Page 45 of Wrangling the Orc Cowboy

The soft curve of Gracie’s back fit nicely against me, igniting a warmth that spread through every part of me. I forced myself to focus on the street ahead, trying to ignore the way her body felt so good against mine.

My cock roused, and I inwardly shouted at it to slump, to behave. Stupid thing.

“Are you ready?” I asked, wrapping my arm around her waist. I told myself I had to hold her. She'd never ridden on a sorhox before. She might fall off if I didn’t keep her safe. But it felt amazing to sit on Castree's back with Gracie nestled against the front of my body.

“Ready as I’ll ever be.” Her tone held a hint of joy, and that made me smile. I nudged Castree gently with my heels, and she walked forward, her steady rhythm echoing my pounding heart.

The moment we crossed through the town's outskirts, the world opened wide, stretching all the way to the mountains encircling this valley. Vibrant greens of the pastures blended into the deeper green of the forest that swooped all the way to the white peaks of the tallest hills. Even the mountains seemed to bow down to the blues of the sky.

“This… This is okay.” Gracie’s voice rose with excitement. She lifted her arms out beside us, and I swore I could feel hergrin warming my skin. “Woo-hoo! I've never ridden an animal before. It's nothing like sitting in a car or being inside a plane.”

“My brother, Ostor, rode in a plane. To Mexico.”

Under my heel guidance, Castree's slow walk took us away from the town and toward my ranch. Did I dare tell her it was mine? It was small, only one bedroom so far. I didn't need more. It wasn't like I'd have young or a mate to share the space with.

Unless I could convince Gracie to stay.

“He went to Mexico?” she asked.

“Cun of the can.” I held myself still. Would she get my joke?

Her laugh snorted out and she slapped my thigh, though gentle enough I barely felt it. “Good one. Cun of the can. Why was Ostor in Cancun? Not many orc cowboys there.”

“His mate, Rosey, was going to her sister's wedding and she asked him to go with her.”

“Aw, that sounds lovely. I bet they had a great time.”

“He did. He's so happy with her now.” I'd watched their interactions too many times, stifling my jealousy because they were so loving together. I didn't want Rosey, of course. She adored my brother and him, her. But I envied the way their fingers would meet and link together even if they didn't seem to be aware the other was there. The way she only had eyes for him.

“I hope I'll have the chance to meet Ostor and Rosey while I'm here.”

“I'll get them to come visit,” I said.

“Perfect. Maybe you could bake for them, and we'll have a tea party.”

I jumped on the idea. Not so much to bake for my brother who might not even be aware I could do it, but because I'd do anything to make Gracie smile.

“It sounds fun,” she added.

“Then it's a date. I mean a…deal.” Yes, that was the word.

“Date sounds good too.”

I knew very well what date meant. Ostor had been Rosey's fake date for the wedding. I hadn't mentioned that; it was for Ostor and Rosey to share if they wished.

Would Gracie even consider dating me?

Wait, she could have a manfriend. No, the word wasboyfriend, though I had no idea why. Who'd date a youngling other than, perhaps, a youngling female? Humans said the most peculiar things. In the orc language, there were no hidden meanings in words.

For example, date. She could be suggesting I bring the fruit or bake something with it. Or she might mean tomorrow, the “date”.

I doubted she meant her and me, looking at each other as if we only had eyes for each other. Stretching out our hands to link our fingers even when it seemed we didn't know the other was there.

“You're awfully silent back there, Tark.” She glanced up at me. “What are you thinking?”

“That we should ask Castree to go faster.” I urged Castree into a trot and then a rolling gallop, guiding her along the dirt road stretching away from our fake town.

Sharga soared off my shoulder, trailing us with his jagged flight.

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