Page 9 of Marked By the Wild Orc

I reach Heat & Ink and shove my phone into the pocket of my cardigan and watch as Talon pulls up in his enormous black SUV. Luckily, it’s a beautiful, clear, early fall morning with only a slight breeze and no rain. I tried to dress a little better today, but I don’t have much beyond jeans, nicer T-shirts and this onecardigan. But I did spend more time on my hair and makeup. I suppose with my first paycheck I can afford a new outfit at Walmart.

I’m actually very pleased to learn I was wrong about him and he’s not running some sort of nefarious mob adjacent business. Whew.

But I still have a very important problem that I’m embarrassed to admit to anyone.

Along with the fact that this shop desperately needs a POS system and an upgrade to QuickBooks, and the hire of an actual bookkeeper, there’s the disconcerting fact that I’m very, very attracted to Talon Overtree. I’m literally waiting for him to get out of that SUV, my heart hammering because I’m thrilled to see him again.

Ugh. I’m a mess.

I cannot believe that I’m hopelessly attracted, so quickly, to this orc who doesn’t even like me. He’s only putting up with me because I’m his best friend’s sister. I should be embarrassed that this is the only way I can get a job right now, but I’m just that desperate. This is a full-time position, not even part time to make sure they don’t have to give me benefits. I need a few months here at least, to get a head start and a second job and then I can move on and get out of his hair.

He's too old for me and is much too rude and grumpy for my liking. And he can never reciprocate any feelings I have towards him because orcs can’t physically become attracted to a woman who can’t become pregnant.

And yet, my eyes remained focused on that car. I shift on my feet, hoping I look attractive for him. Yep. It’s embarrassing.

My new orc boss opens his driver’s side door and all three black cats jump out at the same time. I laugh with delight at the sight of a huge, shirtless green orc stepping out of a car with his trio of “vicious” black cats. He gives me a sharp glance,probably wondering if I’m laughing at him, but soon loosens when Shadow runs right for me and allows me to pick him up again.

“Hey baby,” I croon at the soft, darling cat in my arms. I give the cat a quick kiss on the head and walk over.

Talon grunts out a greeting. His black horns glint seductively in the morning sunshine and I love the crook of his green nose. He opens the front door of Heat & Ink for the two of us and the three cats to enter and we walk inside together.

Meanwhile, I have a hard time keeping my eyes off his perfect ass. He might be rude and grumpy, but this orc is hung. And his thick thighs move lusciously underneath his black pants. I haven’t had sex or even a kiss or date in so long, I’m starting to forget how it all feels. I haven’t even had a crush on anyone in ages. So all these hot feelings that rush through my body are catching me off guard.

Last night, I was having trouble sleeping because all I did was think of those perfect black lips and the gleam in Talon’s dark eyes. His words might be annoying, but the timbre of his deep voice sends shivers of warmth down my body. I kept imagining him in bed with me, his large body on top of mine, his thick cock sliding inside of me. And yes, I ended up taking out my favorite sex toy, sliding it in and pretending it was Talon, although I’m certain he’s much thicker. And then I was fingering myself until I shouted his name as a painfully intense orgasm rushed through me, all the way to the tips of my toes, leaving me gasping for breath. It was the best orgasm of my life, even counting my last boyfriend. And that wasn’t even the real deal. I can’t help but wonder what it would be like to actually kiss and touch Talon Overtree and…have him naked in my bed.

This morning isn’t much better. It’s difficult to remain focused when an orc you find attractive isn’t even wearing a shirt. And since he’s my boss and this is the way all of themdress, I can’t exactly tell him to put a shirt on. I had no idea I liked tattoos, but I find all the artwork that sleeves both of his muscular arms highly attractive.

We pause in the entryway. He gives me a strange look and then inhales deeply. His eyes widen and I start to wonder if I smell bad because he takes a step back. Then he shakes his head and stomps off; the office door slams loudly behind him.

“What was all that about?” I question the cats.

They give a chorus of tinkling meows.

Then I get right to work, first feeding all three cats their mid-morning snacks and giving them fresh water. I clean out their kitty litter box and make sure their beds and their whole little area is neat and clean. This is no hardship and I’m happy to keep them entertained with the toys that are in a box for them. I even find a catalogue to look through for more cat paraphernalia and I find a darling cat tree that I plan on talking Talon into ordering.

I’d like to think that my grandma would be thrilled to see me finally living my dream of having cats I can be amongst day in and day out. She always felt bad that I couldn’t have a cat because of her allergies.

I continue to focus on my work, making sure that my boss never has any idea of how I truly feel about him. He would consider my attraction annoying, like a bug to be swatted away. And I’m going to have to somehow get over this over-the-top attraction I have for this orc, because nothing is ever going to happen between us. I’m most likely going to work here for only a few months and then find another job elsewhere.

It's for the best.

Orc customers soon arrive for their “ink” and I greet them, take their payments, show them to Talon’s room and get them set up for their next appointments. I’m getting good at answering the phone, although at this point since I don’t know much, I always forward calls to Talon, but hopefully in the futureI’ll be able to answer some of the questions myself, so he doesn’t have to be burdened with everything.

Finally, after lunch, two other orc employees arrive and I get to meet the other tattoo artists in the shop. They stomp over and greet me with typical orc gruffness. “I am Oreg and this is Doril.” They gaze at me with serious expressions, not bothering to smile. Both are also covered in tattoos that I believe aren’t as good-looking as all the ones on Talon’s chest. And I think Oreg is probably older than Talon and I assume Doril is the same age as me.

“It’s nice to meet you both,” I say with all honesty.

Neither of them are as intimidating as Talon and seem easier to get along with, similar to my brother. They each have their own rooms too with chairs and their paraphernalia all set up. On weekdays, these two males will be here until closing at two in the morning. I cannot believe they stay open so late, but apparently, they get an influx of orcs that late at night because the orc brewery closes at midnight and they come over afterwards in groups. Most stores would close on Sundays and Mondays. But Mondays apparently are their busiest day and they are instead closed on Wednesday and Thursdays.

I notice that these two are wary of the cats, which is surprising. They walk around them and act scared and are both truly stunned that the cats seem to like me.

“I have never seen this before,” Oreg says when Cole jumps onto the counter and rubs against my hand.

“They’re sweethearts,” I comment.

“They’re furry demons,” Doril responds.

I’m about to deny this when Shadow hisses at Oreg and the large orc rushes into his room and shuts the door. My jaw drops open because I’ve never seen this cat act this way, I’d only heard rumors. But as the day progresses I see it’s true, they hiss at the customers they don’t like, and at the other orcs who workhere. They are only one hundred percent loving towards me, and Talon, the owner of the shop.

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