My eyes fluttered open, blinking against the ray of morning light as I found myself staring up at a familiar ceiling. I shifted sleepily to the side of the mattress, but the moment the fabric of my nightshirt brushed against my breasts, a sharp, hot sting shot through my chest, making my eyes fly wide open in shock, and I bolted upright in bed.
Lifting the hem of my shirt, I looked down and gasped. Dark, purple bite marks ringed my sensitive areolas. A silent screech echoed in my mind as every single memory from last night came rushing back in a tidal wave. Orion eating me out. Me seeing actual stars every single time he pushed me over the peak, over and over again, until my brain completely short-circuited and I lost consciousness.
I patted my burning cheeks, feeling them warm. I couldn’t believe I actually fainted. Fuck. The pleasure had been so overwhelming and intense that I couldn’t think anymore. Trailing a hand lower, a shiver rippled down my spine as I noticed my clit felt swollen, pulsing from the aftermath of his tongue.
Slipping out of bed, my legs immediately buckled, and the simple friction of my thighs rubbing together sent an electric jolt straight back to my brain. I groaned, catching myself against the nightstand.
I walked into the bathroom, and I noticed that all the toiletries and necessities Roland and I had bought yesterday had already been neatly unpacked and placed on the counters. Stepping up to the mirror, my jaw dropped and my eyes widened in horror. I looked like I had been bitten by a feral dog—I mean bear.
My neck, my collarbones, my inner thighs—they were covered with bite marks. Fuck. But as I stared at them, a strange, thrilling warmth bloomed in my chest. They were beautiful, and I loved them.
I stepped into the shower, letting the warm water cascade gently over my head and body. I was careful not to let the spray hit my breasts directly, wincing at the sensitivity. Once dried, I walked into the closet only to find that all my new clothes had been organized and hung up.
I chose a loose, soft gown that fell just past my knees that I knew would be easy on my bruised chest, and I chose to go entirely braless. After braiding my hair into two neat sections, I took a deep breath and walked gingerly down the stairs.
When I reached the bottom, I stilled—Orion was standing in the kitchen, half-naked, his broad, muscular back facing me. An intricate mountain of dark tattoos mapped his shoulders and spine. He whirled around at the sound of my footsteps, and my breath hitched.
It was unfair. This man was somehow getting hotter day by day, and my heart skipped a frantic beat with every step I took toward him. I glanced at his lips and instantly blushed, wanting to cover my face as my brain replayed the torturous, wicked things that mouth and tongue had done to me hours before.
“How are you feeling, sweetheart?” he asked softly, walking over to meet me at the edge of the kitchen, gently taking my hand to help me into a dining chair.
The table was already set with a simple breakfast spread, and I swallowed hard, wondering why on earth I was feeling so shy when he was acting completely like himself. He looked normal while I felt like a chaotic mess wanting to hide under the table.
Images flashed through my mind. Me screaming his name. Me aggressively yanking on his blond hair. Me begging— I gulped as I felt butterflies fluttering in my lower belly. “I’m fine,” I choked out.
Orion’s gaze softened. “I expected you to sleep a little longer,” he murmured, leaning his hip against the edge of the table.
I fiddled nervously with my fingers, dropping my gaze to my lap, letting out a tiny, frustrated grunt under my breath. Orion watched me for a beat before sinking down into a crouch right beside my chair. When his large hand covered mine, it forced me to raise my head, looking up at him through my lashes.
A sudden, unexpected lump formed in my throat, and my eyes stung with unshed tears. I didn’t even know why I wanted to cry. Maybe it was because I felt like I was the only one completely hung up on what happened last night, while he was completely unfazed.
“What’s wrong, Aurora?” he asked, his brow furrowing as he scanned my face. I blinked rapidly, keeping my lips pressed tight.
“Was I too rough with you?” he pressed, his voice dropping to a soft whisper, almost desperate. “Was it too much for your body?”
I sniffed, quickly shaking my head.
“Then look at me, little mate, and tell me what’s happening in that beautiful head of yours,” he coaxed gently.
And I wanted to smack myself. What was causing this emotional imbalance inside me? “It’s nothing,” I muttered defensively.
“It can’t be nothing, my dawn,” Orion countered, his nostrils flaring slightly. “Your scent... it’s bleeding anxiety.”
I pouted, forgetting that his alpha senses could pick up my scent. “You’re going to laugh at me,” I mumbled.
“I won’t. Test me,” he challenged, his gaze unwavering.
I swallowed. “I just... I thought you were normal about what happened, while I’m over here literally dying of embarrassment...” I trailed off, my voice dropping when he went silent.
I looked up, fearing I had said the wrong thing, but his brow was furrowed. Without a word, Orion took my hand in his and guided it directly down to his shorts.
My breath caught. I felt it: his rigid, hardened length pressing aggressively against his fabric. “This is what you do to me just by standing in the room,” Orion rumbled, his dark eyes locking onto mine, burning with intensity. “I am nowhere near ‘normal’ about you, Aurora. I just don’t want to come on too strong when I explicitly promised to give you space and time to adjust. I’ve been in a state of constant hunger since the very first day I realized you were mine. Don’t you ever doubt my desire for you.”
A wave of relief washed over me as I nodded slowly, a smile finally breaking through my shyness. Orion stood up, leaning down to press a tender, lingering kiss against my forehead before returning to his side of the counter.
I picked up my spoon, digging into my breakfast. “I didn’t know you were a fighter,” I started, wanting to have a casual conversation.
“I just do it for fun,” he responded easily, reaching over to scoop an extra helping of food onto my plate while I smiled at him in gratitude.
I wetted my lips, hesitating for a fraction of a second. “So... there’s something I wanted to talk to you about.” The moment the words left my mouth, Orion dropped his fork as he stared at me, giving me his full attention. My heart skipped a beat at the gesture.
“What is it?” he asked.
“I can’t just be here doing nothing,” I explained, trying to keep my voice leveled so I wouldn’t stutter. “I can’t just sit around eating your food, leeching off you like some kind of parasite. I need to get a job. I need to work.”
Orion tilted his head. “There is no need for you to work, Aurora. I am the Alpha. I can provide for you and take care of you for the rest of your life,” he said in all seriousness.
If I weren’t trying to make a serious point, I probably would have laughed because the slight wrinkle of his nose was cute.
“I know you can,” I agreed softly, reaching across the table. “But I need to do something for myself.”
Orion paused, studying my face for a long moment, realizing I wasn’t going to back down easily. “Alright,” he said slowly, leaning back in his chair. “What is it that you can do?”
And right then, for the first time in my entire life, a suffocating wave of uselessness hit me in the chest. I stilled. I couldn’t do anything to save my life except the modeling work I got through Knox. And I didn’t think there was any company here that needed a plus-size model.
Fuck. I was practically useless.
Panic flared in my throat, and I quickly swallowed hard, desperate to close the gap before he could tell me no. “I can learn!” I blurted out quickly, my voice tight with determination. “I’m a fast learner, Orion. I promise.”
***
I love Orion... I’ve plotted this book Chapter outline to Chapter 30+ and I’m so excited. How is the Chapter? Thank you for reading