6. Bowen

Morning sunlight filters through the blinds and I awake, with Sadie in my arms.

A large smile spreads across my face. Driving up to this home with her in my SUV was an amazing experience. I chose this domicile, hoping it would be appropriate for our future family and she seems to like it too.

The tornado struck and I was instantly thrown into a protective stance. The need to have her close and keep her at my side grew exponentially. I didn’t even care that they everyone we’d sheltered with saw me kiss her outside in the hallway. I’d put my stamp on her and the other unmated males would now understand that she was mine. Also, having her taste linger in my mouth and her number programmed into my phone made it easier to be separated from her.

I worked hard all day and night, doing whatever needed to be done to keep the humans (and a few orcs) safe in this county. The different towns and countryside are large and the staff at the office and my deputies performed admirably. After all those hours, I went directly to Sadie and brought her home.

And now she is in my bed.

Sadie wants me as much as I want her. She is in love with me but has not yet admitted this because she’s a human and they take things slow. Therefore, I have also not yet admitted my love for her in return. It is enough that she knows of my commitment, that I want her as my Bride and she seemed to easily accept that we would start a family together.

She sighs and sifts in my arms. I have slept with her so very close, my chin on her head and her hands on my bare chest. Her legs are tangled with mine.

I enjoy the sight of her skin next to mine. The difference between our pigment is always pleasing. I can scent that her body is ready to breed. And now my cock is thick and leaking.

She thinks I didn’t notice that she went to bed in a short nightgown, not wearing any underwear. Even though I was exhausted, I did notice.

Her long, yellow hair is over my arm. I lean in and inhale again, loving her scent.

Her beautiful blue eyes flutter open. “Bowen?”

Her full breasts are outlined underneath the thin fabric of her pajamas. And the hem is rising on her hip to the point where I can almost see the triangle down below.

Her eyes widen when she feels my erection against her stomach. Then she reaches for it and running her hands over the length under the fabric of my black pajama pants. “Are you sure that’s going to fit?”

“I will make sure you are ready.”

My lips capture hers and she sighs with delight. She does not know this, but the kiss we had yesterday was my first kiss. I was worried that I would not perform correctly for my female, because I was certain that she was much more knowledgeable than me. But I seemed to perform well enough that afterwards she seemed unsteady on her feet.

I break off the kiss and my lips trail down to her neck. “Do you want more?” I ask.

She grabs my cock again. “I want everything.”

Her arousal is thick in the air.

I’m at the foot of the bed, pulling her down because I want my tongue in her wet heat.

“Oh yes, please.”

I hear a distant sound. A sound that does not bode well. I lift my head from between her thighs. “What was that?”

“The doorbell,” she whimpers. “Dammit. Who is here?”

I stand up and Sadie scrambles for her phone. She looks at the screen. “I”m so sorry.”

I walk over and discard my pajamas and pull on jeans, willing my aching cock to stand down. “Sorry about what?” I question, although my orc sense is already telling me that there’s a group of humans at my front door.

She tosses the phone aside and pouts. “They”re here. And I have to warn you that my parents are kind of old fashioned.”

I pull on a shirt but leave it unbuttoned because this is my home and this is where I can dress as I see fit. “Your parents are here?”

“And probably everyone else. I come from a big family, and they”re very nosy. I’m not even dressed.”

I give her a kiss and stride for the door. “I already knew you had a large family. Take your time. I will greet them.”

“Are you sure? You”re going do that on your own?”

“Yes.”

“You’re brave.”

I grin. “I’m the Sheriff. Also, I’m an orc.” I make my way down the hall and stop downstairs and look around, feeling proud of what I’ve accomplished. Today not only am I trying to impress my female, but her tribe too. I’ve worked hard to get to where I am, so that I can live a life with one foot in the old ways and one in the new.

The doorbell rings again.

I open the door and find a large group of possibly ten humans of various ages from senior citizens to children, on my doorstep. I recognize many of them from this morning, when I was arresting Sadie.

There are gasps of surprise and they are all quiet for a moment, I’m sure taking in the fact that I’m not in uniform. No hat and my horns are exposed, my tusks are still enlarged because of my want for Sadie. My shirt is unbuttoned and I’m not wearing any shoes. This is my normal state of dress around the house because orcs are warm-bodied.

“Sheriff Underwood,” her father says in a way that makes me realize he’s former military. “We know that Sadie is staying with you.” He is tall and still fit for his age. Both of Sadie’s parents look like active senior citizens. He crosses his arms. “We figured you might as well get used to us now before things get any more serious between the two of you.”

“You’re the first boyfriend she’s ever brought home.”

“And it’s weird for us because she didn’t bring you to our house so we could meet you, she went straight to your home.”

“And she told me she was moving in,” Lila says. “So of course we all had to come down to see what was going on.”

“We”re a package deal,” Sadie’s mother says with watery eyes. “It’s just that Sadie is the youngest. You have to understand, she’s the baby of our family.”

