Текст книги "Twins for the Wild Orc"

Автор книги: Michele Mills

сообщить о нарушении

Текущая страница: 5 (всего у книги 7 страниц)

Chapter 7

Whelan

After I finish my meal, scraping every last bit of food off my plate, that somehow tastes more amazing because she made it, I place Owen in a bouncer and stand up to tidy the kitchen and separate the trash from recyclables.

“Oh, you don’t have to do that,” my female exclaims. “I was about to clean.”

I give her a sharp glance. “No, remain seated. I will clean. Females at our commune sit and relax with our offspring. I am grateful you offered to cook, therefore I will always clean afterwards. This is the way in our commune.”

“Oh. Okay…Are you saying that orc males always do the cleaning?”

“Yes.”

“The laundry, the sweeping, the bathroom cleaning…?”

“All of it,” I confirm.

She sits and watches me with mouth agape.

Afterwards we end up in the nursery together because the babies look sleepy.

My female shows me what she brought with her from her home in California or purchased just prior to arriving at the commune. Most of it appears superfluous, similar to the appearance of that over-the-top coffee maker. But I do appreciate that my sons have all the clothing they could possibly require, in fact she’s even purchased clothing for them for when they grow older, at six months and nine months. “You’re a good planner,” I tell her. “And you’ve taken good care of our sons, even while living amongst humans.”

Her cheeks flush with color. And I want to pull her into my arms, but I refrain. Because I still can’t trust her.

She stands next to the crib I crafted, running her delicate hand along the polished pine. “I heard that you made this crib yourself, by hand.”

“I did.”

“It’s nice…”

“Thank you.”

I notice then that Owen and Bran are turning restless. “They need to be fed again,” I announce.

“Already? How do you know?”

“Orc fathers and sons have a special bond. I can sense their needs easily. They are going to be very hungry at first because they are in fact small for their age and need refeeding.”

“I’m not sure if I’m ready to go again because I just expressed…”

“We’ll use bottles of breast milk.”

“I’m not sure they’ll take it.”

“They will.” I stomp into the front room with both of my sons in my arms and my female follows behind closely. She cuts in front of me and opens the fridge and takes out two bottles. Then we both sit side by side on the couch in the front room. I take Owen and she takes Bran. And they each easily take a bottle from our hands and noisily begin to feed.

“Oh my gosh, they’ve never drank a bottle from my hand, they always refused. It’s nice knowing I can take a break sometimes or that others can feed them too, not just me.” She looks at me with watery eyes. “You have no idea what an upgrade this is.”

I glance down, trying to hide my smile. I can’t help but be pleased at the thought of her life being easier. Even if she is most likely still planning her exit. “We will soon need to revert to reusable diapers,” I let her know. “Orcs don’t use human disposable diapers. They create too much waste.”

“Are you kidding me?”

“No.”

“How do you know all of this?”

“I tended to my brother often when he was a baby. And I’ve tended to many other babies. There was a baby I fostered for a few months before its father was found at the commune in Siberia. I’m good with babies.”

She grins. “They give the babies to the wildest orc on the commune?”

“I might appear fierce, but I have a soft heart for infants. All orcs feel this way.”

“And I hope orcs like Halloween as much as they like babies. Do they trick or treat around here?”

“No, that is a strange human tradition that we do not yet participate in.”

“That’s too bad. It’s fun.”

We’re both quiet for a moment.

“Do you have to go to work today?” Drew questions.

“No. I am here, bonding with my sons. Rogan and the others are giving us alone time.”

“You’re bonding with only your sons?” she smirks. “What about me too?”

And that’s when I realize she’s so close to me while she feeds our son that our hips and legs are pressed together. A grumble erupts in my chest.

She glances out the window. “I’m surprised no one has entered the cabin. There were a lot of orcs hovering around me when I first arrived, and it’s been so quiet.”

“They see that you remain unharmed and chose to sleep next to me. And you haven’t left yet. I also took my sons outside this morning to meet with their family again.”

“Oh, you went out with the boys to talk to Rogan, Urdan and Kelt this morning while I slept? You should’ve invited them inside. I could’ve made breakfast for them too.”

“You know my father and the others?”

“Of course, I do. I met them when I first arrived yesterday. I’m happy I was able to meet the babies’ grandfather and your best friend and Urdan. They weren’t going to let me in at first because they thought you’d be dangerous for me, but I told them I understood and accepted the risk and still wanted inside. Also, I wasn’t leaving my babies behind. That was nonnegotiable.”

