Page 61 of Orc's Mate

I was hoping once the island’s population grew, we could expand services. A restaurant would be amazing, as would a market. And I had a feeling we’d draw healers and engineers to our laid-back way of life. The latter could study the desalination device and recreate others on different parts of the island.

“How did it go?” Eleri asked when I returned after a long day exploring to find other water pumps, then clear away brush and trees from around them. She sat at our table with sewing things spread out in every direction, working on a piece of clothing. She planned to create a complete wardrobe for each of us, then start making things ahead. She’d set up a shop here but also in the city. We could open it a few days per week and sell the clothing she’d made.

I’d tried to tell her we didn’t need money, that all we needed was each other, but she’d insisted. Besides, she’d said, she loved sewing, and it would give her something to do in the evenings.

Frankly, I intended to monopolize as many of her evenings as I could, but I’d never take something from her that brought her joy.

“We found more pumps that draw water from the second pool,” I said. “One is near our own garden.”

“Wonderful.” She set aside her sewing and came over to give me a kiss.

“A few of the males have gone to the city.”

She froze in my arms. “Oh, no.”

“It’s good news. They took money with them to buy cattle. We’ll arrange for a barge to bring them to the island where they can graze.”

“Milk and meat?”

“Eventually.”

“What else? I feel like so much has happened in a very short time.”

“We’re talking about building more homes for those who wish to move from the city. We’ll expand the clan.”

“How large a population do you think the island can support?” she asked.

“A few hundred. Others can live on the smaller islands, and we’ll help them construct desalination devices to give them fresh water.”

After we finished building new homes for future settlers, I had a plan for our own house. Two rooms at least, one for Eleri to use as a sewing room, and the other . . . Well, I wasn’t going to say a thing about it. It would be a surprise for my mate.

To think this woman hadn’t been in my life a short time ago. Now I couldn’t imagine not seeing her each day, kissing her, and loving her all through the night.

“Would you like to go swimming?” I asked.

“I was going to make dinner.”

“Let’s catch our meal and roast it over a fire on the beach.”

“Sounds wonderful. I picked more vegetables, and we can include them in our meal as well.”

We left our home and started down the staircase, me carrying our fishing poles and bait, her a few vegetables.

“No more swimming naked,” she said with a sigh. “With the cave so near, someone might see.”

“You’re right. The pool is too close to the cave.”

When we reached the bottom of the stairs, I urged her to go left instead of right.

“Fishing first?” she asked.

“I thought we could do that after our swim.”

“I’m going to have to wear a short dress from now on when I practice,” she said with a pout, holding it aloft. She’d made it yesterday and modeled it for me, though honestly, she hadn’t worn it for long.

I just grinned and led her around a bend, then another.

“Lots of walking tonight,” she said with a smile.

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