Page 42 of My Orc Nanny

“I would never hurt you,” he whispered. “But I know I cannot ask you to trust me—a male, when I say that.”

Well, he was in for a surprise then, wasn’t he?

Straightening, I took a deep breath. “I love you, Aswan. I trust you. I trust you to treat me and my children well. I have never stopped believing in love, and in you I have found everything I’ve ever wanted in a partner.”

Partner.

Yes. That’s what he was. My smile grew, even as his expression turned slack in disbelief. “You’re already my partner, Aswan, when it comes to this house, this family. How could I not trust you?”

Eyes wide, he whispered, “You love me?”

My smile softened. “Of course I do. I love the way you care for me and the children so effortlessly, as if it isn’t an obligation?—”

“Of course it isn’t,” he interjected, lips tugging into a frown in offense. “You might pay me…”

“But you’re more than our nanny,” I explained gently. “Although we’re going to have to have a conversation about your salary and contract if we’re sleeping together—” I realized I was getting all Human Resource-y, and shook my head, getting back on track. “I mean, Aswan, that in these last weeks, I’ve come to rely on you and yourcaring. Your strength. How you always know exactly what to say to each one of us to make our days better. How could Inotlove you? I’m just afraid that this is one-sided, because I could never possibly give you what you’ve given me.”

“Dkaar,” he murmured, moving his hand from my chest to wrap me in his arms. “You’ve given meeverything.”

“Like what?” I mumbled against his chest, because I’d wrapped my arms around his waist and was pressing against him, terrified of losing him and jubilant at what he was admitting.

“You are my Mate.” He whispered the words, then repeated them louder. “You are my Mate. I will love you for the rest of my life, Hannah, and the kitlings as well. I understand if you don’t want to confuse them, but I hope you will at least allow me to continue to be part of their lives as their nanny.”

He loved me! Aswanloved me!

The jubilation overran the fear, and I squeezed him hard.

Still, I tried to keep my voice steady when I said, “If I’m your Mate, then you are mine. You told me you didn’t want to claim me until I was certain.” I realized I was holding my breath, because I could feel his hard length through the sweatpants he wore. “Certain about what, exactly?”

His breath stirred my hair. “About being mine. My Mate. Hannah, I don’t want to push you.”

As if he could. “I love you. This is more than justneedorsex, right? I mean, the claiming thing. I wantyou.”

There was a sound like a growl, deep in his chest. “Claiming is…” His hips flexed, and I nearly whimpered in need when I felt how hard and thick he was. I wassoready for him. “Hannah, Mating is forever. I don’t ever want…” He paused, then took a deep shuddering breath. “I don’t want to make you or the kitlings uncomfortable.”

I pulled away enough to reach up to cup his jaw in my palms. “Then let’s take it slowly,” I whispered.

“Whatever you want,dkaar.”

“We commit to one another, here, tonight.” With a slow smile, I pushed myself up on my toes, rubbing myself along his hardness. “We can introduce the concept to the kids later, slowly.”

Something like joy flashed across Aswan’s expression. “You mean it? You’re comfortable with me?—”

“I want you, Mate,” I whispered, just before I pulled his mouth down to meet mine.

And the sound he made? It was a combination of a growl and a crow of victory, and I felt him smile against my lips as he took control of the kiss.

I felt my feet leave the floor as his tongue slid between my lips, andno, that wasn’t a metaphor. Aswan was strong enough to lift me until I was level with him, and I thought that was the most beautiful thing.

My arms slid around his neck, and when he lifted me higher—his mouth marking me with hot kisses along my jaw and throat—my robe parted.

Aswan’s mouth left my skin, and I immediately lifted my head, wondering what had gone wrong. But I found himstaring down at me in wonder, and I realized my breasts were pressed against his naked chest. Grinning impishly, I wriggled my legs free of the robe and wrapped them around his waist.

“Hannah…”

My fingers tugged at the hair at the base of his neck as I gyrated against him,certainhe could feel how ready—howwetI was.

“Love, you showed me this weekend just how talented your tongue and fingers are. I want the rest of you.”

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