“You mean the one who’s spoiled,” the brother says. The female standing next to him elbows him in the side. He grimaces. “Although that doesn’t mean that I don’t want what’s best for her.”

“I understand,” I tell them all. “You are here to make sure that a member of your family line is mated to a male who will treat her well and is someone you will also enjoy becoming a member of your tribe.”

They smile. “Yes.”

“Welcome.” I invite them all inside.

They come in and I’m introduced to Sadie’s parents, her brother and sister, the brother’s wife and five active, school-aged children.

Sadie comes downstairs in a top and short skirt that I instantly want to remove from her body. Her hair is down and her arousal hits my lungs. She gives me a secret smile, knowing what she’s doing to me. This female is going to be underneath me the moment all these humans leave.

Sadie and Lila and the mother decide to make breakfast for everybody. It turns out they brought a bunch of food and we’re having something they call “brunch.”

I give tours of the house and explain why I don’t have any furniture yet. Then I join the children who play a game they brought that involves balls outside on the back porch. Eventually everyone settles in the kitchen and dining area. When the food is ready and Sadie is settled next to me the questions start.

“Are you going to marry my daughter?” her father asks.

“Dad,” Sadie gasps. “Stop it. This is none of your business. It’s bad enough that all of you are here this morning, butting in like usual, but this is a private matter between Bowen and I. Besides, you’re coming on too strong and you’re going to scare him away.”

“I cannot be scared away. Sadie is my mate,” I tell them.

“Oh, good,” her mother sighs. “I like how that sounds serious.”

And then I explain the whole story about how I met her in the dark of winter, but refrained so I could behave honorably and wait for her consent. It’s now spring and we were thrown together during the charity run and the tornado which quickened everything. Sadie nods in agreement with everything I say and occasionally breaks in and adds explains that are even better than I what I’m saying.

And then I wave a hand at the large kitchen, dining and living area we all occupy with a wall of windows that offers views of the sparkling lake below. “I bought this house for her, for us.”

“You did?” Sadie’s sister-in-law sighs. “Oh, that”s beautiful. This is the perfect house for you both.”

“I bought it for our family,” I clarify.

Everyone gets quiet. And then they look over at Sadie.

She throws her hands up. “I am not pregnant.”

“But she will be soon. Sadie is my bride and she will carry my sons.”

“That”s how they do things,” she tries to explain to her family. “Birth control doesn”t work with orcs. And it”s not like us where, you know, we try to wait until after you”re married to start a family. There isn”t an actual wedding ceremony within orc culture. It”s just I scent you are the one, my body is latched on to you and now we’re together forever until the day we die.”

“Oh,” the mother says. “Well, I like the whole together forever thing.”

Lila leans forward. “I”ve read the book about this and I know there is no cheating and no divorce with orcs.”

Sadie’s father grins. “This is good.”

“I bought this house hoping that Sadie would find it acceptable for our family. If not, we can move elsewhere.”

Sadie leans into my side. “This is perfect.”

“You”re not renting this house?” her brother questions.

“I bought it at an estate sale.”

“You have a mortgage?”

“No. I purchased it outright.”

They all stare at me with looks of amazement.

“Well, this is wonderful that you and my daughter are settled and are a couple according to orc traditions,” her mother says. “But you need to know that Sadie also needs a human wedding ceremony. Um, does this need to happen soon because you said you’re starting a family right away?”

“She will become pregnant immediately.”

Sadie sighs and places her face in her hands.

“And she will never have daughters. She will only bear orc sons that will look very much like my tribe.”

“This sounds wonderful. I love the idea of orc grandchildren.”

The other adults in the room nod in agreement.

The kids look excited. “We’ll have orc cousins. Everyone will be jealous.”

“What about your parents? Where do they live? Are they on one of those communes I’ve heard about?”

“My parents live in Maine, but not in a commune. I was born and raised in a small town near a commune, but not inside. It was compromise. My mother wanted a regular town to live and work in with the other humans and my father wanted to be close to the commune he was raised in and where his family still lived. I visited the commune often though but was raised amongst humans and went to school with them.”

“Can I call your parents?”

“Yes, my mother would love to contact you. They”ll be down here often to visit.”

“Oh good. I love this,” she claps. “The more family the better.”

I spend more time talking with Sadie’s family and begin to feel surprisingly comfortable in their presence. At one point I end up outside on deck chairs with her father. He tells me about his career as a former Navy Seal. It turns out we have much in common. And then he warns me that if I ever hurt his little girl, he’ll kill me. I nod in understanding and respect. I vow to treat her with care and we shake hands.

Eventually before they leave, I discover that I”ve got all their numbers in my phone.

Her father pats me on the shoulder. “Welcome to the family.”

And I”m invited to something called a barbeque next week.

“I think they like you more than me,” Sadie huffs.