I sat on my deck, starring at the pond, hoping it would bring me peace like its intended purpose. However, I was still pissed about last night and just knowing Orion had a hand in building it got on my nerves.

I cannot fathom his thought process. Let's call a spade a spade, Orion is the leader of a motorcycle gang, who's killed more people than I'll probably ever know about. HE inserted himself into my life. I did not ask to be apart of it. HE is dangerous. HIS life is dangerous. The people around him daily are dangerous. Someone like me shouldn't have been involved with any of it. But he wiggled his way into my life. And from that moment on he's made his business my business whether I wanted it to be or not. I am no stranger to the darker side of life. I have been through more than enough of my own shit, I've seen and done things I never thought I was capable of. I don't need to be protected. I'm not fragile, naive or out of touch with the seriousness of his 'job'. I simply asked him what was wrong, if he didn't want to speak about it, fine. But that gives him absolutely no right to snap at me the way he did and I will not allow myself to be spoken to that way.

~~

I picked up a shift at work since it had felt like forever since I had been there. And letting my anger build up at home wasn't very good for me.

I walked inside and it was already busy, I smiled to myself, this is just what I need. I put my things away before stepping behind the bar. "Lily! You've been away for so long!" Jace said, dramatically, throwing his arms around me. I laughed, rolling my eyes playfully. "So, what have you been up to?" He asked excitedly, turning back to the drink he was making. I washed my hands and shrugged. "Nothing much." He rolled his eyes at me, frowning. "You're no fun. Last time I saw you you were telling me about that hot guy who wouldn't leave you alone." He said, to which I clenched my jaw. He eyes me suspiciously.

"That reaction tells me you didn't just ignore him. Oo, Lily finally got laid." He sang and I couldn't help but laugh. "No, Jace, I didn't just ignore him. Yes, I got laid, many times. Yes, it was good. And I'm here to temper the current rage I have for him so that is all you're getting." I said, hopping in next to him, making a line of 'razzel rum's, our signature drink. He sighed. "Fine, I'll take it for now." He said and I chuckled, bumping him with my hip.

~~

Hours later and I finally took a breather. I was extremely satisfied with how busy it got. I was the breather I needed. "You really raked it in tonight, Lily, I'm a little jealous." Mason said and I giggled. "Unfortunately you just don't have the goods they're looking for, Mace." He rolled his eyes playfully at me and I grinned. "You seem too happy to be here tonight." He commented and I shrugged. "I just needed to get my mind off shit." He nodded, not pressing it any further. "Well it seems like you picked the perfect night for that." He joked.

I cleaned down the bar while Mason and Jace stocked and counted the drawer. We all did pretty well tonight. We had sent the other girl home though, not needing another person to close. I threw my dirty rags in the needs to be washed bin before washing my hands.

"It was good to see you Lil, I feel like it's been ages." Jace said, hugging me as we all stood out back, going to our cars. I smiled at him. "I hate to admit it, but I kinda miss this place too. You guys aren't all that bad either." I said winking and they laughed. I waved, walking towards my car and they both watched me until I was in with the doors locked and gave them a thumbs up.

~~

I sighed when I pulled into the drive way. My lights were on and Orions bike was parked outside the garage door. I resisted my intrusive thoughts telling me I should run into his bike, and instead parked and turned the car off. He really needs to learn boundaries, and that I have strong ones that will be respected. The first time him popping into my home while I was away was kind of hot, but not when I'm pissed at him.

Walking through the door, I mentally prepared myself for a fight. My rage came back in full swing when I saw him. He stood in the kitchen, dish towel over his shoulder, cooking something that smelled absolutely divine. "Hello, my love." His deep voice called, though he didn't turn around. I stood silently, starring at him with my arms crossed and my eyes burning into the back of his head.

