Page 45 of Enchanted with the Orc
“What were you hiding?” he asked, his head canted in that adorable way that he had. One of themanyadorable things that he did.
Ugh. Stop noticing everything about him. You can’t afford to fall harder.
I quirked an eyebrow at him, leaning my head against the top of the sofa. I watched with amusement as he did the same so that we were mirroring each other’s positions. “You’re mine, too,” I admitted with a deep sigh, not seeing the use of pretending anymore. Not after he’d admitted his truth.
Enka’s entire body went stiff. He was frozen, his lips parted and his eyes huge in his face as he stared at me. I wanted to prod his mouth closed, but I didn’t think I could touch his face without wanting to do more.
“Witches have mates?” he asked, searching my expression with hope shining in his eyes.
Confused, I raised my eyebrows. “Obviously. Didn’t you know that after Zara and Rudgar?”
He shook his head and I had to cover my mouth to smother another laugh. This was too serious to joke over, but his dumbstruck expression was hilarious.
“Well, we do. Have mates. I don’t think it’s the same as orc mates,” I added with a shrug. “It’s more magickal. Mystical. It’s a bond that grows over time until you’re completely tied to the other being.”
“Tied,” he murmured in a low, awed voice.
“Yes,” I whispered, ducking my head and feeling vulnerable. “And it’s something I thought I had with David.” I felt him stiffen against me at the name, but I didn’t stop. “In fact, I’d hopedneverto meet my mateafter him.”
I peeked up at him, expecting fury to light his face, but as usual, when it came to this male, I was happy to be wrong. Instead, understanding filled his expression and he reached out a huge hand to mine.
I pondered what I should do for a long moment before giving in to what my instincts were screaming at me. I took his hand, feeling whole and settled while touching him. Still, I needed to set the facts straight.
“And I don’t think Iwanta mate, still,” I whispered, expecting any kind of reaction at all, but I didn’t get one. This amazing, patient male sat there and looked at me, waiting for what else I had to say. “I really enjoy spending time with you and Gabbi loves you,” I explained. “I was hoping we could stay friends.”
I studied him, searching for any flaws or cracks in his facade, but I didn’t see anything. Just a slow, sweet smile.
“Alright.”
Narrowing my eyes, I waited for another moment, but he just stayed where he was, waiting for me. “Alright?” I asked, suspicious. “That’s it? You tell me I’m your mate, I tell you you’re mine and then it’s okay that we stayjust friends.” I clarified. “Because I can’t beanything else. This isn’t a friends with benefits situation and I won’t have Gabbi getting any false hope. We’re platonic friends only.”
He nodded, running his thumb along the back of my hand. “Platonic friends with the mate I never thought I’d find?” His grin was triumphant. “I think I hit the jackpot.”
I blinked at him, before huffing out a little laugh. “No, I’m pretty sureIdid.”
We smiled at each other like complete idiots for what could have been minutes or even hours. When I finally came back to myself, I turned away from him with a blush. “Well if that’s okay with you.”
“Friends,” he confirmed with a nod, his thumb still circling my skin. “And if you’re okay with it, I was hoping we could work toward becomingbest friends.”
I chuckled, tucking my hair behind my ear with my free hand. “Well there’s a position open, then, that you can definitely apply for.”
“If I applied, would you pick me?” he asked, and deep down, I knew he was talking about something else. I couldn’t tell from the way he was looking at me, but I knew it inside.
“I would,” I murmured, ducking my head and looking away from him. I wasn’t going to lie to him. Especially not now. My scariest and biggest truth was out in the open and laying bare in front of us both. Nothing I could say would even hold a candle to it.
“Since we’re alone,” he said in a low deep voice that had my pussy clenching and unthinkable things running through my mind, “I think we should talk about what happened with… you know.”
Every single happy, sexy thought drained from my brain in a flash. It was impossible to think about those things and David at the same time. I kept my gaze averted, even as I told myself that I’dknownthese questions would come. And I owed this male all of the answers.
“I was young,” I started, taking a deep, shuddering breath before I continued. I glanced down as he stilled the motion of his thumb on the back of my hand.
“How young?” he asked, struggling to hide the fury in his voice, but I heard it. For some odd reason, it made me smile.
“Not that young, don’t worry,” I whispered, awed by his ability to be angry on my behalf when I had been so,sostupid. “I was old enough to know better.”
“How old?” he asked, tipping my chin back so I was looking into his eyes.
I swallowed hard, still angry with myself all these years later. “Nineteen.”
