Saving Ellie (Lycans Book 1)

by Whitney R. B.

  “What are you doing?” I ask.

  “You’re the one who cuddled with me all last night, little human, more than usual.”

  “I-um, I’m sorry?”

  He chuckles. “Don’t be.” His hand moves to my bare hip. My breath hitches. Goosebumps erupt as he rubs circles along my skin with his thumb. Turning his mouth to my ear, he says, “I didn’t mind.” His warm breath sends shivers down my spine.

  My heart rate spikes when he places a warm, lingering kiss below my ear. I hold my breath as he moves lower, dotting more along my jaw and moving down my neck. “So, I cuddled with you. And now?” I say against his onslaught of kisses.

  A small giggle escapes me as his scruff tickles my neck.

  I feel his smirk against my skin as he tugs me closer. “Now it’s my turn.”

  My cheeks heat.

  He snuggles closer with his head resting on my shoulder. After a moment, I relax against him and close my eyes. We lay together in silence, and I’m almost asleep again when he murmurs, “You’re so beautiful.” He kisses my forehead then rolls out of bed.

  Sitting up, my eyes linger on him as he stands in the soft moonlight. It’s morning, but the moon slowly monopolizes the sky here in Alaska as winter progresses.

  Ash is beautiful, inside and out, but his body is a masterpiece. His muscles bunch and move as he stretches. His smooth, light-brown skin showcases his defined back muscles and the dimples at the base of his back. His pants hang almost a little too low. I swallow.

  I drop my gaze when he turns back to me, not wanting to be caught ogling him.

  Looking through my lashes, I take a chance and find him smirking. I draw the covers higher to hide under, but not before I catch a glimpse of his toned chest and abs. My body warms thinking about him. I take a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. Even though I was pressed up against him for most of the night, seeing what I was pressed up against is completely different.

  “No hiding.” Ash gently pulls the covers away from my face with a grin. He sits down on the bed. “Do you think you’re up for a few visitors today? They’ll only stay for the evening.”

  I gnaw on my lip. “I guess.”

  He tugs my bottom tip away from my teeth. “It’s okay to say no.”

  Looking down, I fidget with one of the ruffles. “No—I mean, yes I’m up for a few visitors.”

  He eyes me, but he must not be too concerned because he doesn’t ask me about it again. “Okay, well, I’m going to make us some breakfast. Do you like pancakes?”

  “Who doesn’t?”

  He smiles. “Touché. I’m going to go to my room and grab a shirt first. I’ll meet you in the kitchen.”

  I watch him leave then get up and make myself decent. I use the half-bath in the hallway before making my way to the kitchen.

  My heart skips a beat when I see Ash in front of the stainless-steel stove, barefoot, wearing a white t-shirt and baggy sweats while flipping pancakes. What would it be like to see this every morning?

  There’s an island that separates the kitchen and the table. Ash’s table is rectangular and larger than Emma’s. The back door lies just beyond the table. The cabinets are a dark walnut and countertops a black quartz, giving the kitchen a rustic and modern vibe.

  My hands cover my stomach as it rumbles.

  Ash chuckles, turning his head toward me. “Glad to see you’re hungry for a change.”

  I smile shyly and take a seat at the table as he brings two plates over. My eyes bug out at the large stack he places in front of me. “I can’t eat this much.” My appetite may be getting better, but not by this much.

  “I don’t expect you to. Just eat what you can.” He hands me the syrup and places a fork near my plate.

  A sigh escapes me as I rub my temple, a headache already forming.

  He eyes me. “You’ve been doing that a lot lately. How are you feeling?”

  I shrug and lather my meal with syrup. “I’ve been getting headaches on and off, but I figure that’s from my concussion.”

  His eyes narrow on my food as he nods. “Let me know if it gets worse or if anything else starts to hurt. I’m afraid I may have brought you home too soon,” he says, taking the syrup I offer back.

  “Will do,” I say and take a bite. Although if that means going back to the hospital, I’m not sure I will. I’m just glad the itching stopped.

