Chapter 24

Ella

I take off through the forest in a random direction, hoping a bear doesn't come out of nowhere to eat me up. Stupid Rhokar, what on earth has gotten into him? This is a disaster waiting to happen, I just know it. My knees aren't what they used to be; I don't know how long I'll be able to keep this up before I trip on a pebble and snap my neck.

Confusion. This is the main emotion running through me right now. Confusion and annoyance. Why the heck am I doing this? What's even the point? I huff as I pump my legs in a mild jog, slogging through underbrush and dirt, trying to ignore the fact that jeans aren't exactly the best jogging pants. When was the last time I even did cardio? Good grief…

A branch full of soft leaves springs out of nowhere to whip me in the cheek, and I grumble to myself. How did I let him convince me to run through the freaking woods?

Actually, I can probably answer that, if I'm honest. Because the way he'd pushed me against the tree, the way he'd scented my neck like an orc possessed , the look in his eyes when he'd lifted his dark, piercing gaze to mine and told me to run … Dear lord, I'd been suddenly and inexplicably filled with desire, and I would have done anything he'd told me in that moment.

Including running through the damn woods like some sort of prey…

Something snaps in the distance behind me, an ominous echo through the now silent trees, as if there's a predator on the loose and all the other animals are hiding to avoid its notice. And I have a very strong feeling that predator is Rho.

Last I'd seen him, Rhokar had been digging his fingers into the trunk beside him as if physically holding himself back from chasing after me, his black gaze sharp and intent as he tracked me between the trees until I was out of sight.

I have a strong feeling he's no longer standing still, but finally giving chase.

A thrill courses through me at the thought, and I find myself picking up speed without conscious intent.

I still have no idea what's going on, and he's going to have some serious explaining

to do, but somewhere deep inside, I'm responding to this situation. My legs are filling with energy, as if my body knows exactly what's going on even though my brain still wonders. I veer to my left, changing course deliberately to make it more difficult for him.

Something primal is being activated within me, and a tingle runs down my spine as I start to hear his heavy footsteps. I throw a look over my shoulder, but I don't see him yet, and I push myself to run faster, feeling a grin begin to form.

"Ella!" His deep voice echoes through the forest, commanding and strong. "Come here."

But my grin turns feral, and I try to run faster. He wanted me to run? Fine. I ran.

Now he has to come get me.

"Ella!"

I change course again, anticipation building up through me even as his voice sounds nearer. I'm shocked to find my excitement growing, and even as my desire for him to get to me, to touch me and take me grows, my body keeps trying to evade him. To challenge him in every way.

It isn't long before I hear him crashing through the underbrush right behind me, and I gasp and push myself faster.

"Ella," he commands breathlessly from right behind me. "Stop."

I definitely do not stop.

Next thing I know, a steely grip wraps itself around my waist and I'm lifted off my feet. I feel myself go flying through the air as he crash tackles into me, holding my back firm against his strong chest as he turns us mid-air and takes the impact of the landing, cushioning me safely against himself.

We lay there breathing for a few seconds, before I push my hand against his hard stomach with every intent to wriggle free and start running again. That'll teach him for telling me to run through the damn woods.

But he seems to read my intent, because he suddenly rolls us to our sides, both his legs coming up to band around mine as his arms clamp down over me, wrapped tightly beneath my breasts, effectively trapping me against his strength.

"You didn't stop," he growls into my ear, panting, and I grin.

"You think I'd make whatever this is easy on you?"

He groans, the sound reverberating right through his chest and into me, and I shudder as desire licks every fiber of my being. "Gods, Ella, you're perfect."

"Why did you make me run?" I gasp, catching my breath even as I wriggle, still trying my best to escape him.

"So I could catch you." One of his big hands trails down over my stomach, cupping my sex over my jeans and pushing my ass back into his hips.

I bite my lip and jerk in his grip. "Crazy orc."

He huffs a husky laugh against my neck, before I feel his tusks scraping over my skin. "It's the Claiming Chase."

"What on earth…?" For some reason, although those words don't mean much to me, they send another thrill through my body with how primal they feel.

"Something orcs go through with their Fated Mates." He sounds like he's struggling for words, and frankly I'm beginning to have trouble comprehending as he curls his hips up into me, and begins to run his fingers up and down along the seam of my pussy through my pants. "A tradition. A primal instinct." His tongue darts out to lick a hot, wet trail over my throat. "A claiming."

