Chapter 14

Jess

Karnak wassilent on our walk home. Well, I mean, first I dragged him back to my office to pick up my stuff. That could have been a little weird, because the police headquarters were in the same building. But Tim strolled along with us, bantering with Karnak and making me laugh with impressions of Geoffrey.

But as soon as we left, Karnak grew silent. His hand never left mine, but his gaze was distant, and so was he.

Was he thinking about what had almost happened? How some asshole had tried to get him arrested because of—of racism? Speciesism? I still needed to work that out.

Or was he thinking about how Eastshore had rallied around him, showing him that he was admired, that he belonged?

Or was he thinking of me?

Now that he was safe, guilt gnawed at my insides.

I'd doubted him, if only for a moment. I'd heard Geoffrey's accusations and I'd wondered if Karnak had lost control of his instincts, and hurt the other man. Over me.

But when Geoffrey had said those awful things about me, about us, I knew the truth. And I had to tell Karnak the truth too. I'd delayed too long.

I loved him, and it was stupid that I hadn't told him.

Even if he didn't love me in return, I needed to man up, to grow a pair, to—Why the hell are all these expressions so male-centric? I once had a boyfriend who would say just grab your dick and go! when he meant work up the guts.

So I guess I should grab my muffin and go.

"Do you want some dinner?" I blurted as we reached my house. "It's nothing special."

He hummed something in agreement and followed me up my front walkway. Last week—heck, a few days ago!—he would've made a joke about my food being special. About how he would eat anything I would give him. But today, now…he was distant.

Swallowing, I hurried ahead of him to open the door, forcing myself to consider what was in my fridge I could whip up. It was still early for dinner, so maybe I could defrost something…

But my attention kept slipping away, focusing on the big, beautiful green male I loved, standing in my living room, frowning at nothing with his hands on his hips as Muffin rubbed against his bare ankle. He didn't seem to even notice her.

Karnak was distracted, and I was worried.

Worried as hell.

"Do you—do you want something to drink?" I offered.

He blinked and shook his head. "Now?"

"Uh…tea? Water? Coff—no, you don't drink coffee." I was blathering. "I'll get you tea—water!" Shaking my head, I backed toward the kitchen, then turned and made an escape.

Shit! That was awkward as hell, and I hated it. I wanted things to be easy between us, but it didn't feel that way.

Blowing out a breath, I braced my hands on the counter and let me head drop. Come on, Jess. Just tell him how you feel. Even if he doesn't feel the same way, it'll clear the air.

Or clear him out of the house.

"Jess?" Gah, he moved silently, didn't he? My head snapped up to see him padding barefoot into the kitchen. "What's going on? Why is your scent so…confused?"

Stupidly, I tried to deflect. "Me? You're the one acting all distant!"

His brows went up. "I am?"

I shook my head, knowing that had been the wrong thing to say. "I'm sorry, I…"

And then he was there, his hands at my waist, lifting me. My butt landed on the counter, and suddenly I could look him in the eye without getting a crick in my neck.

This was where he'd made me come the very first time. I flushed, remembering the experience.

"Oh no, my pretty little human," Karnak murmured, brushing a lock of hair behind my ear. "You're not going to distract me with that."

And I blushed harder, knowing he could smell my arousal.

He inhaled, lips curling naughtily, then stepped between my knees.

"Tell me, Jess, how I'm acting distant."

Well, great, now I was really flustered. I'd intended to tell him how I felt, and now he was all up in my space, looking gorgeous, making me want to pull up that paint-splattered t-shirt and kiss his scratches…

What had he asked? I swallowed. "It's okay, honestly. I know today was hard for you. I was really impressed by how you handled Geoffrey. And yesterday at the meeting too."

"You were?" Karnak seemed surprised.

"Of course." Unable to help myself, I patted his chest. "He's an asshole, but yesterday we were surrounded by people, and trying to make a good impression. I know it wasn't easy, but you did the right thing."

