Chapter 6

Jess

Crap crap crap.

I heard Geoffrey's voice, but I didn't register his words. Not until I felt Karnak's muscles tighten under my hand, and blinked his green face into focus to see the absolute fury flaring across it.

Fury because of Geoffrey's words? But the asshole was always that condescending.

Karnak's nostrils flared as he inhaled, then slowly untangled those long legs of his to stand. Like a perfect gentleman, he helped me up, his touch delicate, although I could feel the barely contained power in those corded muscles.

Only then did he turn.

"What?" he growled, facing the newcomer.

Being stuck behind his broad bulk, I could only hear Geoffrey's words, laced with condescension. "Meli told me Jess had come this way, and I wanted to follow up with her on a vitally important government matter. I didn't expect to see her quite so distracted."

I placed a hand on the middle of Karnak's back, and nearly gasped out loud when I felt how tense his muscles were. When I glanced at the hand—which I had held throughout the day—which hung by his side, I was surprised to see his claws had lengthened.

Oh Lord. Oh, this is not good.

"Geoffrey, how are you?" I asked, coming around from behind Karnak. I didn't give him a chance to answer, but plowed on. "Did you go to the fair today?"

He sniffed, eyeing me where I stood at Karnak's side, not touching the orc. "Those fairs only draw crowds a few times a year, so that's when I go—to woo the constituents."

Oh yes. Everyone on the council know Geoffrey's ambitions to be an elected official one day.

"Geoffrey, have you met Karnak?" I said brightly, gesturing between the two men. "Karnak, this is Geoffrey A. Harrison. He's the town's Development Coordinator and we work together on the council."

The other man offered his hand, "We do a bit more than work together, Jess. If you know what I mean…Kack, was it?"

Karnak hesitated only a moment before accepting the handshake, not saying anything. I glanced up at his expression, which was carefully veiled. Still, surely I wasn't the only one who could sense the rage coming off him?

He must not have been squeezing too hard, because Geoffrey twisted their joined hands and pretended to study the claws which had extended once more from Karnak's fingertips.

"So you're one of these orcs Jess was pushing the council to invite to Eastshore." His tone was light and jovial, as if he wasn't being racist. Speciesist? "If any more of you show up, we're going to start fearing for our safety, aren't we? Ha-ha."

"Ha-ha," Karnak echoed blandly.

Geoffrey seemed plused, which is the opposite of nonplused, according to the novels Meli and I liked to buy used from Mrs. Masterson's bookstore.

Oh, no. The bookstore that would soon be closing. I had to make this work.

"Doesn't he speak?" He turned to me, still holding Karnak's hand. "Orcs can speak, can't they? They're going to be bad for business if they—"

His words were cut off with a little squeak when Karnak used his grip to tug him forward, and Geoffrey stumbled.

"We speak," the big green orc growled, leaning down to get into Geoffrey's face. "And we're not dangerous. Unless riled."

Oh Lord, and he was riled now. If Karnak hurt someone—especially someone who reported to the town council—my plan was going to be over before I could implement it.

"Let me go," Geoffrey snapped. "This is preposterous! Don't you have something to say for yourself?"

"Yeah." Karnak straightened. "Does the ‘A' in your name stand for Asshole?" he asked, just before he released the other man.

As Geoffrey stumbled back, I tried my best to stifle my snort of amusement. That had been my question as well!

But my colleague turned blazing eyes on me. "Not dangerous, Jess? You promised the committee these—these beasts aren't dangerous!" he huffed, tugging at the bottom of the entirely inappropriate sport coat. "What are they going to say when I tell them of this attack?"

"No!" I stepped toward Geoffrey, my hand outstretched, although I wasn't certain what I was reaching for. "You can't tell them. This wasn't an attack, Geoffrey! You were just—" I clamped down my lips before being an asshole escaped them, knowing that would hurt our cause even more. "He shook your hand," I finished meekly. "It's a very gentlemanly gesture, if you ask me."

"Yes, well…" Geoffrey opened and closed his hand a few times, then cleared his throat. "I made it clear what I wanted, Jess. If you don't want the council to hear about this incident, and how it makes vicious creatures like orcs entirely inappropriate for our sleepy little town…then you'd better give careful consideration to my terms."

With that, he turned on his heel and strode toward the convertible he insisted on driving around town, although most of the rest of us made do with bicycles since the island wasn't that big.

My heart pounding furiously in my chest, I turned to see Karnak stalking off in the opposite direction.

Oh Lord.

