HARRO
I leaned against the wall of our shared unit, my heart racing like a jackrabbit in my chest, my legs threatening to buckle the moment we got inside. Orion went straight for the couch, and it was clear he was furious. Who could blame him?
I could still hear the echoes of Kai's taunting words ringing in my ears. Even outside that tiny bar, I could feel the tension as Orion had tried so hard to keep his cool while Kai made his jabs. I had planned to tell Orion about Kai later when we were relaxed in the sauna, but Kai had beaten me to it now. This vacation was supposed to be our escape, a time to bask in each other's warmth and love. But now? It felt like everything was crumbling around us.
"Babe, please, let me explain," I said softly as I approached the couch, trying to sneak a peek at Orion's expression. His head was in his hands, his back turned to me, his body rigid with tension. I could sense the anger bubbling beneath the surface, and it paralyzed me with dread. This mess was all my fault!
"Just... don't, please," Orion said lifting his head, his voice low and sharp. The way he averted his gaze felt like a punch to the gut, leaving me feeling so small. A knot formed in my throat, and I realized this was exactly what I had dreaded. I knew he'd be appalled once he found out about Kai.
"Please, you have to listen to me," I pleaded, inching closer again. My heart raced with anxiety. "It's true that I slept with Kai, but it was just once! He twisted everything he said to you! I was going to tell you first; I swear!" I hoped against hope that my words would soothe his anger.
Orion slowly turned to me. His eyes were dark, swirling with hurt. "You slept with him once? So what? You think that's what this is about?"
"Babe, please!" was all I managed before he interrupted me again.
"You were going to tell me? When? Before or after you let him make a fool out of me? I thought you said no more surprises?" Orion paused, his gaze fixed on me. "So this is why you were acting all weird yesterday, wasn't it?"
"I truly wanted to tell you," I said shakily.
"How am I supposed to trust you won't keep more secrets? Is this how it's going to be?" His fists clenched, a storm brewing in his eyes. "Is every place you take me going to remind me of your past? Is that how we're going to live?"
I flinched, panic washing over me as his words crashed down like ice-cold water. "No! I never wanted this! Kai was a mistake, and I regretted it even before you came into my life. He and I were never a thing. Babe, please don't let his words ruin what we have. You mean everything to me."
"You don't keep things from someone you care about!" Orion snapped back. "How can I believe that when you couldn't even share this with me? It's like I'm living in the shadows of your past lovers."
Desperation clawed at my heart, and I stepped closer. "Babe, don't say that! I know I messed up, but you have to believe I love you more than anything. What we share is so special; please don't let Kai's twisted version of things ruin it. I should've told you about him and everyone else. I'm so sorry!"
Silence hung heavy in the air as tension gripped us. Orion's breathing was shaky; I could see his resolve wavering. "You really think it's going to be easy to move on from this? You've hurt me deeply. You don't get to decide how I feel."
"I know, and I'm so sorry," I said, my voice cracking. "I was scared you'd see me differently if you knew. That was selfish, and I should have thought of you before my own fears." I reached for his hands, and thankfully, he didn't pull away.
"Babe, please look at me." I gently urged him to meet my eyes, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of warmth in them. "What we have is beautiful, so much more than anything I've ever had before. Those flings were nothing compared to what we have. Please, you have to believe that."
Orion looked away again, his eyes glistening as though holding back a flood of emotions. "I'm scared... what if this happens every time someone new enters our lives? I don't want to feel like I'm competing with anyone."
"Orion," I said softly, moving closer to him on the couch. I cupped his face in my hands, looking deep into his eyes. "You will never have to compete with anyone in my life. I've chosen to be with you, and only you, forever. The love I have for you is real, raw, and unlike anything I've ever felt. I'm ready to do whatever it takes to fix this. Just let me."
Orion let out a deep sigh, his body gradually relaxing. He leaned into my touch, closing his eyes. "Please fix it; I hate feeling like this. I can't help but feel like I'm just your next guy."
"You're not my next guy, babe! You're my only guy," I reassured him, stroking his cheek as I felt his hand rest on my thigh, grounding me. I moved closer, our bodies touching as I kissed the top of his head. He sunk his face into the crook of my neck as I continued, "More than anything, you're the love of my life, my partner, my everything. I love you so much!" I wrapped my arms around him, feeling him relax into my embrace.
After a moment, he finally replied, "I love you too, baby. But… promise me you'll be open with me from now on. No more secrets. I wouldn't be able to handle that."
"I promise," relief washed over me as I held him tighter. "I'll never keep anything from you again." He lifted his head, looking into my eyes, nodding with a genuine smile. I inhaled deeply, feeling a weight lifted.
He caressed my face, pulling me close so our foreheads touched. It felt like the tension melted away. We were no longer two people tangled in past shadows; we were bound together by love and hope for our future.
With just a gentle nudge, I closed the gap between us, our lips meeting softly at first, then igniting into something more passionate. My kisses were eager and hungry, and Orion matched that intensity. All the tension and hurt drifted away as we sank deeper into each other's embrace. It felt like just the two of us existed in that moment.
Orion lifted me into his lap, and I straddled him, our lips never parting. We were wrapped in our love's warmth, reminding us why we fought so hard for each other.
He pulled back briefly to look into my eyes, "I want you," he said softly, and I couldn't help but smile.
"I'm all yours," I responded before we resumed our kisses.
We spent what felt like an eternity exploring each other's bodies and soon, Orion carried me to the large bed as we shed our clothes. With newfound love, we made love–the first round was sweet and gentle, just how Orion liked it. But the second round? I took the lead, no; it wasn't gentle or sweet–let's just say we didn't need that sauna after all.
Afterward, we lay entwined on the bed, whispering sweet nothings and laughing at silly jokes. I couldn't believe how lucky I was to have him as mine. I was deeply grateful for this chance to start fresh.