Chapter 49
CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
ELENA
It was five in the morning, and I couldn’t sleep. I turned to my side, staring at Orion. Stress had creased between his brows, and I used my finger to soften it.
Stress radiated from Orion, and I wanted to erase it from him. Last night, I got to experience the most wonderful shower with him. The high-tech showerheads and wall sprays with their own heat and pressure adjustments were heavenly.
I’d never made love in a shower that high-tech or that spacious. Orion said he could replicate the shower in his suite or in the house he’d just bought in Providence. It was currently undergoing renovations. I’d leaped with joy to hear about the purchase because it meant he wanted to stay longer in Providence.
We loved each other, but I also knew his empire demanded him to be in different parts of the world at various times. I’d wondered if he ever wanted to move back to Sweden or to any of the other homes he had around the world. I couldn’t live like that, ping-ponging all over the place.
Though he told me he had an estranged relationship with his father, I saw the love underneath layers of anger and resentment. Sometimes it took a catastrophe like this to make everyone realize what was important.
I stared at him, brushing away a few strands of hair that had fallen over his forehead. This beautiful, brilliant, and complex man was mine.
Danger lurked around him, but I wanted to protect him just as much as he wanted to protect me.
He shifted and a new crease formed on his forehead, making him look stressed. What was he dreaming about?
Kate.
Kate.
Kate.
My heart cracked. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t bother me to hear him calling out his ex-fiancée’s name again. How many more times could I stand this? Would I appear selfish if I told him about it?
But I had to tell him. It bothered me. What was the dream about? Did he miss her?
People said dreams were often the result of the person thinking too much about someone or something. Was this the case?
Then his features softened, and his breathing leveled.
He was probably just stressed. I didn’t want to think about anything that would make me unhappy, so I got out of bed, brushed up, and walked out to the front porch that gave me a view of the bright blue sea.
My mood immediately changed. How could anyone feel bad staring at something as beautiful as this?This was like a secret cocoon where Orion and I could enjoy our time together, despite what else happened in the world.
Closing my eyes, I inhaled the fresh clean air of the sea and understood how nature could truly heal the body, heart, and soul. Just being here made me feel more relaxed. The temperature was cooler in Sweden, but a long-sleeve knit top with cotton pants suited me fine.
Two arms slipped around my waist and his lips nibbled the crook of my shoulder. “Good morning, Sunshine.”
“Morning.” I lifted my face for a kiss. He looked handsome and perfectly disheveled. “How did you sleep?”
“I had a nightmare.”
Intrigued, I turned around. “What was it about?”
“I think the stress from the past few months took its toll last night. I dreamed of Kate.” He paused and gray eyes bore into mine. “In the dream she just smiled at me, then waved and walked off. I wanted to call her back. To say that I was sorry that I wasn’t able to help her. But she didn’t turn around. She kept going and eventually faded away.”
He called after her because he wanted to say he was sorry. And here I was, being a jealous girlfriend. I felt so ashamed.
“You called her name when you were asleep.”
“I did?” He looked at me. “Was this the first time?”
“No.” I swallowed. “To be honest, I was jealous the first time I heard it. No woman likes hearing her man call out another woman’s name in bed.” I ran my fingers over the five o’clock shadow on his chin. “But I understand now. I shouldn’t have felt that way.”
“I love you.” He cupped my face. “And I don’t want you to ever doubt that. Okay?”
“Okay.” I kissed him.
Even though he was going through so much, he still wanted to make sure I was all right. I loved this man so much. He could resolve whatever issue that fell on him.
I changed to a lighter topic. “So what’s the significance of Quintile Island? Does the name have meaning?”
“When my mother bought the island, she changed the name from Perry Island to Quintile Island. Quintile is an astrological aspect in astrology. It’s when two planets are seventy-two degrees apart. The aspect represents talent, the urge to create order, and a fascination with patterns and structures. It’s associated with creativity, innovation, and finding unique solutions.”
“She’s describing you .”
He smiled. “She told me she bought the island for me. I didn’t know the significance of the name until I got older and studied astrology along with her. But yeah, she saw all of that in me.” Love emanated from his face.
“She was a smart woman.”
“And so are you.” He tapped my chin. “You’re very intelligent for being with me, you know.”
I laughed. “Most people would question my choices if they knew I was with a thief.”
Amusement gleamed in his eyes. “Not just any thief—the most extraordinary thief to ever exist.”
“Who’s blessed with the most extraordinary protégé to ever exist,” I countered.
His smile widened, and he kissed me. “I feel so much better already. Let me put some long pants on and I’ll give you a tour.” He’d worn shorts to bed.
As we walked, I fell in love with the island. Orion said it would take about three hours to walk from one end of the island to the next. He showed me the new guest house that was recently built. There was also a small house that served as temporary housing for his employees, who came to maintain the island twice a month. He had advanced solar panels that weren’t available commercially, collecting energy for the island.
“Even if the world had a blackout, we’d be fine here,” he said. “We can sustain ourselves.”
I loved his independence and innovative ways of living. Orion also had a machine that turned seawater into drinkable water. I literally tasted the healing of the sea in that cup. Quintile Island was like a hidden sanctuary. He could also monitor his massive home via his phone. His company, SIGMA, had a satellite aiming at the island for a close-up view if he ever needed access to it. I was in awe of what was on the island.
I also learned he’d added new cameras all around the island in discreet locations.
“So that’s how you found the guy who died on the island. Did you find out why he was here?”
“Yes.” His jaw tightened. “But he’s just a pawn. I don’t want to talk about him. Let’s just focus on cheerful things.” He cupped my face. “I have something spectacular to show you.”
He brought me to an abstractly shaped building and led me inside to a room where giant glass panels took up three quarters of the room.
I gasped when I saw all the equipment in the room, along the walls, and on the ceiling.
“This looks like something that belongs in a spaceship or NASA.” I walked up to an abstract thing suspended in the air. The ceiling was made of glass.
He laughed. “You’re not wrong. This is where I like to look at the stars.”
“Orion, my love.” I placed a hand on my hip while the other hand gestured to the room. “Most people look at the stars with a normal telescope that can be transported out to the back yard. What you have is . . . an enormous machine that looks complicated and intimidating.”
He placed a hand on each side of my shoulders with his eyes settling directly on mine. “This is the most advanced telescope you’ll ever find, Sunshine. The Webb Telescope by James Webb from NASA is currently the most powerful. But what I have is the Reimann Telescope. No one has this yet. You can see stars from the next galaxy clearer than the infrared that the Webb instrument delivers. I’ve seen things that NASA hasn’t even discovered.”
I blinked at him. “Wow.” Just when I thought I’d heard everything, Orion surprised me again. He could see into the next galaxy?
Sometimes when I looked at the night sky, I wondered what was beyond the Earth, beyond the Milky Way. The universe was vast, and it made my problems seem insignificant. That there were more important things to consider than my issues. “I want to see.”
“I’ll give you the stars tonight.” Warmth radiated from his eyes, but there was something else there.
“I see something in your eyes.”
“I have something to tell you.” He took my hand in his warm palm. “Let’s have a seat.”