Was Geoffrey saying he would tell the council those terrible things unless I—I dated him? I had no interest in him, and even less since so many wonderful possibilities had opened up with my next-door neighbor.

Karnak had been about to kiss me, I knew it!

And me? I'd been already halfway to bliss, just imagining the feel of his lips on mine. What would it be like to have him touch me? Those big hands cupping my tits? Rolling my nipple between his thumb and forefinger, so gentle, yet so strong?

You're fantasising again. Stop getting ahead of yourself.

Right.

Right. Karnak had almost kissed me, Geoffrey had interrupted, and now…now I needed to go after my orc next door and try to convince him my plan was still a good one.

And that he should definitely go back to the whole almost-kissing-me thing.

Except then we could make it an actually-kissing-me thing.

"Karnak!" I cried as I grabbed the hem of my little sundress—so I didn't accidentally flash any of the dog-walkers—and began to run after him. The picnic could wait. He couldn't. "Karnak!"

I caught up with him on the beach, although I had the impression he'd stopped so I could catch him. If he hadn't wanted me to, he would've been long gone—perhaps already in the water.

Instead, he stood staring out at the ocean, his flipflops dangling from his hands and his visage thunderous.

"Karnak?" I said again, breathing heavily as I placed my hand on his arm once more, careful not to crowd him. "Don't let Geoffrey bother you. He is an asshole."

Without glancing down at me, he growled, "He wants to mate with you."

The bluntness startled me into making a weird sort of bleating laugh. "Wh-What?"

His nostrils flared, and he tipped his chin down so he could send me a glance from the corner of his eye. "His scent tells me he wants you as his. His heartbeat sped up when he saw another male with you."

I moved in front of him, too engrossed in the conversation to remember I'd wanted to give him space. "You can smell his heartbeat?"

His lips twitched. "Hear it."

"You really are a hunter," I breathed, and his smile bloomed before he glanced down at me.

But his expression fell again. "Do you want to mate with him? He seems the sort of man who would be a good match for you. Refined. Wealthy. Human. You work together."

I snorted again. "I do not want to—to mate with him." There was only one male in the vicinity I'd had any sort of matingly thoughts about, and my touch slid down to hold his hand. "Although he has told me he'd only support my plan with the council if I dated him."

"Ah."

That was all he said, but his gaze slid over my head and rested on the waves once more.

Almost unconsciously, I stepped closer. His large hand felt warm wrapped around mine, and made me want to press myself against him.

"If you don't want him, Jess, he won't have you." It sounded like a vow. "Besides…" His lips twitched again. "You don't need his support. Your plan is a good one."

I sucked in a breath. "Really?"

"Yes." Karnak finally dropped his gaze to mine again. "I know of at least one friend who would be interested in hearing about your proposal, and he knows others."

My heart began to pound in excitement.

This was it! This is what could save Eastshore!

I couldn't stop my smile, even if I wanted to.

Dimly, I registered the sound of his flip flops falling into the sand a moment before his knuckles brushed against my cheek. I remembered his claws, and supposed they were why he was touching me this way.

I didn't care, as long as he touched me.

"Karnak," I whispered, still smiling, moisture pricking at the corner of my eyes as I tried to process my happiness.

This was going to work. And Karnak was touching me. Touching me.

"Don't cry." His voice was a gentle murmur. "Tears, but… Your scent isn't sad."

"I'm not sad," I assured him.

His touch slid to my jaw, then my throat, until he was caressing the side of my neck. "There's another scent of yours I prefer, you know."

I couldn't breathe. I was staring up into the dark pools of his eyes, and I couldn't seem to draw a breath. My lips formed the word "what" but no sound emerged.

He leaned closer, a wicked gleam in his gaze. "The way your scent changed the night you saw me in your backyard in just my towel."

I sucked in a breath and my eyes widened. He meant…when he'd looked so hot and I couldn't help how horny I was?

As if he could guess my question, Karnak's lips curled up on one side as he nodded solemnly. "The scent of your arousal, of your wet pussy. It's the sweetest thing I've ever sensed, Jess."

Holy.

Mother.

Of God.

Holymotherofgod.

Did he just say that?

The gorgeous, hunky orc living next door to me liked my scent? Liked my scent when he got me all hot and bothered?

Oh fuck, what else had he smelled?

How often had he smelled me touching myself?

Could he smell how turned on I was right now?

From the way his touch slid to the back of my neck just as his grin grew, he could.

Unable to bear it any longer, I surged upward on my toes, aiming for his lips.

