Page 39 of My Orc (Secret) Boss

I made Maya shredded chicken tacos, licked sour cream from her cheek as we both laughed, then carried her into my—ourbedroom. After her fifth or sixth orgasm, I finally took pity on us both and drew a hot bath.

Gods of the ancestors knew how long I’d wanted to wash her hair for her.

Judging by the way she responded to me the rest of the night, she’d liked it too. This morning, I’d woken her with my tongue, and I now knew I was addicted to the way she screamed my name.

No, I was never going to get enough of her, but I was going to have a damn good time trying.

My chest was lighter, and I was breathing easier as I scrambled eggs for my Mate’s breakfast. I’d done the same each morning for the last week, but the pleasure I’d gotten from caring for my Mate hadn’t been enough to mitigate the fierce ache from the Mating Heat.

Now that I’d claimed her?

Well, let’s put it this way: There’s a possibility I was smiling. A bit.

I was already turning when she walked into the kitchen. Even if my senses hadn’t been keen enough to hear her, I was surprised to discover our bond was strong enough that I knew where she was and what she was doing.

Now, for instance, she was frowning down at her phone.

“Hungry?” I all but purred, placing a heaping plate on the table and taking a moment to press a kiss to her neck.

She hummed in agreement, and even tipped her head to one side so I could have better access, but she was distracted by her phone. And she remained distracted as she gobbled down the meal faster than me and pushed away from the table.

“I’m sorry to do this, Memnon, but I have to pop over to the bank.” She waved her phone at me in explanation, a furrow between her brows telling me she was worried. “I’m not gettingany answers from the app, but if I leave now, I can be the first in line and still meet you at the park in time to start work.”

I frowned, not liking that there was an issue I couldn’t solve right away. “Yeah, sure. Anything I can help with?”

She shook her head, already collecting her bag and work boots. “No, but you’re sweet to offer.” Suddenly she straightened and crossed to me. “And I really am sorry to be running off like this and leaving you to work alone right after…”

I knew her well enough by now to catch her flushes, and this one was accompanied by a sheepish smirk. When she leaned down to kiss me, I gladly accepted.

“It’s no problem, Blossom.” My hand rested on her lower back, the slid down to cup her ass briefly. “Today we’re planting the groundcover around the oaks, and you can trust me to manage that on my own.”

“I do,” she said with a soft smile. “I trust you, Memnon. And I’ll be there as soon as possible, okay?”

This last part was called as she hurried out the door.

A little less peaceful than I was earlier, I finished my meal and cleaned the kitchen with a thoughtful frown. Maya was my Mate, and my primalKteerwas urging me to be with her, to stand behind her, to back her up in whatever fight she was tackling this morning.

Whoa, calm the fuck down. It’s thebank, not battling a grizzly. She’s strong and competent and can handle a fucking bank run on her own.

Although some of those bankerscouldbe pretty snooty.

She trusts you to handle the landscaping for her company.

Yeah. Yeah, I could do that.

But two hours later, I straightened from where I’d bent over the coneflowers, sweat already running down my back, and wiped a soil-encrusted hand over my forehead. The knot in my chest had long since returned, worry distracting me from my task.

For the third time, I pulled my phone from my back pocket and frowned at the notifications. Nothing from Maya, but there were about forty-seven from Kelly.

Did the woman not understand the meaning of the wordno?

As I watched, another text from her popped up.

Honey, I have a planning period right now, I’m heading to the park to talk to you. MEET ME THERE.

Oh, for fuck’s sake.

Calling mehoney? Leaving work to harass me? She knew I’d be working here today, didn’t she? With a sigh, I swiped to the text, prepared to type a firm “Female, leave me alone”…but a new voice interrupted me.

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