  After ten minutes, the mountain of pancakes is practically gone.

  He laughs at my surprised face. “This is a good thing, Ellie.”

  I shake my head in disbelief. It seems too sudden to be able to eat that much. It’s barely been a week since we started.

  Ash stands and starts clearing the table.

  I jump up. “Let me.”

  He saved me—the least I can do is wash the dishes.

  I try to take them out of his hands, but he raises them and maneuvers away. He places the dishes in the stainless sink that lays below a window.

  I huff. “I can do it. Please let me do something for you.” Nudging him away, I plant myself in between him and the sink. I turn the faucet on.

  “You don’t need to do anything for me. Besides, you’re still not one hundred percent yet.” Ash grips the edge of the sink on each side of me, trapping me.

  My heart rate spikes at his proximity. “Yes, I do. You’ve done so much for me.” I grab a scrubber and run a plate under the water, trying to ignore the large male behind me.

  My breath catches as he leans in closer, towering behind me, pressing his body against mine. “You being alive is enough for me,” he says softly in my ear.

  Goosebumps erupt across my skin as a shiver runs down my neck and through my spine. He gently takes my hands with his. I close my eyes as tingles and sparks intertwine through my bloodstream. His arms press against my sides and in one swift motion he pries the scrubber from my hands, shifts me over, and moves into the spot I just occupied.

  His eyes twinkle with mirth as he gives me a cheeky grin.

  My cheeks heat up. How did that not affect him?

  Biting my bottom lip, I step closer, my side brushing against him, my fingers dusting over his arm. His breath hitches, and I roll my lips inward to fight a smile. I guess I’m not the only one affected.

  I take the clean plate out of his hands and start drying it with a towel.

  He eyes me, and there’s a look in his eyes I can’t place.

  My brows knit together. “Yes?” I ask, setting the plate aside.

  He turns away, continuing on to the next dish. “Nothing.”

  Once we finish, he turns to me. “I have a surprise for you.”

  I tilt my head. “A surprise?”

  “I’ll be right back.” And with that, he swiftly walks out of the kitchen.

  Uh, okay then.

  I clasp my hands together to keep them from fidgeting. What could the surprise be? I look at the table. Should I sit while I wait? How long will he take? Would it be strange to just keep standing here?

  Before I can decide what to do, he walks in holding a blue paper bag with glittery tissue paper popping out of it. He offers it to me while his other hand rubs his neck. “This is for you.”

  I shake my head in bewilderment. Another gift? When did he even have the time to get me something? He’s almost always with me.

  I hesitantly take the present from him, and it’s heavier than I expected. I set it down on the island and start removing the tissue paper. Looking inside, I gasp. There’s a full charcoal drawing kit, a calligraphy pen, a sketchbook, and multiple small canvases. Anything I could possibly need to draw.

  “You...you didn’t have to get me this.”

  “You don’t have much to call your own, and I wanted you to feel more at home here. I want you to be comfortable, and I know how much you enjoy drawing.”

  I rub my eyes as pressure builds behind them. “You don’t know how much this means to me.” I swallow the lump in my throat. This is better quality than my own things. This must have
cost him a small fortune. “Thank you so much, Ash.”

  His eyes darken as he swallows. “I’m glad you like it.”

  I beam. “I love it.”

  He stills, but then a slow smile appears on his face. “Why don’t you go put it in your room? We can talk after you take a shower.”

  “Okay.” I quickly put my new gifts back into the bag. I start heading out of the kitchen but pause mid-step and quickly turn around. I fidget with the bottom of my shirt. “Is there a bathroom I can use?” I’ve been using the one upstairs, but yesterday only a small trickle came out of the shower.

  He rubs the back of his neck. “Right. I guess you would need to use mine.”

  Heat rises to my cheeks. “Oh.”

  “Until I can get the plumbing looked at upstairs, it’s the only one with a working shower.” A sly grin forms on his face. “But don’t worry, I promise to stay away so you can shower in peace.”

  “If I knew you were a man then I wouldn’t have done that.” I give him a pointed look.

