CHAPTER FIFTY SEVEN

I stirred a little, giving Bastion's pillow a tight squeeze with my arms and legs, but something was wrong.

It wasn't budging.

I sniffed, smelling a combination of unfamiliar soap and toothpaste mixed with the natural smell of Bas.

What the hell?

I flinched back a tad, still half asleep by the time my hearing kicked in and I picked up the melodic thrum of Bastion's heart.

Bastion's heart? Oh gods!

My eyes flew open and I jumped to a sitting position, looking down at the source of the sound with eager anticipation.

Bastion. It was really Bastion.

But he looked different. He was thinner and he had deep bags under his eyes, but he was still incredibly handsome, with his lips slightly parted and his face relaxed with sleep.

Was I dreaming?

I reached my hand out, aiming to stroke his lips when Rory's soft voice sounded behind me.

"Aria, it's him, love. I promised you, didn't I?" He sounded amused and admiring all at once.

It had been one full month since I'd seen him, and I didn't know if he would even want to stick around after I broke our bond, but I couldn't wait to consider it. I needed him, so damn much.

I changed my hand's course to tangle in his slightly longer feathery hair, pulling myself down and crashing my lips onto his.

He grunted at the surprising contact, but then his body relaxed as he wrapped me in his strong embrace, pulling me flush against him and kissing me back with equal enthusiasm.

The usual spark that existed with our bond was gone, but the outpouring of my love more than made up for it. I could focus on every little part of our kiss, from his heat to the way his tongue lazily swirled over mine, to the way his light stubble caressed my face.

It was perfect, and a month's worth of tears poured from my eyes.

After a bit, I broke us apart for air, leaning my forehead against his with the largest smile on my face.

"I love you so much, baby. I missed you."

Hearing his gruff voice sent tingles down my spine, making me cry even more.

"I-I love- Oh Goddess, I'm sorry... I-" I tripped over my words, but he just laughed, lifting his hands to wipe away my tears.

"I know. Rory already explained it to me. It's okay."

My head turned to Rory, who was sitting cross-legged with a widespread grin.

"You." He seemed startled at my attention, cocking his head. "You brought him back!" I squealed in excitement, throwing myself into him and nearly knocking him over. He let out a deep chuckle, kissing my forehead.

"Yes, love. With help, of course. Why don't I go get us some breakfast? I think you two need to catch up," he suggested.

Yet again, he was sacrificing his time with me for Bastion, offering to give us privacy for our reunion even though he didn't have to. I gave him a sweet peck on the lips before he slipped from the bed with grace and was out the door.

Then, I felt Bastion's trembling arms circle my waist from behind.

"Aria, I don't even know what to say. I feel like I'm in a dream. Like I'll open my eyes in a minute and all of this will disappear and I'll be back to being locked up in that damn cell."

I turned to face him, heartbroken to see his frightened yet angered expression. He must've been through so much.

"It's real. I'm here. You're here. Hopefully to stay?" He flinched backward, eyeing me in confusion.

"Of course I'm here to stay. Why the hell would I leave? Wait..." He took my face in his hands. "Did you think I would leave because our bond is broken?" he whispered. I nuzzled into his palm.

"I was scared."

His shoulders relaxed and he pulled me back against him so he could cradle me. "I love you, Aria. With or without the Moon Goddess making me. And I don't regret coming back. Fuck, I don't regret anything I've had to go through for you. You're everything to me. You're my Queen. And you even gave me a beautiful Prince and Princess."

"Wait, you know?" He smiled excitedly back at me, flashing me those gorgeous dimples.

"Yup. I got to hold them when I got here. They're perfect. Lilly even smiled for me."

"Lilly...? You named her Lilly? But didn't you say-"

"I changed my mind."

I smirked. I knew he did it for Rory, but he already looked embarrassed, so I didn't push it.

"I love it," I assured him. He bent down to give me another kiss, but I stopped him.

"Can we shower first?" I asked. He blinked.

"Are you saying I stink?"

I giggled, shaking my head. "No, but you don't smell like you."

His hazel eyes twinkled with the light from the rising sun.

