Page 66 of The Orc's Innocent Plaything

“A knowing,” I breathed.

“Aye.” He straightened. “’Tis what we are taught. When we find our Mates…there is akenning. We would ken one another, the way I kenned ye the moment I saw ye.”

“I feel it too,” I breathed, as I realized my heart was beating in time with his. “This draw to you. This understanding. If I am your Mate, then you are mine, aye?”

Something like agony flickered across his expression and his gaze dropped to my mouth.

“Dinnae say it just because ye think ‘tis what I want to hear,dkaar. I can wait until ye’re ready to accept the Mating Bond. Or if ye dinnae, if yecannae, then I’ll respectyer decision.”

“And what?” My fingers curled around the plaid that covered his heart. “And we’ll live in Bloodfire Village and just ignore each other?”

His eyes fluttered closed.

“I’ll leave,” he rasped. “I wasnae made to be chief. I’ll hunt down my brother…”

He would leave his home rather than force me to accept a Mating Bond I did not feel? A slow smile crossed my face as I tugged at him.

“Lucky for you,” I whispered, “you do not have to do that.”

He opened his eyes, a gentle sort of hope there.

“What do ye mean, love?”

“Aye, Iloveyou, Vartok. I love your honor, your gentleness. I love how youunderstandme and understand what I need. I love how you give me what I need before I even understand it myself. I love how yousee me. I love you…” I took a deep breath. “And I accept you as my Mate.”

His hand went to my hips, squeezing.

“Myra…” he sounded strangled. “I…”

“For the longest time, I thought you treated me differently because you didn’t like me. Because you were cruel or thought me lesser somehow.”

“Never,” he choked.

“But I understand now.” My hand rose to his cheek. “If you thought my reaction to you was because I didn’t like you…”

“I’m sorry,” he rasped. “I’ve always…to me, ye have always been magnificent. I was just trying to give ye what I thought ye wanted.”

My smile grew. “I love you, Mate.”

His eyes widened at the word, and with a growl, he pulled me to him, to claim my lips.

Claimme.

My soul sang with joy—joy I couldn’t fully understand or comprehend—as I kissed him back.

‘Twas much later when we finally pulled apart, breathing heavily. He pressed my cheek to his chest, and I listened to his heart beating in my ear.

“I love ye,” he murmured, sounding more than a little awe-struck. “Mate.”

“Mate,” I agreed, and my own heartbeat leapt in time with his. The realization made me smile again. We were connected.

And we would be.

Forever.

“I am not certain I am ready for a bairn yet, though,” I admitted. Especially after helping my sister through her difficult labor.

His hold on me tightened. “Then I will continue to spill outside of yer body, love.”

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