"So," I pant, my hands coming up to band against his thick forearms, "another of your orc rituals?"

"Yes." His fingers begin a rhythmic dance across my clit as he palms my breast with his other hand, and I bite back a moan and arch into him. I couldn't escape him if my life depended on it, right now. Not unless he chose to let me go. And something about that, lights me up like nothing else. I surrender myself to him, feeling nothing but complete trust and desire.

"How archaic…" I'd meant that to be sarcastic, but my voice comes out breathy and wanting. Because I like it. I like that he has me so completely. I like that I can feel his strength wrapped around me, as if he'll never let me go.

I've never felt safer with anyone than I do right now.

He hums, a deep, rumbling noise of satisfaction as he strokes me relentlessly through my pants, kissing and nipping at my neck, pinching and circling my nipple, until I'm a writhing mess, desperate for him.

"Why now?" I manage through a moan of pleasure, as his fingers increase their pressure against me. "We've had all this time for you to Hulk out, but you choose now? In the forest?"

His fingers stop their teasing, and I immediately regret not saving the questions for later.

But I don't have time to voice a complaint about it, as he flips our positions so that I'm lying on my back in the soft, mossy forest floor and he leans down over me. His green skin is dappled with the afternoon sun filtering down through the trees, his black hair ruffled as strands fall down around his eyes, and I'm sure I've never laid eyes on anyone quite this handsome before.

"Because I love you," he says softly, and my breath hitches in my throat. "This forest is old, full of the ancient memories of powers no longer walking this earth. And before them all, as my forefathers once did, I declare myself as yours, and you as mine."

I part my lips, but no words find their way out as I stare at him. My heart thuds almost painfully against my chest in a tug, tug, tug rhythm, and I wonder vaguely if our heartbeats are synchronized.

"I love you, Ella," he whispers, before pressing his entire body weight into me, leaning down to rest his forehead against mine. "With all my soul. With every fiber of my being, with every beat of my heart. Nothing you or anyone can do will ever part me from you again, because I know you." His hips curl into mine, and I gasp as it sends sparks of pleasure all through me. "My heart knows your heart, and we're going to make this work."

I feel tears sting at my eyes for some reason, and I let them slip shut as I slide my arms up around his waist, squeezing tight. "Rhokar…"

"I'm glad it's you." I feel his lips brush against mine gently. "I'm glad Fate led me to you."

I suck in a desperate breath and surge up to find his lips again, pressing my mouth and my body frantically to his. I'm overwhelmed with emotion, with desire and peace and love. God, I love this orc.

His tongue slides against mine in a clash of desire, and I arch up into him and shove both my hands down the back of his jeans, wanting to feel his skin against mine as I curl my fingers hard into his tight, round, perfect

ass. He groans and shoves a hand just as haphazardly into my shirt, pulling my breast out into the cool air and thumbing at my nipple.

"Rhokar," I manage urgently, speaking into his lips between kisses. "Rhokar, shit — I love you, I love you …" I don't even think I have any control over my words right now. "I love you so much, it's frightening."

He groans, deep and rumbling and desperate, and tears himself back to stare into my eyes, even as he rolls my hard nipple between his fingers. "There's nothing to be afraid of," he pants, before leaning down and fanning his hot breath over my breast. "I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere."

I whimper, whipping my fingers up into his silky hair as I arch and press myself against his hot, wet mouth. My legs curl firmly around his waist as he sucks, sending waves of pleasure through me, and he groans again before burying his face into my cleavage.

"Fuck, I can smell your desire for me," he rasps against my skin. "I need you."

"You have me," I gasp, and when I feel his fingers twitch against my waist, I realize he may need the same reassurances as I do, so I wriggle and tug gently at his hair until he raises his eyes to meet mine.

"You have me," I repeat quietly, pouring all my love and sincerity into my voice. "From now until forever, okay? I promise not to go anywhere, if you promise me the same."

"I promise." The words are out of him so naturally, as if he doesn't even need to think about it, and I touch my fingers to his jaw.

We don't talk again for a long time after that, not with words, at least. Instead we talk with sighs, with groans and whimpers and touches. With lips and tongue and hot breath.

