Page 43 of Enchanted with the Orc
“Jael’s nice, Abu,” Gabbi whined, frowning at him over my shoulder.
I felt him before I saw him. His heat came up behind me, his big palm pressed against my back as he kneeled in front of Gabbi. “No kisses,” he told her in a stern voice that had me biting my lip to stop from laughing. “You only get kisses from Mommy and Abu, okay?”
“And the coven,” she said, nodding agreeably.
“And the coven,” he agreed. “ButnotJael.”
“I like kissing Jael,” she announced with a shrug before turning to saunter over to the door, leaving Enka kneeling there in shock, his jaw hanging open while I couldn’t stop myself from laughing.
“I’m sorry,” I gasped, when he turned a betrayed look in my direction. “But you should see your face.” I dissolved into more laughter at his scowl as he poked my side making me fall over. He caught me, grabbing me quickly and holding me up, but it didn’t stop me from laughing.
Once I was steady, I used his shoulder for balance before standing. The heat in my face was from his hands on me, but I struggled to ignore it and pretend it was from laughter instead.
It had been almost a week after Gabbi’s birthday party and we’d formed a truce of sorts. We were… friends. And I was struggling to stick to that boundary.
We’d created a little routine around Gabbi, but even when we put her to bed—which she insisted needed to be a two being job—we stayed up together, chatting about her or watching TV. On our first night alone on the sofa, I’d asked him if he wanted me to go to the bedroom so he could sleep, but he’d explained that since he’d come to this plane, the silence made it difficult for him to fall asleep.
It didn’t help that Gabbi’s bedtime was much earlier than when we both usually felt tired. We’d started a series on one of the streaming services. A cute comedy that had us laughing together before the end of the night. And that was how I’d learned that I didn’t mind spending time with him. In fact, Ilikedspending time with him.
It was throwing me for a loop, but I was embracing the weirdness of having a male in our space. And oddly enough, it was… nice. He took care of us so well that it was making me feel safe.
When the parents of Gabbi’s new little friends had suggested that they have a daily play date—most likely to wear them out and so the parents could have some down time during their vacation—Enka ensured that it would only be children with Darak and the female who was in charge of the on-site child care services supervising.
It was one less thing for us to worry about, and I was so happy that my little girl was finally able to spend time with other children her age. Plus, it seemed she and Jael were becoming fast friends. I hoped they’d be able to stay in touch once we returned home—after the danger with David had passed. Whenever the hell that was going to be.
“Tell her not to kiss that male,” Enka whispered, pulling me from my thoughts and gesturing wildly toward where Gabbi was painstakingly putting on her shoes.
“I think she should be able to kiss whoever she wants,” I giggled, and he glowered at me as he made his way over to where she was tying her laces.
I could tell he wanted to help. I saw it in the way his brow crinkled as he looked down at her tiny hands, his own huge ones twitching, but he didn’t. He was patient and gentle and I tucked my folded fingers under my chin as I watched him get her little purse—another purchase that he’d made at her request.
Darak was waiting outside and I heard a low murmured conversation between the two males before the door closed and my daughter was gone. Anxiety clawed inside of me, but I pushed it aside. No parents were allowed in the area and Darak was watching her. I exhaled the breath I was holding when Enka turned, striding inside, his handsome face looking smug.
“Did you tell him to stop them from kissing?” I asked, my hands on my hips, trying to look angry, but I knew I was failing when he grinned at me.
“Yep,” he said, popping the p the way Gabbi did when she was supremely proud of herself.
“She only kisses his cheek,” I said, rolling my eyes as we made our way over to the sofa.
“That’s bad enough,” he huffed, his brow crinkling again. “I don’t like him.”
“Because Gabbi likes him,” I snickered, shaking my head as I took my place at what I was considering my end of the sofa, opposite him. I turned myself and he did the same, facing each other with our feet sharing the center cushion.
This was what usually ended up happening when we were watching our show together, and even though we had finished it, and hadn’t started a new one yet, it appeared to be our new thing. Our feet tangled together. His were warm and toasty while mine were a freezing abomination that Gabbi complained about when she tried to paint my nails.
But he never reacted, never complained that I was chilling him to the bone. Instead, he snuggled them against his ankles, warming them up.
“It’s not that she likes him,” he growled with vehemence, even though that wasexactlywhat it was. “It’s just that…” he trailed off and looked away.
I ran my toes upward, along his calf, and he met my gaze again. “You can tell me,” I whispered, intimacy surrounding us.
Oh dear Goddess Mother, we’realonein here. How had I only just realized that? This is the first time we’re truly alone together.
I ducked my gaze, but kept my toes against him. It wasn’thisfault I was freaking out. In fact, we’d beenalonequite a few times when Gabbi was sleeping and he hadn’t been anything except a perfect gentlemale. There was no reason for me to think he’d do otherwise now.
“It’s my own problem,” he sighed, scrubbing his huge palm across his face. “I don’t want to lose her to another male already and I don’t know hisintentions.” The last was said with a deep scowl and it was my turn to laugh again, my head thrown back.
How he could be so sweet, kind and considerate while also being absolutelyridiculouswas beyond me.
