Surprised, Ellis brushed her shoulder. “She’s fine Alex. She’s just drunk and sleeping it off. No needto be so upset. I am going to head back to the room myself. McConnell really meant no harm. You know how Riv can be when she wants to escape.”
“Escape?”, Alex chuckled darkly, “sure that’s what it was.” With that she turned and walked away without a backwards glance.
Ellis looked at McConnell and patted his shoulder. “At least she didn't kill you on the spot. Now you can rest easy tonight knowing that it won’t be your last.”
McConnell looked a little green. “Thanks…I think.” He said, disappearing after Alex.
Well, that was interesting and overly dramatic. Although that expression… I thought I saw something akin to devastation? But why? Maybe I need a drink.Ellis sighed, making his way back to their bedchambers where their new guard, Captain Andrew Wright, already stood watch. It never failed to amaze him how fast Alex could get things done.
Chapter Ten
The Morning After
Rivka
The sun beamed through a crack in the partially drawn curtains. Rivka blinked her eyes, trying to clear the grit in them to no avail. Her entire body felt heavy.Why is everything so bright?!Groaning and disoriented, she turned onto her side, her body protesting the movement. She slit her eyelids open a fraction, and light brown eyes met hers just inches away. Gasping, she instinctively scrambled backwards.
“Whoa, Whoa! It’s just me, my darling. You are safe.” Ellis soothed, holding his hands up in a show of peace.
“You frightened me to death, El! You know I hate that!”, Rivka exclaimed, clutching at the blankets. “Why were you staring at me like that? What happened last night? I don’t even remember how I got to bed.”
“Apparently, you got wasted. You are lucky that it was Ithat found you and not someone with much more nefarious intentions.”, Ellis stated holding a mug out to her. “Drink this. You know it will help you feel normal again. We have much to do today and no time to nurse a hangover.”
Rivka stared at Ellis in disbelief. There was no way she was drunk last night. She never even sipped the wine or ale offered at these balls and she certainly wouldn’t here. The Rune Province wasn’t exactly the place to let your guard down, let alone drink whatever poison they may try to serve you. The blanket covering Rivka fell as she sat up and took the mug from Ellis. “Dear Gods, Ellis, where are my clothes?” She clutched the blanket to her chest. “I didn’t drink last night. At all. You were right there with me! The last thing I remember is using the washroom and…”
She trailed off, not sure what she did after that. It was all a jumbled mess of sensations. Rivka raised the cup to her lips and took a drink.
Wait, why are my lips swollen?
“My darling, you left to use the washroom and didn’t return. I saw McConnell without you and thought you’d snuck away. But you were most definitely drunk. When I found you, you were staggering around the halls half-dressed and giggling like a prepubescent schoolgirl.” Ellis chuckled, trying to hide his amusement. Regaining his control, he continued, “I don’t know what you did after you left Tristan and I in the ballroom, but when I found you some time later, you were alone.”
Rivka’s eyes widened. Flashes of the night before coming back to her. Hands, big hands, cupping her breasts. Her head thrown back in ecstasy…but it was fuzzy, like she was seeing the scene through a fog. The feeling though, that was less fuzzy, and the tenderness in her most intimate places, left no question.
I had sex last night. No, wait, not just sex but sex with a MAN!
“Oh, Gods. Oh, Gods!” She blushed, her face going scarlet. Rivka’s eyes flew to Ellis’.
“We di-we didn’t have-Oh, GODS! DID WE…” She stammered, barely able to form the words.
Throwing back his head, Ellis laughed. “Oh, honey, I love you, but no, just…no.”
His laughter died as he took in the look of horror that must have shown on her face. Guilt flashed in his eyes as he sobered.
“Riv, you know that I can’t…we’ve tried, and it’s never…worked.”
Rivka’s shoulders fell. “Then who…?”
“Who what Riv? Did something happen? I’ve been with you all night. Please tell me so that I can help.” He reached out to touch her, but she flinched away, immediately feeling shame for the hurt she saw in his face. She could never feel afraid of Ellis. He was her foundation.
Her head pounded the harder she pushed to remember. She had obviously been with a man last night. The tell-tale signs on her body confirmed that, but if not Ellis…then who? How had she lost control so completely that she couldn’t remember anything?
“You said you found me in the corridor alone?” Her voice shook.
“Yes, and I tried to help you into your night clothes, but you just kept ripping at your dress, stumbling around, and giggling about there being too many layers.”
“I need you.”His voice. She heard it inside her head, clear and immediately recognizable.
Rivka froze at the words, nausea raging through her as the full memory of the night before hit her. The force of the onslaught had Tristan’s face swimming in front of her eyes.
