Page 30 of Marrying My Orc Boss

Her younger cousins dance nearby, their faces alight with joy and excitement. I can't help but feel a sense of happiness as I watch them, knowing that I'm a part of this moment with them. Even Sally’s hundred-year-old grandma is bopping along in her wheelchair from the nearby dining table that someone set up in the backyard.

As we move together on the makeshift dance floor, I feel my body start to relax. Sally's movements are fluid and graceful, and I do my best to match her energy. We twirl and dip, our bodies moving in perfect harmony. The partygoers around us fade away, and it feels as if we're the only two people in the room.

I can feel the heat of Sally's hand in mine, and the warmth of her body pressed against mine. I'm not used to being this close to someone, but I find myself wanting to be even closer. The music changes to a slower tempo and Sally pulls me in even tighter. I can feel her heartbeat against my chest, and her breath warm against my chest. We sway together, lost in our own little world.

As the song comes to an end, Sally pulls back slightly and looks up at me. Her eyes are sparkling with happiness, and I can't help but feel a sense of contentment wash over me.

All at once, everything feels so simple. Like nothing in the world matters quite so much as the woman in my arms. Like I could get lost in her gentle gaze.

"Thank you," I say to her, my voice quiet.

She looks at me quizzically. "For what?"

"For bringing me here. For introducing me to your family. For showing me that it's okay to let my guard down and just have fun."

Her expression melts into something softer and she gracefully places her hand on my cheek. "Of course, Drakar. You're more than welcome here," she says, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm just happy to see you happy."

We stand there for a moment, lost in each other's gaze, before the next song starts up and we're swept back into the dance. Sally's laughter is contagious, and I can't help but join in, feeling a sense of joy that I haven't felt in a long time.

CHAPTER 17

Sally

The morning after Grandma’s party, the sun is shining. I take that as a good sign to go for a walk with Drakar and some of my cousins. So many of my days lately have been an endless juggling act between hospital visits and work shifts, that I can’t even remember the last time I had the chance to enjoy something as simple as the view.

“This is my favorite part of the whole place,” I motion as we stroll across the cobblestones. My cousins dance around and scamper ahead, their excitement barely contained.

“Not even the enchanted lake?” Drakar is goading me with a slight smirk that tugs on the corners of his voice. One of my younger kin had revealed the old secret of our own ‘enchanted lake,’ a family tall tale that he’s apparently taken with relish.

“Oh the lake is nice, but I think I like the path a little more,” I reply breezily. “The best views of the property are along the path, and the walk always reminds me of the adventures we’ve had over the years.”

My gaze turns wistful as I let the memories filter through. Years of reunions, baby showers, and graduations, they all play through my mind like an old reel.

As if he can sense my thoughts, Drakar entwines his hand with mine in a gesture of reassurance. “It really is a wonderful house. I would have given anything to have a childhood like this.”

Looking down at our entangled fingers, I wonder how we managed to end up being exactly what the other needs. Drakar is bringing some much-needed stability in my life, as I am his. Still, I don’t want to push for anything more serious and wreck what we have. It doesn’t do me any good to go looking for anything beyond our arrangement.

I should be grateful that he’s doing this much, instead of wondering how much longer holding hands is going to hold up. He may be sexy and charming, but the only thing we’ve really got going for us is necessary convenience, and that probably won’t hold forever.

By the time we make it to the water’s edge, the kids have made up a full song about the lake it seems, and are trying to teach us these lyrics. This process might be sped along if they didn’t keep changing the words, but I’m too congenial to point that out, and Drakar is kind enough to play along.

He softly tests out a few of the lines before turning to me apologetically. “Sorry, I’m not much of a singer.” I think his low rumble is reminiscent of Elvis, but I lack the courage to tell him so.

I don’t want him to think I’m flirting with him in front of a bunch of my family members, then I remember that’s exactly what we’re here to do. Flustered by my internal critique, I move to the break line and let the cool water lap at my toes.

My younger cousins have taken it upon themselves to teach Drakar how to skip rocks, and he is patiently submitting to the lesson. He’s rolled up and cuffed his pants and shirtsleeves, but otherwise has no problem wading in the water with the kids.

I steal glances of him out of the corner of my eye, as I trail along the shallow edge of the lake. I’m forming a watchful barrier in case some of the little ones get any ideas about going into deeper depths, but my focus is admittedly split between keeping an eye on the kids, and secretly admiring Drakar’s physique.

It's hard not to though. Not with those broad shoulders and eyes that glint in the sunlight. And he's so good with the kids too.

Somewhat distracted, I don’t even realize I’ve slipped on one of the mossier rocks until it’s too late. My footing shoots out from under me. Reeling frantically, there’s just enough time to register the look of shock on Drakar’s face before I’m tumbling off-kilter, into the water.

I feel the water break over my head and instinctively know Drakar jumped in after me. His strong hand grabs my arm, pulling me to the surface as the water bubbles around us.

The effect of the sun transforms his form into something ethereal, like some ancient warrior, or demigod hero.

Drakar kicks us upward, and the propelling motion makes me feel as if we’re flying while the press of his forehead to mine makes me feel inexorably anchored and safe. Together we break the water’s surface.

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