After a few minutes he turned around and his eyes met mine. He had a bruise on his cheek and I can't lie and say that didn't make me happy. "What happened to your face?" I asked, not showing any emotion. He chuckled softly, resting his hands on the kitchen island as he watched me. "Spencer is a man of his word." He said simply and I got the point. A smile cracked on my face. "Clearly well deserved though." He said, his eyes soft as he watched me, nothing like the cold daggers that had been tossed my way last night.

"You've yet again let yourself into my home." I said, pursing my lips. He nodded, his eyes tracking me like I was a deer in his sights. "I did. I wanted you to have dinner ready when you got home." He said and I raised my eyebrows. When I made no effort to move and continued starring at him blankly he groaned, tugging on his hair. "You know, I think we're a lot more alike than I'd like to admit." Orion said, stepping out from the island, walking towards me.

I snorted, rolling my eyes. "I've been selectively forgetting who helped raise you up until last night. Those eyes and that switch in demeanor I've seen before and I would have never thought I'd see it from you. You had two of the most notoriously deadly and unhinged men this club has ever seen playing house for years. Knowing them, I'm sure I haven't given you nearly enough credit. You are right. I had no right to snap at you like that. And I had no business saying that to you. You get it, this world I live in, probably more than I'll ever be able to wrap my brain around. I see you as someone who I need to protect, who needs to be shielded from all the shit I get into. I crossed a line and it will never happen again, but please understand I just don't want you wrapped up in something if you don't have to be." He said, allowing a foot or so of room between us.

I starred at him. Did I want to forgive him so easily or did I want to make him sweat it out? It's quite fun to see Orion gravel. But on the other hand I think Orion is being sincere and though I'm not known for second chances I fear I might have overacted just slightly, though I'd never admit that out loud.

I sighed, relaxing the tension in my shoulders. "I am aware that I have asked to stay out of it. But if something happens that is clearly serious enough to have the three of you on edge, I'd like to know about it. And if you ever snap at me like that again you'll find out just how much Reign and Warren taught me." I said the last sentence cooly, my expression dead serious. I may be easy going 99% of the time but that 1% is fueled solely by rage.

He reached forward, grasping my waist and pulled me into his body. "I'm still learning how to navigate this whole relationship thing, bear with me, my love." He said softly and I couldn't help but laugh. "I'm right there with you." I mumbled. He grinned before leaning down, kissing me softly. His hands slipped down my waist and gripped my thighs as he lifted me off the ground.

He sat me on the kitchen island, grinning up at me. "You make me absolutely fucking mental, you know that?" He asked softly. I laughed, rolling my eyes playfully. "Who would have thought? Big bad Orion Wakely soft as a teddy bear for some girl." He rolled his eyes with an annoyed look on his face. "I am not soft. I just so happen to have a soft spot. And you're not just some girl." He said, turning away from me. He stirred the pot of food before turning back towards me, with a fork filled with what looked like fettuccine noodles. "Open." He instructed, and I listened. I wrapped my lips around the fork as I made eye contact with him. I could see the smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

I chewed the pasta, savoring the amazing flavor the spicy alfredo sauce had. "Well?" He asked and I hummed. "It's good." I said shrugging and he chuckled. "It's better than good, it's amazing." I rolled my eyes at his boastfulness. He turned, getting a bowl out and filling it with pasta. "Cocky much?" He chuckled, smirking as he looked at me suggestively. He handed me the bowl he was making and looked at me expectantly. I jumped off the counter and carried the bowl into my bedroom.

I stripped off my work clothes and tossed them in the hamper before I pulled on some shorts and a big t-shirt. I folded down the comforter and sat in bed, grabbing the bowl. "Can you bring-" I stopped as I saw Orion walking into the room. I grinned when I saw he was balancing two glasses and his bowl. I sat up on my knees and grabbed the drink from him before he spilled it.

Orion sat next to me in bed and I turned the tv on. My brain couldn't focus on it though, thoughts of Orion and I's fight swirling in my head. He's my first second change. Usually one wrong look and I'm running for the hills, wanting nothing to do with the person ever again. But there's just something about him, I can't picture us ending like that. I know inevitably it's more likely than not to end. But not over something so small, it'll be over hot coals and flames from the depths of hell.

