slightly shaken he accepts and takes a seat on the sofa in the middle of the room. I take a seat placing my hand on his back. I want to ask if he is ok, but it is obvious that he isn't.
Phillip smiles at me to break the tension, "would you like a drink Ella?" he asks walking over to the mini bar in the corner.
I wasn't much of a drinker but I figured one glass of wine was just what I needed to calm my nerves. After handing me the glass of wine Phillip makes himself a drink and joins us near the couch. I can see Merrick relaxed when Phillip sits with us almost as an emotional support friend.
"I'm sorry you had to see that Ella," Merrick says looking at the red wine in his glass.
"The day Alliyah died, it was storming like this and..." he trails off. I look at Phillip as he places his hand on Merrick's knee.
"You really don't have to explain," I tell him as I place my hand on the other knee. We sit in silence for a while and listen to the rain slowly drinking bottle after bottle of wine to drown our sorrows.
Four bottles in and I am feeling properly drunk and look over at Merrick who has passed out. I can feel myself getting light-headed and my stomach turn. This morning's breakfast mixed with four bottles of wine was not a good choice. I try to stand and make my way to the bathroom knowing my stomach was about to purge itself one way or another. I grab the arm of the couch in an effort to push myself up but it was no use, my arms felt like wet noodles.
"Here, let me help you", I look down to see Phillips's hand outstretched towards me. My body feels heavy and my mouth starts to water. I can feel the wine mixed with bile turning in my stomach as I fall to the floor.
Phillips's arms jolt me upwards as he grabs me under his arms. I feel myself get goosebumps knowing I was about to puke all over this beautiful suite. Phillip gets me to the toilet just in time to relieve myself, feeling more and more embarrassed with each retch. I can't believe this is happening right now. I had finally stopped long enough to realize I wasn't alone, Phillip was still behind me holding my hair. I finally feel my stomach start to calm down and I lean backward and place my head on the wall behind me. Phillip offers me some napkins and some mouthwash.
"I'm so sorry. I normally don't drink and this has never happened to me before", I say slightly slurred. I can feel my head spin or maybe it's the room I am not sure which. I tried to stand and make my way to my room but my legs feel like gelatin. Finally, after a few pathetic attempts, Phillip picks me up bridal style and carries me to my room.
"I never want to be drunk again" I mumble as I rest my head on his shoulder. He lets out a small laugh but doesn't say anything, the worried look he is giving me says enough.
"You know, you are really kind of beautiful.." I say absent-mindedly. I made me laugh to see him blush almost instantly, but it was the truth. He had long blond hair that fell in front of his face and the most gorgeous hazel green eyes. He grew a well-groomed beard but you could still see the dimples on his cheek when he smiled. I noticed a scar under his right eye in the shape of a star. It was not normal that wolf kept scars so it must have been something pretty rough. I could feel the strength in his arms as he held me firmly but gently. He seemed like the romantic type and after catching him looking at me and then Merrick I wondered if something had ever happened between them.
When we get to my bed he sits me down and grabs the wastebasket from the bathroom as a precaution.
"Ok ma'am, if you require anything else from me please do not hesitate to call me", and he turns to leave. "Wait! I'm sorry that is incredibly awkward of me to just tell you that you are beautiful. I mean the duke is very handsome too...I mean not that I am trying to compare the two of you... Not that", his hand motions me to stop.
"Ella, it's really ok. I am flattered that you think I am beautiful. I am sure the duke would be flattered by your opinion of him as well. Please try and rest, we will be going out later this evening and you will want to have sobered up. I left some water over there on the nightstand so if you get thirsty it's there." He bows and starts to leave, "Wait! One more thing?" I sit up so I can take an assessment of his face, "Is something going on between you and the Duke?" I can't believe I just said that and if I hadn't been drunk I don't think I ever could. I knew this one the only time before we sealed the deal that I had to ask.
His eyes and head immediately go to the floor, "What do you mean? I am his guard, him my master." I can feel him leaving something out," I am not mad, I just want to know. I wouldn't want to hurt anything you two have going on", I say trying my best to gauge his reaction.
When he finally looks at me to speak I see a coldness in his eyes I had not seen before. "There is nothing going on between us, your grace. I swear to you the Duke has never had those feeling towards me. We are best friends but first and foremost I am here to protect you both. Please accept my apology for this afternoon, you both just surprised me." He bows and walks quickly toward the door and just before he pulls it shut, he turns back to look at me. "You are really kind of beautiful too, Ella" he winks at me and closes the door shut.