Chapter Seven
Edris
I stood inside and listened to him rail at me on the other side of the door. He slurred his words, a dead giveaway that he’d been drinking, and I’d learned a long time before that you don’t argue with a drunk. Was this his way of coping with uncomfortable emotions?
Resting my forehead against the door, I cringed as it rattled under his pounding. My bear was having fits, wanting our mate in here immediately. Or sooner. But in his current mindset, I feared it would not be good to try to have any kind of a sensible conversation.
“Omega, go back to your room, and we’ll talk in the morning.
” I spoke through the door, but if he could hear me over his own noise, he gave no indication.
And for his sake, mine, and that of any other guests of the Mates Motel, I couldn’t just leave him out there any longer.
He was getting louder by the minute, and at some point, someone was going to call the authorities.
Or he’d hurt himself. So, I gave in and opened the door. “Zac, we—”
No sooner were those words out than he’d pushed past me into the room.
Shrugging, I closed the door behind him and turned to face the interior.
I wouldn’t let it get out of control. This was my mate, and we should have a whole life ahead of us.
Things aid under the influence, or in response to his being under the influence, could harm our future.
“Omega, sit down here at the table and I’ll make some coffee.”
“No, I don’t want any coffee. I just want to tell you why I am so up-shet.” I’d never seen someone drinking actually hiccup, like in movies, but Zac was doing it. “Hic. Excuse me.”
“Do you want me to scare you and try to make them go away?” I stood, hovering over him, wanting to make everything better, to take the next steps forward with him, but at least the latter would have to wait. He was even drunker in person than he’d sounded from outside.
“No. Don’t scare me.” He lifted teary eyes toward me. “Hic.”
“Nobody is scaring you. Let me get you some water instead.” I brought him a bottle and pressed it into his hand. “My granddad always used to have me take ten sips then hold my breath to a count of ten.”
“And that fixes hiccups? Hic.” He eyed the water doubtfully. “Is that science?”
“Not sure. Maybe it just distracts you enough to forget to hiccup.”
“Okay.” He twisted the cap off and brought the bottle to his lips. “Here goes—hic!” Finally he managed to take the sips, counting off after each, then took a big, deep breath and held it in. After he exhaled, we both waited, silent. “I think it’s—hic.”
“Granddad wasn’t always right.” I got him to sip more water, more in the name of hydrating than stopping the hiccups.
The surest way to a hangover was dehydration as anyone who’d ever partied too much should know, and I hated hangovers enough that I hadn’t been drunk since college.
But the two bottles Zac finished off before he refused to drink any more would go a long way toward improving his morning.
I went to the bathroom for a moment, but when I returned, hoping the water and time had taken the edge off his buzz, I found the omega—my omega—asleep, his cheek resting on his folded arms on the table.
I wanted to put him in my bed, but I feared that if he woke up there, he might think I’d taken advantage of him.
Or just be upset that I’d assumed he’d want to sleep with me.
And we hadn’t cleared the air yet. I hadn’t even had a chance to apologize for insulting him.
Accidental or not, I’d hurt him. And I wanted him to know that his life and job were no less important than mine.
I hadn’t assumed he’d move in with me because I wanted to be the bossy alpha in our mating.
In my judgment of this small town, I’d just thought it was logical.
But that would wait until the morning to discuss.
For now, I patted his pockets for his room key then tried to wake him enough to walk back to his room.
I had mixed success. Found the key but couldn’t rouse my omega.
Leaving just one way to get him to his room—in my arms. Couldn’t say I minded the idea.
Especially when, without opening his eyes, he snuggled close and rested his head on my chest.
The scents of the alcohol he’d consumed threatened to overwhelm his own scent, but the chance to hold him was too precious to miss.
Oh, I supposed I could have left him there at the table to sleep it off without it being considered improper in any way, but he couldn’t be comfortable to spend the night on a hard chair, hunched over like that.
The key, fortunately, had the room number on it, and I managed to open my door then close it behind us before carrying my mate to his own room.
Not a large male, Zac was not petite either, and I while I’d enjoyed holding him, I was also glad to get him inside and onto his own bed.
Again, trying not to overstep, something my wolf scoffed at, considering he was our fated, I only took off his shoes and socks and shirt before tucking him under the covers.
Wanting to leave a note, so he’d know what happened between us, I cast around, checked the dresser drawers and the desk. Didn’t every hotel and motel have some kind of stationery and a pen?
Every one except this one.
Not wanting to leave him, I hovered in the doorway for a few minutes.
Was it safe to go? He looked very comfortable, resting curled on his side and breathing evenly.
I decided he’d be fine and that hanging around was only for my own benefit, so I set the key on the desk and left, returning to my own room to toss and turn.
This omega held my happiness in his hands. Fated or not, he could reject me if he chose and I only prayed he would not.