Before I know it, I'm reaching for his thick cock, freeing it from his jeans as he tugs my pants off with a forceful yank, before doing the same with my shirt, and then his own clothing.

When he falls back on top of me, skin on skin , I'm so wound up I've completely forgotten that we're out in the middle of the woods alone as the sun slowly sets. I don't need

to remember that. Rhokar is here, and I trust him.

"There's no going back anymore," he says quietly, as he lines himself up at my entrance, and I arch and try to pull him closer. "This is it, Ella. You're mine now."

"Yes," I hiss, both in agreement and in pleasure, as his thick head slides up over my clit and back down. "Yes, yes. I'm yours . "

And then he's entering me, working his way in with a pleasurable, intense stretch, and we both moan as he bottoms out.

"And I'm yours," he grits out through a clenched jaw, eyes full of heat as he stares into mine and begins to pump his hips. "I've always been yours."

I gasp, desperately scratching at every inch of his skin I can get to. The two spongy, tusk-like swellings at the base of his shaft grind against my clit with every thrust of his hips, and it doesn't take long before he shifts just so and my eyes roll shut as he hits that magical spot inside me, sending my body into overdrive. I'm bursting with tension, pleasure rolling through my entire body and building into an overwhelming crescendo, more powerful than anything I've ever experienced, even with him. My heart tug, tug, tugs in my chest as his hips pump, pump, pump, and I'm honestly shocked I haven't come yet, as my pleasure continues to spiral upwards.

"Rhokar," I moan, "please, please , I need—I need—"

"Does my girl need to come?" His voice is husky with pleasure as he pounds away at me. "Do you need to come, love?"

"Oh my god." The words aren't more than a gasp, and my whole body seizes up, trembling right on the edge of something huge. Then he braces one arm more heavily by my head and lifts the other to gently pinch at my nipple. A bolt of electricity zaps immediately through my body, connecting directly to my clit even as he grinds his hips against me, and my eyes roll as a spasm wracks through me.

"Yes," he groans, "that's my good girl . "

I'm lost in my orgasm, my cries echoing through the entire forest loud enough to startle birds into the air as I buck up against him, and that's when I feel him release inside me, spiraling me upwards again just when I was on the cusp of coming down. I cry out desperately, clinging to him for dear life as he roars with pleasure against my neck. His fingers fist in my hair tightly as he rides through his own pleasure, until we're both gasping, spent messes on the forest floor.

Eventually, I find the strength to run my fingers through his hair, and he lifts his head to gaze at me. His dark eyes are full, and so is my heart.

"So, I guess the next step is marriage," he says, in all seriousness, and I can't help but burst into happy laughter at that, delighting in the way one corner of his mouth twitches into a lopsided smile against his tusk.

"You really like to jump into the deep end quick, don't you?" I tease, even as I squeeze my legs around his hips.

"It's a problem of mine, yes," he huffs, leaning down to kiss the tip of my nose before resting at the crook of my neck once more.

I lift my hand to run gently through his hair, and it's on the tip of my tongue to give him a response, when my eyes finally register the soft, multi-colored blurs of light floating the canopy above us. Blues and pinks and oranges and purples, dancing gracefully through the air, beautiful swirls of glowing light drifting slowly down towards us. I smile, because it's almost like the forest is gifting us with this light show, as if to show its blessing of our union.

One of the lights drifts closer to me, and I gasp as I stare. Its…a tiny, glowing woman?

"Rhokar," I whisper, and he lifts his head to look around with awe in his own dark gaze. "What's going on?"

"They're fairies," he answers quietly, sounding reverently shocked. "Spirits of the forest. My mother used to tell me stories of them gracing the canopy at twilight when she was young. But nobody's seen a fairy in over seventy years…"

He turns us on our side, and we both lay there for some time, watching the fairies floating around us like pale, colored stars.

"Marry me."

I turn to look at him and find that his gaze is already on me. Maybe it never even left. And my answer is simple, I don't even have to think. "Okay."

He takes in a deep, slow breath, and when he pulls me close to brush his lips against me, it feels like another I love you.

Then he drops his forehead to mine and closes his eyes. "Next weekend good?"

"We don't need to rush," I whisper with a smile, running my fingers over his jaw. "We've got the rest of our lives together to figure everything out."

"Promise?" He nips at my finger, and I grin.

"Promise."