  His face drops. “I’m sorry about that. I should’ve left you rather than stay in wolf form.”

  My heart races. “I’m glad you didn’t.” I bite my lip. “What you said in the field, did you mean it?”

  He straightens. “Which part?”

  “I…” I force my hands to remain still as the desire to fidget rears its head.

  Ash takes a step forward, drawing nearer. “The part where I apologized? Because, yes, I’m still sorry.” Another step. “Or the part where I said I’ll go wherever you are?” Another step. “Or maybe it was where I said I wanted you.” His voice grows soft as he stops only a hair’s breadth away. His body radiates heat.

  “Do you still feel that way?” I ask, my heart beating fast.

  His breath caresses over my skin as he speaks near my ear, sending shivers down my spine. “Yes, I do. And I meant all of it. The real question is, how do you feel?” My gaze travels to his face when I realize I’ve been staring at his chest. His eyes search mine.

  “How do I feel?”

  He pulls away. “How do you feel about me, Ellie? Do you want me as much as I want you? Do you want to be together? You said you wanted me, but do you still feel that way?”

  “I…I’ve never been in a relationship before.”

  He blinks. “I don’t care.”

  “I’ve never kissed anyone before.”

  His gaze flickers to my lips and a corner of his mouth turns up. “I find I like that answer a little too much.”

  “I’m human.”

  His eyes flash to mine, color draining from his face. “You are.” He takes a step back, the space around me now cold and empty. His mouth thins. “I should’ve considered you wouldn’t want to be with someone like me. You’d want to be with someone more…human.”

  My breath grows shallow. “No, that’s not what I meant.”

  His face has grown cold as the color of his eyes. “Then what did you mean?”

  “I meant...” My hands go to my hair, lightly tugging the strands. “I don’t know anything about your world. How am I supposed to fit in? How are people supposed to accept us when I’m not like you or them?”

  He clears the distance between us in one stride and takes my face in his hands. “It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. It only matters what you and I want. I want you. All of you. Everything you’re willing to give.” I try to blink away tears that build up, but they flow down anyways. I’ve never had someone fight for me this much before. Desire me.

  “I’m scared,” I say.

  I need to leave, but I want to stay with him. I want to see where this could go. Because what if he really can protect me and this works out? But could I chance him getting injured because I stayed?

  His thumbs slide across my cheeks, wiping away my tears. “It’s okay to be scared. I’m here. You can lean on me. I’ll teach you all you need to know about my world, and we can go slow. I don’t want to push you into doing anything you don’t want to do.”

  Taking a deep breath, I look into his soulful eyes. “I want you, Ash, but I don’t even know your last name.”

  He stares for a moment before his head tips back and laughs. “Oh, Ellie darling. I plan on us getting to know each other real well. But if you must know, my last name is Sylvester.”

  I smile. “Ash Sylvester.”

  He swallows. “Yes,” he says, his voice husky. He clears his throat. “And yours?”

  “Eleanor Hollenberg.”

  His brows scrunch together.

  “What’s wrong?” Does my name sound funny?

  “Your last name sounds familiar to me, but I can’t place it.” He shakes his head. “But Eleanor…that’s beautiful. I didn’t realize Ellie was just a nickname.”

  Butterflies flutter in my stomach when he says my name.

  “Why don’t you go by Eleanor?”

  I shrug. “My parents always called me Ellie, so it stuck.”

  “What would you like to be called?” he asks.

  “I’m happy with Ellie.”

  He smiles. “Then Ellie darling it is. Now—” He takes hold of my shoulders and turns me toward the entrance of the hall. “It’s time for you to get ready while I finish cleaning up. I’ll teach you about lycans later.”

  After placing the gift on my dresser and grabbing some clothes, I head over to his room. I pause at the door, my hand hovering over the doorknob. Isn’t there a saying that a room says a lot about a person?

  What if I find out he’s been hiding some deep, dark secret besides being a lycan? I scoff at myself. Way to be morbid, Ellie. Besides, I seriously doubt he’d hide something in his bedroom then let me casually walk in it.

