19. Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Nineteen

Calliope

I opened the door to the bathroom; the steam came with me. Wrapped in just a big fluffy towel, I saw Simon at my side immediately. He rubbed his horns against my thigh, and I scratched behind his ears. "Hi Simon, sorry, I hope you turned around earlier." I winced, remembering that he'd been in the room.

Valpar stood before me, his back facing me and his hands firmly rested on his hips. As I observed, his broad back seemed to pulsate with tension, the muscles rippling beneath his skin. Even his long, ebony hair swayed in sync with his movements.

I couldn't help how tempting it was for me to imagine the sensation of running my fingers through its silkiness.

The other orcs had their hair braided or shaved on the sides, all with the exception of Sugha, who had the shorter cut. Valpar's hair was wild and unkempt, but I really liked how his silky strands lay halfway down his back. I wanted to brush it and play with it. I wondered if he would let me braid it for him.

"Something wrong?" I finally asked when he didn't give me his full attention after I'd come out of the bathroom. I didn't know why that irked me, but I wanted all of his attention.

Bad Calliope. Don't be selfish.

When he turned, his grumpy face was in full force, just as it was the night we met. It melted once he finally saw me, and it turned into a look I could not describe.

"Miresa, what are you wearing?" he rasped.

"A towel? I don't have any extra clothes." I pulled the overly large towel up to my nose to hide my heated face, and Valpar came close to me. Instead of pulling me to his body, he grabbed a spare blanket from the bed, a clean one, and dumped it over my head.

Um, what?

"Let me find you some cloth. Stay there," he said gruffly.

Simon let out a grunt and pulled on the blanket that covered me from head to toe. He pulled on it just enough, so it came off my head, and the blanket pooled onto the floor. When Valpar finished looking in his sack full of his supplies, he stood up and groaned as he took in my appearance.

"You don't know how to stay put, do you?" He gritted his teeth, came toward me and shoved a black dress tunic over my head, while I still held the towel over my body. "I must go outside. You will remain in the cave, and I will be outside watching. Do not leave, do you understand?"

He didn't look at me when he began to walk away.

Great, he was already tired of me.

"Valpar?" I whispered, so silently. I did it when Mom and Dad were upset with me and would just walk away. Even with their hearing, they never looked back.

It was the silent treatment, that's what they called it. They'd leave me for long periods of time so I could think of what I had done wrong. I knew I deserved it most of the time. Jumping out of trees, letting some of the livestock go free…

Only this time, I didn't know what I did to Valpar, to know what I had done wrong.

I pursed my lips together and pushed the towel down then threaded my arms through the holes of the dress. I crossed my arms, feeling cold and alone, but warmth engulfed me before I could think more dangerous thoughts.

"My sweet fairy, I am sorry." He petted my still damp hair and pressed his cheek to it. "I am a male with few words, and I have been blessed with a female who requires many," he said.

I sniffed and tried to wrap my arms around him.

"Please do not water your cheeks, I fear I might knock over every tree in this forest."

I shook my head into his chest. "I don't want you to hurt yourself by knocking stuff over."

Valpar picked me up, and I straddled his waist.

"I am insulted that you would think your puny, soft trees would hurt me. I can push them over with one hand!" He took one of his arms and showed me his muscles.

Hubba, hubba.

"Hmm, yes." I pinched his muscle. "It is very strong. You must test it for me." I smiled. "I have not seen such strength from an orc before."

Valpar's eyes lit up. "You haven't? Well, none better than your male. You shall come with me as I show you my strength."

Valpar carried me outside of the cave and I clung to him tightly, not wanting to let go. The sun was shining brightly, and I squinted as we stepped into the light. Valpar walked with a confident stride, and I felt a bit like a princess as he carried me everywhere.

"I didn't bring the leather lead to keep you tied to me. Are you going to stay where I put you?" He lifted an eyebrow in warning.

My pussy fluttered and I opened my mouth to say something smart back, but he put a hand over my mouth.

"Think before you speak, or I will march back into the cave and get it."

