Page 32 of Resisting the Wicked Orc

We collapsed together, a tangle of limbs and ragged breathing. The roar of the falls seemed distant compared to the thundering of my heart. Zral’s weight pressed me into the stone, but I welcomed it, my arms wrapped around him to keep him close.

After a moment, he rolled to the side, tucking me against his chest. His fingers traced lazy patterns on my back, following the curve of my spine. I nuzzled into the crook of his neck, inhaling his scent—woodsmoke and blackberries, now mingled with my own.

The mate mark on my neck throbbed pleasantly, a constant reminder of our connection. I touched it gently, marveling at how right it felt. How complete.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

His brow furrowed. “For what?”

“For seeing me.” I swallowed past the lump in my throat. “Not the princess, not the mercenary, not the bride. Just... me.”

Zral’s eyes softened, though the heat remained. “Why would I want less of you when everything you are sets me on fire?”

I buried my face against his neck. “You make it sound so simple.”

“It is, Red.” His arms tightened around me, as if to emphasize the words. “Whatever comes next, whichever brother of yours disappears mysteriously first, that will always be true. You are my mate, and I’m yours.”

I laughed into his kiss, the sound bubbling up from somewhere deep and genuine. My brothers would have a fit when they discovered we’d disappeared—again—but for once, I couldn’t bring myself to care. Let them worry. Let them search. This moment belonged to us alone.

Zral pulled me closer, enveloping me in his arms, in his warmth. “Tonight and tomorrow and always.”

EPILOGUE

ZRAL

Crimson smoke swirled around us as we materialized in our room at Silver River Inn, Rava’s teleportation landing us neatly beside the bed. My beautiful mate had spent the better part of an hour learning that particular spot after our first jump back to Silvermist Falls that afternoon.

“Gods, Red.” The bags in my arms landed with a thud as my feet found solid ground again. The new duffels joined the suitcases spilling out of the closet and crammed against the walls. “You sure you packed enough? I think your entire wardrobe made the trip.”

The familiar jolt of awareness shot through me like lightning, setting my blood on fire. A week together wasn’t enough to even scratch the surface of learning my mate. Every touch made me crave more, as if the bond had permanently rewired my senses to hunger for her.

“It takes work to look this good, orc.” She turned toward the mirror, critically assessing her reflection with narrowed amber eyes. A smirk played at the corners of her mouth. “Besides, half of this is because someone keeps tearing my clothes off.”

She gave a playful flick of her tail, causing her ass to sway temptingly within inches of my rapidly growing erection.

A low groan escaped me, and my hands landed on her hips. I leaned in close, letting the coarse fabric of my shirt tease her bare shoulder. “Should I stop?”

Her eyes widened, sparkling with amusement. “If you can.”

She reached back and hooked her hand behind my neck, tugging me down so her mouth met mine. I lost myself in the sweet taste of her, in the softness of her lips moving against mine. When I finally came up for air, her cheeks were flushed and her lips swollen. Gods, she was stunning.

“I’m a simple man.” My breath stirred the fine hairs at her temple, and I watched her eyes darken in response. “You’d look just as good in a burlap sack.”

The gentle scrape of my teeth against her earlobe pulled a soft sound from her throat. Her pupils expanded, amber irises reduced to thin rings of fire.

“Or better yet,” I murmured, lips brushing the sensitive skin beneath her ear, “no sack at all. We could just head straight to bed...”

Her laugh vibrated against my chest. Turning in my arms, she traced the tattoo on my bicep with nimble fingers, her nails lightly scraping my skin.”It was your idea to start looking for a house so soon.”

We’d already lined up viewings for Monday—three properties near the falls she so loved and two closer to town. This room at the Silver River Inn would serve as our base of operations, a neutral territory away from her brothers’ watchful eyes and constant interruptions. After a week of sharing space with the Kadhan clan, we both craved privacy like drowning people craved air.

“I was all for a romp on my family’s very private beach,” she reminded me, amber eyes gleaming with mischief.

The suggestion alone made me groan. White sand, crystal blue water, and Rava wearing nothing but sunlight. “You’re a demon.”

I was still adjusting to the casual way she mentioned her family’s holdings. The Kadhans might have felt like pets to the throne, but they’d been tossed very lucrative bones and built from there. Private beaches, vacation homes, endless connections… The princess and the carver, like something from one of the human fairytales.

Her grin turned wicked as her tail snaked around my thigh, climbing higher. “And you love it.”

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