“That wasn’t a good idea. They were right. I could have hurt you. You were lucky I picked up the scent of our sons first and calmed slightly. What if I’d first stormed to the bedroom?”

She meets my gaze. “I was certain you wouldn’t hurt me.”

I shake my head at this foolish statement. “Human, I’m a wild orc. I’m the tallest, largest male on the commune with the sharpest horns. I live in this private wooded corner of the commune because my appearance often scares the other females. My primitive urges are right there, under the surface.”

“I still knew it would be okay.” She snuggles deeper into my side. “You know, one of the first questions they asked me when I arrived was if I was basically disgusted or happy to have given birth to orc babies, which I thought was a weird question.”

I nod. “We always ask this because it is common for humans to be horrified to have given birth to infants they consider monsters. It lets us know if this is a quick handover and how to proceed.”

She lets out a squeak of dismay. “It happens all the time?”

“Yes, it does. But I sense your love for our sons,” I tell her. “Your bond with them is strong and I also sense they deeply love you in return.”

“They do? Oh my babies,” she croons. “I love them both so much.” Then she rests her cheek on my shoulder, adjusts the baby in her arms, tilts the bottle higher, and keeps talking. “I told Rogan and the others that I wanted to stay at the commune. I can’t leave Bran and Owen behind. I know you don’t truly believe me, but these are my sons. Yes, I had an epic one-night stand with a scary orc and found out later my birth control didn’t work. But I decided, after careful thought, that I was financially and emotionally ready and could do this alone. Sorry, but I wasn’t ready for an orc who might kidnap me as my husband.”

I sit in silence, frowning, amazed at her ability to keep up her fake story of how I threatened to kidnap her. I’d never do such a thing. And every time she reminds me of this falsehood, I’m thrown back into remembering this gorgeous female who emanates thick arousal for me and obviously loves my sons—isn’t trustworthy. Which hurts. How is it possible for this human to claim I threatened to kidnap her, which caused her to run from me and keep my infants from me at first. How can she want me as a husband at the same time? Humans make no sense.

She yawns. “Sorry, I’m babbling I’m just tired. I’ve barely slept for the last three months. That flight across the country with screaming babies is still giving me PTSD. And then there was the drive up here to the commune. And I’m still dealing with the time change.”

Her chin hits her chest and the bottle starts to fall from her fingers, which is fine because Bran is done.

I stand up carefully and rearrange both babies into her arms. All three of them are sleepy, recovering from their exhausting trial—living amongst humans.

Then I take the bottles into the kitchen and soak them, then return and scoop my little family into my arms. I carry all three of them at once down the hallway to the primary bedroom. I frown because the bed isn’t made. I’ll have to remember to take care of this later.

My female yawns and stretches as I place her onto the bed and cover her with a blanket. I can’t help but stare at her sleek legs and the curve of her generous breasts under shirt. She buries her cheek into my pillow, inhales and falls quickly asleep.

I carry Bran and Owen both back to the nursery and wrap them up and place them gently into their individual cribs for a nap.

Then I walk back into the doorway of the bedroom and watch my luscious female sleep. I could easily slip into the bed and take her now—she’d be eager and ready. The scent of her arousal is wreaking havoc on my body and all I want it to shove my fingers between her thighs to check how wet she is for me.

But I turn, cross my arms and stomp out to the front room.

Because I will not touch a female I cannot trust.

Ever again.

Chapter 8

Drew

That night I make a quick dinner for the two of us.

Whelan starts a crackling fire in the stone fireplace, pulling from a stack of logs on the front porch that I suspect he cuts himself.

I drill Whelan with more questions about his life because I can’t seem to shut up. A good night’s sleep and a terrific nap earlier have turned me both bright and cheerful. I haven’t felt this good in a long time. And I want to know everything about this orc who is the father of my babies because understanding him makes me understand my boys better.

And I really do enjoy the idea of cooking again for the both of us, especially since I’m able to start fresh with a sparkling clean kitchen. I’m the type who likes to cook meals for myself rather than grab take out. I’ve tried to invite dates over to my home for dinner, but they usually want to go to the latest LA restaurant instead. There’s nothing wrong with a fancy restaurant, of course, but I love quieter nights at home plating food for others and watching their reaction to the yummy food I made specifically for them.

I cut Whelan another glance because I can’t keep my eyes off him. If I’m going to cook and he’s going to always do the cleaning, then sign me up. This male is amazing. He’s huge, powerful and intimidating and yet generous, loving and protective at the same time.

I’m beginning to wish this orc was my actual husband. Strange, but true.

