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Before I can respond, he pushes himself to his feet and strides out of the room, leaving me with my confusing emotions when it comes to this man.

God, life was so much simpler before I started breaking my own rules.

But you were also getting far fewer orgasms.

When my stomach grumbles again, I move into the closet and open one of the drawers, finding the pajamas he referenced in his note.

The soft black satin is simple but elegant, like rich people in reality television wear with their faces full of makeup, and I can’t help but brush my fingers over my name embroidered into the breast pocket.

Before I can allow my mind to overload with more questions to add to all the ones I have about Orion’s security, I drop the sheet and quickly change into the comfortable set.

It’s best Orion finds out now that I’ll always reach for the comfortable option over anything anyone would consider sexy.

CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE

ORION

Ibusy myself in the kitchen scooping the three different pastas I picked up onto the plate.

I didn’t know what Ember would want, so I got my favorites and hoped for the best, along with a serving of garlic bread, because frankly, anyone who doesn’t like garlic bread is weird as hell.

It’s only a few minutes before she emerges wearing the monogrammed pajamas I picked up yesterday before everything went to hell.

I knew it wouldn’t be long before I moved Ember into my apartment, and I needed to make sure she didn’t think the clothes in that closet belonged to anyone apart from her.

She shuffles across the tiled floor and peeks at the food I picked up. “That smells incredible,” she groans.

I press my eyes closed for a moment as my cock kicks up. Jesus, I hope one day my body isn’t so attuned to every sound Ember makes, or it’s going to be a very awkward existence for the rest of our lives. Getting hard every time she makes a sound that she could make during sex will definitely make things uncomfortable when we’re in public.

“I wasn’t sure what you’d like, so I got a selection,” I explain, pushing the bowl across the kitchen island until she can reach it.

Her eyes move over the choices until her body shimmies from side to side before she settles on one of the stools. Was that a happy dance? I didn’t know people actually did those.

Her gaze darts up to mine, and her brow dips with concern. “What?”

“The little dance. It’s cute.”

A soft blush touches her cheeks as she looks back down at her food. “I really like pasta,” she explains, her voice soft. “When I was little, we didn’t have much food, and so now that I’m an adult, I have an appreciation for every meal I eat.”

I reach across the smooth marble and take her hand, prompting her to look up at me. “I wasn’t judging you, Little Flame. I like it. I love that you get joy out of something I’ve provided you with, and I never want you to be embarrassed about that. I think you’ll find I think everything you do really fucking cute.”

Ember shakes her head, but a soft smile spreads across her face as she stabs a piece of pasta with her fork and brings it to her mouth.

I watch with rapt attention, reveling in the way her head tips back slightly and her eyes fall closed as the flavors wash over her.

“Holy fuck, this is incredible,” Ember moans.

I adjust my hardening cock and will it to settle down. As much as I would like to bend her over the kitchen counter and fuck her, it’s probably a good idea that I don’t feed into her idea that I’m treating her like a sex slave.

To distract myself, I take a bite of my own food. It’s my favorite too, and not only because I own the place. No, it’s because I can relate to Ember’s enjoyment of food. The couple who used to own the place would feed me sometimes when I wason the streets. That’s why when they were ready to retire, I gave them well over the asking price.

They deserved to be repaid for all the times they helped a dirty kid on the streets.

Last time I checked, they were living in Florida, close to their army of grandchildren.

“How was work?” Ember asks between mouthfuls of garlic bread.

“It was fine,” I reply vaguely. “Just a couple of problem employees that needed to be dealt with.”