Page 49 of His Orc Lady

“Mara.” He sounds relieved as he takes my hand and squeezes my fingers, then presses his lips to my knuckles. “I’ve been searching all over for you.”

“Oh!” I glance back at Dawn, who’s watching us with undisguised interest. Then I grasp the front of his tunic and tug him lightly into the room. “We’re planning a party for Ozork, and we might need your help.”

Dawn and I launch into the explanation of what will happen tonight, and Owen listens, his gaze brightening as he realizes what we’ve planned.

“That’s brilliant. The duke won’t like it, but from what Lady Willow has told me, that should solve her problems nicely.” He laughs, his voice echoing in the chamber. “Oh, what I wouldn’t give to witness that conversation.”

I grin. “I’m glad you approve.”

He stares down at me, his gaze warm. “Of course. How could I not?”

Dawn clears her throat. “I’ll, uh, I’ll go and pick up Arvel from school now. You two can finish the seating plan. And Captain Hawke, it’s so nice to see you settling in.”

I shoot her an exasperated look, but she’s already bustling out the door, her shawl trailing behind her.

“That was…subtle,” Owen murmurs, glancing sideways at me. “Do we really have to finish a seating plan?”

His gaze burns into me, and he slides his hand over the top of the desk toward me, touching his little finger to mine.

I squirm in my seat, pressing my knees together. “There’s a good chance Gorvor or one of the others will return shortly. And yes, we do need a seating plan. We at least need to know the final number of those attending, including any children, or we might not have enough seats.” Then I lean closer, moving my chair until my thigh brushes his. “But I haven’t seen you since last night. So…perhaps a kiss?”

I barely finish speaking before Owen’s lips touch mine. He palms the back of my neck and tips my head up, then deepens the kiss, parting my lips with his tongue. I grasp the front of his tunic and draw him closer. I wish I could crawl inside him, climb into his lap and show him just how much I want him, but I settle for kissing him back just as passionately.

“Mara.” He sneaks his hand down to my hip and draws me closer. “I don’t want this to end.”

I pull back, staring at him. He blurted out the words, and they hang between us, a start of something we might not be able to undo. For a moment, Owen seems uncertain, as if he might want to take them back, but then he grits his teeth and looks down at me steadily, waiting for my answer.

Something unclenches inside me, then peels away, a protective layer I’ve built around my heart and that fragile little tendril of hope.

“Neither do I,” I breathe. “Canyou stay? You said?—”

“I know.” He leans his forehead against mine. “But the thought of leaving here…”

Owen shakes his head and rubs his sternum as if it hurts, and I understand the sentiment perfectly.

“There’s more I need to tell you.” I clench my fingers around his hand. “More you have to know before you make your final decision.”

He studies my face, then gestures to the lists and notes strewn across the desk. “Can you leave now?”

I bite my lip in frustration. “I promised I’d do this for Ozork. He’s been—he’s family to me, Owen. I can’t let him down.”

“I’d never ask that of you.” He leans in for another quick kiss, then pulls back and nudges my elbow. “Tell me what to do.”

We work side by side until Ozork shows up again, arms full of winter greenery, his weathered, craggy face almost glowing with excitement. He informs us that he’ll be leaving to see Willow, then turns to Owen.

“Could you meet us in front of Willow’s bedroom before dinner?” he asks. “I’ll have to hurry here and talk to the king about the final details, but she’ll want to come with me unless you’re there to escort her.”

Owen inclines his head. “Of course. I’ll be there a half hour before dinner, is that all right?”

Ozork shakes his hand firmly, then leaves, but before I can comment on how much happier he seems now that he’s found his mate, Dawn appears, carrying Arvel on her hip. The prince is teething—again—and is fussy, so we do our best to distract him with his wooden blocks and a large piece of carrot to gnaw on. Owen gives me a small smile when he sees me carrying the little one around the room, cooing to him, but he doesn’t say anything—just another thing we’ll have to discuss later.

He leaves soon after to fetch a pair of long tables from the great hall with Steagor, and returns, his face pink with exertionfrom hauling heavy pieces of furniture halfway through the Hill. They do several trips to bring in enough chairs, and I give Arvel back to Dawn so I can fetch the table linens and arrange the holly and pine in neat bouquets.

“This looks amazing,” Dawn exclaims as she emerges from her bedroom, where she’d put Arvel down for a nap. “I’m so glad we’re doing this.”

I hum in agreement. “I think we’re done for now. Earna said she’ll use some of the young ones on kitchen duty to bring over the food, so we don’t have to worry about that, but I do need a bath.”

She grins up at me. “I have to admit that having our own poolisa luxury.”

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