I shook my head, and he released his hand. "Nope, no sir, Mr. Big Bad Orc Sir. I will stay where you put me."

For like five minutes.

Pleased with himself, he nodded as he brought us onto the beach and took a sharp turn to the left into the forest. After a five-minute walk, with Simon trotting behind us, we entered a large clearing surrounded by trees and tall grass. In the center stood a tall, sturdy tree with thick branches reaching towards the sky. Valpar set me down gently on a large, flat rock nearby and grinned mischievously at me.

"Watch this, my sweet fairy, while your male shows you his strength." He flexed his muscles once more and cracked his neck. Then, he strutted over, placed both hands on the trunk of the tree and with a loud grunt, he pushed against it with all his might. The ground trembled beneath us as he put all his strength into it. Slowly but surely, the tree began to tilt and creak under his force. Pixies screamed, and I almost felt bad, but all of them could fly just fine.

Finally, the giant tree came crashing down with a thunderous boom.

Yup, he was definitely a lumber snack!

Pixies screamed again. The females were all swooning and fanning themselves while the males look a little ticked.

They got interrupted playing the hokey-pokey!

The tree Valpar picked wasn't a homing tree for pixies, it didn't have any ribbons in the low-lying branches as a warning. The male pixies were just mad because they were interrupted.

I giggled, watching the females flutter around Valpar. He waved his hand to push them away and looked at me.

I beamed at him. Both, that he would wave the pixies away, and that he had that much strength. I don't think I've ever seen a shifter push over a tree. I'd never asked Creed to do it, maybe I'll ask him next time I see him.

Valpar let out a roar, his muscles rippling under his skin as he went for another tree. His face had turned grumpy and determined, and my eyes lit up when he wrapped his arms around the trunk and squeezed.

Oh, his butt muscles are just so nice.

Just wanna bite them.

Chomp, chomp.

The wind blew, so I got a good look at his right cheek and my mouth dropped.

"What the hell is that orc doing!?" I heard Karma's voice come from my right, and I groaned. "He's gonna wreck the whole forest!"

Burgers and fries, it's my nemisisis .

Yes, nemisisis . He needs extra is because he is so evil.

I waved my hand like he was a fly. "Ugh, why are you here? Why don't you fly back down to the bowels of the Underworld and go buzz around one of Hades' trees? Maybe he'll set you on fire for me," I whispered.

Karma let out a strangled noise.

"Besides, isn't it your and the nymphs' jobs to fix broken trees when the elves aren't around? He's just giving you work to do, so you aren't lazy and eating people's cupcakes."

Simon let out a long bleat and tried to bite his wings. "I will tell the king about this, Calliope. He will be disappointed in you, in…that thing!" He pointed to Valpar, who was really amping up his movements, pounding into random trees.

It was…really hot!

I crossed my legs and made sure I tied the top of his dress tunic, so nothing showed. My hair was finally drying but between my legs was another story.

Karma's nose turned up. "Don't tell me you are becoming a whore, too, now, huh? You are really falling for that thing? For your babysitter?"

I snapped my head to Karma. "I'll have you know he is my mate. You are just a jealous flying glitter-turd, who is upset you aren't in the court helping with my uncle. You would think you would want to get on my good side, instead of terrorizing me, so I could help you with that, but you have to be a dingus."

Karma's wings fluttered agitatedly as he stared at me with a mix of annoyance and disbelief. "You can't be serious, Calliope. He's an orc! You can't possibly feel a bond, anyway, you are a human . Humans have no feelings or blessings from a goddess."

I narrowed my eyes at him and ignored the stab at me. "He may be an orc, but he is my orc. You are just jealous he won't be sticking his pinky up your tiny little asshole and pricking your shoulder to claim you."

Karma gasped as the other pixies giggled, while they mended the tree Valpar just broke.

Simon tried to take another bite out of Karma while he wasn't watching but he flew to the other side of my shoulder.

"Then, you two are made for each other." Karma snorted and put his hands on his hips. "Two barbaric creatures that have no right to be in this kingdom. I can't wait until he carts you off into the Wood and I don't have to see your face."

