Page 53 of Shared By Two Orcs

I’m pretty sure he loves her, too.

“No matter what?” Her deep brown eyes dart between the two of us, and she gulps hard. My chest tightens at the fear creeping into her voice.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Duma look at me. I glance toward him, and, just like always, I don’t see a fleck of anger or jealousy. He cares for her just as much as I do, wants her cared for.

And I’m not sure about him, but I am certain that there is nothing Willo could do that would tear me away from her. I’d crawl over broken glass if she’d ask just to see a smile on her face.

I speak first, stroking my thumb over her beautiful face. Her head tilts as she leans into my touch, the affection warming me up from the inside out. “Willo, there is nothing on this planet or any other that will take me away from you. I can assure you that.”

Leaning in, I press a kiss to her forehead, and she sighs softly. I know that this is about more than just the fight now. There’s too much meaning behind her questions. She’s not afraid of one of us being taken away from her.

She’s afraid we’re going to walk away.

While I know that is not the case for me, I can’t guarantee it for Duma. But I do know that I can’t keep letting her stew in her fear or let these emotions drag out. I need to put an end to this and hope that when the dust settles, we are still standing together.

“Willo.” I’ve been in battles, mine collapses, and infiltrations – and my heart has never pounded the way it is right now. I reach up, cupping the back of her head, and I notice that Duma shifts back, allowing me to settle between her legs.

I tilt her head to mine, pressing our foreheads together, and I take a deep breath. I am about to shatter the only relationship I’ve dared to build in years. I can only hope that it comes out stronger for it.

“I love you,” I whisper, and the air thickens. I’m too afraid to breathe as I take in her face, begging her to say something as she stares up at me with wide eyes.

Then a smile cracks across her lips and she throws her arms around my neck. “I love you, too.”

Her lips crash against mine, and I grunt, dragging her against me harshly. I drink her in, her words echoing in my ears, and relief floods through my veins.

But I don’t let myself get lost in her – not yet. Our relationship has extended between the two of us for so long, and I hope that I did not just ruin what she has built with Duma. He has become a friend to me, and I do not want to break either of their hearts.

I force myself to let her go, dragging myself back as I turn to see what damage I have caused and hope that it is repairable.

28

DUMA

This moment was purely between Willo and Yamarz, and I am not going to get in the middle of that. Maybe if I was a different man – one that I no longer care to be – I’d care about the orc holding Willo’s face, kissing the life out of her. Maybe I would care that she just whispered she loves him.

But I am happy for them.

I am surprised that Yamarz is the first one to say it, though he is an orc of action. I have to commend him for so easily putting into words what has been pounding through my bloodstream every time I’ve seen Willo since the day we met.

I’ve loved her for some time.

But I was too scared to disrupt our relationship.

As Yamarz pulls back from Willo, though, I see that it hasn’t changed anything. We are both in love with her, and if her reaction to us getting into a fight is any indication, she has fallen just as hard for both of us. I have no anger or fear directed toward Yamarz because of what Willo said.

I am not so archaic to believe she can’t harbor love for me, too.

Yamarz turns around slowly, and for some reason, my eyes go to him first. Maybe because he has become a close friend, the only orc that knows how I feel. We’ve been able to work through so many things together, and I’m certain that we can make this work, too.

To my relief, Yamarz’s expression is soft, almost encouraging. Just as I thought, he isn’t trying to take her from me. I think he knows that I love her, too.

And it’s time I face that.

“Duma.” Willo’s voice is hesitant, and I swallow hard before turning to face her. Even if I know it can’t be true – or at least I hope it isn’t – I worry that she picked him. That while she may have feelings for me, she has chosen him.

But there’s no way that the look she is giving me right now, with a tentative smile and soft eyes, is one of goodbye.

I swallow my nerves as Yamarz takes a few steps back, just as I did for him, the air heavy in my lungs. My limbs twitch and tense as I force myself forward, knowing that it is time to face my emotions.

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