Even if I barely know the guy, my future with his brother is still up for debate.
“That’s so sweet of him.” Tracing the sapphires with a fingertip, I don’t miss that it’s a Price piece like my ring, but it must have been designed by Florian himself because it has his distinguished signature. He almost exclusively works with sapphires, and according to him, they remind him of his wife’s ocean-blue eyes. “I’ll thank him later once I get his number.”
“Sweet is not a word I’d ever associate with Actaeon.”
I recognize Timothy’s tone. Matilda used a similar one when she addressed Orion’s brother. Stern and coated with fear, which makes a hostile combination. “You don’t like him?”
Our eyes meet in the rearview mirror, and I hope he reads on my face how I won’t allow any Actaeon slander. They don’tpunish Orion for being Conrad’s son because they adored Angelica. Whoever Actaeon’s mother was… they clearly had little love for her, and it shows in how they treat her son. On some level, I can relate to his pain. To be an outcast in the house where everyone adores your father’s wife and hates you for ruining it all, taking all of their frustration out on you. Except that Angelica had been dead for eight years when Actaeon was born, so their anger seems invalid.
“The kid has his moments, and God knows his character is something else.” He sighs. “He has a quality that overshadows all others, though.”
“What’s that?”
“He’d die for Orion. That’s how loyal he is to him, and for me, that’s all that matters. When the time comes, he’ll make the right choice.”
I don’t have time to dwell on this cryptic statement. As he stops the car by the tower and closes the box, I put it on the seat beside me. “Thank you. Are you staying?” Timothy shakes his head. “Please take this home with you, then.”
“Of course. Have fun, Mrs. Wright.”
I get out of the car, welcoming the cold wind against my heated skin, and look around, searching for the man who reeled me here as Timothy drives off, leaving only dust behind.
The back of my head prickles as sizzling sensations travel down my spine, and I turn around to face Orion, standing near the tower’s entrance, his brooding green eyes seeming to leave invisible imprints all over me for how feverish they are.
A raspy breath escapes my lips from the intense energy enveloping me as I start walking toward him, trying to control the hot flush zipping through me. I’m facing him for the first time since our night together.
He’s so handsome in his suit, sans jacket, that it hurts. The tight vest emphasizes every muscle of his gorgeous physique,reminding me of what lies beneath all those layers. And the rolled-up sleeves of his shirt point out his muscled forearms that held me so tightly last night, I knew nothing and no one could touch me without his permission ever again.
At this moment, he truly looks like Orion, a skillful hunter watching his hopeless prey who can’t resist his powerful pull, even if the consequences might be catastrophic to her.
Maybe that’s what all these myths missed. For the first time, the goddess wanted to be caught by the hunter. However, fate was never in their favor, as their destiny could never entwine.
“Hi.” I stop a few feet away from him. “So this is the reason for our marriage.” I twirl my finger in the air and smile, suddenly feeling a bit shy in his presence. He saw and kissed every inch of my body. “It’s very pretty, and it would have been a shame to lose it.”
He scans me from head to toe before coming after me as I stand still, until the tips of his leather shoes bump into the toes of my high heels. He threads his fingers in my hair, tilting my head back a little, and his thumb brushes over my lips. His other arm wraps around my waist, gluing us to each other. “Hi,” he says before covering my mouth with his, locking us in a deep kiss that washes all my doubts away and sends me into a maddening spiral, awakening every cell in my body. “I’m the one who bought your library.”
Since my body still buzzes with his nearness and my mind is foggy, I barely manage to whisper, “What?”
“I’m the one who’s going to demolish the building. It’s a hazard, and we should thank the gods for it not collapsing with you inside.” His grip tightens. “The thought is unacceptable to me.”
Blinking several times at his confession, I step back, and his body tenses. Clearly, my husband doesn’t appreciate anydistance between us, but this conversation is too important to put off. I can’t be distracted. “When did you do that?”
A challenge laces his tone when he replies, crossing his arms, “On our wedding day.” What? “You seemed to be obsessed with the library, and I needed to love what held your attention that’s fully supposed to be mine.”
The jealousy in his voice shoots warmth through me, combined with his earlier statement about my safety. However, my awe is short-lived when another memory hits me. I put my hands on my hips and narrow my eyes. “So you’re the reason for the authorities closing it down for inspection!” That would explain why they forbade me from even entering the site to check it, just giving me a whole lecture on various hazards of inhaling poisonous chemicals. I thought my dad was to blame, and that it was his way of getting back at me for not answering his calls. “And to think I assumed you weren’t interested in my life.”
“Everything that has to do with you interests me.”
Oh, that is so sweet…
Wait.
“Did Mike really mess up, or was that also one of your schemes?”
He looks almost offended by the accusation. “It’s true. Also, that idiot is fired and won’t be getting any of your money. Rafael took care of that.” His arrogance should be annoying, but I find it really funny, all things considered. “And I found the thief who pretended to sell the property to you. Let’s just say he won’t do it again, and you’ll get a long apology once he’s able to talk again.”
A certain edge coats his tone, signaling to me that the said thief probably regretted what he had done to me, and instead of being afraid, a thrill rushes through me at Orion’s admission.
Because for the first time in my life, there is someone who protects me and shields me from the people who always find a way to take advantage of me.
