Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 24908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 125(@200wpm)___ 100(@250wpm)___ 83(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 125(@200wpm)___ 100(@250wpm)___ 83(@300wpm)
I wave to the rest of his family and work my way out the front door. Orcs are many things, but quiet is not one of them, so it’s no secret that he’s following me as I make my across his front lawn to mine, shivering with the cool grass between my toes.
I’m onto the rough cement of the front walkway when I finally admit to myself the goosebumps and shivers are not from the coolness but from knowing Tigor is following me and I like it.
This sexy orc is making things happen inside me I’ve never known. Sure, I’ve had a guy turn my head, even got some me time in, here and there, over the years, fantasizing about some imaginary scenario, but never have I gotten the flutter-bys from anyone in particular.
There’s still a hint of the smoke from their open-pit barbecue lingering in the air as I turn around and see Tigor two feet behind me, his nostrils flared, his fists still clenched.
I stare up at him, moonlight catching on the ring of ragged circular scars around his neck where the alien collar used to be. He’s wildly tall, taller for some reason now that I’m standing alone in front of the house. He doesn’t say anything as he meets my eyes and it makes me feel vulnerable and also safe, which are two things I don’t ever remember feeling, especially at the same time.
“Okay, well thanks for…” I start, then realize I’m not sure how to express my gratitude for him chopping off the hand of some rando NHC guy who touched me. “Stuff.”
Stuff? That’s what I’ve got?
I shake my head, flapping my hand between us, my lips dry as he reaches out and cups my cheek in his plate-sized palm.
It’s that surprisingly delicate touch again, only this time his rough skin connects with mine, sending these zinging lightning bolts from my cheek down into my toes. His touch warms my face. Before right now, I understood intellectually that orcs had a higher body temperature than humans, but feeling the heat radiating from him has me leaning into this pale-green beast and wondering what those hot fingers might feel like in other places.
“You are as beautiful as the moon and the stars…” He pauses, his face pinched as though he suddenly remembered something unpleasant. “I do not know your name.”
My heart warms at his compliment but also at the way he seems distressed about not knowing my name.
“Emelia, but I like Emmie better. All the foster families called me Emelia but I always wanted to be called Emmie. It felt happier. You don’t get nicknames in foster care.” I’m not sure why I just said that. I’ve never told anyone that before.
“You are Emmie. Always Emmie. Happy nickname Emmie.” The deep rasp of his voice quivers as I offer a smile and look up at the front door, the warmth between my legs dampening my panties.
I do this sort of side-pass three step up to the door and offer an awkward wave as I step inside. He doesn’t move. Not a step. Not an inch. But I’m so overwhelmed by everything that’s happened in the last twenty-minutes, I take one last shaking breath, his strange but arousing rugged scent tantalizing my nose, as I close the door and fall down into a heap on the cool marble floor of the foyer.
I stay there for a few minutes before easing up the stairs and looking in on Darrell, who is perpendicular on his bed, the covers thrown off the foot. He is always battling in his sleep. What, I’m not sure. All three of us have our dark memories but finding Darrell starving and hiding behind a dumpster in the mass confusion of a warzone where orcs and humans were fighting for territory, I saw in his eyes the same lost, hardened look I see from myself in the mirror every morning.
That was two years ago when Dominic and I were making our own break for a new life, and Darrell, well, there’s no way we were leaving him behind.
I close his bedroom door and soon I’m in a warm shower. We fitted the roof the house with solar panels and scavenged for batteries and whatever else to make it pretty self-sufficient. Darrel is great with mechanical stuff and having hot water on demand is an amazing luxury. As I stand in the warmth, the last of the human’s blood running pink down the drain from where it crusted dry in my hair. I run my hands down my chest, some profane and unexpected thoughts of Tigor peaking my nipples.
I wonder if he sees me as I do. I’m not a willowy sort.
I have triple D breasts, and if they had sizes for rear ends, I’m sure I’d be a triple D back there as well. Wide hips. Thick thighs. A soft, generous belly. I like my food, especially now that no one is governing what I eat or how much.