The Space Empress He Craved

Chapter 113

POV: Lyra

When we reached the residential section of the station, Orion accompanied me until I was in my quarters before he felt at ease. After gently lifting my chin, he pressed his lips briefly to mine. The neural sparks between us intensified—they'd been growing stronger since the bond manifested.

"Can I sleep here from now on?" he asked nervously in a hushed voice.

I was surprised, even shocked. But given how everybody kept indicating I almost terminated the previous night, I understood where Orion was coming from. The corner of my lips curved up, and I stood on my toes to press my lips to his cheek. "I'd like that."

Orion's tense posture relaxed, his pathways shifting to that warm gold. A smile replaced his anxious expression. He touched his lips to my forehead. "I'm going back to get a few things. I won't be long, I promise. You get ready for rest cycle, okay?"

I nodded dotingly. After another brief touch of his lips to my cheek, Orion left my quarters to head back to his executive suite in the station's upper levels, where he was meeting his contractor. For once, his inner Lyrokan consciousness was actually happy to leave my quarters—clearly because he wasn't going for long.

The contractor was already waiting when he arrived. Orion brought the man to the section of his suite that could fit the renovation he had in mind—something about preparing a proper space for us, though he hadn't shared the details yet.

After a forty-five-minute discussion, Orion finalized the layout, colors, and pricing. The contractor said he and his employees only needed about a week to complete the project. After seeing him off, Orion went to his sleeping chamber to pack clothes and grab some data pads he might need, putting them in his transport before speeding back to the residential section.

Outside my quarters, his enhanced hearing picked up that I was already asleep from the slow rhythm of my breathing. Thank the cosmos I'd given him the access code before he left. He cringed when the door beeped, praying he hadn't woken me.

Very quietly, he opened the door and entered. What he didn't expect was to see some lights still activated.

He strode quickly and quietly to the sleeping platform, finding me in an upright position, head leaning against the wall with my eyes closed and a data pad on my lap. Orion shook his head, chuckling to himself. "Unbelievably amazing."

Very gently, he lifted the data pad from my lap, closed it, and set it on the side table. Then, cautiously, he reached for my body to put me under the thermal covers. Upon feeling his touch, my eyes snapped open and I took in a sharp breath.

"It's okay, star-heart. It's just me. Let's get you under the covers."

After tucking me in, I asked with sleepy eyes, "Can you lie here next to me?"

Both him and his Lyrokan consciousness were unquestionably surprised at my request. Orion had been happy enough to sleep on the seating unit every night. He took a good two seconds before pressing his lips to my ear. "Anything for you, Lyra. Let me change first, okay? I won't take long."

I let out a sleepy sound to indicate I'd heard him. Adorable, Orion thought as his inner consciousness purred.

After setting his pack on the seating unit and changing into fresh clothes, he deactivated the remaining lights before slipping under the covers facing my back. One arm went around my waist, the other reached for my hand on the pillow above my head.

When I felt Orion's touch, I awakened briefly and turned to face him before moving closer, snuggling into his chest. As soon as I felt comfortable in his warm embrace, I fell back into deep sleep.

A stream of happy moisture trailed down Orion's face. He still couldn't fathom how he'd gotten so lucky to be bonded to me, now willingly making my place in his arms. Thank you, cosmos, was all he could think. He listened to my steady breathing and touched his lips to my hair. "I love you, my little freesia. Always and forever." Then he too fell into deep sleep.

Orion woke hours later when he felt my body escaping his arms. Instinctively, he tightened his grip around my small frame.

"Orion, let me go! I need the refresher!"

Orion groaned in frustration with his eyes closed. "Just do it on the platform, Lyra. I won't judge."

"Orion, the refresher is just ten steps away! Let me go!"

He groaned again before releasing me, lying on his back as he listened to my quickened footsteps toward the refresher. The door closed with a slightly aggressive thud.

He and his Lyrokan consciousness were still drowsy. It took him another moment to get up for a stretch.

That sleep was as satisfying as the one after the Jewel Station incident. My psychic signature and presence always calmed the negative emotions in his being, making it easier to doze off.

When he heard the familiar sound of the waste recycler and sonic cleanser, he approached the refresher door and waited for me to emerge. When I came out, Orion scooped me up without warning, making me gasp as he carried me to the seating unit.

He placed me on his lap as always. After pressing his lips to my face several times and admiring my color-shifting skin showing embarrassment, he buried his nose in my hair. "How are you feeling, star-heart?"