“More centered,” I murmur. “More… myself.”

“Good. That’s good.” She beams at me. “Because your ‘self’ is pretty freaking great.”

The corner of my lips curls.

“But really. That was alot.” Her smile softens. “As a friend recently reminded me, it’s okay if you’re not okay.”

I brush her cheek. “I need to think about it more and talk to Aldronn.” Who might actually be my cousin, who knows how many times removed.

The wind kicks up, rustling the pines and blowing across us. I find it pleasantly cool since I’m still fully clothed, but my bride shivers.

“You’re cold. We should get dressed.” I push up to sitting, bringing her with me so she sits sideways on my lap, her hip pressed to my knot. But I cannot make myself let go of her quite yet. Her shirt’s still ruched up, her undergarment tugged low, baring her chest. My fingers spread my orc seed from her stomach up over her breasts, teasing over their burgundy-blushed brown peaks until she gives a delightful squirm.

“I don’t think this is what getting dressed looks like,” she gasps.

“I can stop.” I pull my hand away.

“Don’t you dare.” She pulls it right back, her other hand tugging at the back of my head to demand a kiss.

“I know what will keep me warm. A little run.” My bride blinks out of my arms to appear at the edge of the trees on the far side of the clearing. She grins, slow and sultry. “A little chase.”

With a growl, I come up off the ground at a run.

Naomi shrieks and dives between the trees, the lighter soles of her feet flashing, pulling me forward.

She leads me on a merry chase, somehow sensing every time I get near and using her power to flick her several feet ahead. Her husky laugh fills the forest each time, and the primal beast within me delights in the sound, playing for the first time in its life.

Sometimes she moves so far ahead that she disappears from sight, and my tracking magic flares to life, eager to find my prey. I run harder, my heart pumping, my breaths fast and deep.

I feel so fuckingalive, and my bride has gifted this to me.

When she finally lets me catch her, I grip her shoulder with my tusks and ride her, hot and hard. The new play made my previous knot reduce, and I pound into her, our bodies smacking together as I thrust deep.

My stud goes to work, sucking on her clit, and my bride shudders below me, crying out her completion.

I groan and pull out to thrust against her glorious ass as I come, covering her once again in my seed, my scent.

My bride.

Mine.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

Naomi

God, that was fun. And hot—can’t forget the hot.

Wranth chasing me through the woods, the sound of his footfalls behind me, the electric anticipation of him about to catch me.

I drew it out this time, using my magic to prolong the chase, and he clearlylikedit, fucking me fast and furious and so damned perfect I’m not sure I can walk.

Thank god I don’t need to.

I have no idea where we are, but it doesn’t matter. With Wranth still clamped over my back, I teleport us to the standing stone clearing. The softness of dried pine needles under my hands and knees turns into an even softer cushion of moss.

He clamps a hand to my stomach and does some gymnastic-level move that ends with us on our sides without him crushingme. God, his strength is such a turn on. We lie there with him spooning me, panting to catch our breaths.

Golden birds dart across the clearing, singing evening songs, as daylight starts to fade. The wind picks up, and my legs get a little chilly, but I don’t want to get up. I squirm back closer to Wranth’s heat and fall into a sleepy doze.