The Space Empress He Craved

Chapter 120

POV: Lyra

After saying our goodbyes and ending the transmission with the Duke and Duchess, Orion's arms circled my body as I snuggled into his chest. My communicator vibrated again. Orion inhaled my psychic signature from my hair as I removed the 'Get ready for dinner' reminder from my notifications bar.

Orion chuckled at my cute habit and suggested, "How about we just call room service and spend some quiet time together tonight, my love?"

My affectionate black orbs met his purple ones as I pressed a kiss to his lips before whispering, "I'd like that."

Orion beamed, and with his arm still around my waist, he picked up the communication panel from the table next to him and ordered protein supplements for me and synthesized pasta for himself. We enjoyed each other's touch and psychic signatures while we waited.

I was getting addicted to the rhythm of Orion's heartbeat. It was the most comforting and assuring sound I'd ever heard. It made me feel safe, and it made me feel loved. Orion's eyes were closed the whole time he breathed in and out from my hair.

After a moment he muttered, "I love your psychic signature, Lyra. You smell like home."

I couldn't stop the moisture from escaping my eyes. Home. The word reached into the deepest parts of my heart, sending a gentle warmth throughout my body as feelings of belonging, desire, and love flowed through me. When Orion felt his bio-suit absorbing some of my tears, he panicked.

He immediately lifted my chin up and asked in concern, "What is it, star-heart? What's wrong? Is it pain from the poison?"

I chuckled lightly and shook my head before pressing my lips deeply to my confused match's lips. When I pulled away, I whispered firmly, "You feel like home, Orion. My home."

Orion's own eyes began glistening with pure joy and happiness as he planted another deep kiss on my lips. We only pulled away when the door chimed.

The service android came in with a hover-tray with our food, setting it right in front of the seating unit. After leaving with a generous credit transfer, I was about to dig in before Orion took my plate away. I looked at him in bewilderment, but when he took the utensils that were already in my hands, I got irritated. "Orion, that's my food!"

Orion chuckled at my annoyed expression before pressing a kiss to my cheek. "I'm feeding you, my love. You just recovered. You should take things slow."

"Not this slow!" I tried to reach for my plate again, but Orion held it away from me before calming me down with another kiss on my lips. When our lips parted, his eyes penetrated into mine. "Let me, Lyra. Let me feed you." Another brief kiss, then he added, "Let me love you."

I sighed in defeat. "It's not fair, Orion. You know I can't say no to you when you use that line."

Orion's expression brightened in realization. "Wait, really? I didn't know that! So, the cosmos is fair then! I used to think it gave you those innocent doe-eyes to make me melt and give in but gave me nothing to do the same to you." He pressed another kiss to my cheek. "Thanks for the tip, babe."

I emitted a low growl of hunger and irritation. Orion then dropped his humor and surrendered. "Right, let's get you fed, my hangry little freesia."

He placed me on his lap and started cutting small cubes of the protein supplement. After two small bites, I complained, "Orion, my mouth can fit more than that! Just cut them a little bigger!"

He nuzzled his nose with my earlobe and whispered, "As you wish, my Queen." A visible color shift to purple graced my skin, which made Orion smile and his Lyrokan consciousness purr. The intensity of color was returning to normal, much to their relief.

After I'd cleaned my plate, Orion dabbed a wet cloth on my lips and around my mouth before he reached for his mildly warm pasta. When he lifted up his utensil and was about to dig in, I pulled his plate away and snatched the utensil from his hand. His shocked eyes met my bright, taunting ones.

"Babe, what are you doing?"

"Feeding you," I answered simply while skillfully twirling the synthesized noodles with the utensil.

"No, sweetheart. You're supposed to be res—"

"Please?" I showed him my doe-eyes, and Orion groaned as he gave in, making me let out cheeky laughter in response. My chuckles made his body gravitate toward mine, closing whatever distance between us. His arms circled my waist, and his head rested on my shoulder as he waited to be fed.

Orion didn't realize how hungry he was until the first mouthful of pasta. It was only then he remembered he hadn't eaten a proper meal since I was in medical. His eyes never left my face. When the plate was empty, my hand lifted his chin up as I gently wiped away the little stains the food made. When I was done, I muttered a satisfied, "There."

As I was retracting my hand from his chin, he grabbed hold of my wrist and pressed a kiss to my thumb before uttering in his husky voice, "Thank you, star-heart."

Before I could respond, Orion's eyes glazed over—someone was using his private Lyrokan frequency.

Cuz, the Chief just called. He couldn't reach your suite or your communicator, so he called me, Christian's message came through ominously.

Void. My communicator must have died. Orion responded guiltily, noting his cousin's unusually serious tone. What did he say?

Christian sighed through their connection. The four ministers they arrested are pleading not guilty to the charges, saying they were coerced to do what they did. They claimed that the true mastermind blackmailed them to siphon government funds.

Orion instinctively pressed my body to his chest to calm himself before asking his cousin, They gave the name of the one running Wu Bi Corp?

Yes, I can't believe we didn't see it! It was so obvious! Cuz, do you know how stupid I feel right now?

Who is it, Christian?