Page 78 of Orc's Possession
“But you are not fully human.” My hand rests over her heart. “From the beginning, you’ve stood up to me over and over in a way I never did with my grak. That takes immense courage, Paloma. Courage and strength. Despite my words earlier, you are very orc.”
The corners of her mouth lift. “It’s taken a while to get to know each other, hasn’t it? You’ve shown patience and wisdom, more than I have. And you never forced me. I appreciate that, very much.”
She runs her hand over my cheek, making me feel alive with her touch. “I wish you could see that you are nothing like your father. What happened with Sojek was a mistake. One you can correct over time. Tell him what you think of him. That you value him.”
My female cares about others, enough to fight for them. This is one of her strengths. One I admire. She deserves the truth. All of it…
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
ATOX IM GRAK
Itip my female’s face up, to look into her deep brown eyes for what may be the last time. She respects the truth, so this, I will give her.
“I did take you to breed you. The agreement with your people says we receive five females after two months of guarding their borders.”
Her jaw clenches, but she doesn’t yell or run from me. Instead, she straightens her spine, as if she’s a warrior preparing for battle.
“I don’t want to leave, Atox,” she whispers. Not a plea of desperation. Something more.
I run my hand through her hair and down her cheek one last time.
“I see something in you. A greatness that is more than a male fit to be grak. But I won’t stay if you only want me for my ability to have younglings. I’ve spent much of my life being shamed by others for my body. It’s an awful feeling. Being wanted only for my ability to have babies isn’t any better. I’m so much more than what you see and touch. I wish you could understand that.”
I understand. More than she realizes.
Those deep brown eyes capture me as securely as if she’d tied a rope around my heart. The idea of letting her go violates everything that makes me who I am. She’s my female.
Myfemale.
Mine to protect, mine to hold, and mine to mate in the risha. If she lets me. If she forgives me and takes me as I am. A grak who has to make tough decisions. A grak who makes mistakes.
“Even if you cannot carry a youngling. I need you, female, because you help me be a better grak. A better male. I want you. For me. Atox, the warrior. I want you in my furs, I want you challenging me, provoking me, stirring my heart and soul with your fierceness and wisdom.”
Tears leak from her eyes, but her face softens.
I scratch my head. “It appears I’ve said something wrong. Again.”
“No, Atox. You’ve said everything right.” She wipes the tears away. “These are happy tears.” She runs to me, jumping into the air, knowing I’ll catch her.
My hands support her under her plump ass, which gives me ideas I shove aside until I know we have come to an agreement. I cannot, will not, lose her.
“You will explain these tears,” I say, squeezing her ass. I have my priorities, but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t enjoy touching her. Especially with how she presses herself against me. No male should be expected to ignore such temptation.
“It’s simple, really. Tears reflect emotions, but not all emotions. Happy tears mean I’m happy. And then there are sad tears.”
“How do I know the difference?”
“Based on my expression, voice, body language. Everything together.”
“Confusing.”
“I want to make this work between us, Atox. But what aboutwhat you have to do as grak? I mean, you need a baby to carry on your rule.”
“I will choose another warrior to pair with a moxxel. Whether you conceive or not, you are mine and I will not give you up.”
“What about an heir?”
“If I do not have an heir of my flesh, then so be it. I will find a worthy warrior. Verig, perhaps.”