I dunno if I would've made it had he not dropped my hand and wrapped his arm around my back, lifting me up. I threw my arms around his neck, he cupped my ass without any effort, and we kissed.

No.

No, kiss isn't the right word.

We explored. We delved. We whimpered and groaned against one another's skin, but in a kissing sort of way.

It was as if, finally, all my desires were slamming into me at once.

His lips were larger than mine, and rougher, but I thought they were perfect. I kissed him, and when I swiped my tongue along his lower lips and his parted to allow me in, I nearly moaned in excitement.

His tusks should've been in the way, but somehow they weren't. In fact, I thought they were rather a lot of fun, frankly, and his tongue—

His tongue…

Good Lord in Heaven, his tongue.

Karnak's tongue was wide and rough—almost ridged as it scraped across my lips in a way that made me moan. My hands ran over his shoulders as my legs wrapped around his waist, and I wondered what else was different about his body from the males I was used to.

His fingers squeezed my ass, digging into the cushioning, causing me to tighten my hold on him. Tucked between us, flush against my clit, was a length the approximate size and shape of a pool noodle.

I squirmed joyfully against it.

Karnak was as aroused as I was.

Of course he's aroused. You're wrapped around him like a limpet. Any male would respond this way.

Was he aroused because of me? Or would he respond to any woman this way? Did he want to—what was it?—mate with me?

He was the one to pull away, to end the kiss, which—frankly—didn't do a lot to quell my rising worries. Breathing heavily, he planted his forehead against mine, eyes closed.

For a long moment, we stood there—well, I was still hanging from him like an oyster, so I guess he stood there and I sort of hung there—breathing each other's air. It should've been beautiful, except I had the impression he was fighting for control.

Why?

Finally, he exhaled and straightened. "I shouldn't have said those things. About your scent."

Since he was slowly lowering me to the ground, it was easier to shrug and pretend as if I wasn't hurt by his words. "I didn't mind." My voice sounded tiny. Confused.

"I do. We are neighbors. Friends."

Friends.

"Yeah." I forced a smile and tipped my head back to meet his gaze. Or at least, meet his chin. That was as far as I could look before I wussed out. "Friends."

Friends? Oh, what the hell, Jess? He wants to be friends, and you attacked him like that?

Well, he had been talking about my arousal—

Maybe that's an orc thing—maybe he's just being friendly, maybe it's a friendly thing in his culture! Like, hey, just a heads-up, your pussy smells amazeballs, did you see the latest baseball game?

Did orcs have baseball?

You're panicking.

You bet your ass I was panicking. I'd just experienced The Best Kiss Ever with a dude who wanted to be friends.

Damn.

Karnak cleared his throat, reached down to pick up his flip flops, then offered me his hand. "Would you show me the rest of Eastshore?"

So I took his hand, and swallowed down whatever hurt I might've been feeling, and did my best to continue the tour.

Karnak

Friends? What in the hells of the ancestors had I been thinking?

I'll tell you what you were thinking; you were thinking you didn't want to force her into anything she didn't want to be forced into.

But the memory of the way she'd sucked on my tongue…

I shuddered and pushed myself to run faster, farther, harder.

Anything to chase away the ache in my sac and the throbbing in my cock.

We'd spent the entire day together, seeing the—her—town. It was impossible to deny, the humans of Eastshore weren't as scared of me as I'd always assumed.

Not as scared as the scientists had told me humans would be.

After today, I wouldn't mind visiting the bake shop again, or perhaps attending another fair to see more of the artists' work. I wasn't ready to claim Eastshore as my own, but it had grown on me in only a day.

I think Sakkara would enjoy it.

And Jess?

Jess had definitely grown on me, despite my best efforts to keep my hands to myself. We'd exchanged stories, we'd made one another laugh. Her pride in her town was clear, and a joy to watch.

Much easier than the way she'd curled in on herself, retreating from me after our kiss, at least.

Fucking idiot.

When my house came into sight in the deepening darkness, I ran harder, finishing at a sprint and breathing heavily. It did nothing to relieve the frustration or anger coursing through my veins.

I headed straight for my outdoor shower, stripping as I went.

The heat of the water leeched into my muscles and I felt them slowly relax. I tipped my head back and stared up at the stars which were just beginning to appear in the night sky, and exhaled.

Today I'd kissed Jess. She'd kissed me back—at least, I'm fairly certain that's what she'd been doing. In all my years watching romcoms and porn, I hadn't seen any indication it was common for human females to attempt to eat the faces of their males, but maybe I'd gotten it all wrong.

