20. Gromnyr

CHAPTER 20

GROMNYR

A FEW DAYS LATER…

" M ore tea?"

"Yes, please."

Birds chirp all around us. The sun shines down upon our deck, a gentle breeze carrying the scent of wildflowers.

I haven't been planet-side in so long I forgot the simple beauty of nature. My ship isn't going anywhere soon: that last jump into hyperspace completely fried the engine. She needs to be completely rebuilt, and that's what my crew is doing at this very moment.

Claire wants to be there in the engine room, giving orders, tightening nuts and bolts herself all day, but I need her by my side more than my engineers do.

"What's on your mind?" Claire asks as she sits down next to me. My favorite human is wearing a white dress. The soft, flowing fabric clings to her body and accentuates her curves. The sleeves billow, and the neckline shows off just the right amount of cleavage.

It was part of the treasure we looted from the passenger liner: an entire trunk stuffed full of human clothing. She's making good use of it.

The wind blows through her hair, her eyes looking at me expectantly. I grab the cup she offered and take a deep sip as I search for the right words. The tea she brewed tastes like honey, the taste dancing on my tongue.

We're the only two souls on this planet. I spent the past few days building us a shelter. It felt good to work with my hands, to chop wood and build a home. Ever since I first laid eyes on Claire, I've had this urge to build us a nest.

"Tell me about yourself," I say. "We know each other's bodies intimately, but I want to know your soul as well."

Claire smiles and leans into me, her head resting against my shoulder. We stay like that for a moment, watching the winding river in the distance, enjoying the view.

"There's not much to tell," she says. "I'm just a simple spacer. You're the one with the cool stories."

"Nonsense. Tell me everything. "

My pretty human takes a deep breath and starts telling me her life's story. I listen attentively to her riveting tale. By the end of it, my chest hurts. The way she was treated by the people close to her is nothing less than barbaric.

I try to tell her this, but she shuts me up with a kiss.

"That's all in the past now," she says. "I have you now. I can be your mate, if… you'll have me."

She avoids my gaze, suddenly shy. I tilt her chin up and look deeply into her perfect eyes.

My mate.

That word makes my heart swell.

My entire life, all I have done is kill, fight, and raid. I thought that was it. The meaning of life was nothing more than blood and wanton destruction.

But when I gaze into her eyes, I feel I can be so much more than that. A husband. A father .

She is more than a mate: She is my purpose.

I kiss her softly, our lips meeting. Her warm body presses against mine.

"You are my everything, Claire," I say. "With you, I want to be a better man. I want to give you the best life possible, but that's difficult."

"Why is that?"

"Because I'm an orc, Claire. The Federation hunts us. They look for me even now. I know you've read the files. You know of our history, the injustice done to us. When you're with me, you'll never be safe. It's too much of a risk."

"How about I decide how much risk I can tolerate?" Claire says. "After all, I've already taken a good pounding or two. I think I can handle whatever the Federation chooses to throw my way."

Her coy words make me laugh. My little human certainly has a way with words.

"Fair enough," I say.

She runs her thumb across my cheek, touching my tusks. "I mean it, Gromnyr. I do. Whatever the universe wants to throw at us, I'm ready. I have gotten to know you, and I know in my heart you're not the man the news says you are. I want to stay by your side, if you'll have me. If you feel the same way, then there's nothing that can stop us. I love you, Gromnyr."

My heart feels light. "I love you, too, Claire."

I pull my human into my lap, my lips finding hers, our tongues meeting. She grabs me tightly and we just kiss for a long, blissful moment.

"I'll have to build an extension to this little home," I say between kisses.

"For what?"

"For our six children, of course."

A wide grin appears on Claire's face. "Six? That's a lot."

"You can handle it."

"Speaking of, I have something to show you," she says teasingly.

"Oh? What's that?"

"Remember that trunk with all the clothes you found for me? Well, there was a lot of stuff in there beyond just pretty dresses…"

She pulls down the front for a brief moment, giving me a glance of her lacy bra. At that moment the sky is lit up by a flash of lightning. Dark clouds roll towards us with blistering speed, bringing the sounds of rain.

The weather on this planet is unpredictable, and can change in a moment. I stand up and scoop Claire into my arms and carry her into our cozy shelter, just as a terrible roar echoes across the heavens.