Autumn Moon

Chapter Four

Corisa woke with a start and came face to face with a grinning Eric. "Good morning, beautiful."

She jumped so fiercely she fell out of the bed and landed with a loud *THUMP* on the floor. "Ow." She'd hit her head on the nightstand on the way down. She peeked over the side of the bed to see Eric laying there with his head propped in his hand and grinning. "What the hell are you doing in my bed?"

Eric jumped up and walked over to her, holding out his hand to help her from the floor. "Well," he started as she took his hand and he hauled her up, "I woke up and noticed where I was. I certainly wasn't going to miss the chance seeing you sleeping, so, I came in here and decided to watch you. You drool, you know."

"Creeper." Corisa mumbled while wiping the drool from the corner of her mouth with her hand. She assessed him while he stood there. Despite his apparent rough night, he seemed like he was fine. No hang over. No bags under his eyes or weird alcohol smell. His clothes were a little rumpled from sleeping on the couch, but he seemed in good spirits. He continued to stand there. In her room. Grinning like a Cheshire Cat. "Guess you can make me breakfast while you explain to me what happened and how you ended up here last night."

She turned from him and grabbed her robe from the door. Eric followed her retreating form through the hall and into the kitchen where she sat at the bar. She was really gorgeous. Her bed head and soft voice were a sexy combination and he had to turn away from her to keep himself from attempting to seduce her. He opened the fridge. "What would you like for breakfast? Eggs and bacon? Pancakes and sausage? Cereal? Poptarts?"

"Stop naming all of the food in my kitchen and just cook something already! Jeez!" Corisa held her face in her hands. She just needed coffee. And seriously so. She watched Eric pull some things from the fridge and then go to the cabinets for others. She jumped down from the stool and went to the Keurig, popping a cup in and a mug under the dripper, she waited for the brew while Eric started the bacon. "So, what happened last night?"

Eric watched her take her cup from the coffee maker and look around. Guessing she was looking for sugar and cream, he got the sugar from the cabinet above the stove and got the creamer from the fridge. He put them down on the bar. "Looking for this?" He gestured toward the cream and sugar. Corisa walked over, grabbed the creamer and sugar, and sat back down at the bar to make her coffee the way she liked. He handed her a spoon from the drawer. He went back to frying the bacon, flipping it carefully as not to burn himself with hot grease. "Honestly, the reason I ended up here is a mystery to me, but the reason for the drinking was more about Alec than anything."

Corisa looked up at him after taking a sip of her delicious coffee. "What happened?"

"He hit me." Eric shrugged. "Sent me out on an errand. The usual."

"What?" Corisa was shocked. "Why did he hit you?"

Eric chuckled and grinned at her. "Have you met me?"

Corisa rolled her eyes. "Well, it really depends on what you did."

The smile from his lips faded. "Let's not get into that. All you need to know is that I deserved it. I still do." As he took the bacon from the pan and added more, he could smell her. She was sweet and enticing. Take her. His wolf was trying break free. He took a deep breath, concentrating on the smell of the meat.

Corisa took another sip of her coffee. "I won't pry, then. But I'd still like to know how and why you ended up here."

Eric finished up the bacon and started on the eggs. He popped some bread in the toaster and got the butter from the fridge. He put it on the counter and finished up the eggs. He divided them onto two plates, giving himself the bigger portion. He slid Corisa's plate in front of her and watched her butter her toast. "I guess it was because I was angry. Angry at Alec. At myself. Downing a few seemed like a good idea. However, when I drink I tend to embarrass myself. Elsa has always been here when I got into stuff. Honestly, I'm glad it was you this time. She would make me clean. Scrub the floors, wash the walls, hang clothes." He shook his head and cracked a smile. "She's a tyrant."