"Fair enough. But I can't promise to wait until after the shower. I have some memories I wish to replace." His husky voice tickled my ears, and I blushed at his insinuation.

"It's, um, been a while for me. I might not be how you remember," I confessed, hiding my face in his loose T-shirt.

"You didn't have sex at all while I was gone?" He asked, shocked.

"No, of course not, Bastion. My mate was being assaulted and imprisoned. That doesn't exactly put me in the mood," I growled.

"Right. I'm sorry, baby. I just assumed... Never mind. Let's go shower. If you aren't ready, we don't have to do anything. But I do want to kiss you, so if we can do that...?" I nodded, and he relaxed, pulling me up into his arms so he could carry me to the shower.

It felt indescribably amazing to be pressed against him again, and I was a little disappointed when he had to set me down to undress me.

That was when I remembered that I had just given birth 24 hours before.

He reached for my shirt, but I stepped back bashfully. He cocked his head.

"You okay?"

"Uh, yeah. I can, um, do it." His shoulders slouched slightly as he furrowed his brows.

"Do you... Do you not want me to touch you at all? Is it because of Annalise?" I flinched at hearing that demon's name on his lips, which he immediately interpreted as him being right. He took a step forward, his face tortured. "I didn't- Nothing I did with her was by choice. I hated every time she touched me. Fuck, I scrubbed myself raw after every time. I promise, I never wanted it. Even with her venom, I didn't enjoy it. You're the only woman I want to see or touch, Aria. Please, don't pull away from me. I can't-"

"No." My quiet voice somehow managed to silence him, and he clamped his mouth, his eyes widening. "It's not about that..." I assured him, glancing down to my toes.

"Then... What's wrong?"

I bit my lip, turning my head towards the door.

"I just had two babies, Bastion."

There was a long pause, and I could basically hear his gears turning.

"I know? I'm sorry, baby. I'm lost." I rolled my eyes, more irritated at my own embarrassment than his lack of understanding.

"I don't look the same right now. And, I'm bleeding." His eyes widened in realization, then narrowed again.

"Wait, are you embarrassed because you think I won't like your body? Also, I don't smell blood on you, Aria."

I sniffed the air subtly. Weird. I didn't smell it either. Had Rory's blood already taken effect? How? Now that I thought about it, the soreness between my thighs was nonexistent. But even if I was physically healed, I would still look different naked.

I gripped the bottom hem of my shorts in my fists.

"Aria, for crying out loud." He closed the gap, pulling me into him by my fallen shoulders. "You could gain a hundred pounds and I would still think you're the sexiest woman alive. Shit, how shallow do you think I am?" I pouted.

"I didn't gain a hundred pounds..." Did I look like I did?

He leaned back, waiting for me to meet his eyes. When I finally did, he offered me an endearing smile.

"I love you. You're perfect. Let me show you."

My face flushed, but I nodded anyway, lifting my arms for him. His fingers gripped my top, pulling it over my head with ease as I shut my eyes.

The first thing I heard was the low growl coming from his lips, and the second thing I heard was the rush of blood to his groin. He followed with the rest of my clothes, stripping me slowly and humming in satisfaction along the way.

A chill racked me and I chanced a peek through slitted lids.

I saw him staring hungrily back at me, his eyes black and his lip pulled between his teeth. He looked so sexy like that.

I opened my eyes the rest of the way, glancing down at my dejected frame.

My belly was gone, but I seemed to have the opposite problem. My ribs were visible and I looked almost sickly with how much weight I had lost. I couldn't tell if that was better or not.

I guessed that the blood could reverse the effects of the pregnancy, but not of me practically starving myself for a month. My hands trailed over my thin stomach, but larger hands shot up to stop me.

Then, Bastion kneeled before me, his lips gently sweeping across my bare abdomen. I shivered beneath him, my fingers entwining with his.

"Bastion."

"Baby, I want you. I need you." His hazel orbs peered up beneath his long lashes, pleading with me.

I didn't understand. I wanted to hide. I wanted to move away.

But his eyes showed his raw honesty, and I couldn't deny the fact that I needed him, too. So much.

"Okay."