When I look up, I see admiration shining in his eyes. At least he’s not mad at me… for now. “There are so, so many to pick from, aren’t there?”
I flip my hair, letting my braid hit him in the face as I pass out the door.
I’m a work in progress; what can I say?
“Remind me again whyI’mshopping with you?” Leo’s hand is laced in mine as I peruse rack after rack of elegant dresses. He’s always touching me. This man is conditioning me to rely on his touch… and I’m almost positive it’s working.
“Because I need a dress for this ball. Should I ask Lenny to come instead? Maybe Orion?” He’s also so easy to rile. I love getting a rise out of him.
“I don’t fucking think so.”
I gasp. The dresscalls to me;I swear.
Simple, slinky, and black, the dress features thin straps and snaking cutouts that weave up the side from just below the hip to right under the breast. I need it. I grab it in my size and head towards the fitting room. The material hugs my body and kisses the ground, with a slit in the thigh allowing my legs to move. A sly grin forms as I take in the dress in the mirror. It’s seductive and bold, while somehow remaining understated. The complete opposite of the dress they picked for me when I first arrived. This dress embodies who I am and the metamorphosis I’ve undergone. I slide the curtain, revealing myself to Leo.
He stills, his eyes taking their time roaming my body inch by inch. “I will worship you in this.” He takes my hand, kissing my knuckles.
“You worship me, regardless.”
“As I should.” He takes me in once more. “Stunning creature.” I blush, spinning to give a complete look. “Let’s get out of here before I take you in this room.”
“Would that be so bad?” I whisper.
Leo gives me a devilish look, stepping into the room and closing the curtain behind him. He kneels before me, slowly and sensually pushing the fabric up my thighs. As he positions one of my legs over his shoulders, heinstructs, “Quiet while I make you come, baby. I know how you love to scream for me.”
Then he feasts on me like a man starved. His fingers dig into my thighs as his tongue works me. “Leo,” I whimper, threading my fingers in his hair and pushing him deeper into me. He adds a finger, then works in another, focusing his tongue on my clit with small circular movements. My orgasm builds until it reaches a breaking point.
“Leo!” I moan, riding his face through the waves. He doesn’t stop until my body softens against him. Then he simply pulls my dress back down, adjusts himself, and kisses me fiercely. “Good girl.”
Forty-three
“I’m sorry, but you can’t wear that.” The stylist assigned to assist me stops in her tracks, a garment bag draped over her arm. I barely feel the pulse of power surging from the Astral, another sign of how I’ve acclimated to Astralis.
I stand next to my prized gown, which hangs in my wardrobe. “What do you mean?”
She sets her bag on my bed, unzipping as she says, “The Kosmos has requested this gown to match the evening’s festivities.” She removes a pale yellow satin sheath dress. It truly pales compared to mine. I raise an eyebrow in response, considering my choices here. Are they seriously telling us how we have to dress now?
Realizing this stylist is only the messenger, I exhale through my nose and calm myself. “Thank you for bringing it. I was thinking we'd go for a more dramatic look with tonight’s makeup.”
“Sounds great! Let’s get started.”
An hour later, I’m armed with a smoky eye and red lips. My hair is tamed into large, bouncy waves with crystal starburst pins holding the right side out of my face. I thank the stylist, waiting for her to leave as I eye the yellow dress. Fucking Kosmos, I’m not looking forward to this.
Orion collects me, our silence now filling the car. Our nerves are catching up with us. He breaks first. “You look incredible.”
“Thank you; you always clean up nicely.” He does, looking especially dapper in a tailored navy jacket, white-collared shirt, and trousers.
As we exit the hovercraft, stepping outside the Cosmic Hall, I take in the fantastical structure. Less overwhelmed than I was the last time I was here, I’m able to observe the Hall. A “hall” minimizes the grandness of this palace. As if forged from nebulae themselves, the Hall is composed of silver stone and reflective glass, displaying swirling blues and purples. Spires jut upwards at varying lengths, offset by round domes, likely the glass ceilings within.
Orion dips his head next to my ear. “Can you behave yourself tonight?”
Don’t I always? “It’s time to shine.” I loop my arm through his as we enter through the grand archway and into the massive foyer, feeling surprisingly tranquil. I am the calm before the storm, I tell myself.
The doors open for us, revealing the ballroom beyond. Every participant is donning pale yellow. The women all wear the exact dress that still hangs in my apartment.
Within seconds, Orion’s head whips in my direction.
I smile like a manic woman, crazed by the chaos I have undoubtedly created. I will not be marginalized.
