HE'S MY BABY.

HARRO.

"Remind me why we're doing this again, when we should be resting?" Azalea whined, flopping down onto the cool, damp mat inside the boxing ring of my in-house gym. Her chest heaved with exhaustion, and her hair clung to her sweaty forehead as she gazed up at me with pleading eyes. We'd been sparring for over thirty minutes, and I could see the fatigue etched on her face.

I laughed at her pitiful expression, struggling to catch my own breath as I dropped down beside her on the mat. "We've been resting since afternoon, and we can continue later," I replied, my voice laced with a hint of mischief. "I'm doing this so I don't miss my baby too much."

Azalea groaned, rolling onto her side to face me. Her eyes sparkled with amusement, and a sly grin spread across her face. "Oh, gimme a break!" She exclaimed, her voice laced with mock exasperation. "I'm sick of hearing 'my baby this' and 'my baby that'!" She rolled her eyes, a hint of playful resentment dancing in their depths. Azalea still hadn't forgiven me for calling off our game of sharing lovers, and my refusal to share Orion with her was a sore spot. Though she respected my genuine feelings for him, she couldn't hide the fact that she was seething with jealousy.

"Come on, one more round and we're done," I coaxed, assuming my boxing stance. Azalea muttered under her breath, "I hate that you're so perfect; it makes it harder to hate you." I chuckled, winking at her as we resumed our sparring match.

It was true; I was using this workout as a distraction from the ache of missing Orion. The thought of crashing his family dinner was tempting, especially since he didn't get along with them. But I knew I couldn't disrespect him like that; his father might be a difficult man, but Orion still had his pride.

It had only been a couple of hours since Orion and I parted ways at the airport, but the ache of his absence already felt like an eternity. I had envisioned a cozy evening, whisking him away to my place, cooking him a hearty dinner, and cuddling him to sleep. But those plans were dashed when he mentioned his father's dinner invitation – an obligation he clearly didn't relish.

"Enough! I surrender! Damn you, martial arts master!" Azalea exclaimed, her voice breathless and dramatic, as she raised her gloved hands in defeat. I chuckled, removing my own gloves and running a hand through my damp, sweaty hair. "Sorry, I tried holding back," I said, checking to make sure Azalea was okay. She nodded, still catching her breath, but otherwise unscathed.

"Please call your sparring partner next time you want to box," Azalea pleaded, wincing as I helped her remove her gloves, her hands shaking slightly from exhaustion. I handed her a chilled bottle of water, and she took a grateful sip. "I'm not built for this kind of punishment," she continued, "I'm not the one with multiple black belts in martial arts." Her words were laced with a mix of amusement and exasperation.

She was right, of course. As a skilled martial artist, I possessed a level of strength and agility that far surpassed hers. Normally, I would spar with my professional partner, but this had been a spontaneous decision, and I hadn't had time to arrange a session.

"Time for a cold shower," I said, wrapping a supportive arm around Azalea's shoulders as I led her out of my gym. "We'll order takeout for dinner."

"You owe me a shopping spree for this," Azalea said, patting my back with a playful smile. I laughed, nodding in agreement. "Sure, I'll even buy you a shopping mall if you want," I teased, making her laugh.

Azalea was more than just a cousin to me; she was my best friend, a partner in crime, and a constant source of amusement. Most of the time, she was a lovable pain in my ass, but I adored her nonetheless.

As I stepped into the shower, the icy water cascaded down my body, and I sighed in relief, feeling the tension melt away. I loved how a cold shower could calm me down after a rigorous activity like boxing – or sex. It was a habit I'd developed during my more promiscuous days, but I was glad that was behind me now. I had found my soulmate in Orion, and I couldn't imagine being with anyone else.

I quickly sent a text to Orion, checking in on him. "Hey, if you need a rescue mission from dinner with your dad, just let me know." I smiled, hoping he'd respond soon.

As I made my way downstairs, I found Azalea already lounging on the couch, her hair wrapped in a plush towel, and a contented smile on her face. Our Italian feast arrived shortly, and we indulged in the savory aromas and flavors, paired with a bottle of my favorite red wine. The evening wore on, and we settled into a comfortable silence, lounging in my sitting room as the TV hummed softly in the background.

Azalea's laughter echoed through the sitting room as she watched something on her phone, while I stared at mine, a hint of concern creeping in. Orion still hadn't responded to my text, and I wondered if everything was okay.

Just as I was starting to get lost in thought, the doorbell rang, breaking the tranquility of the evening. Azalea turned to me with a questioning gaze, her eyebrows raised in curiosity. I shrugged, equally perplexed – I wasn't expecting anyone.

I approached the door with a mix of curiosity and trepidation, wondering who could be visiting at this late hour. The clock had already struck 8 pm, and I wasn't expecting any deliveries or guests. A faint worry crept in that one of my past flames had shown up unannounced, but as I swung open the door, my eyes widened in surprise.

Orion stood before me, his expression inscrutable, his eyes clouded with a turmoil that made my heart skip a beat. He was fully dressed looking as handsome as ever, but his usual poise seemed rattled. I could tell in an instant that the dinner with his family had been a disaster.

Without a word, I ushered him into the house, leading him straight to the sanctuary of my bedroom. Azalea looked up from the couch, a questioning gaze flicking between us, but I shook my head discreetly, signaling that it wasn't a good time to talk. She nodded understandingly, a sympathetic smile on her face, as I guided Orion upstairs to the quiet refuge of my bedroom.

