Page 86 of Bound to the Orc Guardian

“Nope.” She shakes her head. “It’s my turn to talk.”

I press my lips together.

“Yousavedme, Sturrm. You. Did. Not.Fail.” She stares deep into my eyes, pronouncing each word carefully. “You are not unworthy. You’re the exact opposite. You’re extra worthy, super worthy,colossallyworthy.”

Her words sing through me, reverberating until my entire being feels like a struck gong.

I force my recent memory to play through my head, shoving through the disconnect of the berserker rage until everything that happened comes clear. The ogre stood over Selena with his axe raised. It began to fall toward her, the woman I love. Unlike the nightmare that plagued me for years, this time no one blocked my way forward, for I had companions fighting by my side, reducing the uneven numbers. And I had already defeated my other foes. I leaped forward, sword flashing in the sunlight and halting the axe before it ever touched my bride.

And there it is—the new reality. The axe never struck, becauseIstopped it. I did what I had to. I got to Selena in time.

I did not fail my bride.

I’m no longer unworthy.

I’m allowed to want her, to want a future,ourfuture.

My heart skips as a weight lifts from my chest, the last wedges of stone falling from my heart, and I take what feels like the very first deep breath of my life.

I start to pull her to me, but she uses the hand on my chest to hold me back. “One more thing. I know I said it before, but you were kind of passing out at the time, so let me make this clear.”

My breath catches at the emotionshining from her eyes.

“I love your strength, your dependability. When those ogres attacked, I didn’t for one second imagine you’d let them hurt me. That kind of surety is rare and precious.” She caresses my eyebrow. “I love how you watch me and know what I need, half the time before I even realize I need it. It’s been a long time since anyone’s taken care of me, and it means the world that you do.” She smiles, wide and glorious.

“I love you Sturrm.”

Joy sings in my soul, filling me with a happiness I’ve never known. She loves me! My moon bound bride loves me!

I crush Selena to me and kiss her, reveling in her light and love.

CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

Selena

Sturrm’s kiss is hot and possessive and perfect, but what really makes my heart race is the look in his eyes when he finally pulls a few inches away.

“My Selena, my bride. My life was nothing before you came into it. I’d let myself become a hollow shell of a man, knowing little of joy or excitement. I lived for duty alone, yet even that was done out of guilt for past failures instead of freely given with a glad heart.”

“Oh, Sturrm,” I breathe, blinking back tears.

“You changed everything. You stripped me naked, and I don’t mean only my clothes.” His lips quirk. “You uncoveredmy heart and made me see myself for who I truly am. You gave my life its intended purpose. Loving you is all I ever want and need. For I do, my darling bride. I love you with everything I am.”

Emotion clogs my throat. He loves me! I give a choked sob and throw my arms around him.

“Why do you cry?”

“Happy tears,” I whisper against his lips. “The happiest. Now kiss me.”

He takes my mouth with his, pouring love and passion into his kiss, his lips teasing mine open, his tongue insistent. Sturrm’s arms tighten around me as he stands, his long strides carrying us quickly into the dark bedroom. He sets me on the edge of the bed, his touch leaving me for only the moments it takes to light the glow stones.

Sturrm kicks off his boots and returns to the bed, peeling off my new boots and socks. His palms glide up the outside of my legs. “I like you in these, dressed like an orc. You smell like you belong here, in my furs.” He presses his nose into my neck and takes an audible sniff. His tusks tease through my hair, which I left down for the evening. Then he growls in my ear, “But you’ll smell even better covered in my seed.”

His fingers trace the hem of my new tunic, sliding it slowly up my body, delicious touches gliding over my skin. He kisses his way up my stomach, following the path of the cloth, his tusks scraping.

A shiver of desire goes through me, raising goosebumps.

The shirt slips off my raised arms, leaving me in my new bra, the light linen surprisingly comfortable without elastic due to the weaver’s magic. Sturrm hooks his tusks in the topof one cup and drags the fabric down to bare my nipple. “I need to mark you.”

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