CHAPTER THIRTY

I searched his face, pushing off him so I could rest on the built-in seat in the tub.

"Rory?" I really couldn't take any more bad news. I steeled myself, ready to hear about some traumatic incident or life-altering event. He pushed his hair from his forehead, the water being redirected to fall over his ears.

"Do you... want to have pups?"

Oh, goddess. This was far worse than any tragedy.

"W-what?" His eyes lowered to watch the soft ripples of the water with great concentration.

"I was just wondering. Your mother said you weren't on any birth control, and we haven't exactly been practicing safe sex. So..." He didn't finish his thought. He didn't need to. I had pondered the same thing ever since going into heat a decade early.

Did Luna want me to get pregnant? If so, why now? I was only twenty-one and was about to start a war. I couldn't bear a child! Not only that, but what about Rory? He was my first love, after all. Didn't he deserve the chance to become a father first? Then again, what if he didn't even want children? He wouldn't have filled me if he didn't, right?

"Do you want children, Rory?" I asked, avoiding the question I didn't have an answer to. He flinched, wringing his hands beneath the water.

"Um... Yeah. I do. But I'm worried about you. I don't want anything to happen to you if you get pregnant so soon. And... I guess I'm a little concerned that you might have Bastion's first. It's basically a fifty percent chance. What if you never have one of mine? Not that I see you as a baby-making factory. Shit, I don't know... I sound so pathetic. I would love any child of yours, mine or not. I'm just being selfish..." He buried his face in his hands. I had never seen him so unsure. He normally radiated confidence, and I wasn't sure how to help him. I guess that was just one of the side effects of having two lovers. Only one could be first, and I had no say in which one. I waded over to him and slowly began unbuttoning his shirt. He peeked at me from between his fingers, confused.

"Rory, I would love to have your child. If I could choose, you would be first." His eyes lit up at my words and his hands moved to cup my face instead. He looked like a kid on Christmas.

"You mean that?"

I giggled, reaching the bottom button and pushing aside the wet fabric to expose his flawless torso.

"Yes."

And I did. By all accounts, Rory deserved to father our first child. He was the man who took my virginity and the man I had first loved. He was the only one of the two to have shown any interest in the matter, and it was important to him. All of those were reasons why I wanted it to be him. I wanted him to be happy. He grinned, slipping out of his shirt with ease and disposing of it on the floor.

"You have no idea how happy that makes me, love." He replied dreamily, pulling me towards him and reaching to pull off my shirt. Each clothing item on our bodies met the same fate, falling with a wet thud on the tile. Finally, we were naked, holding each other closely while bobbing along with the water.

"Are you going to kiss me now?" I teased, brushing my lips across his playfully. Blood rushed to his groin, and he ran his hand up to fondle my breast while the other sat firmly on my ass.

"Yes." He whispered back, his lashes fluttering against his ivory cheek. "Then, I would like to taste you." I shivered at the prospect. I hadn't had his blood in what felt like ages, and I was eager to indulge. He hovered his mouth over mine, running his tongue along my bottom lip sensually. Then, he grabbed hold of it between his teeth, giving it a playful nibble. I moaned, already feeling my come pool on his cock sitting between my legs. He was so completely delicious and addicting. A master of romance. He moved his hips slightly, rubbing his hardened shaft between my folds and killing me with sexual anticipation.

"Rory. Kiss me." I demanded, gripping onto his shoulders with force. And he obeyed. He pulled me in swiftly, his tongue diving inside my mouth with an insatiable hunger. His groan fueled me, and I wrapped myself tighter around his neck, burying my fingers into his drenched hair. We kissed like that, passionately, desperately, for a while before breaking for air.

"God, I've missed you." He gasped, latching back on as soon as I exhaled. It was all too much. I couldn't help it. I began rocking my hips back and forth in his lap, eliciting a hiss from my royal. "Damn it." His hands shot out, one yanking my hair to expose my neck and the other gripping my shoulder to hold me still. With no preamble, no hesitation, he sank into my artery. I gasped, being sent over the edge of pleasure with a mind-blowing orgasm as my body seized with his venom. He restrained me successfully, despite my tremors and cries, so he could continue to drink. The helplessness was exciting, arousing even, and I didn't want it to end. I didn't care if he drained all my blood. My royal would have been worth it. The second I felt his tongue jut out, I also felt him shift beneath me, effectively burying his cock inside me.