I closed the bedroom door behind us, my hand still gently resting on Orion's back as I guided him to the plush cushion in the corner of my room. I carefully removed his jacket, hanging it neatly in my closet, and retrieved a fresh set of clothes in his size – a precaution I'd taken after our last drunken encounter. Orion initially suggested a quick shower, but I had a more soothing solution in mind.

I drew a warm bath in my spacious tub, infusing the water with calming lavender and chamomile essential oils, along with other relaxing bath oils that always seemed to calm my own mind. The aromatic scents wafted up, filling the air with tranquility. As we slipped into the warm, fragrant water, Orion's tense muscles began to unwind. He rested his back against my chest, his eyes drifting shut as I enveloped him in a gentle hug. The soothing water cradled us, wrapping us in a sense of serenity.

As I held Orion close, I couldn't help but feel a pang of resentment towards his father. One dinner, and Orion's entire demeanor had shifted. I wished he had a better father, one who would uplift and support him instead of causing him pain.

The thought made me appreciate my own father even more. My dad would stop at nothing to protect me, to ensure my happiness. He'd be furious if someone hurt me, not the one causing the hurt.

I wanted to erase all Orion's worries, to wrap him in a cocoon of love and happiness. "Is this okay?" I whispered, my lips grazing the sensitive skin of his neck. Orion nodded, tilting his head to the side, his eyes still closed in relaxation.

As I continued to kiss and nibble on his neck, Orion's hand drifted up, his fingers tangling in my hair. He groaned, a low, husky sound, and his body began to relax into mine. For the first time since he'd arrived at my door, I felt his tension melt away, replaced by a sense of calm and trust. It filled me with joy, knowing I could be his safe haven.

"Do you want to talk about it?" I asked softly, my voice barely above a whisper. Orion's chest rose and fell with a deep sigh before he nodded, his eyes still closed.

"They wanted their son to work with me, another one of their many attempts at putting their claws on my company." he said, his voice laced with disgust. I felt a surge of anger on his behalf. What kind of man would try to manipulate his own son like this? Didn't he have any shame?

"I'm sorry," I said, trying to keep my tone neutral, not wanting to add to his anger. "What did you say to them?"

Orion's voice was firm, resolute. "I didn't say anything. I came here. They ought to have known by now, I'd die before I let any of them get their hands on Stone Pharmaceuticals. It'll never happen." The anger in his voice was evident, and I could feel his tension rising again. I hugged him tightly to my chest, trying to absorb some of his pain. I kissed his head gently, offering what little comfort I could.

"I'm here for whatever you need," I said, my voice filled with conviction. I meant every word. I would move mountains to support Orion, to ease his pain and protect him from those who sought to hurt him. If that meant buying out his father's shares of Stone Pharmaceuticals, I would do it in a heartbeat.

I knew how deeply the company was ingrained in Orion's being. It was his legacy, his passion, and his connection to his beloved mother. But it was also a source of anguish, a constant reminder of his father's betrayal.

Stone Pharmaceuticals had been founded by Orion's parents, a joint venture built on love, trust, and a shared vision. But his father's infidelity had shattered that bond, leaving a trail of heartbreak and devastation in its wake. The fact that his father had married his mistress, the woman who had helped destroy his family, was a bitter pill for Orion to swallow.

The final blow had come when his father tried to seize control of the company, only to discover that Orion's mother had wisely transferred ownership to her son before her passing. This had left Orion's father seething with resentment, and Orion with a deep-seated distrust of the man who was supposed to be his rock.

"Thank you for coming to me, for trusting me," I whispered softly into his ears. I gently turned his face towards mine, and our lips met in a tender, reassuring kiss. A faint smile flickered on his handsome face as he nodded, his eyes still haunted by the shadows of his hurt.

I wrapped my arms around him, holding him close as he reciprocated, his arms encircling me. I placed his hand on my heart, wishing I could absorb all the pain he'd endured, erase every hurtful memory. We sat there for a moment, the warmth of our bodies and the gentle lapping of the bathwater against the tub's edges creating a sense of tranquility.

Eventually, we climbed out of the bathtub, and I wrapped a plush bathrobe around Orion's broad shoulders. He slipped his hands into the sleeves, tying the knot at the front with a quiet efficiency. Hand in hand, we made our way back to the bedroom.

"Wait for me," I said, giving his hand a gentle squeeze before releasing it. I padded downstairs to the kitchen, the soft glow of the refrigerator casting an eerie light on the darkened room. Azalea was nowhere to be seen, having likely retired for the night. I knew she still needed her rest, and I was grateful for her discretion.

"Here, drink this!" I said, handing him a steaming mug as I made my way back to the room. Orion's eyebrow arched in curiosity as he accepted it, but I anticipated his question. "Chamomile tea," I replied, and he nodded, taking a sip. The soothing aroma wafted up, filling the air with its calming scent.

I wrapped my arms around him from behind as he sat the mug on the table, pulling him into a warm hug. My face nestled into the crook of his neck, and I breathed in the scent of his skin, listening to the slow, steady rhythm of his breathing. Through the large glass window surrounding my bedroom, Orion gazed out at the dimly lit swimming pool, its tranquil waters reflecting the starry night sky.

As I held him, I felt his body relax into my embrace, his tension melting away. A soft smile spread across my face, knowing that I could provide him with a sense of peace. It was a profound moment for me, a testament to the depth of trust he has for me. I was deeply in love with this man, and my heart ached to protect him from any harm, even if it meant going against his father.