He didn't say anything for a long moment, just stared into my eyes, as if considering his answer. Finally, he slowly shook his head. "I did the right thing? By…what?"

"By restraining yourself. I know you wanted to hurt Geoffrey…didn't you?" Oh jeez, had I totally miscalculated? Was that whole thing today not about me at all?

"I did." He swallowed. "But I didn't. Because that would be…uncivilized."

The way he said it, so neutrally, made me worried. "Well, yeah. We were surrounded by people we were trying to impress, and ripping his head off wouldn't have solved anything. And then last night, you stepped away from him, even when he was trying to hurt you."

"I know. But the head ripping is how an orc would handle the situation."

I caught my breath. "It was no big deal."

He leaned a little closer. "It was a very big deal, Jess."

I was beginning to suspect he was talking about something different than I was.

Slowly, he straightened once more. "But you're right. A civilized male knows how to act around others. Only a monster would need to protect his Mate in a violent way."

"Well…" Of its own accord, my fingers slid up until they were resting against the warm skin at his collar. "I'm not saying I don't like your orcish tendencies."

"I know," he rumbled, and he didn't sound pleased. When I glanced up at him, he was frowning. "But today, when you heard what Geoffrey accused me of, you believed him."

"No!" I gasped.

He merely raised a brow, and I flushed. Dropping my forehead against his chest, I groaned, "Maybe for a moment, I wasn't completely sure—I know what an asswipe he is, Karnak. Lord knows I've wanted to wallop him before. I wouldn't have blamed you if you'd hit him."

"I didn't."

"I know." I lifted my head, trying to convince him of my faith. "I know. I'm sorry I doubted you for even a moment."

"But you just said you enjoyed my orcish tendencies. You enjoy the fact my body—my cock, my tongue—is different."

I gaped. "I mean…you are special."

He placed a finger below my chin and tilted my face up to meet his gaze. "Jess," he asked seriously, "are you fucking me just because I'm a monster?"

It was alarming.

It was ridiculous.

So of course I burst into nervous laughter.

I think this is one of those Southern-girl things, to laugh when we're uncomfortable? Or maybe I'm just a dork.

Judging from his fierce frown, he didn't appreciate the laughter, whatever caused it. Maybe because the question had been a repeat of Geoffrey's accusation?

I reached for his arm, trying to convince him.

"Jess…" he growled warningly.

"I'm sorry," I gasped, then shook my head, the tears in my eyes not from laughter. "I'm sorry. No, Karnak, I'm not fucking you because you're a monster." I tried to calm myself, tried to meet his eyes. He had to understand. "I'm fucking you because you're you."

This was it. My chance to confess.

His dark eyes flicked between mine, as if looking for the lie, and I took a deep breath.

"Karnak, hon…you're an amazing person, whether you're a human or an orc. Hell, you'd be amazing if you were a cat."

"I would be," he agreed solemnly, "what with the walking upright and talking and reasoning and not bathing myself with my tongue."

It took a moment to realize that had been a joke, and I scoffed and smacked his arm. "My point is, it doesn't matter if you're an orc, or not a human, or whatever. I—I love you for you. I love your body. I love your mind. I love the way you treat me and others. I love you."

Karnak stared.

He stared some more.

I shifted on the counter, my butt starting to go numb.

He continued staring.

"Karnak?" I whispered. "I dunno how orcs do it, but usually, when a human drops something that important on your lap, she's expecting you to say something."

He opened his mouth—

And then snapped it closed, whirling around and bending his knees into a crouch. I had no idea what was going on, but he growled, low in his throat, and I watched his claws extending.

And then I heard what he—the hunter—had heard.

"Jess!" The sound of pounding came from my front door. "Jess, open up!"

Oh God.I dropped my head against Karnak's shoulder with a groan. "Does the asshole not know I have a doorbell?"

"Does the asshole not know he's unwelcome?"

Yep, it was Geoffrey. Geoffrey, pounding on my front door, ruining what was supposed to be an incredibly special moment between me and Karnak. Or at least, it would be, just as soon as Karnak got around to saying something.

