The Billionaire's Bought Bride and Instant Mom Chapter 107

Aveline

The amber liquid burned down my throat, but not nearly as much as the memory of Sera's hand on Orion's arm. I signaled the bartender for another round, ignoring Luna's worried expression beside me.

"Ava, whatever happened with your divorce meeting today, that's not enough to make you drink like this," Luna said, gently pushing my glass away from me. "This isn't like you at all."

I laughed, but it came out bitter and hollow. "All men are fucking liars, Luna. Every single one of them." I retrieved my glass and took another long sip, my thoughts swirling between the image of Orion's arms around that young girl and that infuriating email response. "They promise you one thing, then turn around and show you exactly how little you actually mean to them. Or they decide they own you without even asking."

Luna sighed, but I noticed how she kept positioning herself between me and the various men who'd been trying to approach our table all evening. Every time someone started walking over with that familiar predatory look, she'd flash them a warning smile and somehow redirect them elsewhere. It was sweet, really. Luna had always been my guardian angel.

"Thanks for being my bodyguard tonight," I said, reaching over to squeeze her hand. "You're the best."

"Someone has to keep you from making terrible decisions when you're like this," she replied, but she was smiling. I caught her glancing at her phone, typing something quickly.

"Don't worry about me." I raised my glass in a mock toast. "I'm invincible right now. Nobody can mess with me when I don't give a damn about anyone."

Luna just shook her head, but I could see the concern in her eyes.

That's when I noticed him.

At a table across the dimly lit room sat a man with his back to me. Even from behind, everything about him screamed power and sophistication—the perfect cut of his expensive suit, the way his broad shoulders filled the jacket, the casual elegance in how he held himself. But what caught my attention most was the way he was drinking. Glass after glass of what looked like whiskey, each one disappearing with the kind of methodical determination I recognized in myself tonight.

"Luna," I said, words slightly slurring as a wicked grin spread across my face. "Look what we have here... another wounded soul drowning his sorrows. Think it's time I showed you how a real woman handles men."

"Ava, no—" Luna reached for my arm, but I was already standing, swaying slightly as the alcohol hit me.

"Trust me, I've got this."

I made my way across the room, weaving between tables with what I hoped was seductive confidence rather than drunken stumbling. The mysterious man hadn't moved, still focused entirely on his drink.

I reached out and tapped him lightly on the shoulder. "Having a rough night too?" I asked, letting my voice drop to what I hoped was a sultry tone. "Mind if I join you? Misery loves company and all that."

He didn't respond immediately, so I took that as invitation enough. I walked around to face him, already formulating my next flirtatious line.

The words died in my throat.

Orion Blackwell sat before me, his dark eyes meeting mine with an intensity that made my stomach lurch. Without warning, everything I'd consumed that evening decided to make a violent exit. I doubled over and vomited directly onto his pristine white shirt.

"Oh God, oh no—" I spun around to flee, but Luna was already there with napkins, frantically trying to help clean up the mess.

"I'm so sorry, sir, she's had too much to drink, we'll just—"

But before I could escape, I felt strong fingers wrap around my wrist. I looked back to see Orion on his feet, staring at me with the strangest expression I'd ever seen. His eyes were dark and intense, but there was something else there—something that looked almost like pity, or sorrow. It made my skin crawl.

"You finally appeared," he said, his voice rough with alcohol but carrying an odd note of wonder. "I can finally see you properly. Sit down."

The way he was looking at me—like I was some tragic figure he'd just discovered—made me want to punch him.

"No thanks," I said coldly, trying to pull away from his grip. "I was just leaving."

Something shifted in his expression, his eyes going darker, more dangerous. His grip tightened.

"Aveline—" His voice dropped to a commanding tone. "You have to sit down. I need to... I need to make things right with you. I owe you so much."

"Make things right?" I stared at him in complete bewilderment. "What the hell are you talking about? Let go of me!"

But instead of releasing me, he stepped closer, effectively trapping me against the table. The alcohol seemed to be amplifying whatever strange emotions were driving him, making him bolder, more reckless.

"I can't let you leave," he said, his voice becoming almost desperate, possessive. "Not now that I know. You're mine—you've always been mine. You can't go anywhere."

The words hit me like a slap. I stared at him in disbelief, rage building in my chest like a wildfire.

"Are you out of your fucking mind?" I snarled, shoving against his chest. "Yours? You arrogant piece of shit! Is this some kind of sick joke to you? First you parade around with your teenage girlfriend, now you think you can just claim me like I'm some kind of property?"

His jaw tightened, but he didn't back down. If anything, he moved closer, his hands bracing on either side of me against the table.

"What's the matter?" I goaded, my voice dripping with venom. "Did watching me spill coffee on myself give you some kind of power trip? Let me be the first to break this to you—not every woman is going to fall at your feet just because you have money and good cheekbones."

Something snapped in his expression. Before I could draw another breath to curse him out, his mouth crashed down on mine with bruising force. This wasn't a kiss—it was a claiming, desperate and hungry and completely overwhelming. His hands fisted in my hair, holding me exactly where he wanted me as he kissed me like he was trying to brand me with his mouth.

Despite every rational thought screaming at me to fight him, my body betrayed me completely. I found myself kissing him back with equal fury, pouring all my anger and confusion into the clash of our mouths.

From somewhere far away, I heard Luna gasp, but it seemed unimportant compared to the way Orion kissed me like I was his last breath, like he'd die if he let me go.

Then my brain kicked back online.

Just as he deepened the kiss, losing himself completely in the moment, I bit down hard on his tongue.

He jerked back with a sharp curse, pressing his hand to his mouth as he stared at me in shock, his eyes slowly clearing as the alcohol haze lifted.

"You kissed me first," I said, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand and giving him my sweetest, most poisonous smile. "That's what you get for thinking you can just take whatever you want. And by the way? Your technique could use some work."

Orion sank back into his chair, looking stunned and devastated. "Aveline, I—"

"Come on, Luna," I interrupted, not trusting myself to look at him again. "Let's get out of here before he decides to claim ownership of the entire bar."