After Axum took the basket from my hands, we walked hand in hand to his secret spot. While we walked, Axum told me about his week, about the city he’s going to visit next and asked if I wanted to accompany him.

“Of course,” I answer happily, feeling giddy that I get to see more of Belzod. “Do I have to do anything?”

“No, sweet Rainn. All you have to do is stay by my side. And do not worry that you will be harmed. I will protect you.”

“I know, my love.”

During our entire conversation, he kept his attention on me, but I saw his eyes darting around constantly, making sure no one snuck up on us.

Sighing, I look up at Axum, watching how the sun reflects off his beautiful green skin. “How are you feeling?”

“Good. It is nice to be outside the palace for more than a few minutes. It is beautiful out today.”

“It’s beautiful out everyday. Even when it rains,” I tell him, pasting myself to his side. The size difference between us is still taking some getting used to, but I love it. I love feeling so small and delicate when I’m with him.

I sigh, kissing the back of his hand. “I love it here so much. I never want to leave.”

Axum stops me from walking, turning me towards him as he frames my face. “Even when the portal opens for you?”

I nod. “Even when the portal opens.” I let out a shaky breath, gearing myself up for what I’m about to say. “You are my home now, Axum. Where you are is my home. I…I love you. I would never leave you.”

A yelp leaves my lips, followed by a giggle, when I’m plucked off my feet and into his arms. Axum hugs me tight to his chest, so close not even air can pass through. “I love you too, sweet Rainn. So much. You have become my whole world. You are my home as well.”

I touch my lips to his, feeling like everything is right in my world.

He sets me down on my feet and we continue the walk, both of us with goofy smiles on our faces.

We get to the brook and immediately set up our blanket and pull out our lunch. I sit in front of Axum, leaning against this broad chest as he feeds me. He chuckles when he pulls out the large bowl of oxiolly the kitchen staff packed for me. Everyone in the palace knows how obsessed I am with the vegetable. They didn’t even have to ask if I wanted some prepared—they already had it on deck.

While we eat, Axum asks, “Tell me about your books, Rainn. I know you said you write…what did you call it? Smut?”

My cheeks heat, but I nod. “Yeah.”

“What is smut?”

Oh god, kill me now. “It’s…sex. My books have a plot, and a lot of fucking.”

“The humans in your story, they have sex with orcs?”

I laugh, feeling embarrassment creep up my spine. “Yeah, and ogres. And sirens and fairies and krakens and aliens and any other supernatural creatures out there. But my favorite has been writing about orcs.”

Axum chuckles. “Do you feel like one of the characters in your stories, sweet Rainn?”

“More than you know.”

I tell Axum about my best selling series, which is my orc series, and he asks plenty of questions. He also laughs at the lore I made up for orcs, especially about the anatomy of their dicks.

“We do not have ridges that stroke your insides, as you know,” he says matter of factly, still keeping me on the edge of embarrassment, “but you did not include a knot..”

“I think I like the knot better,” I say, wiggling against him.

He laughs as we head over to the brook, resting our feet into the cold water. It’s bracing, making me shiver, but after a few seconds, it feels really good.

“Would you like to get in?” he asks, already removing his tunic to reveal his bare chest.

I pause in answering, staring at his well-defined chest. Fuck, Axum is so sexy, so much bigger than me that I can hardly believe it. It looks unreal, like a figment of my wildest and most feral imagination. I reach out and touch him, feeling his heart thump against my palm.

“Rainn?”