Page 15 of Marked By the Broken Orc
But that doesn’t change the facts. It doesn’t erase the lessons of my childhood or the promises I made to myself. Human females leave. They get what they want and then they disappear, leaving wreckage in their wake.
I won’t let that happen to me, or my son. Therefore, I will remain alone. Which for the first time doesn’t sound as satisfying as it did in the past.
Get some rest.Early morning tomorrow.
You too. Sweet dreams, Kavin.
I stare at her message for a long time before turning off the phone.
The irony isn’t lost on me that I’ve ended up living next door to the one human who makes me question everything I believe about my own species’ mating instincts.
Because the truth I don’t want to acknowledge is that my body responds to Mia Martin in ways it never has to any female. And despite my vows, despite my walls, despite every rational reason to maintain distance…
This female is going to be my downfall.
Chapter 5
Mia
Ireplay that fantastic moment by the mailboxes in my mind for what seems like the hundredth time.
The way his skin felt against mine.
That brief brush of hands that shot desire straight through my entire body.
Heat pooled between my thighs so fast it caught me off guard. Did I gasp out loud? I’d wanted to grab him and give him a deep, erotic kiss with lots of tongue, strip him naked and have those massive hands on my naked body. Most importantly, I want to know what it would be like to feel him slide inside of me.
I fan myself because I’m getting hot and bothered all over again. And also, all this sex-on-the-brain is bringing up more thoughts about what it would be really like to go there with Kavin Irontree.
Maybe it’s a good thing I’m forced to take things slow with Kavin. There’s a lot I need to think through and get squared away in my head before we get any further. I’ve never had an actual boyfriend, only one-night stands so being in a relationship is uncharted territory. And this isn’t simply getting together with some guy, this is me thinking of basically marrying an orc, which is next level relationship building.
Orcs don’t do hook-ups or short-term dating. To them it’s all or nothing. If I have sex with Kavin even once, he’ll consider it a lifetime commitment whether I’m ready or not. My long-term birth control won’t mean shit because human contraception doesn’t work on orcs. One time with him and I’d be pregnant with his orc son. No going back, no casual dating, no figuring things out slowly.
Talon’s words echo in my head: “Orcs don’t date human females.” They take brides. For life. In sickness and health, till death do us part, the whole nine yards.
Am I ready for that right this moment? Marriage, motherhood, a life where I’d never have daughters and only give birth to orc sons who look like Kavin’s family line?
The logical part of my brain says I’m crazy to even consider it. But the rest of me, the part that lights up every time I see him, that part whispers back:What if this is exactly what you’ve been waiting for?
Kavin’s resistance might be wanting to make sure I’m not like those other human women I’ve heard about who flake out on orcs when things get real. Women like maybe his own mother? That could possibly be the trauma Talon was hinting at.
I can’t blame Kavin for being careful. If I were him, I’d want to be damn sure about me too.
My phone buzzes and I grab it, hoping it’s a text from Kavin. Instead, I see it’s Jessica asking if I want to meet up for coffee later. I’m about to accept when I hear a knock on my door.
I pad over in my socks and peer through the peephole. Kavin stands in front of my door, and my heart does that stupid fluttering thing it’s been doing every time I see him. I open the door, suddenly aware that I’m wearing my old National Guard PT shirt, yoga pants and my hair in a messy bun. At least I brushed my teeth and my skin looks good. “Hey.”
“Hello.” His dark eyes take in my casual appearance, and I swear I see heat flicker in them before he looks away. “I apologize for bothering you, but I need assistance with something. Can I come inside?”
“Oh, of course. Come in.” I step aside, secretly thrilled to have him back inside my apartment.
“I need help understanding human banking systems. Direct deposit, health insurance, pension plans. The paperwork is…confusing.”
The vulnerability in his voice catches me off guard. I love the idea of helping out this big, powerful orc. “Absolutely,” I respond with a big smile. “No problem. I can help with that. Let me grab my laptop.”
We settle on my couch, me with my laptop balanced on my knees, him leaning in to see the screen. He smells so good, like sunshine and leather. I could sit next to him all day.
“I’ve never had the need for a bank account before,” he admits. “And I’ve never had a job that wasn’t paid in cash or gold. This is all very new to me. I appreciate you taking the time to explain.”
