Page 57 of My Orc Contract Husband
What was that saying about ignoring the elephant in the room?
How about the seven-and-a-half foot tall orc?
It seemed like Sami was having the same thoughts. “Was that a threat?” She glanced at me, then at her aunt. “Did that sound like a threat to you, Aunt Sharon?”
To my surprise, the older woman pushed up on her toes to glare at Montgomery over her niece’s shoulder. “That was definitely a threat.”
“I thought so too. You know who would think that’s interesting?” Sami lifted her hand and waved toward the food stalls, turning it into a beckoning gesture. “My lawyer. She’s coming over now.”
At this point, I couldn’t help it any longer; I burst into chuckles.
Everyone turned to look at me, and while I should’ve been pleased to finally have Montgomery’s attention, I only had eyes for my wife. When she peered curiously up at me, I wrapped my arm around her shoulders.
“I’m so fucking proud of you,dkaar,” I announced, dropping a kiss to her forehead.
I felt her melt against me, just as I scented Montgomery’s rage spiking again. “What the hell is this?” he growled.
Sami pulled away to beam up at me, then transferred her smile to her former fiancé, where it turned sickly sweet. “This, Pierce, is Tarkhan. My husband.” As Montgomery’s face began to turn purple, he switched her attention to the newcomers. “And this is my lawyer, Harper.”
The tall, smooth-talking woman took her cue, stepping toward Montgomery as she bounced her infant on her shoulder. “Mr. Montgomery, I presume? I’m Harper O’Donnell, and I’ve been very much looking forward to meeting you.” Her smile was just as sharp as his had been. “Not because I want to know you, but because I’m excited to tear you a new asshole.”
I choked on my inhale as it turned into a bark of laughter.
Unfortunately, Montgomery had ignored this delightful little speech, his rage directed entirely at me.
“Husband?” he snarled. “Impossible. You’re supposed to marryme.”
Sami’s arm slid around my waist. “And yet, I didn’t. I married Tarkhan. Not because my father chose him, orbecause we were trying to rule the galaxy or whatever. I married him because…” She tipped her head to smile at me just briefly before turning her attention back to Montgomery. “Because I love him.”
And in that moment, Montgomery could have fallen off a cliff for all I cared.
My wife—my Sami—had just told me that she loved me.
I opened my mouth to respond, to tell her I loved her as well, but Montgomery seemed determined to butt in where he wasn’t wanted.
“Impossible!” The word wrenched out of him on a laugh, even as he lurched forward, reaching for her. “You belong to me?—”
Romantic moment or not, I wasn’t about to ignore such a gross violation of propriety.In other words,I wasn’t going to let this fucking bastard touch the female I loved.
With a growl, I stepped forward, pushing Sami behind me to stand with Sharon.
“You don’t get to come near my wife, asshole,” I snarled, my hands going up defensively, claws out.
The sight caused Montgomery to rock to a stop. His gray eyes blazed as he eyed me with absolute hatred. “You don’t scare me,beast. I have more than enough men to take you down.”
“Oh, how interesting,” Harper cooed. “That was absolutely a direct threat. Did you hear that, sweetie?”
Since her daughter answered her with a loud belch, I assumed icy-toned Harper was talking to the infant. Butthen I heard Giza rumble. “Absolutely. I got it on my phone as well.”
“How delightful.” Harper’s smile was fixed. “Can you keep rolling and hold the baby at the same time?”
Giza’s grunt must’ve meant yes, and from the corner of my eye—I wasn’t dropping my gaze from Montgomery, justwaitingfor him to try to touch Sami again—I saw her hand off the baby. Then she stepped up to my side, helping to block Sami.
“There’s no need for violence, gentlemen, not when this can be settled legally.”
“Legally?” Montgomery snarled, gesturing dismissively at me. “Does this thing even have legal rights? Can it be married?”
“Yes.” Harper’s voice had slid into the positively frigid zone. “Hecan. The legal system recognizes orcs like Tarkhan—andmyhusband—as having the same rights as you. Or at least, the same rights you’ll have until you’re convicted of a crime—voting, marriage,et cetera.”
