Page 27 of My Orc (Secret) Boss

A male at the front of the crowd called out, “If she’ll come to my house, I’ll bid a hundred!” I recognized the same lewd voice as the one who’d bid against my brother for the blonde gymteacher. There were some chuckles at the male’s leering look, and when Maya shrunk in on herself, I saw red.

“Two hundred,” I ground out before I’d even realized what I’d said.

“Two hundred, from Memnon in the front,” Jess called out. “How about two-fifty?”

Maya had turned almost grateful eyes my way, which turned incredulous when the other voice called out, “Three hundred if she does the work herself!”

“Four hundred,” I immediately countered.

Jess didn’t speak but turned to the other male with her brows raised. “Five hundred,” came his voice, although he sounded peeved now.

Karnak leaned closer to me. “That’s Geoffrey Harrison. He’s an asshole, doesn’t even live full-time here on the island. He owns a vacation home and was trying to turn this whole place into a tourist trap for a while. He objected to us moving here, and he ran against Sakkara for mayor.”

Ah, so he was aracistasshole.

No way was I letting him near my beautiful Maya.

Jess was ready to call the bidding in favor of The Asshole when I lifted my hand. The sounds and voices around me quieted to hear me say quietly, distinctly, “One thousand dollars.”

The crowd gasped, and before The Asshole could offer another bid, a delighted Jess yelled, “Sold!” She grasped Maya’s hand to shake it happily. “Thank you so much, Ms. Locklear! Congratulations on your new company!”

Maya looked dazed as she stumbled toward the steps, and all I could think of was getting to her. That asshole had wantedher. And I doubt it was for the landscaping.

MyKteersnarled like a wild animal caught in a trap, throbbing against my ribs, urging me tochase hurt killthe bastard who’d dared to leer at my Mate. I couldn’t do that, so I pushed my way toward the stairs to meet Maya.

And as soon as she put her fragile, trusting hand in mine, that control snapped.

I couldn’t hurt The Asshole who’d tried to scare her, but I could remind her—and me—and the fuckingworldthat she was mine. My Mate.

Without a word, I turned and stalked toward the edge of the crowd, pulling Maya after me.

Mine.

Chapter Ten

Maya

I struggledto keep up with Memnon, which surprised me, because with his limp and my long legs, we were usually evenly matched. But right now, as he stalked out of the park, across the street, and headed for the beach access, he was moving as if he was full of anger and needed to burn off some of it.

Pinning my skirt around my legs so it wouldn’t kick up as I ran, I hurried to keep up. “Memnon!” I panted. “What’s wrong?”

“What’s wrong?” he snarled, whirling on me.

I reared back, surprised by the way his eyes were glowing green. I’d become used to their gentle spark, but this was something fierce, something possessive.

Maybe he saw how hard I was breathing, or how nervous I was after that horrible bidding experience with disgusting Geoffrey A. Harrison leering lewdly at me. Or maybe he was just tired of waiting.

Whatever the reason, Memnon bent down and lifted me, tossing me over his shoulder as if he were a caveman and I was his prize.

“Memnon!” I squeaked, pushing myself away from his back and kicking up my heels, trying to lock down my bright yellow skirt. I guess I should’ve worn my trousers after all. If I had, I wouldn’t be worried about flashing all of Eastshore right now, and Geoffrey likely wouldn’t have been so interested in me.

I was pretty sure Memnon knew what the issue was, but he merely grunted and clapped his hand over my ass to hold my skirt in place. The heavy weight, however, reminded me of the way he’d touched me last night.

A familiar warmth flooded my core, and I immediately pressed my thighs together to capture the sensation.

Memnon made a noise that might have been a strangled groan, but he slowed his headlong rush. His fingers dug into my butt cheek as he stomped down the beach access toward the waves. Still, he was moving slower, more deliberately now.

Thank goodness.

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