5

AURORA

Heading back upstairs on unsteady legs, Orion follows me like a shadow. Ever the man of few words, he doesn’t speak which gives me time to run through my thoughts on what the hell just happened in the kitchen.

Lucian kissed me.

It was on the forehead but that doesn’t matter. He’s never once shown affection toward me before, not in that way. Does it mean something? No, surely not. He was probably just trying to comfort me after everything that happened. That’s the only thing that makes any kind of sense.

But the press of his lips lingers like a phantom against my forehead, and the warmth of his palm against my cheeks remains like an imprint.

He kissed me.

Right after I lied to him.

Half lied. I know Lucian is Bratva, and Cassian is too, which means something is happening here that I can’t see. If we were all ordinary people, I wouldn’t have had any qualms about calling the police and getting Cassian the help he clearly needs. Lucian wouldn’t have considered leaving Cassian to die in the snow, and I wouldn’t be worrying about keeping up this pretense. At the time, calling Lucian seemed like the best move, but now there is doubt toying at the edge of my mind.

Is my mother’s long-laid plans for Lucian really worth putting Cassian’s life at risk like this? Especially since I’m the one that hit him? My mother drilled into me from a young age how hateful and cruel these people are. Though if I’m honest with myself, in the six months I’ve been working here, I’ve seen nothing but cold kindness from Lucian and those around him. They keep the Bratva world far away from Lucian’s daughter and in a way, I admire that.

Part of me is certain that lying was the right call, and the quick thinking to lie about the car is all the proof I need. The rest of me is knotted up with guilt that churns the acid in my stomach and leaves a burning sensation at the base of my throat.

I’m torn.

And Lucian kissed me.

He surely has his own reasons for helping Cassian but for the life of me, I can’t work out what they are. Why did he go from wanting to leave him to die in the snow, to having him here with the family doctor tending to him? Is it guilt or something else?

“Aurora?” Orion’s rough tones pull me from my thoughts and my steps stumble. His hand shoots out and grasps lightly at my elbow to stop me from falling. He had been speaking all this time but I hadn’t been listening.

“Huh? Sorry, I was just—my head hurts so I keep getting distracted.”

“Do you need me to get Ester?” Despite his eyes being hidden behind those glasses, the subtle concern in his voice is clear.

“No. I just need some rest I think.”

Reaching my room, I expect Orion to remain outside like every other guard who escorts me around the place, but he doesn’t. He follows me in and closes the door behind him.

“What are you doing?”

Orion glances at me, then makes his way toward the door leading to my en suite. “What I was ordered to.”

“Which is what, exactly?”

“To take care of you.”

Irritation rises like static in my chest. I want peace and quiet to run through my thoughts and try to make sense of what is going on here. I want to plot my cover and find a way to see Cassian, to check that he really is being cared for. Part of me also aches to cry and release the throbbing build-up of tears behind my eyes.

I can’t do that with Orion here.

“I don’t need babied.” Any other day—literally any other—and having Orion in my room would be a dream. Likely as part of some dirty fantasy, too. Just not today.

Orion ignores me, though. With the door wide open, he sets about running me a bath filled to the brim with bubbles. The water runs, and the scents of lavender and lemon tickle my nose, enticing me toward the warmth. A bath wouldn’t be a bad idea. I’d briefly considered a shower when arriving here, but the thought was so exhausting that I’d shelved it for tomorrow. Now Orion presents me with that option, with minimal effort if he does all the work.

Turning my back, I make a beeline for my bed and flop down onto the blue bedspread. The familiar warm scent of my fluffy top blanket brings me comfort, a small note of soothing that I cling to. My bedside table is cluttered with a few new items—a bottle of painkillers, two bottles of water, and a square chocolate bar with a small, scribbled note attached.

Leaning up, I eye the chicken scratch across the paper and a smile tugs slightly at my lips.

Sugar is good for shock. –Ester

Of course.

The squeak of taps draws my attention back to the en suite. Orion stands in the doorway with his thick arms crossed across his chest. The bunching of his muscles draws the fabric of his vest and shirt upward, giving me the slightest peek at the warm, golden skin of his abdomen and the tiniest hint of more ink.

I tear my gaze away before it gets too obvious.

“Thank you.”

“No problem. Do you need help getting undressed?”

