Page 12 of Arrested By the Orc

“Not too long,” the mayor comments. “It sounds like it's close. It’s probably right on top of us now.”

Then Bowen is behind me again and his arms are around me. I lean into him and can hear the muffled scream of the storm. The whistling, the hum of wind, the vibration of walls.

“This building is really old and tough,” The mayor tells me. “It was built to last. I've been through many tornadoes in my day and rode out quite a few of them in this same building. Townhall even survived the tornado of ‘54.” She winks. “We'll be okay.”

“Thank you. I appreciate you telling me that.”

“And at least we have an alert system. When I was a kid you had to figure it all out yourself and there was almost no warning until it was on top of you and you were running for the storm cellar.”

“Oh my god, do you hear that? It's overhead.”

We wait with bated breath for a full eight minutes as the storm clocks through our town. Which seem like the longest time of my life. An hour instead of minutes.

“Alright,” the mayor finally announces with preternatural storm awareness. “It’s all over, we can all go out now.”

The door opens.

Everyone starts leaving and we all go back down the dark hallways.

Sheriff Underwood pulls me into a dark corner and his arms are fully around me and his nose in my hair again, which is the best feeling ever. My arms go around him in return. I have a feeling this orc likes hugs. “You are mine,” he groans.

“I am?” This is the man who was ignoring me for months. I mean, everything he says is what I've secretly wanted but it's just amazing to discover that the person I wanted wants me too. When Amanda left I felt good that no one had been mean to her. In truth, I want I try to go forward in life treating others as I’d want to be treated in a similar situation and so I tried my best to counsel him tell her in a way I’d want to be told.

Normally with a guy it’s baby steps toward commitment. A date and then six months later you start leaving something at his house and then you have to talk him into letting you move in. And then he says one day you'll get married.

Nope. Not with Bowen.

He tells me upfront that he wants me as he mate, that he’ll never be able to cheat on me, which means I’m certain he’s hoping I can promise him a lifetime of monogamy too. Butterflies flutter in my stomach. Basically, he wants to marry me, and everyone heard him say that too.

“I heard him say that he wants to marry you,” Nelson the head librarian whispered as we all watched him talk with Amanda.

“I've recorded it,” someone else said. “So he can't take it back later and act like he didn't say that. We've got your back.”

Bowen wraps his arms around me. “I need to repeat to you that had to keep you at a distance because it was the dark of winter. I had to stay away from you to keep you safe. I could have easily behaved very primitive and kidnapped you. I dreamt of it often.”

“And now you don’t feel this way?” I say with a hint of disappointment.

“Let me show you how I feel. May I kiss you?”

“Hell yes, of course you can kiss me.”

And then he literally possesses me.

I’ve had a few make out sessions in my life, but this puts all of those to shame. This one kiss is easily the best of my life. His lips are so plush. His arms go around me and at first he gives me a tender kiss. Tentative, as if he’s waiting to make sure this is what I want.

I kiss him back with everything I’ve got so he truly understands I’m right there with him. This man is so cute. An enormous, powerful male who is so very careful with his consent and how he treats me with care. He knows he could harm me and wants to make sure it never happens. And yet at the same time he’s so protective, making sure no one harms me with words or actions on his watch.

I’m already basically in love. It’s crazy how simply spending about two hours in his vicinity causes all the puzzle pieces to lock into place. I want this man’s babies and I want to make vows of commitment with him in front of everyone I know.

But first, I have to make sure he’s here to stay.

The licks flick back on.

“That’s the generator. I’ve got to go. I’ll be gone for a long time. Let me have your phone.” We exchange phones and program our numbers.

“Sheriff Underwood?” a Deputy shouts. “We’re getting a bunch of calls…”

I pull him in and give him one more swift kiss. “See you later.”

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