Chapter 207
Ellie's POV
Dominic tried the door again.
And again.
Nothing.
It didn't move even slightly.
I sat on the edge of my bed, trying very hard not to laugh.
Of course, this would happen.
Because apparently, the universe had a sense of humor.
Or maybe it wasn't the universe at all.
Maybe this had been planned.
"Sorry, Alpha."
Marcus's voice came from the other side of the door.
"The lock is definitely broken. We could try removing the door from the hinges, but these are old, and the screws require special tools. Honestly, it might be easier to just call the locksmith."
Dominic stepped away from the door.
He rubbed the back of his neck, looking more frustrated than angry.
Then he looked at me.
I shrugged.
"This is what you wanted, isn't it?"
His eyebrows pulled together.
"What?"
I tilted my head.
"You and your parents planned this."
His expression shifted from confusion to disbelief.
"You all decided to force me to share a room with you. That's why you followed me up here, right?"
I crossed my arms.
"So you could pretend the door was stuck and make it look like we had no choice but to sleep together?"
Dominic stared at me.
For a long moment.
His expression was so genuinely confused that I almost questioned my own accusation.
It was like I had just told him the sky was green.
Finally, he spoke.
"Ellie..."
He sighed.
"I didn't sleep with you when you were drugged and throwing yourself at me."
My face tightened.
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"It has everything to do with it."
His voice remained calm.
"What makes you think I would force you into something like that now?"
I looked away.
"I wasn't your contract wife then."
The words came out sharper than I intended.
"I wasn't someone who had been pressured into signing away her choices."
"Ellie..."
Dominic closed his eyes briefly.
Then shook his head.
"Look."
His tone softened.
"I noticed you leave after dinner. I came to check on you."
He gestured toward the door.
"I had no idea my parents were planning something like this."
A pause.
"Believe me."
I studied him.
For some reason, I believed him.
Which was annoying.
"So you're staying?"
Dominic glanced toward the door.
"Unless you want to spend the entire night listening to someone tear your door apart."
Honestly?
I almost preferred that.
But it was late.
I was exhausted.
And the thought of drilling and hammering right outside my room was unbearable.
"You can stay."
Dominic nodded.
I expected him to immediately move toward the bed.
But instead, he looked around the room.
Then asked:
"Do you have an extra blanket and pillows?"
I blinked.
I pointed toward the closet.
He walked over, took out the bedding, and started making a place for himself on the floor.
I watched him silently.
I hadn't expected that.
Not really.
I knew he probably wouldn't force anything.
But seeing him willingly choose the floor while I kept the bed...
It was strangely thoughtful.
Almost sweet.
And I hated that I noticed.
I cleared my throat.
"You don't have to sleep on the floor all night."
Dominic looked at me.
Then glanced at the bed.
I stood.
"I need to shower."
I headed toward the bathroom.
"Make yourself comfortable."
Then I paused.
"But don't open my bedside drawer."
His eyebrows lifted.
"Why?"
A small smirk tugged at my lips.
"Maybe it has some of the toys your mother was talking about."
For the briefest moment...
Dominic's cheeks turned slightly red.
And somehow, that made me feel victorious.
I took my time in the shower.
The warm water helped calm me down.
Mostly, I was hoping that by the time I came out, Dominic would already be asleep.
Unfortunately...
He wasn't.
He was lying on the left side of my bed.
On his back.
His eyes opened the moment I entered.
I didn't say anything.
Instead, I grabbed a spare pillow.
Then, place it vertically in the middle of the bed.
A barrier.
A clear boundary.
Dominic looked at it.
But thankfully, he didn't comment.
I climbed into bed and turned off the light.
For a while, neither of us spoke.
Neither of us slept.
I stared at the ceiling.
Counting the patterns.
Counting the seconds.
Eventually, I looked over.
Dominic was doing the same thing.
Staring upward.
Wide awake.
"What are you thinking about?"
The question slipped out before I could stop myself.
I wasn't sure why I asked.
Maybe I just wanted to break the silence.
Maybe I was curious.
After a moment, Dominic answered.
"I'm thinking about the fact that you stabbed me on our wedding day."
I rolled my eyes.
"And how now, only days later, we're sharing a bed for the first time."
I sighed.
"You're still stuck on that?"
"Ellie."
His voice was incredulous.
"You stabbed me."
"Fair."
I couldn't stop the tiny smile that appeared.
Then curiosity got the better of me.
"Have you ever been... stabbed before?"