Chapter 16 #2
“They will. We will, all three of us, drive them away,” Riordan swore as he reached for my hand and squeezed it without raising his head.
I had to smile at his determination, even though Orion and I both knew there was no way to love someone hard enough to make them feel well. But Riordan and I could certainly provide Orion the unshakable framework from which to start reshaping his inner world.
Orion finally melted completely in Riordan’s arms and then was abruptly overcome with sobs. I had never seen another adult cry like that, but I recognized the sound of him letting go of the pain that was eating him alive.
I leaned into them, sinking into the cradle of Riordan’s arms so I could press against Orion’s shaking back and wrap my arms around him. Riordan kissed my head while Orion gripped my arms against his chest.
It was many long moments before he began to quiet, but we all stayed silently locked together.
“Spend the night here with us,” Riordan said finally, and I looked up at him in disbelief when Orion stiffened. “Not for sex,” he clarified in exasperation. “Just stay.”
Orion was quiet for a moment while he contemplated, but it was not long before he was nodding in agreement.
“I will stay,” he said.
Riordan exhaled in relief that I felt to my core, and we began untangling our limbs to stand.
Then Riordan took both of our hands and trailed us behind him through the door into our apartment.
I could not keep my eyes away from Orion who still looked so fragile with eyes haunted by horrible pain.
I was so glad he was staying with us because all I wanted to do was hold him tonight.
We reached the bedchamber where both men began to remove their armour.
I usually slept naked, but I doubted that was a good idea with Orion.
So I excused myself to the closet where I selected one of the pretty nightdresses that I’d never worn.
None of the articles were particularly modest since I was pretty sure Sofia had them made for the first week of my union with Riordan.
But they were all I had. Even if a glance in the full-length mirror had me reaching for a robe to pull on over top.
The lavender silk was sheer enough to afford a glimpse of my nipples and the dark patch of hair at the apex of my thighs.
Thankfully, Riordan had dimmed the lights before he climbed into the bed behind Orion who had tried to lay on the very edge of the mattress.
Riordan was making him move into the centre while I went around the bed to keep Orion in the middle.
Luckily, the new bed was sized for griffin unions, which typically included three people, so there was more than enough room.
The room was dim, but Orion lay facing me as I got to the edge of the mattress and began to untie my thin robe. Riordan had curled up behind him with an arm over him, and they were both watching and waiting for me to get into the bed with them.
So much for hiding the skimpy silk dress until I could get under the covers.
I ignored their gazes as I slipped the robe down from my shoulders knowing what they would see and tried to climb into the bed quickly.
I said no sex, my little seductress, Riordan purred into my mind with a mixture of amusement and intrigue.
I thought it was better than being naked, I defended, sliding across the mattress toward Orion without looking up to see his reaction. Was I wrong?
Wrong. That dress is more of a tease than anything, Riordan reassured me.
I rolled my eyes before I could stop myself and then felt like a fool when I saw Orion’s brow quirk at me with amusement. I did not bother to try and explain myself.
I wanted to be closer—needed to be closer to him. Before I could question the impulse that felt as natural as it did with Riordan, I pressed up against him and nuzzled into his neck so he was sandwiched against Riordan.
But I froze when I realized that he was almost naked.
Orion chuckled when he felt me stiffen, but he put his arms around me and pulled me against him tighter.
Gods. I knew he would be every bit the embodiment of male perfection that Riordan was, but I had not expected to be cuddling up against that gorgeous body.
“Stop thinking like that,” Riordan called me out aloud, and I sputtered my objections uselessly.
Orion gave a soft huff of amusement and then tucked my head under his chin.
“He was talking to me,” he murmured after a moment. And my heart was suddenly pounding with exhilaration at the possibilities of what he might have been thinking.
If I bonded with him, then I would not have to wonder. His thoughts and emotions would be mine in the way that Riordan’s were.
I sensed Riordan’s approval as his hand, which I could feel resting on Orion’s bare abdomen, shifted to brush his thumb over my stomach with tender affection.
I closed my eyes, breathing in the scent of both men as a haze of the deepest contentment fell over me.
“You should sleep here every night,” I mumbled into Orion’s warm skin thoughtlessly, and he shifted his head to press a kiss to my head.
“Perhaps I will,” he replied before I fell asleep.