Page 28 of Summoning the Orc

With that thought at the forefront of my mind, I sat up, clearing my throat. “We have to go see Dristan and Penelope,” I told him and his eyes sparked with recognition at the names. I pointed to the ceiling and he tilted his head back to look at whereI was gesturing to.

I hid my grin as I sidled out from under him while he was distracted. Hurrying to the bathroom, I left him on the bed. I closed the door, pressing my back to it, but yelped as the door opened, moving me with it. Rok stepped inside, looking around with interest and curiosity. I shook my head, gesturing for him to leave, but he quirked an eyebrow at me and crossed his arms over his chest.

Stubborn male.

“I have to get ready,” I told him, with annoyance.

He shrugged, moving to poke around the room, but keeping me in his peripheral view. I rolled my eyes, going to the sink to brush my teeth. He came to stand next to me, watching with interest as I loaded the brush with toothpaste.

When I started brushing my teeth, he made a soft grunt, leaning in to watch me. I hid my smile as he observed what I was doing. I reached into the cabinet, finding a sealed toothbrush, opening it and holding it out to him.

His brow furrowed and his gaze slipped from where the toothbrush was sticking out of my mouth to the one I held in my hand. With careful movements, he took it, putwaytoo much toothpaste on and sniffed it.

I parted my lips so I could show him how I was brushing my teeth and he grunted, starting in on his own teeth with so much enthusiasm I flinched for him. I leaned down to spit the toothpaste from my mouth and he did the same, beaming at me as I handed him the towel to wipe his face, which was covered in bubbles.

He mimicked every single part of my morning ritual and I giggled when he dabbed moisturizer on his face. As I gently rubbed mine in, he scrubbed at his face too hard. I stopped him and showed him how, keeping my hands gentle. His eyes closed and he released a little sigh.

When I was finished, I brushed my hair under his scrutiny. I held the brush out to him afterward, but he turned for me to do it for him. I smothered a laugh, gesturing for him to sit on the closed toilet. He did, and I started in on his silky hair with gentle strokes.

He released a purring noise and I was startled for only a moment before I continued. His head tilted back, his eyes closed as I brushed and I stopped only long enough to grab some oil to add to the long strands.

He was eating up the attention, and I didn’t have a single problem giving it to him.

“Were you alone, then?” I whispered, sadness filling me at the thought. “I was alone, too, until I found Becca and her family,” I told him and I knew he was listening with rapt attention even if he didn’t understand a single word. “Don’t worry,” I added, running my fingers through his scalp and making him purr even louder. “You have me now.”

I was making a promise with my heart that I wasn’t sure I could keep, but one thing was certain.

He’s never going to be alone ever again.

Getting Rok out of our apartment and into the elevator was a feat that was worthy of ten whole chocolate bars. Dressing around him was a hazard of its own, and he’d nearly bowled down the bathroom door when I’d locked him out to use the facilities.

I wasnotletting this male watch me pee. It’s too weird!

With my shoulder shoved into his back and my feet digging into the flooring, I heaved out a breath and I strained to move him out of the elevator. He was too busy examining all the buttons and I was almost certain that he hadn’t even noticed that I was trying to move him.

I snatched my phone from my pocket as he leaned over to murmur in orcish at the buttons that were lit up on the panel.

“We need to go,” I told it, and it chirped out what I was certain was a terrible translation of Orcish if its Common was anything to go by.

He peered over at me, eyes bright with curiosity and then held his hand out to allow me to walk past him. I sighed, blowing my hair out of the way and striding past him. I turned to glare at him, but his gaze was locked on my ass.

My face went hot and I continued forward to press the button to the side of the door. Rok meandered his way over after tapping at the inset cameras in the ceiling—something I could never evenhopeto reach, but he was able to get to with ease—and then did the same with the key mechanism on the door.

When it opened to display an excited Pen, I sighed with relief and hugged her. “Thank the Gods. A sane person,” I exclaimed.

“If I’m your basis ofsane, I don’t have much hope for you,” she replied, waving at Rok who tilted his head and lifted his hand to replicate the gesture.

It was so cute I had to hide my smile behind my hand.

“Yeah, you love him,” Pen said, and I smacked her shoulder before moving inside.

“Dristan’s in the kitchen,” she called to me, and I nodded, heading over toward him. He looked up from where he was cutting up a dragon fruit.

“Good morning, Becca,” he said, before looking back down at what he was doing. “I see you look well rested.”

The words might not have been meant to be snarky, but I took them that way. I leaned forward, my eyes narrowed at him “What do you know?”

Dristan’s eyebrows went up and he peeked behind him to see if there was someone else there. “What the hell would I know? What did I even say?”

---