Plus Size Luna Obsession

Chapter 13

Rio’s POV

The second Aurora said she needed a shower, I was up on my feet like someone that's been stung in the balls by a Scorpion.

“I'll help.” I said, in a loud voice but Marcus also had the same idea because we yelled, “I'll do it.” at the same damn time.

I turned my head slowly and Marcus looked right back at me. That calm expression of his always seemed to piss me off. He was literally getting under my skin.

“I'll help her,” he repeated, still holding my gaze. “I can do it better than you.”

“No.”

His eyebrows pulled together. “No?”

“No.” I took one step toward him and hey, it wasn't because I wanted to fight him.

At least, that's what I told myself buty body didn't seem to care what I wanted.

My shoulders tightened. My fingers curled. I could already picture my fist connecting with his jaw, could already imagine the sharp crack of bone beneath my knuckles.

One punch.

Maybe two.

Marcus knew it too because his eyes dropped briefly to my hands.

“Rio.” Smith called, “Don't even think about it.”

“I'm not doing anything.” My voice came out lower than I intended, a sign that I was indeed thinking of doing something.

Aurora looked between us. “Are you two seriously about to fight over helping me shower?”

“Yes,” Marcus said.

“No,” I said at the same time.

She stared at us. “You're both idiots.”

Smith cleared his throat. “I can help her since those two fools are too busy fighting when they should be helping you instead.”

I turned toward him, looking at him from head to toe. “What did you just say?”

Smith didn't even blink. “I said I can help her.”

My jaw tightened again and for one stupid second, I imagined grabbing him by the collar and slamming him against the nearest wall.

Maybe not hard enough to seriously hurt him but I'd at least cause him pain.

“Since when do you volunteer?”

His expression didn't change. “Since you started acting like a territorial dog.”

My nostrils flared. “Say that again.”

“Rio.” Aurora's voice cut through the room and I looked at her.

She was holding my gaze now and there was no fear in her eyes. She knew exactly what I was capable of and she wasn't afraid of me.

My fists slowly loosened. “Fine,” I muttered.

Marcus gave me a knowing look which made me immediately point at him. “Don't.”

His eyebrow lifted. “Don't what?”

“Look at me like that.”

“Like what?”

“Like you're waiting for me to lose control.”

A faint smile touched his mouth. “I am.”

My temper snapped and I moved. One second I was standing beside the table, the next, I was across the space between us.

Marcus didn't move or try to stop me from grabbing the edge of his shirt. The chair scraped loudly against the floor and Smith stepped forward.

Aurora sucked in a breath and then I felt a tiny hand slap against my leg.

“Ba!”

I froze and when I looked down, Maya was reaching for me from her baby seat, her little fingers opening and closing.

My grip on Marcus's shirt loosened and the anger didn't disappear. It never disappeared that quickly but it simply changed direction.

I released Marcus and stepped back. “She's watching,” I said quietly.

Marcus straightened his shirt. “She always is.”

I looked at the baby again. Her cheeks were round, her hair sticking up in several ridiculous directions, and she was babbling happily as if three grown men hadn't nearly started a fight in front of her.

I crouched beside her. “Hey, trouble.” She grabbed my finger and her tiny hand wrapped around it.

I could see Aurora's eyes on the side of my face as she watched Maya try her best to get my finger in her mouth.

“What?” I asked.

“You almost punched Marcus.”

“He annoyed me.”

“You wanted to punch him.”

“Yes.”

She sighed. “At least you're honest.”

“Always.”

I stood and Marcus folded his arms.

“You shouldn't be anywhere near her when you're like this.” he said to spite me.

My eyes snapped toward him. “What did you say?”

Aurora immediately stepped between us.

“Enough.”

I looked down at her. She was smaller than me and still pale from everything that'd happen and somehow she was the one standing between three men who could tear a room apart.

I hated that she had to be brave because we couldn't control ourselves.

“Rio.” She reached for my hand with her warm fingers and I felt my anger slowly ease.

“I'll help you,” I offered and when Marcus opened his mouth to speak, I shot him a glare and he clamped his mouth shut.

Smart man.

Aurora sighed. “Thank you.” She started toward the bedroom and I followed.

Behind us, Smith said, “Try not to kill anyone.”

I glanced over my shoulder. “No promises.”

Aurora stopped walking. She looked back at me. “Rio.”

I smiled innocently. “I'm joking.”

She narrowed her eyes. “You're terrible at joking.”

“I'm actually very good at it.”

“You almost punched Marcus.”

“He deserved it.”

Marcus called from behind us. “I can still hear you.”

“Good.”

Aurora pulled my hand. “Come on.” I followed her and the moment we reached the bedroom, the humor faded. She looked tired, not only physically but emotionally and she was trying so hard to hide it but I could feel it.

I could see it in the way her shoulders sagged, in the faint shadows beneath her eyes, in how carefully she moved.

I hated seeing her like that and my mind made it worse by supplying images of her on the ground, writhing in pain.

Aurora touched my wrist. “Rio, don't go there.”

My breathing slowed. “You don't know where I was going.”

“I know you.” Those three words hit harder than they should have.

I looked away. “She's lucky.”

Aurora frowned. “Who?”

“Victoria.”

Her expression hardened. “Why?”

“Because you survived.” I looked back at her. “If you hadn't, she wouldn't have gotten a chance to die quickly.”

Aurora stared at me and I expected her to tell me I was insane. Instead, she squeezed my wrist. “That's exactly what scares me about you.”

My chest tightened. “I know.”

She stepped closer. “And I don't want you hurting someone because of me.”

I gave a humorless smile. “That's the problem, Aurora.” I lifted her hand and pressed it against my chest. “When it comes to you, I don't always know where the line is.”

Her eyes softened because I wasn't joking or teasing her, I was telling her the truth and I meant every word of it.