Yeah, that was what he was worried about.
“That’s a question for Reidar,” he told her. “As for your mother … just because we can’t bring her into the fold doesn’t mean she can’t be a part of your life. She needs you and you need her. Bringing her back to Darkness just makes sense.”
Eclipse briefly glanced at Orianna when there was no response, and his heart squeezed. Tears were rolling down her cheeks in a flood.
“I’m … sorry.” She sobbed. “I don’t know why I’m blubbering like a baby.”
He knew why. Orianna was used to doing things on her own. Had been all her life. Between looking for her sister and taking care of her crippled mother, she’d been the one giving everything she had. She wasn’t used to having someone want to do things for her.
Turning his attention back to the road, Eclipse reached over, took her hand, and brushed his thumb over her smooth skin. “Orianna, I’d do anything for you. Anything at all. I hope you know that by now.”
Another sob. “I…” Her hand squeezed his. “I love you, Eclipse.”
He had spent his entire existence living in darkness, never experiencing what it felt like to have the sun on his face, but in that moment, the warmth and light was upon him. Those few words turned his world from dark to light.
Orianna chuckled, a hint of hysteria in the sound. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”
Eclipse pulled her hand over, kissed her knuckles. “I’m not uncomfortable,sezari. Definitely not uncomfortable.”I’m whole for the first time.
Orianna hadn’t meant to break down likea sappy girl, but that was exactly what happened when Eclipse was talking about bringing her mother to Darkness. Honestly, the thought had never crossed her mind, but admittedly, she’d never depended on others to take care of her or her mother. Good thing, too, considering no one had ever been there.
The last people she remembered who gave a shit at all had been her grandparents, but Elizabeth’s mother and father had passed away a couple of years after their daughter’s accident. Orianna’s grandmother had died from complications from pneumonia, and her grandfather … well, Orianna believed her grandfather died of a broken heart, even though she knew that wasn’t possible. Because Erik had already shipped her and Amber off to boarding school, they hadn’t gotten to spend time with either grandparent during their last days, having only been given a pass to go to the funerals. Not surprisingly, Erik hadn’t attended, either, but he’d been the first to ensure Elizabeth got the money she’d been promised in their will.
The bastard.
“We’re going to make it to your mother’s before sunrise,” Eclipse said. “But it’ll be close. We’ll need somewhere safe to go.”
Orianna knew he was referring to him, Miklós, and Magnar. They needed somewhere safe from the sun. “The basement’s not the greatest space, but it’s mostly finished. And there’s no sunlight. No exterior windows or doors.”
“I don’t suppose I’ll be lucky enough you’ll stay with me.”
She felt his eyes on her. “I figure my father’s planning to show up during the day.”
“You need to know I can’t protect you when the sun’s up.”
Orianna heard the pain in those words. He hated admitting a weakness. “I know. I’ll be fine.”
Based on his expression, he didn’t agree with her, but Eclipse didn’t argue.
“Why don’t we see what’s going on when we get there,” she suggested. “If my mother’s all right, I’ll stay with you.”
Another nod was his only response, The Pretty Reckless filling the space, going on about a house on a hill.
It wasn’t until the last fifty miles or so that Orianna felt the tension growing in her body, and it had nothing to do with the situation that lay ahead of them. No, this was a sexual tension that was growing infinitely more intense with every passing mile until she was flushed from the heat consuming her.
Eclipse must’ve noticed because his hand shifted along her thigh. “Only a few more minutes.”
She could tell he was feeling it, too. His breathing had become a bit heavier, the weight of his hand settling on her leg as though it took effort to hold it up. If they kept this up, neither of them would be able to walk by the time they got to her mother’s.
“I’m not sure I can last that long,” she admitted, tugging at her sweater, attempting to keep it from brushing against her hypersensitive skin.
She was barely aware of Eclipse hitting a button, Magnar’s voice sounding through the speakers. Something about them going on ahead, checking the perimeter of the house once they arrived. The words droned on, an irritation that had nothing to do with Magnar and everything to do with this frustration within her, the desperate need to mate.
A whimper escaped, pushing right past her attempt to swallow it. Orianna was seconds from writhing against the seat when Eclipse veered off the main road.
“Where are you going?” she rasped. “We’re almost there.”
The car came to a stop and Orianna forced her eyes open. Eclipse had parked beneath an enormous oak tree. The branches had shed most of their leaves with the coming of winter, but still had enough to shield them from the road in the distance.
