Chapter 52
Fifty-two
Zellie
We’re insatiable, staying in our tucked-away hideout for hours as he takes me against the wall.
When that becomes too much, we move to the floor, where I ride him until my limbs scream in exhaustion, and then—more gently—on my cot.
He makes love to me until I forget my own name, until I can’t remember anything but us, until every doubt or worry in my body is replaced by pure, shining, beautiful love.
Exhausted, dirty, and sated, I lay on his chest as he plays with my hair.
We fit together perfectly; nothing has ever felt so right.
I don’t deserve him; the words trickle through my mind, cracking the smooth, happy glow I’ve been basking in.
“How are we going to explain the cot to Seb?”
Orion’s chest vibrates with his chuckle. “I think everyone is going to know how the cot broke, Zi.”
I strain my neck to look up, his hazel eyes crinkling in happiness. Stars, he’s perfect. “I love you.” The words leave my lips without me even comprehending the thought. They’re true, though, and have been for some time. “I should have told you long ago. I should have told you before—”
“You told me when you were ready, Zi. That’s what matters.”
“It was my biggest regret. Thinking I wouldn’t have a chance to tell you.”
The crinkles disappear as his expression turns somber.
He gently grips my chin, tugging my face to meet his.
“You’re safe, now. You can tell me every day for the rest of our lives.
I won’t let anything happen to you.” He pauses, emotion flashing through his gaze.
“I should never have left you. We should have stuck together—”
“Stop, don’t do that.” I slide out of his grasp, sitting up.
The thought of Orion enduring what I went through makes me queasy.
“The only person responsible for this is Pluto. And we will make him pay.” I stand, searching for my discarded clothes.
“We should find everybody else and come up with a plan for when Jada comes back as a fucking goddess, or whatever she will be.”
Orion sees the dismissal for what it is, and stars bless him, he doesn’t push the topic further.
One day, I will share what I’m feeling—when I sort through whatever these emotions are myself.
With him—for him—I’ll open up. Pulling up his pants, he runs his hands through his hair before closing the distance between us and wiping a dirt smudge from my shoulder with his thumb.
“We should clean up first.” His fingers trail across my collarbone, moving up to trace my lips.
So easily my knees weaken for him. So easily, I’m filled with need once again. For him—always him. “Maybe after we check in?”
“I’m not sure I can wait.”
I swat his hand away before turning down the tunnel, calling over my shoulder. “You waited this long, you’ll survive a few hours.”
“And every moment was torture!” He yells after me.
“While Jada and Elio ensure the prophecy comes true, the organization has been working hard on preparing the weapons and training those who wish to hone their magic and strength further.”
Our group surrounds the small table while Seb, Lando, and Orion take turns laying out ongoing and new plans. Thankfully, no one comments on our sudden grungy appearance, although Leo’s eyes lingered suspiciously on the dirt patches, his eyes darting between Orion and me.
“What’s the deal with the weapons?”
Orion tilts his head in Lando’s direction.
“Lando’s leading the operation at an armory that's aligned with the cause. When we went into the trove, we found enough moonstone and other gemstones to forge weapons against the Kosmos. The blacksmith discovered that he can fortify the moonstone with celestite to make the blade shatterproof. The blades will be more durable but have the same impact against the Kosmos.”
The moonstone was too fragile on its own; the gem easily shatters and would never withstand the force of combat. “That’s great news.”
“Seb’s going to help me make contact with the human planets to continue Jada’s work. I’ll check in, see what they need, and gauge any interest in coming here.”
I nod along through the rapid fire of updates, feeling tragically useless in my contributions to this effort. So much has happened in the weeks I was gone; I can’t help but feel behind.
“...and Orion will work with you on that.” Lando’s distrustful eyes narrow on me as he realizes I haven’t caught a word of what he was spewing.
“Work with me on what?”
“We need to get your strength back up to where it was.” Orion’s gentle tone is meant to reassure, but as the group cautiously observes me, I hear it for what it is: I’m utterly useless right now.
But I won’t stay that way.
Orion insists on star-shooting to his apartment before me again, to ensure that there’s no lurking threat.
Despite my argument that we have a better chance of taking down anyone stupid enough to be waiting for us together, he left without me.
His check takes less than a minute, but it feels like a lifetime.
Sixty seconds filled with worry of him being attacked, completely alone.
When he abruptly pops back up by my side, I can finally breathe.
He throws a cocky smirk my way, reminding me of his charming—yet wholly irritating—arrogance that won me over so many months ago.
We take off together this time, directly into his bathroom, where he already has the shower running at full heat.
We take our time stripping off our clothing before he ushers me into the water first. A sigh escapes me as the shower strips away my previous feelings of inadequacy.
Orion follows shortly after, and as the steady stream trails down his golden body, every negative thought in my head disappears entirely.
“You’re ogling again.” A look of amusement has his lips tilting upward in one corner.
“I never ogle.”
“You’re the biggest ogler I know.”
“Apologies that you’re so nice to look at.”
“You can ogle me any day, baby.”
“If you say ‘ogle’ one more time…”
My threat trails off as he cups my backside, pulling me flush against him.
His head moves next to my ear, his lips barely brushing against my earlobe as he murmurs, “I can do more than ‘ogle’ you.”
I don’t even care that he’s throwing ogle in my face yet again. “Feel free to demonstrate at any time.” My voice is breathless; the insinuation has me instantly dripping for him.
It’s, hands down, the best fucking demonstration I’ve ever received.