Page 73 of Orc's Pretend Mate

“If they do not, it will not matter.”

I think about that and the worst part is, I am sure he’s right. The Shaman and his Maulavi grew more erratic the longer I was there. Something definitely changed. I don’t know what, though.

I sigh, wishing there was something I could do. Lacking any other way to help, I snuggle in close, squeezing him tight. He returns the affection, looking down and planting noisy kisses on top of my head.

Leaning backwards, I meet his lips with mine which immediately leads us both into strong interest in something besides waiting. We make love next to the fire pit. With no constraints of time, or any danger that we can do anything about at least, we take our time.

I don’t think about it until we’re done but as we cuddle under a blanket it hits me. He finished inside me and this is the first vaginal sex I’ve had since the ship. I’m not on any kind of prevention. On the ship, population was strictly monitored and controlled. Birth control was part of our daily rations until we were ‘permitted’ to have a child.

We didn’t do anything, not even the old standby of pull out and pray. Some of his come leaks out, but most of what felt likea really big load is sitting inside, working along and doing its magic.

Maybe. I know enough biology to know that it’s not automatic or any kind of a guarantee, but the idea has ‘taken seed’ in my head and now I can’t quit thinking about it.

We are spooning together, but I need to talk to him about this. I roll over, throwing my arm over his broad chest while hooking my leg over his. I kiss his cheek, peppering the strong jaw line with small smacks of my lips.

“Vapas,” I murmur.

“Hmm?”

He’s half asleep, his eyes are closed and his breath is evening out.

“What do you think of a child?”

His eyes snap open and he rises partially up onto an elbow.

“Are you?”

“No, I mean, I don’t know, but… we haven’t talked about it.”

He frowns, lying back down. He hooks one arm under his head for support and stares at the ceiling. He lost a child with his dragoste, so it’s not hard to imagine he’s not only thinking this through but dealing with those emotions too.

Rather than prod, I wait. I hate waiting, almost as much as he does, but anything less would be disrespectful and I’m not going to do that to him. He inhales deeply and then lets it out slowly.

“It is good,” he says at last.

“You’re sure?” I ask.

He nods.

“I am. You are my dragoste.”

“Yes, but… her…”

He turns and our faces are a fingers width apart. His eyes bore into mine.

“Dragoste,” he says. “You are mine. I loved her, deep and true.”

“But…”

“But nothing. Phoebe, I do not know the truth of the spiritual aspects nor pretend to. Are you her returned? Are you, you? How am I to know these things? What I do know is this: I love you.You. Here, now, in this time and in this place my heart is now yours. Is that enough?”

“Yes,” I force the word out but I can’t say more because my heart is in my throat.

I kiss him and run my hands through his hair. He returns the kiss and then his cock is digging into my belly and we’re making love again.

I’m his and he’s mine. Our pretend relationship may have been a ruse to try and protect me, but there is no doubt in the world that what began with faking is now real.

There’s so much going on in the world and while there is still a war to be fought, nothing will change this. I have found love.

Real love. Love that is strong enough, possibly, to even beat the bindings of death. I don’t know either if that is true or not, butwhat I do know, is that it is definitely enough for me. For us. And for the family we will create together.

THE END

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