~~

I woke up to my absolute favorite sound in the world, thunder cracking. There's something so peaceful to me about storms. They're so easy to get lost in, I could listen to the thunder and rain all day.

As I stretched out a bit and let my eyes adjust to the room I felt a warm hand slide across my stomach. Orion wrapped his arm around me and pulled me back into him, so I was pressed against his chest. He wordlessly moved my hair to the side, leaving my neck and shoulder exposed. His lips softly kissed the exposed skin as he protectively held me close.

"Good morning, my love." He finally said, his deep gravely morning voice immediately making my stomach do somersaults. His hand traveled up my body and wrapped around my throat, using two fingers to point my chin towards him. He grinned at me as he leaned down and kissed me. The kiss was soft and passionate, sending a wave of tingles through my body.

"I could stay here like this forever." Orion muttered, still holding my chin as he looked down at me. My cheeks flushed and I gave him a small smile. "Forever is a long time." I said softly. He grinned, nodding. "I've heard." I laughed, looking towards the window.

I let my mind wonder as Orion softly traced circles on my hip. Something he said last night was bouncing around in my head. "I'm still learning how to navigate this whole relationship thing." Are we in a relationship? I truthfully wasn't sure. We'd never spoken about it. One day we were strangers and the next thing I knew he practically lived here.

I turned towards him, and he let his arm loose as I faced him before tightening again and holding me close, smiling down at me. "Last night you said something." I said, furrowing my eyebrows. His smile faded slowly before a look of confusion filled his face. "Last night I said a lot of things." He agreed, not sure where this conversation was going. "When you said you're still learning to navigate relationship things." I paused and his features relaxed. "Is that what we are? In a relationship?" I asked, tilting my head slightly. He chuckled softly, holding me closer.

"Is that what you want?" He asked. I didn't know, is that I want? To be actually committed to this? To him? Not that I'm not, it just feels so much more final to put it in terms like that. "Is it what you want?" I asked him back. His thumb swept across my cheek softly, cradling my cheek. "I have a bad track record when it comes to women and commitment." He started, his eye searching mine as I waited quietly for him to finish. "But I don't think it matters what label you want to put on us, I'm not going anywhere. You can call it what you want to, I'm yours for as long as you'll have me." I couldn't help but lightly giggle as I looked up at him.

I rested my head into the pillow, relaxing as I listened to the rain while studying his features. "I don't think it matters to me either." I said, truthfully. "But I do think I'll keep you for a little while." I said jokingly, since he made it sound like he was my possession. He chuckled, smirking down at me. "I damn sure hope so. Even being on your bad side for a single night made me spiral." I rolled my eyes, playfully. "You can really be dramatic sometimes." He let out a breath. "I wish I was being dramatic. Carter and Spencer locked me in the garage so I wouldn't leave the house to come to you." He muttered and I couldn't help but laugh.

He shot me a glare and I smiled up at him. I ran my fingers through his hair, tugging softly. "I think if you would have come anywhere near me last night I would have never spoken to you again." I said back honestly. He laughed lightly. "I don't doubt it, my love. I'm glad they did, it gave me time to process things before just storming over here angry and upset." "For being the leader of a biker gang, you should have a more level head." I joked.

He held me closer, if that was even possible and kissed my forehead lightly. "All reason and rational I have goes out the window around you. I'm pure impulse." He kissed me softly, trailing his hands down my hips and grabbing my ass. "You say that like it's a good thing." I mumbled as his lips moved to my neck. He hummed, not parting from kissing my neck to respond.

I let myself be consumed by him, letting any thoughts about yesterday or us or anything else completely go and we were just there in the moment. The rain, the thunder, his lips, his hands, the sheets tangled between us. Everything feels right with the world.