The Billionaire's Bought Bride and Instant Mom Chapter 184

Aveline

The warmth in my chest hadn't faded since Ryan had asked me to be his godmother. Sitting at that dinner table, watching him present his carefully crafted contract with such earnest hope, feeling Orion's grateful gaze—it had awakened something profound in me. This wasn't just about teaching anymore, or even friendship. This was about belonging to something, someone.

As I wandered through Orion's garden, the wine still buzzing pleasantly through my system, I found myself replaying moments from the day. The way he'd looked at me during his business analysis, so focused and intelligent. The heat in his eyes when I'd moved closer. The way his voice had dropped when he'd promised to help me rebuild the company.

The moon hung full and luminous above the carefully manicured hedges, casting everything in an ethereal silver glow. Instead of thinking about going home, I found myself drawn deeper into the garden, as if the moonlight itself was pulling me forward. Everything about today felt blessed somehow, even the wine and candlelit dinner. It was as if the universe was conspiring to give me everything I'd never dared to want.

I needed to share this feeling with someone, and before I could think better of it, I was dialing Grandma Eleanor.

"Grandma, how was your day?" I asked when she picked up, my voice slightly breathless with excitement.

"Why are you asking me that?" she replied, and I could hear the knowing smile in her voice. "Aren't you home yet?"

I opened my mouth to tell her about Ryan's contract, about becoming his godmother, about the business plans, about how everything felt like it was falling into perfect place—but suddenly there was too much to explain, too many emotions bubbling up at once.

"I'll be back soon—"

"You're at Orion's house right now, aren't you?" she interrupted gently. "I can hear it in your voice, sweetheart. That happy, slightly wine-touched excitement."

I felt my cheeks warm. "The moonlight is so beautiful here, and I was just thinking of you."

That's when I heard Vivian's voice in the background, full of mischief: "I bet she doesn't want to come home tonight! She could be here checking on you in person, but instead she's calling to ask how you are. Well, typical—that's a guilty conscience talking!"

"I am coming home," I protested, though even as I said it, I wasn't entirely sure I meant it. "I just wanted to know what you two did today."

Grandma Eleanor's voice brightened. "Oh, sweetheart, we had the most wonderful day! Vivian taught me how to braid my hair in that French style I've always admired, then we spent the afternoon going through old photo albums. She even convinced me to try that new sushi restaurant downtown!"

*How is everything in my life suddenly falling into place?* I wondered. *Even Vivian is becoming someone I can't bring myself to dislike.*

Maybe tonight was meant for indulgence, for letting myself follow impulses instead of logic.

"Since you're at Orion's, I imagine you have important matters to discuss with him tonight," Eleanor said knowingly. "Vivian and I won't wait up for you."

"Grandma, I—"

"Listen to me, dear," she said firmly. "Follow your heart for once. Stop analyzing everything with psychology and social expectations. Stop suppressing what you actually feel."

The line went dead, leaving me staring at my phone in the moonlight. *Follow your heart.*

I was lost in these thoughts when I heard footsteps on the stone path. Orion emerged from the shadows, the moonlight catching the sharp planes of his face and highlighting the silver threads in his dark hair. His dress shirt was now open at the collar, his sleeves rolled up, giving him an effortlessly elegant appearance that made my breath catch.

"There you are," he said, his voice warm with relief. "I thought you'd already left. Come on, you've had quite a bit to drink. Let me arrange a car for you."

"Where exactly are you planning to take me?" I asked, though I knew perfectly well what he meant.

"To the front door so you can get home safely. It's late, and you need to rest."

"Why do you care so much about me?" The question slipped out before I could stop it.

Orion paused, studying my expression in the moonlight. "Why do I care about you? I think that should be fairly obvious. But I don't think this is the right conversation to have when you're... in this state."

Instead of stepping back, I moved closer, slipping my arms around his waist until we were pressed together. "Because you love me," I said, my voice slightly slurred but steady.

His handsome face showed a flicker of panic before settling into something more determined. "I won't deny that," he said quietly, his voice rough with controlled emotion.

"You could have said that in a much more romantic way," I teased, running my fingers along the edge of his collar. "But do you want to know how I feel about you?"

The silence stretched between us for several heartbeats, thick with anticipation and unspoken desire. The moonlight cast shadows across his face, highlighting the tension in his jaw.

"Are you going to tell me or not?" he finally said, his voice rough with barely controlled impatience.

Looking at his face in the moonlight—the strong jaw, the eyes dark with want, the way he was looking at me like I was something precious and dangerous—I felt a tide of emotion rise up that I couldn't name or analyze or push away. It was bigger than attraction, deeper than gratitude, more honest than anything I'd allowed myself to feel in years.

In that moment, I made a decision that felt like jumping off a cliff.

I smiled, feeling intoxicated by more than just the wine. "Let me show you instead."

I pulled him down to me, capturing his mouth in a kiss that was fierce and desperate, nothing like the careful touches we'd shared before. This was raw need, months of suppressed attraction finally unleashed. I could taste the wine on his lips, feel the way he responded immediately, his hands tangling in my hair as he kissed me back with equal hunger. When we finally broke apart, we were both breathing hard.

"Take me to your room," I whispered against his lips.