Preferably not what in the shit are you talking about, Jess? I could never love someone like you.

Fingers crossed.

"Jess, we need to talk!" Geoffrey bellowed while pounding on my door.

Was he drunk again? He sounded drunk. Had he managed to drink himself stupid—stupider—in the hour and a half since the confrontation on Main Street?

Muttering something in a language I didn't understand, Karnak stalked toward the living room. Worried he might be hurt, I slid off the counter and hurried after him.

I arrived just in time to see Karnak wrench open the front door, growling, "What?"

Geoffrey was swaying on the front porch, his fancy car parked haphazardly on the street behind him. His arm was still wrapped in bandages, he was swaying slightly, and he smelled of beer.

"Jess, we need to talk," he said again, in that too-exact way drunk people had of speaking.

Karnak glanced over his shoulder at me, and I shook my head. So he turned back to Geoffrey, a wicked grin on his lips. "She doesn't want to talk to you."

"Tough shit, orc. Get out of my way. I'm here to talk to her. Jess," he called, almost pitifully. "You promised you'd go out with me! I need you on my arm, to impress the council."

Oh, great. The creepy stalker didn't even want me for me. How insulting.

"Go away, Geoffrey," I told him with a sigh. "I never agreed to your little offer, and I don't need your support. The council wants to save Eastshore without your stupid hotel idea, and now we have a chance to do it, thanks to Karnak and his friends. Who, I hope you noticed today, Eastshore likes."

Arguably, more than you.

With a noise which he might've thought sounded like a growl, but came out more like a bleat, Geoffrey slammed his palm against the door frame. Probably to hold himself upright.

"You little whore! You know how much this contract meant to me! I can make sure you don't have a job on Monday!"

"Jess?" Karnak asked, deceptively quietly. "I'm trying to be civilized."

I realized what he meant, and my lips curled. It wasn't a nice grin, but it didn't have to be. "Karnak, I love you for you, civilized or monster. But haven't you heard? Geoffrey thinks we're together because you're a monster."

"Uncivilized," he growled, his tusks popping free while Geoffrey looked confused.

That confusion turned to terror as Karnak struck, quick as lightning. Between one heartbeat and the next, his hand slammed against the doorframe beside Geoffrey's face, his claws growing before the other man's eyes.

"How dare you," Karnak rumbled, leaning to get into Geoffrey's face without actually touching him, "come here and threaten my Mate like that."

I caught my breath—first at the way he referred to me, and then at the way he shifted his hand to flex his claws, a very definite threat.

While the man sputtered and stumbled backward, my orc stalked closer, pushing Geoffrey out onto my porch. "You will stay away from my Mate, or I will end you. Do you understand?"

Geoffrey's face was turning red, mouth opening and closing, fear in his gaze as his eyes flicked between Karnak's tusks and his claws. He made pitiful little gulping noises which made it difficult to maintain my serious expression.

"Go away, Geoffrey," Karnak sighed.

"You threatened me! I'll get Chief Ortiz!"

"You came here to threaten Jess," Karnak said mildly. "And you called her a word that isn't very nice. Now go away, and don't talk to her outside of work meetings. If I find you have…"

He waggled his fingers, the claws somehow managing to sparkle in the porch light. Geoffrey paled as he stepped onto my stairs.

"Wait!" I cried, darting forward. "Geoffrey!"

The asshat actually looked pleased for a moment, perhaps thinking he'd won, when I stopped in front of him. "Give me your keys," I demanded.

It wasn't what I wanted to do—what I wanted was to watch Karnak pound him into the ground—but though I didn't like it, Geoffrey was a part of Eastshore. Part of my community.

And good people didn't let drunk people drive.

Geoffrey frowned, confused, even as he fumbled for his pocket, clearly unable to deny a demand when he was this drunk.

When he handed them to me, I turned and handed them to Karnak. "Throw these, please."

