Chapter 11

Cairo

I hadno idea why she was still in my house, in my bed, but I wasn't going to say anything.

Not when losing her was going to kill me.

By the first day of July, there was no reason for Meli to have returned to my house—and my bed, did I mention the bed?—because her family wasn't taking up space at her apartment. They weren't even back on the island yet.

But she'd returned every day and having her with me made me feel…softer, somehow. I wasn't as on edge, but I wasn't normal. I could lose myself in her arms, but it still wasn't right.

That was eating away at me.

It's because you're fucking her, but she's not yours. And your Kteer knows it.

I hated to admit it, but yeah. Yeah, that was why.

She was in my home, in my bed, but wasn't my Mate.

And I had to admit that Giza was right; somewhere along the way, I'd realized that Meli was mine. Mine. She was my Mate, and to her…I was just the fake boyfriend.

I mean, that didn't stop me from enjoying the hell out of the situation.

"God Almighty, Cairo," she panted, her hands planted against my shoulders as she allowed her head to hang down, her hair cocooning us in a private little alcove. "God Almighty."

"Good?"

I tried to keep from smirking proudly, but I did flex my cock just slightly, allowing it to jump. It was buried in her dripping pussy while she straddled me. This was one of my favorite positions, because it allowed her tits to hang freely over me, and currently I had my hands full.

"Good Lord," she whispered, eyes closing.

One of the things Meli had discovered about orc cock was that we had the ability to bring on an orgasm almost immediately upon entry. It didn't ease the entry itself—I was pleased to use my mouth to ready Meli for that—but it meant what came after would be well-lubricated.

"Is it bad I always forget that's coming?"

I hummed and lowered my hands to her hips, preparing to help her ride me. "It's a nice surprise then."

A breathy little laugh escaped her lips. "You could say that, yes."

"Ready, cupcake?"

Shit, I loved the way she blushed. Even now, when I'd seen and felt every inch of her, she still blushed around me.

"I wish you'd turn off the light," she whispered.

"Nope." I squeezed her hips. "I want to see my M—my female when I make her mine." The words might have sounded possessive, but they were true. "Do you have any idea how beautiful you are when you come, Meli?"

More blushing. "I'm not beautiful. Could we please get on with this?"

Get on with this? I found myself smiling at how flustered she was.

Meli was already rocking forward, inching along my cock in the most delicious way. And I vowed to remind her how beautiful she really was.

Her family—her mother—had really done a number on her self-esteem, huh? I saw that when I'd met the woman, and since I'd been hanging out with Meli, listening to her stories, I'd realized exactly how deep the hurt went.

Meli didn't think she was worth much, which is bullshit. She worked her ass off to create not just a successful business, but a life here in Eastshore. She knew everyone on the island and cared about them to boot. She was a success, but she thought she had to be more. She thought she had to make tons of money, which was more bullshit, because her family clearly had plenty, so why did a five-thousand-dollar prize at a sand sculpture contest mean that much to her?

And she was beautiful. Fuck, she was beautiful.

No, she wasn't skinny and blonde and perfectly coiffed. But she was natural and bubbly and full of laughter, and she was at home in her body, which was saying a lot. She was perfect for me.

"Cairo, usually it's polite to participate."

I smiled up at her. "I'm letting you do all the work, Cupcake."

"You look like you're miles away."

"Tantric meditation, beautiful. If I let myself go, we'd both be coming in no time."

"I don't believe you," she gasped, impaling herself on my cock, "please prove it to me."

I felt like laughing as I murmured, "Gladly," and took over the pace.

Lifting her hips, I slammed upward, loving—loving—the way each plunge wrested a gasp of pleasure from her. She held her weight above me on hands and knees, which allowed me to touch her.

My mouth found one of her nipples, and I loved the way she jerked against me when my tusks scraped her sensitive skin. But it wasn't until my hands grabbed her ass, stretching her so my fingers could brush against her pussy from behind, that she went wild, bucking against me, meeting my thrusts.

And when I touched her asshole? "Cairo! Oh my gawd yes!" she screamed as her inner muscles began to convulse.

Third orgasm for her? Time to finally allow myself to come. With a grunt, I relaxed my control, and a heartbeat later, shot my first load into her welcoming pussy.

