Page 55 of My Orc Contract Husband
“Youarecheating!” I announced. “Like a bloodhound on a scent trail.”
“I’m only followingthem,” he pointed out. “They might be wrong. Besides…” His gaze turned sly as he reached out to flick a sunflower’s head, sending black seeds flying. “You know what they say?”
“About sunflowers?”
“Shut The Fuck Up!” he announced. “All Children Of The Dirt Love A Daring Little Sunflower.”
It took me a hot second to realize that he was trying to guess the acronym of my favorite sleep shirt, and I burst into laughter as I stumbled after him. “I can’t believe you’re able to remember that! How do you come up with these?”
When he scooped me up into his arms, I gave a little shriek and wrapped my arms around his neck.
He froze, waiting for me to settle down and get comfortable.Ifroze, just because it felt so natural to be held by him. Our noses were inches apart.
“You okay?” he whispered.
I leaned closer to breathe, “What are you doing?”
“Moving faster.” With that, he jolted into motion again, causing me to gasp playfully and grip his neck. As he jogged along, he nodded solemnly to me. “Besides, as they say: Stop That Flirtation, Unless A Couple Out There Drags Lightly And Digs Love’s Seeds.”
I didn’t bother hiding my laughter against his chest this time.
Tarkhan had this adorable silly side he only showed to me, and I loved it. I loved the way he smiled proudly when he made me laugh, and I loved the way he went out of his way to make it happen.
“A Cuddly Orc Took Direction—Left!—And Disappeared, Leaving Sunflowers,” he announced firmly, turning leftward.
Oh Lord, I was really going to have to confess the meaning of that acronym sometime, wasn’t I? But I loved hearing his ridiculous guesses.
I was still chuckling when we emerged from the maze, on the heels of Tova and Emmy, who were following Sakkara and Nikki. Everyone was heading toward the snack trucks when Tarkhan finally put me down.
“Thank you.” I was flustered and warm when I smiled up at him, knowing there was no place else I’d rather be. “That was…exhilarating.”
In true Tarkhan fashion, he waggled his brows enticingly. “Shut The Front Door! A Cloud Overhead Today Didn’t Let Anyone Dance Like Sunbeams.”
I patted his chest. “You’re getting silly.”
“Getting?” he repeated. “Damn, I thought was there already.”
“Fine, youaresilly. Now, I believe I was promised some kettle corn?”
“Oh, were you?” Tarkhan hummed, sliding his arm around my shoulders and turning me toward the cluster of food stalls. “I don’t remember that.”
“Maybe you didn’t say it outloud, but I’m pretty certain if you could sense how badly I wanted kettle corn right now, your response would beIf my wife wants kettle corn, she’ll have some kettle corn, by golly.”
He grunted as we headed toward the sweet smells. “Thatdoessound like something I would say. Except for theby gollypart. Was I raised on a farm?”
My nerves, already on high alert, made me giggle again. “In abarn. The saying israised in a barn.”
“Why would you think I was raised in a barn?”
Iknewhe was just being silly to distract me. “This is why I love?—”
Shut up shut up shut up! This is a temporary marriage of convenience! You can’t just blurt out that you’ve accidentally fallen for him!
Could I?
Instead of chuckling at his silliness, I found myself wincing. I wasn’t allowed to fall in love with Tarkhan, was I? Sure, we were married, but it was temporary…
“Sami!”