I rolled my eyes dramatically. "That makes two of us."

"Should have happened already. Real mates claim them the same night. Why hasn't he marked you." Karma looked over my shoulder for a bite. "I see nothing. Maybe he doesn't want you. You must have said or done something. Did he see your scrawny body and decide he didn't want it? Is that why you are covered up?"

I parted my lips and looked down. He did throw this tunic over me rather quickly.

But he came all over the bed when he was licking my lady parts.

He's done it twice now. Why would he go back for seconds?

"We—we are just taking things slow because—"

"Because you are probably too small. I bet he couldn't get one finger inside you. He's gonna reject you."

I gasped. Simon backed up and took a running jump leaping into the air, headbutting Karma until he fell into the mud. I heard him mumble and squish, and Simon bleating in laughter, but didn't revel in his misery.

Instead, I was watching Valpar destroy large boulders, tree trunks and punch the ground with his hands. He was sweating, with large beads of sweat dripping down his back, face and chest. I was in awe of him, how wonderful he looked and yes, he was very different from me, but I couldn't be more attracted to him.

I wondered if I was enough.

Karma always had a way of getting under my skin.

I took a deep breath and slowly approached Valpar, who was still destroying everything in his path. The other pixies flew away in fear, but I couldn't help but be drawn to him.

His sharp claws tore through the ground and his loud roars echoed through the forest. But I felt an inexplicable pull towards him, like a magnetic force that I couldn't resist.

As I got closer, he turned to face me with a wild look in his eyes. But, instead of feeling scared, I felt a surge of adrenaline rush through my body.

Without hesitation, I reached out and touched his arm. His skin was rough and hot against my fingertips, but it only made me want him more. He looked down at me with surprise and confusion, but then his expression softened into something else.

He leaned down and inhaled my scent deeply, before pulling me into a fierce embrace. His powerful arms wrapped around me as if he was trying to protect me from something.

I buried my face in his chest, taking in the musky smell of sweat and adrenaline that surrounded him. It was intoxicating and alluring at the same time.

For a moment, we just stood there holding each other. He needed this, to release a frustration, an anger. Our breaths mingled together and our hearts beat as one.

I just wished I knew what he was angry about.

But like he said, orcs are males of few words. How am I going to get him to talk?

But then, Valpar suddenly pulled away with a growl, breaking our connection. He turned back to destroying everything in sight, with even more intensity than before.

I watched him for a moment before stepping forward again and placing my hand on his back. This time, he didn't push me away or react at all. He simply continued to destroy everything in front of him with renewed vigor.

Eventually, Valpar stopped and looked down at me with a mixture of exhaustion and pain.

Is it me?

Was Karma right? Why else would he be ripping up the forest? Am I too small for him?

He hasn't let me see his thing, yet.

But why would the Goddess pair two souls that were not compatible? It wasn't right—couldn't be right. He'd better not be afraid of breaking me.

"Wow, you're super strong," I joked, rocking back and forth on my feet. "Remind me not to make you too angry." I snorted at my joke and Valpar came toward me with a sad look on his face.

"Little fairy, I would never, ever, ever harm you. I would rather die than let anything happen to you." He put his hand on my lower back, pulling me toward him. His muscles bulged and his breath was ragged.

I hummed in agreement. Valpar wouldn't physically hurt me. It was Karma's words that were hurting me.

Stupid Karma. I hoped he gets the clap from fucking some wood sap from a woodpecker hole somewhere.

The sweat glistened on Valpar's body, and my heart raced in my chest. He really was a snack, and I was ready to just take a bite out of his giant man boob right in front of me. I smiled sweetly at him and took a lick at his chest.

He groaned and his free hand cupped between his legs. "This was why I was out here, trying to relieve stress and here you are riling me up again." I tried to take a quick peek, but he pulled my chin back up to look at him. "Not yet," he warned.

I took a playful lick again and then bit his nipple. He jumped and grabbed his chest, rubbing it, while still holding me to his body.

"What-what did you do that for female?" he growled at me.

"I licked it. I bit it. It's mine, now!" I smiled brightly.