"Oh god, Rory!" He guided my head back to his, his forehead pressed against mine as his glowing eyes pierced mine.

"Let me fill you, love. Let me be the one." I nodded, eager for him to move. He lifted my hips, barely keeping his tip in, while turning his head to the side. "Taste me while I fuck you." He commanded. Oh, Goddess. I gripped his shoulders for stability and lengthened my fangs. I gave his skin one solid lick before diving in for a drink. He cried out at the bite, trembling for a second before lifting his hips to meet mine. Water sloshed out of the tub at his quick thrusts, but I didn't move much. I was locked onto his supply, savoring each drop of crimson glory he had to offer me. I could feel the healing properties of his blood getting me high, and I knew that I needed him as much as he did me. He completed me. He made me. I said a quick prayer to Lysander to bless me with his child before moving to seal the punctures and capturing his lips once again.

"Come in me right now, Rory. I'm so close, I'm so-" I didn't get to finish my sentence because of the wave that shook me, pulling me completely under and depriving my mind of oxygen. My vision went white, and I clasped onto the stone edge of the tub for stability, since Rory was also moving and shuddering beneath me, his hands frantically digging into my ass as he pulled me down onto him.

Then, just breathing. Heavy, uncontrolled breathing. His eyes were closed, but his long lashes were fluttering. Deep breaths. Four or so of them later, and we were back to reality.

I climbed off him, feeling the fire from our bond extinguish as I broke all contact. The sun was setting. He had to leave. We washed and dried without saying a single word, both lost in our own thoughts. As for me, I was imagining a little blonde-haired, green-eyed boy tugging at my finger and leading me to his daddy. It was enough to keep me distracted from the fact that I would be alone all night, and that was all that mattered to me. I wrung out our soaked clothes and was draping them over the shower wall to dry when Rory called for me. I followed his voice to a dark oak door in the far corner of the room. Still clad in my towel, I stepped into the partially opened partition and into the largest closet I had ever seen.

No, it wasn't a closet. It was a dressing room.

Floor to ceiling mirrors surrounded the walls and built in cabinetry displayed rows and rows of shoes, accessories, and folded garments. I recognized the familiar color palette of Rory's wardrobe in the right contrasting with Bastion's on the left, but what really caught my attention was the wide array of designer dresses, jumpers, pants, blouses, and lingerie against the far wall.

"Oh my... Rory, this is more than a couple of dresses." I muttered, tracing over an emerald green silk nightie that had been set out on a white leather bench in the center of the room.

"I bought some clothes for Bastion as well. Don't you like it?" I could detect the anxiety in his question, as if I wouldn't like his gesture. He had done an excellent job. Each item was classy yet practical, all in the neutrals and pastels I typically wore. Except for the nightie, of course, which was the color of my eyes.

"I love it, Rory. I mean... Damn, I don't know what to say. Thank you. When?" He shrugged, a smirk forming on his lips.

"I worked with my personal shopper. I gave him instructions and he filled the closet. A few items were hand picked by me, though." He nodded at the pajamas. I smiled shyly, lifting the fabric to my cheek to revel in its comfort.

"It's beautiful."

"Fit for a Queen." He mumbled, stepping forward to remove my towel. He swallowed as his eyes raked over my naked body, which was now on display from every angle. Before he got the chance to act, though, he took the garment and rolled it over my damp hair. It fell mid thigh and the bodice supported my breasts just enough to still be comfortable. I felt like I was wearing a cloud. I hugged myself, closing my eyes and breathing a sigh of contentment. The smell of Hugo rushed my nose and my eyes flew back open.

"Hot damn, Aria." Bastion called out in appreciation. "I was coming to say bye, but you just made that damn near impossible." I giggled, running to him and jumping into his waiting embrace. He squeezed me tightly, nearly crushing me, before lowering me back to my feet with a kiss. His hazel eyes met mine and I blushed. Everything about him was handsome and endearing. I stepped back so I was standing between the two.

"Any idea when you'll be back?" I asked them both.

"By lunch, baby. I promise." Bastion assured me, gripping my hand in his large one. Rory nodded in agreement, taking hold of my other hand with grace. Simultaneously, they lifted them to their lips and I sighed. One half of me charged with electric energy and the other burning with desire. Tonight would be cold. I smiled at each of them, pulling my hands away. They followed me out of the room and tucked me into the bed, all without saying a single word. They would be alone tonight, too. Melancholy was thick as they kissed me goodnight and funneled out the door. Just one night. I could handle that.