Page 33 of Orin

The mere presence of him caused my body temperature to rise. He smelled incredible with a one-of-a-kind scent of cinnamon and spice that made my mouth water.

I couldn’t believe Orin was here, standing across from me. My breathing stuttered and my mind was consumed by erotic thoughts, pushing aside any trace of sensible thinking. I continued to stare, my eyes tracing every contour of his fitphysique, my pregnancy hormones amplifying the urge to kneel down and worship his muscular form with my mouth.

The strong, handsome warrior in front of me was the one guy I couldn’t stop thinking about. My heart told me he was the one I’d been waiting for without even knowing I was searching.

“I’m grateful you asked me here.” He surveyed me up and down before meeting my eyes with a soft-as-silk gaze. “Are you feeling better?”

“Yes. Thanks.” I gestured for him to come in.

Orin stepped forward, and the door slid shut behind him.

My hand trembled as I brushed the hair off my cheek, a mix of nervousness and excitement filling me as I tried to recall the words I had carefully rehearsed for this moment.

“Uh, with everything that happened after I woke up, I never got the chance to thank you for helping me...back at the marketplace.... You saved me and my baby. I can never thank you enough.”

His mouth down-turned while his Adam’s apple bobbed. “I failed to protect you when the Krilex took you away from the Chetok. And I failed to protect you from being hurt at the marketplace.” A pained expression etched across his face. “Olivia, I promise I will not fail you again. I will ensure the safety of both you and your youngling.”

Orin’s genuine words caused my heart to stutter, captivated by his sincerity. The weight of his words hit me like a thunderbolt, surprising me even more because in my eyes he hadneverfailed to protect me. The things that had happened weren’t his fault.

“You’ve never failed me. You saved both Grace and me multiple times. I trust you to keep me safe, Orin.”

His face lit up. With a proud stance he extended one hand in front of him presenting yet another beautiful bouquet. Theunmistakable scent of the freshly picked flowers filled the air, blending enticingly with his own unique scent.

His radiant smile caused an instant beam of joy to light up my own face. I studied him for the first time.Oh, my god.He has dimples. Why didn’t I notice them before?

My heart was racing like crazy, like it wanted to burst out of my chest. “Wha...why have you brought me another bouquet?” I asked, reaching for them.

Orin’s smile vanished, and a look of disappointment clouded his face. “Oh. Is this not a human custom when wooing one’s mate?” His brows drew together as he straightened his posture.

Wooing?“Yes. I...um.” I sniffed the bouquet, feeling like a heel.

“Am I incorrect? Or is it that you do not like them?” he asked.

I waved my hand. “No... That’s not what I meant.... I like them.” I glanced at the flowers. Why did I constantly say stupid things? Smiling I added, “They are pretty. It’s sweet of you. It’s just...No one has ever given me flowers before. And you’ve brought me two bouquets within a brief span of time.” I said, before chewing on my bottom lip.

The handsome warrior’s shoulders relaxed, and he grinned again.

“Have a seat.” I gestured toward the sofa. “I’m going to put the flowers in water.”

Being in the infirmary with him was one thing, but now that we were alone, I felt unsure about what to say. Especially when I felt such a powerful attraction towards the guy. How would I manage to resist the urge to kiss him?

I hoped things were headed inthatdirection and he wasn’t about to tell me he wasn’t interested in me. I headed to the kitchen preparation area to locate a vase for the beautiful flowers. “Thanks again for the bouquet,” I said while rummaging through the cupboards, waiting for my anxiety to subside.

When I glanced over my shoulder at Orin, he was running his hand through his hair. Following his movements I couldn’t help but notice he had a death grip on his muscular thighs. Despite being a formidable warrior, he seemed just as anxious as me.

It was a relief to know I wasn’t alone.

His head tilted in my direction. “Queen Grace mentioned I should bring you flowers.”

Of course she did.I rolled my eyes. She failed to include that part when we were talking.

After arranging the flowers and placing the vase, I returned to the sitting area and sat beside him. Close enough to catch his delicious scent and feel his body’s warmth, yet not so close to make either of us uneasy.

My cheeks heated. Then I reminded myself to keep things cheerful.

Giving myself a mental pep-talk I chose to engage in small-talk to break the ice.Piece of cake.

Placing my hands together in my lap, I fixed my eyes on him. “Are there any other family members of yours living here on Alara, apart from your sister?”

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