Chapter 27
Twenty-seven
Zellie
Electricity sizzles around us, or perhaps it's the charge of the moment, as the golden ring of his hazel eyes flares as they plead with me. Our breath mingles, yet he holds fast. “Tell me to stop,” he repeats.
I arch my neck, my lips brushing his as I finally give him the consent he’s been waiting for. “Kiss me, you fool.”
I watch in return as every ounce of Orion’s restraint snaps.
His lips deliciously crash into mine, every ounce of yearning for this moment and the feel of him extinguished by an enhanced version of what I’ve imagined.
It feels like so much time has passed since the last time we did this, but also like none at all with how swiftly he eases my mouth open to him.
This feels familiar, safe, needed. Orion wastes no time touching me, his hands cherishing each part of my body.
He treats my body like it's a treasure, savoring each part of me with soft touches and light kisses.
Grabbing me by the waist, he hoists me up effortlessly, placing me on the island.
Instinctively, I wrap my legs around him, needing the feel of him against me.
His fingers slowly trace up my inner thigh, so close to where I want them most. The feather-light touches have goosebumps erupting across my skin, desire pooling deep within me.
I reach down to grasp him over his pants and—
Knock, knock, knock.
Orion huffs out a laugh and hangs his head, looking down at how close—so close—his fingers are to the bottom of my shorts.
“I swear by all the moons in orbit that if someone interrupts us one more time…” I throw my head back and sigh, suddenly despising the fact that everyone who could possibly want to talk to me knows where I live.
“I think it’s time we started hiding out at your place.” I scoot myself further off the counter, unable to stop myself from kissing his full lips once more. This physical connection to him soothes something within me—it’s addicting.
Orion groans, “That would be for the best, yes.”
Knock knock, knock knock.
“I’m coming, I’m coming!”
“You could ignore them,” he suggests.
“I heard that!” A deep voice calls from the other side of the door. Stars above, this man is relentless.
Orion hisses, “Why is he here?”
“Calm down, Riri. I’m sure it’s nothing.” I adjust my shorts and walk the short distance to the door, throwing it open.
“Back for more?” I inquire, my hand still holding the door.
“You need to listen to me, Zell,” he pleads.
I feel Orion before I see him, a steady presence just behind me. He slips his hand around my waist as he asks, “Has he been bothering you?”
Leo cocks his head, his eyes trailing down my body to the hand resting naturally on my hip. Pain flashes there, replaced by a steely gaze and a clenched jaw. “Enjoying my leftovers?”
“Oh, no,” Orion chuckles lowly—dangerously.
I feel his fingers tighten against me, the only indicator of his irritation.
“How unfortunate for you. I’m very thorough.
There’s nothing left by the time we’re through.
” A lie, obviously, as we’ve unfortunately done nothing further than kiss.
But the sharp jab lands as intended, slicing thoroughly through Leo’s pride.
A heavy beat passes before Leo launches himself towards Orion. Orion simultaneously pushes me out of the way as Leo tackles him to the ground. Long overdue, given the growing tension that has heightened over these past months.
“Are you two serious?” I yell, watching as the males wrestle for control of each other and the situation, both fighting for the upper hand.
They tussle and roll on the floor in my kitchen, grunting and cursing as if their lives depend on it. Leo has Orion pinned, arm poised to land a punch to his cheek. Instantly, Orion’s hand ignites, and he thrusts his palm towards Leo’s exposed side profile.
“Orion!” I shriek.
Without warning, the apartment explodes into a foggy darkness. Everything is sucked into a void, effectively extinguishing the flame that was burning brightly in Orion’s hand.
“What the fuck is going on?” I scream, unable to see the men in front of me.
The fog rolls away, dissipating into nothing, revealing Leo kneeling before me. Orion scrambles backwards, his back hitting the wall. Leo lifts his head, his eyes ridden with guilt.
“Was that you?” I whisper, afraid of the response.
He doesn’t even need to respond; the guilty admission is written on his face. Leo offers a single nod.
“What did they do to you?”
“They told me if I let them, they wouldn’t retaliate against you. But they’re watching you, Zellie, they know—”
I run my hands through my hair, exasperated—no, stunned. Shocked. Terrified. “Stars, Leo, can’t you see they’re using me to manipulate you?” Leo has fucking magic. What is he capable of?
“I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe.”
“Clearly, you’re letting them fucking experiment on you!” I glance at Orion, who looks equally disgusted by the situation. Does this feel like what happened to Portia, to him? “They’re going to turn you, Leo, and you’re allowing them to.”
“My mind is still my own. I couldn’t care less what they do to my body.”
“For now! They will hone you into a weapon for them to use at their disposal!”
Leo stands, wiping sweat from his brow. “I didn’t come here for you to chide me like a child. I came here to warn you.”
“Yes, I know. Another one of your warnings. They’re out to get me—so fucking be it.” I wrap my arms around myself, pacing. “I can’t believe this. You need to leave.”
“How fucking stubborn are you that you won’t listen to me?” He raises his voice, the words breaking as he pleads with me.
“Get out.”
He looks to Orion for support, but Ri shakes his head. Leo exhales a breath and gives a halfhearted shrug. “I tried.” He turns and leaves without another word.
Orion and I stare at each other across the room until I break the silence. If the Kosmos are actively turning humans into that—if they’re plotting faster… “We need to move quickly. We need to get into that trove.”
Orion runs his hand over his jaw, his hand dropping down toward his waist heavily. “Give me three days.”