Chapter 36

Renee’s POV

I pull the plug to the tub, and watch the water swirl my grime and dirt down the drain along with my thoughts.

I feel cleaner, but not less confused. I slip into a white silk robe that is hanging on a hook and toss my hair into a towel. I wipe some fog off the mirror and inspect my reflection.

I definitely look more refreshed but the dark circles won’t go away until I get some good sleep. I left my suitcase on the bed so I’ll have to endure the cold air outside of the steamy bathroom in order to get dressed.

I brace myself and push open the door and sure enough the cold air is quite a contrast. My skin prickles. But the colder temperature of the bedroom isn’t the only thing I notice. I’m also hit in the face with a strong smell of bacon, maple syrup, freshly squeezed orange juice, and coffee.

Standing between me and my suitcase on the bed is a cart layered with silver platters and Eric. He stands frozen, in the middle of removing a dome-shaped lid from a plate.

I become painfully aware of how cold I am, and how obviously it is that I’m cold. I look down and pull my robe tighter around my chest. When the I risk shock wears off, I get angry.

“What are you doing here? Remember I told you exactly what I was doing so that you wouldn’t be here,” I snap. Eric looks me over and smiles like he wants to laugh at me.

I pull the towel off my head and my wet hair falls down my back and drips onto my white robe causing the silk fabric to cling to my skin.

“I thought you might be hungry,” Eric says coolly. Just then my stomach growls loud enough for the both of us to here.

I correct my posture, rolling my shoulders down my back. “As a matter of fact, I am hungry,” I tell him and walk over to the food. My mouth salivates.

All we’ve eaten so far has been peanuts from the plane and alcohol.

“Try this,” Eric says as if everything is completely normal. He holds out some kind of fancy-cut baguette with cream cheese and raspberries. I take a bite and my tastebuds explode with flavor. It’s delicious.

“It’s good, isn’t it?” Eric asks setting it down and grabbing a plate full of eggs for himself. I wipe my mouth and look at him puzzled.

“What are you doing m?” I ask. Eric keeps loading his plate up.

“I’m hungry too,” he says.

“Remember I didn’t want you here?” I say.

“Remember I’m your boss?” Eric says lifting an eyebrow at me. “Besides, it’s my room too. That I’m paying for and same for this room service,”

Crap. I can’t really argue with that.

“Let me try that,” he says and points to a sausage that’s on my side of the cart.

“You can get it,” I tell him.

“You want me to reach down by your crouch?” He asks and I feel my face heat up.

“Here,” I say quickly and put the sausage on his plate.

“Feed me a bite;” he says. I look at him like he’s crazy. “I don’t know if I’ll like it, I may not want it on my plate getting it’s juice on my other stuff,” I wrinkle my nose.

“What are you a child? Debbie doesn’t even care if her food touches,”

Eric shrugs. “I’m picky about what I like,” I roll my eyes, but Eric is telling the truth. I take the sausage and hold it out for him to bite. He holds eye contact with me as his teeth bite into the meat.

I find myself staring at him. “Do you like it?” I ask hurriedly trying to move things along.

“It’s good,” he says pulling back, then nonchalantly, “My ex-wife cooked it better,”

I avert my eyes and look back down at the cart. I start to fill my own plate.

Were silent for a few moments and in that time I try not to think about how very sheer and thin the fabric I’m wearing is. The only plus side is that it comes down to my knees, but when I sit on the bed it rides up to my thighs.

Eric is still in his clothes he flew in, but he took his jacket off which now lies strewn haphazardly on the leather chair in the corner of the room. He still does that. I note.

“My ex-wife hated when I would throw my clothes on the chair in our bedroom,”

That’s because you always knew I would just kick it up.

“Doesn’t bother me,” I say and avoid Eric’s look. I look around the rest of the room.

The floors are hardwood and three large windows overlook the center of the city. The walls are beige with thin wood paneling on one side. There’s a rug that swirls a blend of sky blue and gold which matches the gold lamps and light blue decorative pillows on the white leather couch.

Eric comes and sits on the bed next to me. His close proximity kicks my nerves into over drive.

“You smell good,” he says looking at me and I’m not sure if he’s aware, but he just ever so slightly bite his lower lip. My mouth goes try and I’m thankful I’m sitting because my knees to weak.

It doesn’t help that he is incredibly handsome.

“I’m sure you will too once you shower,” I say and Eric laughs. It’s unexpected yet it lightens the mood that I didn’t even realize was tense.

“What? You don’t like the musty, natural scent?”

I shrug. “It’s not very you,” I say. Eric clicks his tongue.

“I didn’t realize you knew me so well,” he says and I instantly regret my words.

“I don’t know if I do,” I say quietly. Just then something warm drips onto me. I look down but can’t see quite what it is.

“I’ll get it,” Eric says and slides closer to me on the bed. He sets his plate on the ground, leaning down towards my bare legs. My heart beats through my entire body.

He sits back up and tilts my chin up to expose my neck more. It’s a very vulnerable situation in the werewolf world, I may not have a wolf anymore but I know that much at least. But Eric is gentle. He presses his thumb to his tongue and swipes his thumb right above my collarbone.

He pulls his hand back and kicks his thumb again. “It’s chocolate from your crepe,” he says, keeping his eyes locked into mine. I don’t say anything, I just watch him, silently begging for more. I swallow the lump in my throat and Eric’s eyes move to watch the slow roll of my throat.

He puts his hand back on me, this time his four fingers resting on my shoulder and his thumb sliding across my collar bone. Part of my robe slips down over my shoulder, and Eric’s eyes fall to the exposed skin. My body lights up at his every touch.

He moves the silk robe even further down so that more of my arm and chest are open to the cool air, which is contrasted by his warm touch.

I know I have to stop this. As soon as the thought enters, it’s all I can think about. Eric looks back up at me, probably sensing the sudden change in my demeanor and I act quickly.

“I’m dating Jasper,” I say in a hurried exhale and get up from the bed. I nearly drop my plate, but luckily we avoid a mess as the plate sinks into the plushness of the white comforter.

I step over Eric who leans back as I rush to the bathroom needing to remove myself from his presence. I close the doors behind me and rush to take a deep breath and nearly choke from the moisture that still clings in the air.

I can only hope when I open those doors again that Eric is gone.

That was too close.