He’s handsome in a proud, rough-hewn, edgy way. Whelan stomps over and calmly sits at the small kitchen table, barefoot and bare chested because he said his blood runs warmer than mine. His hands and feet are huge, as are the hard muscles on both arms. His nose is large and crooked but regal. His neck is thick and his lips plush. And I wish I could crawl onto his lap and plant kisses all over that warm green skin.

Both babies are nearby in bouncers and grip a tiny rattle in each hand, smiling and drooling. I love their matching blue outfits and their little starter horns. So damn cute. They both had tummy time earlier on blankets with their daddy at their side and I thought I’d faint from the adorableness.

I really like this wild orc with the large horns and flashing tusks. The male I originally found at a hotel bar is easy to talk to. I enjoy caring for our babies together. Not only is Whelan sexier than I remember but I haven’t found anything about him yet that’s a red flag. I’ve met his father and two of his friends, slept in his bed and snooped in all his drawers and cabinets. It’s only been twenty-four hours, but he seems an open book with nothing to hide.

I’m still wearing super short shorts under my long cardigan and no bra under my thin t-shirt. And I’ve managed to appear half naked in front of him at least five different times since I arrived.

Because a girl’s gotta try.

“I was told you’d gone, hunting?” I ask as turn up the heat on the gas stove because the pot of water is close to boiling. “Does this mean that’s your job? Are you a hunter for the commune?”

“I’m a decent hunter but that’s not my main job. I sit on the council and usually settle disputes between orcs according to our laws.”

“You’re an orc lawyer?”

“There isn’t such a thing within my culture. But I’ve become well known over the years in my dedication to learning orc law, most of which is recorded on pictographs and passed down through oral tradition. My cousin Alden helped to invent a written language for orcs which I’ve also learned and now I want to write down our common law. I’ve barely started on this project, but it is my goal.”

I look over at him, impressed. “That’s a great project. I’d like to help too, in any way I can.”

He snorts, not believing I’ll be around long enough to help him with anything.

I pour a box of pasta into the pot of boiling water. “I haven’t seen any guns or weapons here in the cabin. What do you use to hunt?”

“Orcs aren’t allowed permits to carry guns. We are already considered deadly weapons.”

“Don’t you need rifles to hunt?”

“No. Only weak human males use guns to take down their prey. I hunt with my bare claws or with weapons I create at the commune, in the ways of old. There are a team of hunters who work daily, bringing in fresh meat and we eat what we hunt. Human food is purchased from the local grocery store an hour away, but orcs who live in communes enjoy fresh wild game to retain optimal health.”

“Is it okay that I’m making this pasta? It was next to the pancake mix and syrup I used earlier. The package was dusty and it’s close to expiring but it was in the cabinet along with that jar of spaghetti sauce…”

“No, of course that’s something we can eat. It’s there in case…”

“In case, what?”

“In case I ever had a female.”

I smile wide. “And now you do.”

He shakes his head. “I mainly eat at the communal fires with the single orcs. Mated orcs and their families join us sometimes, but they like to eat together at their own hearths.”

“So single orcs eat together the wild game that’s grilled and males with human wives who like to cook for them eat their meals, that include a lot more human food, together with their children in their cabins?”

“Yes, and they are considered lucky. We don’t want to intrude on their bonding time at meals.”

“Oh, that’s sweet.” I pause to pour spaghetti sauce into another pot, then turn to smile at him. “I think it’s good that we’re talking like this. We have children together, but we were still strangers who didn’t know each other. This is another reason why I wasn’t certain about you that night, because I didn’t know you.”

“I was always certain about you,” he grumbles.

I grab some plates and start setting the table. “You know, I think the problem is that you are used to having family you can count on. You need to know that I’m a very independent person. I’ve had to take care of myself. I never knew my mom. My dad took care of me but always seemed annoyed to have to pay to keep a roof over my head, like he got the bad end of the deal. I moved out and left for college as soon as I was old enough and never looked back. I’ve had a zillion jobs, slept on friends’ couches too many times to count. Working hard and being able to take care of myself is important to me because I learned long ago that no one is going to take care of me but me. Do you see how the idea of starting something with you was scary? I’ve never had a real boyfriend, just a lot of serial dating.”

He crooks an eyebrow at me.

“I didn’t know if I could count on you. It just seemed smarter to do it all myself.”

“Because you always had to do everything yourself?”

“Basically.”

“That ends today,” he says.

“What ends today?”

“Even if you don’t choose to stay, you are not caring for the twins alone. I am their father. I am in fact their main caregiver—this is according to orc law.”

