Page 39 of My Orc in Uniform

But it meant that when Rissa and I did eventually share a bed, it would behers. I would move into her life, hers and Trick’s, and I would do everything in my power to complete their family.

Smiling at the dream, I helped her dress, then climbed back into my own salt-stained clothing. I wrapped her in my arms and sat her in my lap, the blanket across my shoulders, as I fed her grapes from the cooler.

Sighing with contentment, Rissa rested her head on my shoulder, and I knew, despite not being in a bed, this was the best night I could imagine.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“No, thankyou.” I popped another grape in her mouth. “I’ve been hoping for this for a long time.”

She’d saidI love you. Right before she’d taken me fully, she’d told me she loved me. I wondered if she remembered. It didn’t matter; I would hold it in my heart forever.

“I think,” she murmured, eyes closed, “that this was the best night of my life. No matter what happens, I want you to know that.”

“It was everything I could hope for.” I brushed my lips across her hair. “And years from now, I’ll remember—wait.” I stiffened, then cocked my head to try to peer into her face. “Whatever happens?” I repeated.

She didn’t open her eyes, but her brows softened, the corners of her lips pulling down. “I’m not a naïve girl anymore, Simbel. I might have acted like one, wild and reckless—”

I caught her chin between my thumb and forefinger. “I loved the way you acted. I love the way you come alive around me. Is that not who you are?”

Slowly, her eyes opened. The blue depths looked…sad? “That’s who I am,” she whispered, her words at odds with her expression. My heart began to pound in concern as she continued, “Despite my best efforts to grow up, I’m the kind of girl who makes out under the bleachers and screams your name at the stars and leaves her kid home alone unprotected.”

I could feel a growl growing in my chest. “And you don’t think that’s a good thing? Not about Trick—he’s fine. But the rest? You don’t think it’s good to be yourself? To live a little? To have fun?”

She winced and tugged her chin from my hold. “The last time I tried that…I learned my lesson. That’s what I meant; no matter what happens, I wanted you to know how much tonight meant to me.”

With icy certainty, I understood.

The last time she’d allowed herself this freedom, she’d wound up pregnant and alone. She thought that’s what was going to happen now, didn’t she? Or something equally traumatic.

I’d spilled my seed inside her. Yes, that meant that there was a possibility of a kitling—just look at Giza and Harper, who’d gotten pregnant on their first night together without even realizing they were destined forforever.

But I had done so knowing this was my Mate I was claiming. And to find out that she hadn’t realized the importance of my declaration…

“You know,” I sighed, “for being perfect, you sure don’t listen too well,Mate.”

She blinked at me. “What?”

“You told me you loved me,” I accused.

“I did. I do.” Rissa shifted in my lap and fixed her eyes on the fire. “It’s okay if you don’t love me back. That’s part of the jumping-in-with-both-feet-and-checking-for-rocks-on-the-way-down thing. Announcing to a male that I love him—”

“Rissa,” I growled, interrupting her self-deprecation. “If there was anyone else saying such things about my Mate, I would hurt him.” My arms tightened. “You are perfect. I love your enthusiasm. I love your adventurous side. I loveyou. And I love that you love me.”

Timidly, she peeked over her shoulder at me. “You do?”

“Female,” I sighed, exasperated, “you’re myMate. Of course I love you!”

She didn’t understand.

And that, somehow, made me feel better. It was my fault for not explaining it; not that she didn’t care for me. Sighing, I scooped my arm beneath her to turn her more toward me.

“Rissa, the insta-O isn’t the only convenient bit of orc biology.”

Her lips twitched. “Itisnice though.”

“Good, yes, it was, and we’re going to do it again soon.” My claw caressed her cheek, then tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “But we have something else, something deep inside us.” I dug that same claw into my chest. “OurKteer. It keeps us alive, it reminds us of who we are…and it helps us find our Mate.”

Scooping up her hand, I pressed her palm to my chest, staring into her eyes. “My brother and I joined Sakkara’s cohort in passing through the veil because our people were dying. We didn’t have enough females to find Mates.” I told her all this already, that first night at the basketball game. “I never, not in a million years, expected to find a Mate, but when I met you…” I offered her a small smile. “I knew.”

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