Page 40 of Fake Dating an Orc Cowboy

Macy swam over to my side, her eyes sparkling as she shoved wet hair out of her face. “This is so much fun. But our guys . . . They’re ridiculous, right?”

“Men. Leave it to them to turn a pool game into the Olympics.”

“Ostor’s gonna crush it, isn’t he?” Macy whispered, her gaze flicking between him and Jacob. “All those muscles. He's ripped. I bet he works out all the time.”

“He's actually a true cowboy.”

“Gotta love a man who builds his body the natural way.”

I sure did.

Everyone fell quiet as Ostor lowered his massive frame onto the wobbly surface. Even Jacob, recovering from his barely there loss, had his eyes locked on my orc date.

“Our last contestant!” the staffer announced.

I held my breath.

“Go!” A whistle blew, and Ostor charged forward, his powerful legs churning as he barreled across the inflatable walkway with a grace that shouldn’t be possible for anyone of his size. Every step he took was measured and fearless. Despite the jiggle of the bridge, his footing remained steady. Confidence radiated off him in waves.

The last few paces seemed to slow, like the moment was stretching out longer than it should. The crowd watched in silence as he neared the finish. My heart tumbled up into my throat, pounding in rhythm with the thud of his feet on the rubbery surface.

He launched himself off the end, diving neatly into the water.

“Whoa,” Macy breathed.

Jacob scowled.

Mom and Dad hooted.

And the rest of those in and around the pool exploded into cheers, a few letting out wolf-whistles as he disappeared beneath the surface.

My heart raced as I caught sight of him slicing through the water, heading straight for me.

When he burst up in front of me, he rose with all the beauty of a sea god, shimmering wet and perfectly sculpted.

Something inside me snapped. I reached for him as he pulled me close, sweeping me up in one fluid motion, spinning us both through the water. The rush of air mixed with the laughter around us, but none of it mattered. The only things I could feel were his hands, his arms, and that buzzing desire slamming through me with every spin.

He came to a stop, and his lips crashed against mine.

This wasn’t a kiss performed for my sister. This kiss was real, filled with possession. His mouth claimed mine in a way that left no room for pretending anymore.

I melted into him. His fingers curled into my waist, holding me as if nothing else existed beyond us. My body flared, everything inside me aflame.

The cheers around us blurred into white noise as my soul hummed with emotion, with arousal, with something much deeper than us playing a dating game.

When we broke apart, he whispered against my skin. “You’re mine, Rosey.”

My heart clenched. Tight. Warm. Ready to burst.

I wasn’t going to argue.

Chapter 16

Ostor

We all went to the swim-up bar, me holding the bottle of tequila I'd won. I'd share it with my brothers when I returned home and laugh at the faces they'd make when they tasted it.

A few of the others stabbed tiny glasses of tequila and . . . No, not stabbed,shotthe drink. I'd get all this straight in my mind eventually.

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