I place my hands on my hips. “Whelan, I flew across the country for you with my babies. You might be their main caregiver according to orc law but I carried those babies for nine months and delivered them and I’ve been breastfeeding them ever since. Never forget that I’m their mother.”

He narrows his eyes at me. “I also wonder if a female from the other side of the country can really live here for the rest of her life. Many males have moved out to live amongst the humans in their cities but that is not me. I go to the nearby town and buy groceries. Humans there know me, but still scream in fear. My father is the leader of our tribe, and it is expected that as his son I will one day also lead our tribe. This means I will also be the main contact with the tribe and the human government. Rogan sent me out on my first mission without him. I had to go out and speak for my tribe and be the representative.”

“This is why you were staying at the hotel?”

“Yes. And did you end up at that hotel bar in Maine if you live in California?”

I turn and stir the pasta and then the sauce, noting that it’s almost ready. “It all started when my best friend, Amelia, invited me to a writer’s retreat on the other side of the country. We’re both full-time professional authors who write thrillers for a living.”

“You tell stories for a living through published books?”

Pride warms my chest. “I do. And I make a good living too with a large readership. This last year Amelia talked me into going to a retreat with her in Maine, of all places. The retreat was wonderful, with five published authors staying too at the same hotel. I mean I got a whole book partially written. Then it ended and everyone left for home. But I stayed one extra night, waiting to catch my flight back home the next morning. I decided to go to the hotel bar that night. I’m not a hang-out-at-a-bar-and-pick-up-guys kind of girl, but I was still high off all that ‘peopling’ and wasn’t ready for it to end. So I got all dressed up, slinked downstairs and sat at the bar, perched on a seat with a drink in my hand. And a huge, sexy Orc with tall twisty horns, long hair and an unbuttoned plaid shirt sat next to me. And the rest is history.”

I twist around to strain the pasta in the sink and see that he’s staring at me intently. “I think you wanted to go to the bar because you scented me faintly in that hotel. I never go into human bars either, I think I scented you too.”

I start plating our food. “I think you might be right.”

“I am.”

“Hey, I moved across the country for you. That wasn’t easy. I left civilization, fully intent on living on this commune with you and our sons. I’m here to give this a real chance. I guess I just wasn’t ready to do that when we first met. I’m a self-employed professional author and running my own business. I couldn’t just hook up with a stranger and relocate. I have a mortgage. A car. A house full of furniture. I had to rearrange deadlines and let my readers, my assistant and my editors know I’m on another break. It’s a whole thing. I figured if this all went bad and you didn’t want me, at the very least we could have custody of the boys fifty-fifty. I could do my best to live in a town that is reasonably close to the commune, while still having civilization, so that they could spend time with you during all their school holidays and summer breaks.”

He’s holding my hand, lost in thought and rubbing my skin with his thumb. “You’ve thought this through.”

“Yes. I really believe I can continue my work here. Since you have satellite internet all I need to continue my work here is for us to squeeze a small desk into a corner of our bedroom and I’m good.”

He looks down at our joined hands, frowns and let’s go of me. “A human used to living in large mega cities cannot suddenly enjoy life on an orc commune.”

“That’s where you’re wrong. I bet lots of the women who live here now used to live in big cities. And now they’re perfectly happy.” I twirl some spaghetti onto my fork, lean forward and offer it to him.

“No.” Whelan meets my gaze. “No, Drew.” He quietly finishes all his pasta in record time, wipes his face clean with a cloth napkin and stands. Then he unclicks both of our sons from their bouncers and carries them away, leaving me alone at the table. “I’ll clean it all up later,” he growls over his shoulder.

“Ugh,” I groan, propping my chin in my hands.

Ten minutes later I rejoin my husband and babies in the nursery. “Let me help.”

He looks over his shoulder and gives a curt nod.

I take the comfy chair in the corner and start breastfeeding Owen while Whelan changes Bran’s diaper and then puts our other son in his pajamas. I can’t help but be happy and at peace, having all my guys here with me. The babies are thriving and happy to be with their father. Coming to the commune was certainly the right decision. I just wish Whelan would let me in further and stop pushing me away. I understand all his reasons but that doesn’t make them any easier.

I look down at my son’s tiny green hand against my chest and the smooth skin of his precious face. Gorgeous. He bites on my nipple in his eagerness to get his fill and I shift him to a better position. Then I glance up at Whelan’s wide back. “I wish you were there for their birth,” I say with complete honesty.