"You're fucking perfect, love," I groaned.

Meli could make enough noise to wake the dead, and I loved it.

After, with her tucked up under my chin, her cheek pressed against my chest, I was at peace, except for the weird buzzing in my veins thanks to my Kteer. This felt right. I wanted her to stay like this forever.

Unfortunately, my stomach had other plans.

She lifted her head, smiling. "Was that you I heard growling, or did someone let a bear in here?"

"If I say it's a bear, will you stay here a little longer?"

Meli smacked my chest. "And let my ice cream melt? I have to go put away the groceries, mister, and make you some of my grandma's mashed potatoes, like I promised."

Well, shit, I wasn't going to argue with that. Besides, I got to steal a few more kisses. And I liked the way she looked, bustling around my kitchen in just her undies and one of my t-shirts.

"Mmm," I growled, snagging her hand and pulling her close to me as she spun past with an armful of oranges. "Do you know how sexy you look like that?"

"What, with fruit? I need to juice these."

She really had no idea how beautiful she was, did she? "Thank you for taking care of me."

Of course she seemed surprised. "I'm just cooking." She stretched up on her toes. "Thank you for fixing that light fixture in my apartment today. And the outlet in the shop yesterday—it's going to be great to be able to move the lamp back into that corner."

I made some noises like it wasn't a big deal, but the truth was, I enjoyed being able to fix things for her. It wasn't hard for me, and it made me feel good to take care of her like that.

It was like…this is how I could show her what she meant to me.

What does she mean to you?

If you'd asked me that a month ago—hell, a week ago—I would've said nothing. She was just an attractive female I kept in my spank bank for when I needed to let off steam.

That was before I let her into my life.

Before I offered her my bed.

Before I got to know her.

Meli was so much more now. Regardless of what my Kteer thought she was, she deserved to make her own decisions, and I wasn't going to try to sway her one way or another.

If she wanted to be fuck buddies, I was here for her.

If all this was just a show for her family, well then, I'd be there for her too. Whatever I could do to help her.

Even if that meant losing my heart.

"Hey, wanna go back to the beach tomorrow?" Her question, over dinner, startled me.

"Just because?"

She shrugged. "I thought we could get in a little practice on sand sculpting before the Fourth. I need all the help I can get."

"No you don't. I'll bring a five-gallon bucket, we'll make you up a slurry of water and sand, and you'll just treat it like cupcake dough."

Meli's laugh was a beautiful thing. "It's not that simple! Since my family doesn't arrive until late, and since I took all afternoon off, I thought it would be cool to practice a little. Any pointers?"

I sawed at my steak. "Yeah, I'll go with you, we can practice. The way I think is easiest is to pile up a bunch of dense sand and then carve away at it."

"That's what you were doing with your tools?"

"It was literally just a paint scraper. I'll see what else I can throw in the truck for tomorrow. I'm thinking some flat-head screwdrivers, maybe a trowel or two."

She laughed again. "You know, some people use actual sand shovels?"

"Hmm. Probably better on their tools too. This salad is good."

"Thanks! It's a honey vinegarette." She pointed her fork at me. "Stop changing the subject. How do I carve sand?"

I shrugged. "It's about…what can you take away instead of what you can add. I mean, that's how I think of it. Which I suppose is the opposite of how you frost cupcakes, huh?"

"Well, I can't fit a sand slurry in one of my piping bags, so I'm shit out of luck."

When I glanced up at her, those pretty lips of hers were curled into a smile. "Fuck," I growled, "I love it when you sound dirty."

The smell of her arousal was subtle and caused me to flick my tongue against my tusk. Her lips parted, and she dropped her fork.

Both of us ignored it.

I was too busy watching the little pulse point at the base of her neck. It throbbed in time to my cock.

What the hell? You're supposed to be sated.

Yeah, sex with Meli had been good…but I don't think it was ever going to be enough.

"Bedroom?" she rasped.

I was already standing up, my steak forgotten. It would still be here. "I'm not going to make it that far."

We came together in the middle of the kitchen, already tearing at our clothes.

Fucking on the kitchen counters had its advantages.