Page 13 of Orc Charming

I tipped over into oblivion, crying out as I came undone in his arms. He held onto me as I rode out the waves until they subsided, and I lay gasping for breath.

He slowly drew his fingers out of me and licked them carefully. “You’re amazing, mate. Simply amazing.”

Chapter 6

Deegar

She was my true mate, and my heat was upon me.

While I’d like to remain in my improvised nest with her until my heat waned, it wouldn’t be fair. She enjoyed the life she had in this town, and it would be wrong of me to do anything to interfere with that.

“I’m not sure what to think of all this . . . mating stuff,” she said as we left her house and continued with our errand.

“I imagine it’s not easy to adjust to. I’ve learned enough about human culture to know that you don’t have true mates and humans don’t go into heat.”

“You said you want sex.”

“All the time, but what we’ve done so far has satisfied me for now.”

“I like you, Deegar. I . . .” Frowning, she shook her head. “I like youa lot. But it sounds like you’re suggesting we spend a lifetime together.”

“That’s the way it is with true mates. We meet, have lots of sex.” I grinned when she ruefully shook her head. “And we remain together forever. True mates fall in love quickly.”

“I’ve never been in love,” she said wistfully. We turned right at a corner, walking down the next sidewalk. “But surely you can’t be falling in love with me already.”

I sensed I’d frighten her if I told her I was. “It’s easier for the male.”

“Why?” We entered a grocery store and walked down the aisles.

“I guess I should say it’s easier for an orc male. From the time we’re little, we’re told about true mates and how we must ask the fates to send us ours. We’re told that we’ll know when we kiss, and we’re instructed on how to build our nests.”

“You said it’s rare. Maybe you’re mistaken?” She picked out chicken, placed it in her basket, and strode up the next aisle.

Walking with her, I pressed my fist against my chest. “I know it’s true here. But you can have a day or two to come to the same conclusion.”

Her laughter snorted out, but she quickly sobered. “You’re not joking.”

I shook my head. “I’d never tease about something like this.”

“What if I tell you no?” she asked softly, selecting vegetables, adding them with the chicken.

“Then I’ll return to the orc kingdom and go to one of the caves. They’re set up for males to remain in until their heat wanes. And after that, I’ll stay as far away from you as I can. I wouldn’t want to trigger my heat again. It can be . . . quite painful.”

“You said I have a few days to think about this?”

“Yes.” A mating could never be forced.

“Alright.” She remained pensive as we paid and left the store, walking to another. I opened the door for her, and we went inside.

“We need a cell phone,” she told the clerk, who took us to a display of devices.

I was offered a phone when I first arrived in the human realm, but I turned it down. Once the treaty was signed, I wasn’t going to remain here, and the phone wouldn’t work in the orc kingdom.

Now all I could focus on was making sure I got Cat’s number.

It didn’t take long to add my phone to her plan, and we left with my new device in my pocket—and her number programmed in.

“Next is the thrift store,” she said, taking my hand.

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