A sharp scoff rises in my throat. “Why, do you want to see me naked?”

“No.” Orion doesn’t move. “Your ribs were injured in the crash. I’m concerned you won’t be able to get your shirt off.”

“Oh.”

Heat flares across my cheeks as if Orion’s words had a physical impact. Of course that’s what he meant. How could I be so stupid? Lucian’s kiss clearly has me losing my mind. Standing, I hurry toward him and brush past with a mumble, utterly embarrassed but he catches my elbow.

“The door stays open.”

“What?!” More warmth bleeds across my face, flushing down my throat and my heart starts to race.

“You have a head injury. I don’t need you passing out in the tub and drowning.”

He has a reason for everything, huh?

“Fine.” I pull my arm away before the fire of my embarrassment can eat me alive, then trudge into the bathroom.

“And for the record?”

I turn to Orion as he closes the door over halfway.

“I don’t need a bathing excuse to see you naked.”

What the hell is that supposed to mean? I want to ask. No, I want to demand, but so much has happened tonight and the warmth of the bathroom is so enticing that the bath becomes my only focus. Orion remains in sight but he keeps his back to the door.

Somehow, that’s disappointing and I’m not sure why. Maybe I just want the comfort. It’s a similar pull as when Lucian was standing so close to me and the urge to sink into his arms and cry was at the forefront of my mind.

I strip slowly, keeping one eye on Orion but he remains steadfast. He doesn’t turn around, not even once. The ever-silent statue watching over everyone. Tiredness gets the better of me and after a painful attempt to get my shirt off, I sink into the enticing, captivating warmth of the bath.

The warmth of the water immediately highlights just how cold I was, and the touch of heat is almost painful. My legs throb, my knees ache, and my ribs complain as if the water is scalding hot. I grit my teeth through it all until I’m fully submerged, then I close my eyes.

Warmth envelopes me like a cocoon, and a peaceful silence falls. Bubbles fizz gently, and the occasional drip from the tap tinkles through the air. Floral scents invade my lungs, soothing tight muscles from the inside out while the events of the day slowly melt away. For a moment, in the protection of the hot water, I am just Aurora. Nothing else matters. Nothing else exists.

I don’t wash myself until the water starts to lose its protective heat, and when I scrub my hair, so much blood and grime comes free that it’s exactly the prompt I need to leave the bath. Beyond the door, Orion remains standing with his back to me and despite my earlier irritation, his presence is comforting.

It’s nice not to be alone.

Wrapping myself in the fluffiest robe I can reach, I secure it light so as not to aggravate my aching ribs and pad back through to my bedroom.

“Thank you.”

Orion finally turns and his head tilts as if he’s looking me up and down. “No problem.”

He moves past me to drain the bath and I head straight for bed, unwilling to do anything but sleep. Exhaustion pulls heavily at my eyelids, and each blink feels slower than the last. The heat of the bath has put all my worries behind me, storing them until tomorrow. My limbs drag slightly, weighed down by tired weights and I crawl into bed, robe and all. Sleep is all I want.

Orion drains the bath and turns out the light, but when I think he will leave, he instead crosses over to the leather chair in the far corner next to my dresser and sits down.

“What are you doing?”

Orion, illuminated by the security lights outside, crosses one leg over the other. “Taking care of you.”

“How? Are you going to watch me sleep? Don’t you have something better to do?”

“Orders are orders,” Orion replies. “You’re not going to be alone tonight.”

Frustration builds and the sudden urge to yell at him crawls up my throat. How can I cry myself to sleep with him there? My sluggish mind runs with excuses, trying to find a way to get him to leave but I know him well enough that he won’t. He follows his orders without complaint, and I don’t have the power to make him change that.

Fuck.

I grumble and abruptly roll over to show my irritation, then immediately regret it as the movement impacts my bruised ribs. Sickening pain sweeps through my torso and I grip my pillow, biting back a groan of pain.

“Are you alright?” Orion asks.

“Shut up,” I snap tiredly. “I’m sleeping.”

The light clicks off and darkness falls, embracing me in its safe arms. And yet, Orion’s presence shines like a beacon in the dark, soothing the irritation in my heart.

Not being alone is nice.

Sleep doesn’t come.