Without asking for clarification, Karnak wound up and hurled the keys. I heard them hit the pavement and skitter toward the saltmarsh. They'd be easy enough to spot in the daylight. By a sober person.

I turned back to Geoffrey—who looked as if he wanted to cry—with a falsely sweet smile. "You're too drunk to drive, Geoffrey, and I won't have you endangering anyone in Eastshore. Luckily you can walk back to town—something you might want to consider in the future. Now go away."

"But Jess—" he bleated.

"Why is this so hard to comprehend?" I demanded. "I love Karnak. I'm with Karnak."

He'd called me his Mate.

I couldn't be certain, not yet, but that sounded like a pretty big deal.

As if he'd heard the unspoken words, Karnak tugged me back against his chest, called, "Bye-bye," and swung the front door closed in Geoffrey's face.

I reached forward and turned the lock, then collapsed against the door with a sigh.

Wow.

Not how I'd expected the evening to go.

I pinched the bridge of my nose. "I can't believe he showed up here," I mumbled.

"He'd better not do it again."

I sighed again. "Karnak, Geoffrey's an assclown, but he does know powerful people. You didn't have to lie like that for me."

He was frowning. "What lie?"

"You know…" Oh Lord, I was blushing again. "About me being…your Mate," I finished in a whisper.

Karnak's nostrils flared and he stepped closer. "You think that was a lie?"

I tipped my head back to meet his gaze.

"You think I would lie about something like that, my pretty little human?"

I swallowed, uncertain how to respond. "I mean…I told you I love you—"

"Do you?" Karnak stepped closer, until he was practically pinning me to the door. I could feel his hard thighs, and a different hardness pressed against my belly.

"You know I do," I whispered.

"You are mine. You agreed, the very first time we made love. I wasn't sure if you understood the words, but you said them."

I shook my head, remembering the words, but not sure why they were relevant now.

He slowly nodded. "You are my Mate. I've known it for four years. But I've also known it's not how your people do things—your males do not claim their Mates the way orcs do. But I've known it to be the truth."

My eyes had widened. "Four years?" I breathed. "Years?"

"And every one of those years—days—hours was agony, knowing you wouldn't want a male like me as a Mate."

Well that was nonsense. My arms snaked around him.

"Really? You've wanted me for that long?"

"Jess, you have to understand… What I told Geoffrey was no lie. You are mine. If you don't want to be mine, I will understand, but I won't be able to stay near you. The agony…" As he shook his head, that spark of green blazed among the usual darkness of his eyes.

My heart was pounding so loudly, I was certain he could hear it. "And when you say mine, you mean…" I asked, breathlessly.

"Mine. And I am yours. Forever. Or…" For the first time, he looked uncertain. "For however long you will accept me. Want me. In my culture, Mated pairs rarely break apart."

"Well, you could have your pick of females on this island," I admitted. "I hope today proved that."

His hands went to my waist, and his eyes flashed green again. "I don't want any other female, Jess. You are my Mate, and always have been."

It wasn't I love you.

It was better.

"Karnak…" I whispered.

His nostrils flared. "I'm being very civilized, Jess," he murmured as he leaned down. When he inhaled against my ear, I shivered, tilting my head slightly so his tusk would brush against my temple. "The scent of your arousal is filling my head and my chest, and I have just fought off a rival suitor. In my world, that would be all I would need to take you here against the door."

Holy.

Shit.

"You can do that?" I whimpered when his lips found that sensitive spot along my jaw.

"It is my right."

I had to grin, even as I pushed myself up on my toes to wrap my arms around his neck. I was still wearing my business slacks-and-blouse combo, which was going to make the whole up-against-the-door thing very difficult…

But hot damn, did I want to try it.

"Well, then, my beautiful orc…" I smiled up into his eyes. "Prove it."

He groaned. "I love you, Jess."

He'd said the words.My heart leapt, at the same moment my pussy clenched from the way his ridged tongue dragged along my throat.

I gasped in joy. "Take me, Mate."

His satisfied growl was the only response I needed.