  And there’s the fact that I trust him and really care about him. I mean, I did admit to him that I want him as more than a friend. My gut tells me he’s a good guy, and it’s never let me down before.

  “Are you going in?”

  I jump, turning to find Ash. I press my hand on my heart. “You almost gave me a heart attack.”

  His lips roll in, trying to keep himself from laughing, but he fails to keep a grin hidden. “Sorry, that wasn’t my intention.”

  We stare at one another for a moment.

  “So...are you?” he asks.

  “Am I what?”

  He chuckles. “Going to go in.”

  “Oh. Yes. Uh...” I turn back around and quickly enter to hide my rapidly heating face.

  I pause. His room is exactly how I imagined. It fits him.

  My eyes automatically land on the multiple bookcases filled with hundreds of books. He has a desk snug in between them with a lamp and laptop laying on top. I make my way through the room, passing by his king-size bed. The espresso bed frame and black duvet and navy pillows contrast with his soft gray walls.

  “Do you need me to show you how to use the shower?” Ash asks.

  I turn my head toward him. “I should be okay.”

  He nods then leaves the room, closing the door behind him. Taking a deep breath, I look around again, finding the entrance of the bathroom. I walk over and my eyes widen. It has no door!

  But his room does. I quickly walk back to the door and lock it. He’s not the type of person to walk in on me, but I’m paranoid. I walk back to the bathroom, remove my clothes, and fold them on the counter. I walk over to the shower with glass walls. It’s so large it could easily fit five people. There are shower heads in every direction, even one overhead. One wall has three knobs in a vertical line and a few buttons next to them. No screen or anything to help indicate what each does.

  What the actual heck is this?

  I guess I did need his help. I look down at my bare skin—a bit too late for that.

  Reaching in, I mess with the knobs, but when nothing happens I move in more to press one of the buttons. A burst of scalding hot water hits me on the back. I jump back with a scream. Fumbling to get out of the shower, I step on a slippery spot. My foot sliding under me, I start to fall, but st
rong lean arms catch me.

  Squealing, I look up. Ash’s intense, glacier-blue eyes meet mine. The hot water spraying him in the back. He gently carries me out of the shower, making sure none of the water hits me again.

  “Are you okay?” His voice is strained and deeper than usual.

  I nod.

  He closes his eyes as his fingers twitch just under my breasts. Remembering I’m naked, I squirm to get out of his arms, but his grip tightens around me, his whole body tensing.

  “You might want to stop moving,” he says through tight lips.

  I freeze, holding my breath, highly aware of his hands and arms on my bare legs and waist. My body tingles from the tips of my toes to the top of my head. His hands are hot on my skin.

  He inhales deeply, his nose flaring, and opens his eyes again. His gaze burns into mine. “Is it okay to put you down?”

  I nod.

  He exhales slowly as he gently sets me down, making sure I don’t slip. He puts an arm in the shower, not looking at me as I quickly cover myself with a towel. He touches the water and adjusts the knobs.

  “H-how did you get in?” I ask.

  His eyes flicker to mine, his gaze never leaving my face. “I broke the door.”

  I blink. What?

  He broke the door? Just how strong is he?

  “May I look at your back?”

  My brows scrunch together.

  “The hot water,” he reminds me. “I want to make sure you aren’t burned. My shower is programmed to be hotter because lycans’ body temperatures run warmer.”

  My brows shoot up and I nod again. It stings a bit, but I’ve felt a lot worse.

  He tilts his head to the ceiling, closing his eyes. His hands clench and unclench at his sides before he lets out a heavy breath. He walks around me to my back. A shiver runs down my spine as his hands lightly graze the sliver of skin above the towel. I slowly ease my hold on the towel as he nudges it down until it reveals my entire back. His hands stall close to my waist. My eyebrows furrow, then my body stiffens.

  He can see all my scars.

  I can’t believe I forgot about them, considering I never forget about them. Some of them ache just shifting a certain way, but whenever I’m with Ash, my past, my scars all seem to fade away.