Page 39 of Enchanted with the Orc
“Did they want to talk to her now?” I asked, “Because she’s with her little friends. I’ll ask Darak to plan a few more of these, but I want her toget as much socialization as possible. It’s important.”
The silence on the other end should have warned me. Instead, I wasn’t prepared.
“When are you planning to deal with the real issue then? So you can both come back home and host some of those younglings in a safe space here instead?” he asked, and I heard the sound of cooking. I was almost certain he was in his kitchen with his mate.
“As soon as possible,” I growled, my lips curling and baring my fangs involuntarily.
“Good. Ask Darak to get the younglings’ information so we can have something here, get that shit done and bring those females back. Let me know what you need, and if you need my backup.”
“My brothers and I have it handled,” I told him, knowing it was true. “But I’ll let you know.”
“I’ll let Zara know that you’ll call when you’re finished,” he told me and with a quick farewell, we hung up. I turned to look at my family, where Tasia was doling out evenmorecake to our daughter and her friends, and felt my gut tighten.
They were being threatened and I was going to protect them. Darak had his best workers keeping an eye on the surrounding buildings. If that good for nothing male had followed them, we’d know soon.
He’d reported that there had been a few sightings of a male who might fit a description of the human trash my mate was still—to my utmost chagrin—married to, but he’d only darted around nearby wearing hats and hoodies, so they hadn’t been able to confirm.
The only one who would be able to recognize him that way was Tasia but I refused to get her involved unless it was absolutely necessary. She turned to look at me, her eyebrows high in question. That was when I realized I’d been scowling in their direction.
Fuck. I can’t let her know that there’s anything wrong.
I sent a quick, reassuring smile, but my mate was too smart to be fooled by that. She ran a hand over our daughter’s head and made her way close.
“Hey,” she murmured, moving close enough that her scent surrounded me, comforting me and turning me inside out at the same time. “Is everything alright?”
“It was Rudgar,” I told her, honestly. “The coven wants to wish our Gruk-ir a happy birthday, but I didn’t want to disturb her while she was with her new friends.”
Her expression softened at once. “That’s so sweet. Thank you for thinking of that,” she told me, pressing her hand to my forearm. I should be used to the electricity that arced between us, but I wasn’t.
I licked my lips, looking down at where she was touching me before my eyes flicked up to hers. Her pupils were dilated and I could see everything I was feeling reflected back at me.
You want this as much as I do.
She cleared her throat, pulling her hand away and rubbing it against her thigh. I wasn’t offended. She was trying to ward off her feelings, but it wouldn’t work. I’d make sure of it.
“I’ll call them back when we’re done,” I told her and she nodded, swallowing hard before turning away from me. My gaze followed the sensual sway of her hips and I held in a barely checked groan.
You can run, my mate, but I’ll always catch you.
Chapter Twenty-two
Tasia
I’m such a coward.
The thought ran through my head as I made my way back to my daughter. It was the closest to the truth that I could get.
Especially when he acted like he was already a part of our tiny family. After today, after watching him with my daughter, it was getting harderand harder to lie to myself about my feelings for him. And the way she’d said that he was her daddy… It took everything in me not to take her and run again. I couldn’t have her loving this male. He would hurt us, just like David had. Just like every other male I’d let into my life.
I wasn’t sure if he meant to, but he was wearing me down with his charms. He was the sweetest male I’d ever met and I wanted to jump his bones at every turn. I didn’t feel attraction like normal females. Not anymore. Not after David.
I wasn’t sure if it was related to trauma or if it was a part of my sexuality that was only just showing itself. I could find a male to be attractive externally, but it didn’t affect me. There were good-looking beings everywhere. But I hadn’t felt heat like this since… ever.
Even with David, I was certain that my initial attraction to him was more related to what he represented than who he was. I swallowed hard, keeping focused on my daughter as I made my way over to the food tables, determined to neaten up and pack goody bags so I could distract myself from my train of thought.
When Enka made his way over, wordlessly helping me, but keeping a keen eye on Gabbi as well, I huffed out a breath.
Damn him for being hotandperfect. As if I wasn’t already confused.
