Page 15 of One Forbidden Night with Her Orc Boss

I fully expect to take the lead. So much so that I’ve removed my pants and squished my lower half into my wetsuit on the drive. As the truck rumbles down the island, I go over the procedure we did in the sea the other day, imagining a real person in place of the dummy.I’ve got this.

“Bjorn is going to take the lead, Beckett. He’s got more experience, and these rocks can be dangerous. You’ll be shore support. Be prepared to get into the water if needed, but hopefully you’ll stay dry. You’ll prep CPR and hypothermia gear.”

“Can I take lead, Captain? I need the experience.” I refuse to let my voice quaver. Just because he can tongue me to coming doesn’t mean he gets to dictate what I can and can’t do at work.

Except he can.

Because he’s the boss.

“I’d like you to have some more training swims under your belt first,” he says.

“You’d like something under her belt,” Bjorn mumbles. My cheeks heat again. The truck swerves hard, knocking Bjorn’s blocky head into the side of the door.

Parked, gear unloaded, Captain uses a bullhorn to communicate our plan to the terrified teens, who are about to be swept off the rock by waves. It’s rougher than I imagined, and my stomach drops and threatens to empty itself at the idea of swimming in that. I refuse to thank the captain for making the call, but I’m glad.

Bjorn, however, grumbles something about not being a fish, but puts his fins and mask on and wades into the surf, then swims out to catch the soaked teens. My breath catches every time a wave sprays majestically behind their heads as it crashes against their rock, which is a granite spire poking out of the water.

“Beckett!” Captain’s voice is harsh as he barks my name, yanking me out of the mesmerized trance I was in. “Set up your gear. They’re going to need hypothermia blankets. Test your oxygen. And suit up the rest of the way, with a sweater over top. You need to stay warm, but be ready to go in if Cragbeard needs help.”

Turns out, Bjorn Cragbeard needs help. He’s got one orc teen on the flotation buoy and is swimming him into shore. But the other teen is going to get swept out. She’s lost her footing twice since the other person was picked up.

“I have to get her,” I say, unzipping my sweatshirt. Inside a war wages, I can’t let anything happen to me, because who would care for Lucy? But if that were Lucy out on those rocks, I would absolutely want someone to do whatever they could to save her.

“Dive under the cresting waves. Long kicking strokes with the fins. Stay aware of your breath. You’ve got this.” He places a hand briefly on my shoulder; it steadies my heart just long enough for me to strengthen my resolve.

The water is icy compared to the water the other day. The girl is crying. I can’t hear her over the wind and surf, but her expression says everything. That’s what pushes me forward. As I dive under the first wave, I wonder what on Earth possessed me to leave cornfields and cities for an island, but before long, I’m there at the rock.

I get the girl, Bex, situated with the flotation buoy and swim us back. Do I think I’m going to be smashed into the rocks? Yes. Do I think we might drown? No. Do I wish I’d given some instructions to Brann about Lucy, just in case? Yes. That makes my heart shudder.

The crashing waves make our landing hard, but I only get one mouthful of sand before dragging Bex onto shore. There, I look her over for injuries and wrap a foil blanket around her. Bjorn has the other teen similarly wrapped up. The captain is in the parking lot talking to the EMTs, who are preparing to take the teens to the hospital.

After that, things are a blur. There’s a cup of hot cocoa in my hands. A foil blanket around my shoulders. Soon, we’re back in the truck, speeding our way to the station to clean up and do paperwork.

Inside the relative warmth and safety of our building, Captain Suthorn claps us both on the back, praises us for the good work we accomplished, and tells us to get cleaned up. Bjorn heads to the locker room, but I am rooted to my chair. Exhaustion hits.

Brann’s face appears before me. Correction, Captain Suthorn’s face appears before me, each massive hand rests on each knee. Chaste, but hot. I shake my head no. “Can’t,” I say, mumbled.

“Beckett, look at me.” It’s a slow blink. “You did a great job. You’re crashing from the adrenaline. Let’s get you cleaned up and warm.” There’s a pause. His eyes have golden flecks that remind me of sunlight filtered through trees in summer.

“Natasha. Open your eyes,” Sighing, I do.

“You said my name.” And it sounded decadent on his lips. I want him to say it again.

“Natasha,” he says, as if I’ve commanded him. I smile, satisfied. Maybe living in a town with mythical creatures will give me mythical powers and I can talk to him with my mind.

“Come on. You need to get clean and warm.” Big hands peel me off the chair and lift me into the air. Part of me knows I’m at work and I should be concerned with propriety. The other part is happy to snuggle against this hard chest that smells like mint, leather, and sunshine.

“She’s toast, huh?” I think that’s Bjorn. Suthorn grumbles something, his chest vibrating against me, but I don’t make out the words. I don’t need to. I know I’m safe here, no matter what the other part of my brain says.

“I’m going to set you down. Can you shower yourself?” I nod, because what would the alternative be? He turns on the water and leaves me to peel my wet clothes off and step in. It’s just what I need to wake up a bit.

Dried, hair in a towel, I come out to an empty space. I see the paperwork I’m supposed to fill out, so I sit and do it. A thermos of coffee and a sandwich wait on the table for me. I eat and drink, feeling more and more human. Answer the phone and celebrate the news that both teens are fine. It isn’t until it’s time for me to go that Leif and Peder appear and take over the shift.

“Heard you had your first rescue. Congrats!” High-fives all around. I shrug it off. It’s all such a blur still.

“And a water rescue no less. Those are always tough. This sea is unforgiving. Get some rest!” They’re both supportive, and it makes goodness radiate inside me. As I walk out, I can’t help but wonder where Captain Suthorn is. Why did he just leave me?

When I show up to getLucy, Sophie looks confused. “Brann told me it was okay.” Panic fills her eyes as she realizes what she’s done. I soothe her and say I forgot. No need to worry just yet.

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