Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

Z oe grins up at me, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

"There are no lady orcs here."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I see."

"Don't be. More trouble than they are worth, I swear. All they care about is tusk size,"

"Oh, well that is shallow," she says. And I believe she means it.

"Well, I do like your tusks ya know. I can't speak for lady orc sensibilities, but to me you're like a big, green, muscly teddy bear. With attractive tusks of course."

A teddy bear?

I would fight any lady orc who spoke to me so, but she does not know any better.

But more to the point, with every word out of her mouth I just want to scoop her up and hold her to my chest. I long to embrace her. And they way her flesh felt beneath my hands. Her soft pale skin. The silkiness of her hair. And that intoxicating musky human scent. It is taking all of my power to not ravish her on the spot. But she is my guest, and I will not risk alarming her or making her feel uncomfortable in any way. Fact is, from the moment I saw her I knew I would fight any creature to the death, if necessary, before I would see the slightest harm come to her.

I grunt, trying to hide how her words affect me. "I am not a teddy bear. I am a fierce battle-hardened orc warrior."

Yet I know my tone betrays me. I must be strong.

"Of course you are," she says, patting my arm. Her touch again sends a jolt of pleasure through me.

This is not helping.

But wait, beyond that.

This can't be happening.

She's human. I'm an orc.

It's ridiculous. Impossible.

And yet...

Before I can shut myself up it's out of my mouth...

"The murals really showed different beasts of lore engaged...with human females?"

"If by engaged, you mean, like having sex ... then yes, absolutely."

If anyone had told me I would he talking of such things with a human female ... let alone harboring a fugitive human ...

"I see," is all I say. What can I say?

"Sorry if that is blunt," she mumbles, suddenly shy. "But ya know, not sure how else to say it. They were definitely going at it."

The image flashes unbidden through my mind - Zoe and I, tangled together like the figures I imagine in the murals – going at it. A sudden rocket of heat shoots to my cock and I feel my manhood swell. I shift uncomfortably, hoping she doesn't notice my growing ... interest.

As I sputter for a response, another stray thought hits me like a thunderbolt. Elowen's ‘failed' mate summoning spell ... could it be? What if it hadn't failed at all, but had simply gone a little awry?

You're not thinking straight.

I shake my head, trying to clear it. Even if by some miracle the spell worked, there's no way a human – this human – could be my mate. It's unfathomable. Dangerous. Completely against everything I've ever believed about humans.

And yet... I recall something odd about that night. Hadn't there been a strange gust of wind, and that flicker of light that seemed to come from nowhere? At the time, I'd dismissed it as nothing, but what if...

No. It's impossible. I will not entertain these thoughts any more...

And yet, I can't deny the pull I feel towards her.

God, but the pull!

Her curiosity about my town and our ways, her quick wit, the way her eyes light up when she talks about the murals. Again, I try to center myself the way I was taught as a young warrior. But she is like no opponent I have ever faced. I've never met anyone like her in fact, human or monster.

But truth is I already know. I have known.

She is my mate!

"Earth to Thokk," Zoe's voice cuts through my musings. "You okay there, big guy?"

I blink, realizing I've been staring. "Yes, um, just thinking."

"About what?" she asks, shifting her position on the bed as she faces me.

About how infuriatingly desirable and completely enrapturing you are.

About how I've never met anyone like you. About how much I want to—

"Nothing," I grunt. "About Othrix," I quickly correct myself, as there is a thread of truth to that.

"Listen." She lays one tiny, and electrifying hand on my forearm. "He's fine. We spotted him and confirmed it, didn't we? He'll come back just as soon as he is done with his little adventure."

Vaguely I hear the words, but mostly I am looking at the bed – my only bed. "Yes, thank you. Listen you should get some rest. We both should. Tomorrow will be a big day. I'll take the floor."

"Don't be silly," Zoe protests. "Your bed's big enough for an elephant. I can fit off to the side. I promise I don't bite." She pauses, then adds with a wink, "Unless you're into that sort of thing."

A bolt of pleasure shoots through me.

Gods, if she affects me so with just words, what would her touch feel like?

"No, no; you should have your own space. You are my guest." I make a pile of furs on the floor ... but I feel my resolve weakening by the minute...