Page 90 of Bound to the Orc Hunter

His fingers go to my hair, removing the scrunchie and working over my scalp until I’m a melted puddle of goo.

When I finally open my eyes, his face is serious, his dark eyes studying me.

“Why are you doing this?” I whisper. For all his care, I’m still too uncertain to ask what he feels for me, so I poke at the edges of it, going as close as I dare, hoping he’ll blaze ahead in that fearless way he has. “What’s this really all about?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

I shake my head. “I’ve never been good at people.”

“You’re excellent with the only one that counts. Me.” He takes my hand and places it on his chest. “I love you with every beat of my heart, with every breath I take. I love you with every piece of my body, mind, and soul.”

Oh! I press my hand to my trembling lips, emotions swirling through me in a jumbled mess. And I let them. It’s okay. Because one thing rises to the top.

He loves me!

“I had a happy life before, but even then, something was missing. I sat in the main baths only a couple of weeks ago and dreamed of a bride.” He chuckles and tucks a lock of hair behind my ear. “Everything I dreamed was wrong. She was nebulous, unformed, a pale imitation of the wonder that is you.”

“I’m better than your dream woman?” I whisper.

“Youaremy dream woman, better than anything I could have imagined. You are strong and kind and practical, and you use that practicality to help others. Very few would have gone to the aid of strangers like you did for the cu sith.”

“I guess my magic’s pretty amazing, when it works.”

“Your magic is powerful, but it’syouwho makes it amazing. It’s your heart and soul that drive your creations, bringing joy to others.”

His hand presses mine more firmly to him, his heartbeat strong under my palm.

“My bride, I love you. I will love you for this lifetime and beyond. A million lifetimes could not be enough. A million realms cannot contain all the love in my heart. You are the other piece of my soul, and I am only complete now that I have you.”

He beams at me, heart-breakingly handsome, but I don’t break.

I heal, full of joy and love.

CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

Branikk

Grace gives me the most incandescent smile, her expressive face showing everything she’s feeling.

But I still want to hear it. “Do you have something to tell me?”

She nods.

I wait.

Her cheeks turn pink, and she says in a rush, “I love you!”

She loves me! My heart soars. I felt as much, yet it’s still lovely to hear it from her lips.

“I’ve never said that to anyone before.” My moon bound gives a soft laugh.

I pick up her hand and press a kiss to the palm. “Then it’s all the more precious, and I will treasure it forever.”

My tongue flicks out, teasing at her skin. My cock leaps against the side of her hip, aching to knot her, to finally have her in that most intimate of embraces.

Her beautiful blue eyes watch me, her wide mouth falling open on one of those breathy little gasps I love so well, as I suck one of her fingers into my mouth and swirl my tongue around it.

My bride shifts on my lap, maneuvering until she straddles me, her knees up, clamping my sides. The heat of her core moves over my cock, slicker than the water, the pressure delicious. My stud reacts to her nearness, tingling with magic as tentacles reach around my girth to touch her.

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