Page 43 of Fake Dating an Orc Cowboy

“Winning where it matters,” I said simply, my lips curling up before I lowered my mouth to her.

Her sharp inhale sent an echo through my chest. The moment my tongue flicked over her skin, tasting the light burn of the tequila mixed with her sweetness, a ragged groan torethrough me. From her navel and higher, I traced every line and shift of her belly.

She gasped and squirmed beneath me. The soft peal of her giggle mixed with something warmer, something more open than anything I’d ever imagined.

Roars of approval filled the area, but I barely heard them. What mattered most was this woman.Alwaysher.

Lifting my head, I grinned with satisfaction. Her bright eyes found mine, hers filled with warmth, teasing, and something deeper I couldn’t name. Something I needed to believe she felt as intensely as I did.

Jacob had fallen silent, too silent, but I'd just shown him up again, this time by proving I could treat my mate as she deserved.

“Let’s see him top that,” Macy said loud enough for only me, and probably Jacob, to hear.

I might’ve come here unsure of everything, fumbling with the weight of what could and couldn’t be. But as Rosey rose to sit on the side of the bar, her legs going around my body, her hands warm on my shoulders, I knew one thing for sure.

I didn’t have to prove myself to Jacob or anyone else.

As long as Rosey looked at me as she did right now, I would always be enough.

Chapter 17

Rosey

Was it possible to fall in love with a guy in only a few days? Because it was happening. I’d gone from thinking Ostor was gorgeous on the outside, which he was, to admiring everything about him where it truly mattered.

And I wasn’t sure what to do about it.

So I was going to do nothing. I was going to enjoy what was left of this weekend, a total switch for me. Instead of crying on the beach while my sister married Jacob, I would make sure each second with Ostor counted.

We left the pool mid-afternoon, stopping to say hi to my parents, who were reading, before going to our rooms to get ready for the rehearsal. After, we’d all have dinner together at one of the beachfront restaurants. Tomorrow morning would be spent getting ready for the wedding and the early afternoon wedding would follow. We’d party after that and while they went off to their honeymoon suite, the rest of us could do what we pleased. I had so many ideas for what I wanted to do with Ostor. A walk on the beach? Dancing under the stars? No, we could return to our room and be together.

Because, if he was open to the idea, I wanted everything.

My heart might end up broken when we returned home, but if I didn’t give him my all, I’d always wonder what might’ve happened if I did.

While Ostor sat on the balcony, admiring the view, I scooted into the bathroom to shower and change into the dress he’d bought me.

I stepped out of the bathroom, excited and nervous. The silky fabric skimmed over my body, soft and feather-light, the pale blue matching my eyes. I’d kept my makeup subtle, using only enough to highlight my features, and I'd left a few curls loose to dangle by each ear. I’d pinned the rest of my hair back in a neat twist.

When I walked into the bedroom, his gaze snapped up to find me. His chair scraped against the tile floor as he stood, and the soft groan that rumbled in his chest as he took me in made my stomach tumble like I'd taken a running leap off a high diving board.

He stalked toward me, slow and deliberate, his dark, luminous eyes devouring every inch of me as if I were something rare. Precious. The flicker of warmth in his gaze ignited embers beneath my skin. The way he was looking at me made me feel more than beautiful. It made me feel seen. Whole. A dizzying kind of confidence filtered into me, one I hadn’t felt in years, if ever.

“Rosey,” he said, his deep, gravelly voice curling around my name like he was revealing a secret. Once he stopped in front of me, he reached out, brushing one of the curls framing my face. He twisted it around his finger, tugging down, then let go, grinning as it bounced back into position. His knuckles grazed the shell of my ear. My breath hitched at the tenderness in his touch.

His gaze lingered on mine, and before I could say anything, he leaned in close. The world fell away as his warm lips metmine, soft and seeking. This wasn’t a kiss for show, it was an honest moment between us, one filled with patience, longing, and a tenderness so deep it spun through every corner of my heart.

I slid my hands across his chest, savoring his hard muscles hidden by his shirt. My lips parted for him, giving back as much as he gave, and I sank into him with everything I had. His hand cradled my jaw, keeping me close, as if even the air between us was too much space.

When he pulled back, his forehead pressed against mine, his breath ghosting over my mouth. “I’ll be the luckiest orc tonight because you’re with me.”

The words sliced across my heart and made a flurry of butterflies skitter through my belly. Did this mean he felt the same, that he was falling too?

I didn’t dare ask. Not yet.

“I should get ready.” He stepped around me and disappeared behind the bathroom door, the faint sound of running water following.

I drifted onto the balcony, where I leaned against the railing and let the balmy evening air settle my nerves. Palm leaves rustled, and the setting sun painted the sky with pink light.

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