Total pages in book: 20
Estimated words: 18503 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 93(@200wpm)___ 74(@250wpm)___ 62(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 18503 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 93(@200wpm)___ 74(@250wpm)___ 62(@300wpm)
Her mouth opens and closes several times. “Oh, uh…” My mate swallows. “I trust you, so if you trust them, I’m okay with that.”
“Thank you, Beauty.” I lean my forehead against hers and stare into her eyes. “I promise to take care of you.” And our little cub. When I woke up this morning, I sniffed the air and realized my mate’s scent had intensified overnight. There’s only one reason for that. My fucking swimmers did their job. I’m dying to inform my mate, but I decide to wait until the threat to her is taken care of.
My inner bear has to give his two cents. He thumps his chest with pride and growls. It was my power that did its job, not your swimmers.
We can agree to disagree, I inform him before turning back to the matter at hand.
Right on time, the three Orcs pull up at my security gate in a massive SUV. I watch on the monitor as the gate recognizes the sensor in the vehicle. Kol scans his eyes and presses in his unique code, and the gate opens. After the vehicle drives through, the gates close again, and I turn away from the monitor.
“Beauty,” I call to my mate. “Our guests are here.”
“I’m coming.” She rushes out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on the apron tied around her waist.“
“Not yet, but you will be,” I tease her and watch as a bright red blush moves over her neck and up to her cheeks.
“Do not make me blush in front of your friends.” She smacks my arm. “I hope Orcs like homemade spaghetti and garlic bread. It was all I could come up with from the contents of your pantry and freezer.”
“Orcs will eat pretty much anything,” I reassure her and walk over to answer the door. I glance once more at the screen and make sure it’s really Kol and his two brothers before I pull the heavy, reinforced steel door open. “Thank you for coming.”
“Our pleasure,” Kol returns and walks into the living room with his two equally huge brothers.
My mate walks up behind me and digs her hand into my waist. I can sense her unease and wrap my hand around hers, giving it a reassuring squeeze before introducing my mate to the three Orcs.
“Briella, this is my second-in-command, Kol.”
I watch as my friend smiles but doesn’t attempt to touch my mate. “Nice to meet you, Briella. These are my brothers, Oren, my oldest brother, and Aric, my twin.”
“I’m a twin, too.” My mate smiles at each of the Orcs. “It’s nice to meet all of you. I hope you’re hungry. I cooked a huge pot of spaghetti and meatballs.”
“Female, you read my mind.” Oren rubs his hands together. “I’m starving. I would be honored if you allow me to help you serve the meal.”
“You don’t have to do that,” my mate attempts to refuse, but Oren won’t let her.
“It is our custom to assist with meals,” he insists and follows Briella to the kitchen.
Chapter 10
Briella
It’s not every day that you serve three seven-foot-tall green giants lunch. While I cut up the garlic bread, Oren carefully serves up the noodles and spaghetti sauce.
The Orcs look exactly like I envisioned. Their green faces are distinctly fearsome, dominated by large, sharp, and threatening tusks that curve outward from beneath their lower lips.
I was a little shocked to find that the giants wear normal clothes. Kol and Aric are dressed in white button-up dress shirts and blue jeans while Oren has a black t-shirt stretched across his massive chest and gray dress pants.
Despite their fearsome appearance, the giant Orcs move with surprising grace, each step calculated and purposeful. Their hands are large and calloused but obviously capable of delicate tasks as well as brutal force.
“Thank you so much for helping out in the kitchen,” I blurt out the first thing that comes to mind.
“You are welcome, female.” He glances at me and nods his head before turning back to his task.
I’m not really sure I like being called “female,” but I’m not about to correct the jolly green giant helping me serve lunch.
Watching three Orcs eat spaghetti and meatballs is an experience. I expected sloppy table manners and grunting, but these three green beasts are perfectly polite guests.
“Thank you for the delicious meal, female.” Aric glances at me from under his strong, slightly protruding eyebrows, and I notice a slight pink tinge to his cheeks that tells me the youngest Orc is shy.
After we finish our meal, Aric insists on cleaning the kitchen while Oren, Kol, and Kodi discuss business.
“Tell me about your settlement.” I turn to Aric as I dry the dishes he’s washing.
“What do you want to know?” He isn’t the talkative type.
“Everything, I’ve never met Orcs before.” I put away the last dish and turn to lean against the counter.