Aveline lay comfortably in the warm room, the soft bed giving her a sense of security. This was the home Orion had given her.
Orion shuffled out of the bathroom, but before even glancing at Aveline, he quickly turned off the light, afraid that one extra look might make him lose control.
“Orion, come here,” Aveline’s sweet voice called out.
Cautiously, Orion lifted the blanket and slipped into bed. As soon as he lay down, Aveline curled into his arms like a snake.
“I missed you, Orion,” she murmured, clinging tightly to him.
“You’re hopeless,” Orion sighed softly.
Before the words fully left his lips, he leaned in and kissed her. The kiss ignited a spark, kindling a fire that rapidly grew out of control.
Aveline’s figure was breathtakingly beautiful, and the rising heat between them made Orion’s voice hoarse. “Aveline, you’re driving me insane.”
Inside, he felt like a wild beast on the verge of breaking free, his blood surging uncontrollably.
“Orion, if you can’t resist, then don’t,” Aveline whispered, fully prepared to become his woman.
“No, I can’t. You’re only sixteen. I can’t do this to you,” Orion said, battling his desires. Despite her mature appearance, her age held him back.
“But holding back must be so hard for you,” Aveline said, her voice trembling. Just hearing him speak made her heart ache.
“It’s okay. I told you I’d wait until you’re older,” Orion said, his restraint evident.
A man who could resist touching the woman he deeply loved was proof of the depth of his feelings.
In the darkness, Aveline’s face flushed red. “Orion, I know… another way to help you.”
Her body wasn’t the only thing that had matured; her mind had, too. Over time, she had come to understand certain things.
“Hmm?” Orion asked, not fully understanding her meaning.
Aveline didn’t respond with words. Instead, she pressed her lips to his again. Her soft hands moved slowly downward, touching places that made her cheeks flush crimson.
Orion let out a faint sigh. “Aveline, how do you even know about such things?”
“Well… I paid attention in biology class,” Aveline confessed. Though inexperienced, her shy and clumsy movements were enough to make Orion’s blood boil.
“My Aveline, you’re my little sorceress,” he murmured, flipping her onto her back. Aveline’s heart pounded wildly.
Though no lines were crossed, the intimacy was enough to satisfy Orion. Simply because it was Aveline, he felt content. That night, they both slept soundly.
The next morning, at just past seven, Aveline woke as usual, only to find Orion already awake and gazing at her.
“Orion, good morning. Why are you up so early?” she asked, drowsy and curious.
Normally, Orion would’ve been out of bed by now, but her presence made him reluctant to leave. He wanted to savor every moment by her side.
“I wanted to look at you a little longer,” he said, tracing the delicate lines of her face with his eyes. Since the last time he saw her, she had shed her youthful innocence, her features now sharper and more refined.
“Orion, I feel so happy. Doesn’t this feel like we’re a married couple?” she asked with a smile.
“It does,” Orion replied, glancing out at the misty morning. “It’s still early. I’m not going to work today. Let’s stay home together. Go back to sleep if you’re tired.”
“Okay,” Aveline agreed. She wasn’t one to stay in bed, but with Orion beside her, she wanted to bask in his warmth just a little longer. She wrapped her arms around his waist and drifted off again.
They slept until after nine. This time, Aveline couldn’t stay in bed any longer. Her stomach was already protesting.
“Hungry? I’ll make you some noodles. You haven’t tasted my cooking yet, have you?” Orion said with a doting smile.
“Sounds great, Orion.” Aveline giggled, rolling around on the bed like a child excited for a treat.
After a quick wash, Orion headed to the kitchen. Aveline also got up, pulling on a bathrobe. Although nothing significant had happened the previous night, her body was covered in marks left by Orion’s kisses.
She lazily tied her hair up, washed her face, and brushed her teeth. Then, she strolled into the kitchen to find Orion, dressed in casual homewear, frying an egg.
She wrapped her arms around his waist from behind. “Orion, I feel so happy. This all feels like a dream.”
“I’ll make you even happier,” Orion promised.
The air in the kitchen was thick with sweetness. But before they could fully enjoy the moment, a sudden noise came from the door.
“Fingerprint error. Please try again.” The high-tech lock emitted a warning sound after three failed attempts.
Aveline’s eyes narrowed. In such a secure apartment, there was no chance of a thief. Only one person would be trying to enter.
“Orion, I’ll check it out. Don’t let the eggs burn,” Aveline said coolly.
“Got it.” Orion was too focused on cooking to think much of it.
Aveline already had a hunch about who it might be. She opened the door, and as expected, Amy stood there, looking surprised. She clearly hadn’t expected her fingerprint to be removed from the system.
“Amy, what brings you here so early?” Aveline asked, her tone calm.
Amy lived in Cambridge, which was an hour’s drive away. Coming here this early, was she hoping to ruin Aveline’s morning?
If Orion hadn’t deleted her fingerprint last night, or if Aveline hadn’t noticed it, then finding Amy here this morning might have led to a misunderstanding.
Amy was clearly caught off guard. She hadn’t expected Aveline, dressed casually in a bathrobe, to open the door. Her loosely tied hair and makeup-free face made her look youthful and fresh.
Her flawless skin, free of blemishes or scars, only added to her charm. Aveline was the kind of woman every other woman envied: beautiful, wealthy, and intelligent.
But Amy wasn’t focused on Aveline’s face. Her eyes were drawn to the faint red marks on Aveline’s neck. As an adult, she knew exactly what those were.
The marks trailed down to places hidden beneath the robe. Amy’s jealousy burned. The man she had admired, who had rejected countless advances and maintained his distance from everyone, had been with Aveline-a mere teenager.
For years, Amy had tried to get close to Orion, hoping to find the perfect opportunity to confess her feelings. But Aveline’s sudden arrival had shattered her plans.
“I thought that since you just moved here, Orion might be too busy to accompany you. I wanted to take you on a trip to London,” Amy explained hastily, trying to control her emotions.
“That’s very thoughtful of you, but Orion has already decided to stay home with me today. Have you had breakfast? Orion’s cooking. Would you like to join us?” Aveline asked, her voice sweet but firm.