Page 143 of Unveil

More certain than anything I’ve ever been, I cup his face and whisper against his bruised lips, careful not to hurt him.

“I love you, Orion.”

He swallows, then smiles slowly. “That.”

My eyes dart between his. “That what?”

“That’swhat I wished for.”

“You wished way back then that I’d fall in love with you?”

His lips tick up. “I wished that’d you love me back.”

My eyes water, and his smile widens.

“But, you know, now that I’m thinking it over, it seems awful reckless of you to fall in love with your stalker, little bird.”

I huff an overwhelmed laugh and echo what he said beneath the waterfall.

“Then be reckless with me, Orion Fury.”

“Have you already forgotten? I’d fucking jump off a cliff for you.”

He crushes his mouth to my grin, wrapping his arms around me. I’m careful of his injuries, but he’s doesn’t care, gripping my nape while his other hand hooks around the back of my knee, lifting me higher onto his body to kiss me deeper.

I follow his lead, toying with the waistband of his gym shorts. My nails graze his abs and his Adonis belt, wandering to where the soft trail of hair disappears. His breath catches as I follow it down.

“You’re too hurt to have sex,” I murmur, “but there’s something else I could do that’s my second favorite new thing.”

His growl vibrates my chest. “I could be in a coma and still want to fuck you. I swear to God, if you don’t come here and get on top of me right?—”

The door flings open.

“Have you talked to her?”

We jolt apart like two teenagers caught red-handed. Orion groans at the jolt, but Hatch doesn’t seem to notice. He fills the doorway, chest heaving, hands braced on either side like the frame’s the edge of a hole and the hallway behind him might suck him down if he lets go.

“Have you, Luna?” His frantic begging clogs a lump in my throat. “If she doesn’t want me to know, fine, but just tell me something.”

“Hatch, slow down. What’s wrong?” Orion asks, sitting up with a grunt.

Hatch breathes deeply through his nose, then pushes it out in a woosh. His wild, black hair, a shock of white in the front, stands on end, pushing up his snapback. Sweat shines underneath the bill, glistening along the rose tattoo framing half his brow. The ink is gorgeous, tucking underneath his shirt and winding down his arms, and I can’t take my eyes off it as I try to make out the intricate lines. The odd pattern looks like the roses are formed into the shape of a?—

“Luna!” he cuts in, voice urgent. “Have you heard from her?”

I blink. “Heard from who?”

“Lucy,” he growls. “Who the hell else?”

“Watch it, Hatton,” Orion snaps, but Hatch doesn’t even spare him a glance, intense stare locked on me.

“When was the last time you spoke to her?” he presses again. “Her parents haven’t heard from her in hours—and she talks to her mom all the time.”

My cheeks flush as I scramble to think. She’s one of my best friends. I should know this, but I wince.

“Honestly, after everything I’ve been kind of distract?—”

“How. Long.”