I'd wanted to claim her, right there on the beach, but instead I'd hurt her. Hurt her so that she would know it was okay to hurt me.

Idiot.

I turned off the water and reached for one of the fluffy towels I always made sure were stacked in the enclosed cabinet. After I shook my shaggy mane, I toweled off as best I could, then wrapped it around my waist.

As I exited the shower, I heard a familiar sound.

Bubbles in a hot tub.

I froze, uncertain what to do. I should ignore the sound and just head into my house. But every cell in my body was screaming at me to go to her, to follow up on that kiss.

There's a word for males who stand in the shadows and listen to women bathe.

In my world, warriors wooed their mates with feats of strength and cunning. In this world… They didn't.

Still, I found myself moving toward her house, my bare feet making no sound on the pine needles and scrub grass like the prowling hunter I was. I stopped in the shadow of one of her large hydrangeas and pressed my back against the brick.

The bubbles were louder.

And to my surprise, so were the noises she was making.

Little gasps and moans which somehow by-passed my ears and went right to my cock.

Swallowing, I pressed my shoulder blades into the brick as the heel of my hand rubbed unconsciously against my growing erection.

"Ooooh, yes. Right there—ah!"

I licked my lips, senses straining. What was she doing?

"That's it," Jess gasped. "Oh! Too much…"

She was in the hot tub, wasn't she?

But it sounded as if she was…aroused. Touching herself?

I wished I could scent her arousal, but only the distinct smell of the treated water filled my nose.

"God that's so—yes. Fuck yes."

She was—she was masturbating, I was certain of it. Masturbating in the hot tub.

Perhaps her need was as unsated as my own.

My fingers closed around my towel-covered cock, now jutting outward toward the flower bush. When she gasped wordlessly again, I slid my palm down my length.

"So good. So good," Jess panted.

Fuck the towel! I yanked it aside, only my ass pressing against the bricks keeping it from falling to my ankles, and nearly hissed in joy as my hand gripped my bare cock.

As she moaned, I began to stroke.

Imagining her in that hot tub, caressed and supported by the water, touching herself… I stroked faster.

Or maybe she wasn't touching herself. Maybe she was letting the jets do that for her.

It was enough for me to bite a tusk onto my upper lip. No calling out, don't let her know you're here.

"Oh my God, yes," she groaned. "Fuck, Karnak, yes."

My hand stilled.

She'd called my name.

My Mate was masturbating…and thinking of me?

A gleaming bead of precum spilled from the tip of my cock, and I forced myself to breathe again. I dragged that little bead of liquid across the thick head of my member, then down the length.

Yes, I wanted to hiss, yes.

"Yesss!" she groaned. "Right there."

I stroked faster. Right there.

The pressure was building in the base of my sac, ready to explode. I dug my shoulder blades into the bricks to anchor me and kept pumping my hand along my shaft.

"Fuck fuck fuck Karnak yes!"

My eyes, deciding my senses were overwhelmed enough, fluttered closed, my breathing growing shallower as I stroked myself closer to release.

"Oh God! Oh G—Kaaaarnak."

The way she moaned my name, dragging it out and ending in the most delicious little sigh, told me all I needed to know.

Jess had come while thinking of me.

After that little sigh, the bubbles seemed unnaturally loud, and I kept my breathing silent while my hand flew up and down my cock.

"Oh, fuuuuck," she exhaled again, so that I could imagine her floating bonelessly in the tub. "Yesss…."

I came.

Thank the gods I grabbed my towel so I didn't make a mess in her hydrangea…but oh yes, I came. I came hard.

So hard I saw stars behind my eyelids. So hard, I had to muffle my groan of satisfaction.

Afterward I slumped back against the bricks, holding a much-heavier towel scented with my seed, and wondered what the hell I'd just done.

I felt…dirty, somehow.

What Jess had been doing…that wasn't for me. It had been for her. It hadn't been for me to hear.

But I had heard it, and I hadn't been able to stop from touching myself.

I hadn't claimed her, she wasn't mine.

She is my Mate.

No, she wasn't. Her world didn't work that way. Her world was about agency and consent and choices, and I couldn't drag her off to my home the way my people might.

I felt ashamed by the stickiness of my palm and the languid satiation which flowed through my muscles…but also better than I ever had in my life. By the gods of the ancestors, if this is what it felt like to listen to her come, how would it feel to make her come?

I wanted the chance.

But for now, I had to slink away like a defeated male, ashamed and lesser, somehow.

My mind—my instincts—were in tatters.

Because of Jess.