Page 17 of Claimed By The Orc

The walk back to my house was quiet. We were both in our heads too much for any more conversation. The air was heavy, but it wasn’t awkward. It had never felt awkward with Mahk, even when it probably should have been. Being near him felt natural.

All too soon, I was standing in my front yard. The porch light flickered, leaving creepy shadows across the overgrown grass. I groaned. Guess I had to add replacing the light to my list. The lawn . . . Well, that could wait another week or two. Maybe.

All the lights were off in the house, including in my room, so Jake must’ve finally gone to sleep. I took it as a good sign as I turned toward Mahk.

“Thank you.” I rocked back on my feet, feeling a little awkward. “For walking me back, I mean.”

“Of course. Can I walk you to work in the morning?”

I’d never dated in high school. I hadn’t had time. Between taking care of my siblings and football, a boyfriend had been farfrom my mind. Besides a couple mutual blow jobs in the locker room, I really hadn’t done much until my semester in college. Even then, dating hadn’t been on the radar, but hooking up had become a priority.

But because of my lack of experience, I’d never gotten to have that curling your toes, giddy feeling when you first started seeing someone and it was new and exciting and big and scary. I’d never gotten to know what it was like to stand on the lawn of my mom’s house with my date, wondering if we were gonna kiss. I’d never gotten to sneak in late, trying not to wake up my family while my mind reeled from an amazing date.

Now, at twenty-fucking-three years old, I knew what all those teen movies were talking about. My stomach felt alive with butterflies, the anticipation heavy as Mahk and I stood so close, our hands still intertwined, knowing we had to end this but not sure how.

Of course, whenever I’d imagined this, it hadn’t been with a nearly 7-foot orc, but life liked to throw surprises my way.

“Yes,” I finally answered, my voice a little shaky. “I would like that a lot.”

Mahk batted those damn eyelashes and flashed me the sweetest smile, and I was a fucking goner. I wanted to kiss him so badly. I needed to know what he tasted like. Would he fight me for dominance, or would he yield so prettily? I had no business wondering that. Not after I was the one who’d asked to put the brakes on this so I could think, but my brain and body didn’t give a fuck.

“Can I kiss you?” I found myself asking without meaning to.

Mahk’s eyes widened, like he was as surprised by the question as I was. But I was in too deep now. I wasn’t turning back. Mahk nodded, a little dazed, and before I could process anything, my free hand cupped the back of his head, fisting some of his hair and tilting his face up.

Our lips touched.

It was innocent at first. No tongue, just lips pressed against each other. But then Mahk’s parted with a breathy sigh, and I took the invitation, leaning in and taking more—taking everything he was willing to give me.

Mahk yielded. Somehow, I’d known he would. Under that protective, stabby exterior was a sweet man with a possibly subby streak, and I was here for it. I licked at the seam of his lips, savoring his taste before breaking free.

“Fuck, little stalker, you are so sweet.” I kissed him again, unable to help myself. Then one more quick peck. “I can't get enough.”

“You can kiss me any time you’d like, Tanner. I always want to be kissed by you.”

I rested my forehead on top of his head. “You can’t say things like that to me, sweetheart. I’ll take it seriously.”

“I hope so. I am being serious.”

Fuck. It took all the self-control I had to back away. Space. I needed space. I needed to think about all the things I’d seen and heard today and not get swept away by all things Mahk. He thought we were fated mates, which yeah, that was a problem for tomorrow, but Mahk believed it wholeheartedly, and I wouldn’t tease him by getting his hopes up more than I already had. Space. If I kept saying it, maybe I’d actually do it.

“Goodnight, Mahk,” I whispered, taking a step back.

Mahk reached out like he was going to stop me but then forced his hand down. “Good night, Tanner.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Yes, I will be here.”

I turned away, focusing on my house because if I looked at Mahk again, I probably wouldn’t go inside.

I made it to the door. It was unlocked because Jake always forgot to do it before bed, so I easily turned the handle andslipped into the dark house before glancing one last time. I could see him, standing in the flickering light, staring at me with laser-focused intensity.

I waved, like a dumbass, glad Mahk couldn’t see how red my cheeks were in the darkness. Or, hell, I hoped he couldn’t. I had no idea how good his eyesight was.

I closed the door, but then immediately ran to the window, desperate for one more glance, but Mahk was gone.

CHAPTER 10

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