“I wish I’d been there too.”

“No, really. I’m sad you weren’t there.”

“Yes.” Then he turns around and marches over with Bran in his arms. “Tell me female,” he demands, “why do you want to stay here with me?”

“Because I want what’s best for the babies. They weren’t doing well on the outside and I learned they needed you. And…and I need you too. I’ve already said this before. I told you I’m here to try and make this work.”

“Try,” he mutters.

“I know you hate it when I say that word…” I pause to pluck Owen off my breast because he’s finished. I reach up and carefully hand him off to Whelan. In exchange he gives me Bran who I put against my other breast so my other boy can get his fill. Then I lean back in the chair again. “But that’s what we’re doing,” I say as Whelan strides away with Owen in his arms. “We’re trying to make this work between us.”

“Orcs don’t try to remain with their Brides. We are physically mated. Your commitment isn’t at the same level as mine.”

Ouch. “Well...” I toss my hair over my shoulder. “I’m actually not certain yet of your commitment either.”

He snorts with disbelief and looks over at me from the changing table. “I called you my Bride that first night when I took you. I gave you my seed countless times until I passed out. You know of my commitment.”

“No. I don’t. I know of your commitment to the boys. But as far as I know you’re just waiting for me to leave so you can finally be alone with them. I think you only want me as a way to breed more sons. You don’t want me, you just want more offspring.”

He fully turns with a look of shock on his harsh features. “You really believe that nonsense?”

Oh, damn. “Maybe,” I grumble. No, not really. I don’t believe it at all.

He shakes his head and doesn’t say anything else to me, probably wondering if I’ve lost my mind. I mean, maybe I have? This man has no idea how much I want him, all of him and maybe I am going a bit insane at his constant rejection. He smells so good and he’s so close, but unobtainable.

Eventually Bran finishes feeding too. I kiss both my twins goodnight. Whelan puts both our bundled babies into their cribs and turns on their soothing mobiles. We both quietly step out of the nursery and he closes the door behind us.

Now we’re together in the hall, so very close. The top of my head barely reaches his shoulders and I’m staring hard at his green muscled chest and corded neck. He’s gazing down at me with dark lust and I can feel the heat radiating from his body.

I take a step closer and put my hand on the hot skin of his bare chest.

He reaches down and places a warm, heavy hand on the back of my neck. “Your arousal is causing you agitation because you require relief?”

“Yes,” I whimper. “That’s exactly the problem.”

He lowers his head and captures my lips and I’m in heaven. I sigh with delight. Maybe he’s intent on bringing me relief? We haven’t kissed in a year and it’s still as wonderful as I remember. I love the scrape of his large teeth and the boundaries of those tusks. He tastes amazing. Whelan groans and deepens the kiss.

I reach up and dig my fingers into his fabulous hair and rub myself against that amazing erection.

His lips and tusks leave a hot trail down my neck. His other hand moves to my waist, so very close to my breast. A growl rumbles in his chest and he breaks off the kiss. “No,” he pants.

“No?”

“It is normally my job to make sure you are always pleasured but I will only fuck you again when I am certain of your commitment.”

“Whelan, I’m staying. I’ve moved here with the babies. How many times do I have to say this?”

He leans in and hisses, “It’s not only that. You kept my sons from me for a whole year. I missed their birth.”

Anger courses through my veins. “Yes, you are the father and you deserved for me to tell you. But I’m not simply a body for you to breed and an oven for you to grow offspring. I’m a person with actual feelings. I had to think everything through, alone, without you there to talk me into anything I didn’t want. I knew I immediately wanted to keep the babies, so there was that. Then everything else grew from there. And it’s not like I’ve kept your babies secret from you for the last decade. They are only three months old. We can make up for time lost. I’m here Whelan. I’m here…”

Then he growls and pushes back. “I cannot live a life where you show up occasionally to check in on your sons, have sex with me and then leave to return to your real human husband and offspring, back in the human world. It isn’t fair to me or our orc sons,” he thunders.

I suck in a sharp breath. “Now you’re the one who believes in nonsense,” I challenge. “I only want you Whelan. Just you.”

“You say that now, but what about a year from now? Two years from now? Other females have done that to our orcs. They beg at the gates to be let back in just for a night and are turned away.”

“You need to stop blaming me for the mistakes of other women. I am ready to commit to you, Whelan. Ready and waiting.”

He puts his hands on my shoulders and gently pushes me back, drops his own hands and steps away. “Drew, I cannot trust you, therefore I will not touch you.”

And then he turns his back on me and he’s gone.