While exhaustion has me sinking deeply into the bed and closing my eyes, I remain awake. The wind dies down outside, bringing with it a new silence that’s almost smothering. Even the tick of my clock isn’t enough to break through and while I try to focus on the distant ticking to lure me to sleep, it fails. I can’t focus. I can’t sleep.

I’m so tired and yet my mind remains running.

I see Cassian. Always the same. Always in the middle of the road. Always covered in blood.

I lose track of how long I toss and turn. My frustration builds to the point that tears form in the corner of my eyes. All I want to do is sleep.

The bed dips and fabric rustles as I turn for the umpteenth time, and then suddenly, warmth hovers near me.

“Aurora.” Orion’s low voice sends a shiver down my spine and I peer through the darkness, unable to locate him.

“What?” Despite my best attempts, I can’t keep the whine from my voice.

“Do you need help falling asleep?”

“No.” I sound like a petulant child at this point.

“Really? Three hours of tossing around like blankets in a machine is how you usually sleep?”

I scoff lightly. “No. I’m just…” Not being able to see him is as exciting as it is unsettling.

“Let me help.”

I pause, debating exactly what he thinks he can do to help me sleep but I come up empty. I’m exhausted and out of ideas.

“Okay.”

Orion moves immediately, retracting his warm presence, then the sheets lift up and his warm, calloused hand is on my naked thigh.

“Aurora.”

“Yes?” I reply hoarsely, my heart starting to pound.

“I’m going to touch you.”

This can’t be real. Did I fall asleep? Is this merely a dream because Orion is in the room with me?

“Okay,” escapes me, just as hoarse as before. If this is a dream then it is a good dream.

He moves with such ease that it’s simple to pretend this is a dream, even as his fingertips graze my thigh and his entire warm presence sinks down beneath the blankets. My room is so dark that it’s somewhat hard to tell if my eyes are open or closed. What little focus I have on that melts away the moment Orion presses his way between my bare thighs.

Tipping my head back into the pillow, my breath hitches and my stomach tenses when Orion’s soft lips kiss my inner thigh. The light fuzz of his mustache tickles my skin and reflex has me trying to move away. Orion prevents that with one hand. Then he kisses higher.

And higher.

My heart pounds fiercely. I grip the sheets with both hands and a sudden heat pulls south through my core. Orion kisses my hip, his tongue lingering long enough to leave a hint of his heat. Then his mouth presses against my pussy and stars burst before my eyes.

Fucking hell.

Fingers stroke over my pussy, caressing me back and forth then they dip between my folds. He spreads me apart and the flat, firm press of his tongue follows. I gasp, clawing harder at the sheets while my core clenches and my heart races. His tongue strokes flat against me, starting at my hole and licking all the way up to my clit. His tongue becomes a hard point, flicking over my clit and then tracing back down through my folds.

Molten heat flashes through my body, bringing a rush of prickling sweat from head to toe. I try to close my thighs but the broadness of his shoulders prevents me from doing anything but laying there, spread by his fingers and teased by his tongue.

Fuck. I can’t remember the last time someone went down on me. College maybe? Fuck. It doesn’t matter. Orion is there. Gorgeous, sexy, quiet Orion is between my legs and I no longer care if this is a dream or reality. I want it. I hunger for it.

His tongue dances across me, darting across my clit and sending sharp pulses of pleasure through my body. The sheets drag teasingly across my stiffening nipples while Orion’s lips kiss me all over. Slow, open-mouthed kisses with enough suction that each touch thrills me.

He kisses me like I’m precious, teases me like he knows exactly how to play me. When his lips seal around my clit and he sucks, my mind goes blank.

My back bows like a taught bowstring, and the pleasure building on the edge of my tired mind bursts forth. I reach for him but all I’m met with is fabric and sheets. I want to feel him. I want his hair between my fingers and more.

“Fuck!” Tossing my head back and forth on the pillow, strands of hair stick to my sweaty neck and my temperature spikes. Pleasure courses through me, building with each talented stroke of his tongue or tease of his lips. He presses firmly against me and a low, deep rumbling sound of desire rises from him.

It’s enough to tip me over the edge, and I come with a squeal. My orgasm lances through me from my head to my curling toes and I pull sharply at the sheets as I thrash. Again and again, my core clenches, pulsing rhythmically as ecstasy washes through me, and Orion’s attention with his tongue slows to gentle licks.

Dream or not, exhaustion pulls me under before he’s even finished.