Page 27 of Swipe Right for Orcs
Well, it looks like they’re okay.
Fairlie stops short when she sees me, her cheeks flushing a deep red, and she bites at her bottom lip nervously. “Hi, Ovivia,” she murmurs, her voice almost a whisper.
“Morning,” I reply, the words tumbling out faster than I can control. “I woke up, and no one was here. I got worried. Is everything okay? Are you two okay? I’m so sorry. I’m so fucking sorry.”
“I’m fine,” Fairlie says, though she fidgets slightly, her eyes not quite meeting mine. Then she giggles, a sound that goes straight to my core, making me even more aware of how complicated this situation is. “I’m just a little unsure of how to act. That was a first for me in a lot of ways, and my boyfriend—your brother—was there for all of it.”
“We’re fine, Ovivia,” Osric says, but there’s a seriousness in his eyes. “But Fairlie agreed to help you on the basis that she was told everything.” His eyes widen as he emphasizes the last word, and the weight of what he’s asking sinks in.
I don’t know if I can do that. My heart races at the thought. I’ve never told anyone the full story. It’s not a secret—Brelle had a funeral, and she’s buried. The monster delegates took care of everything, and no charges were pressed. But telling someone? Telling Fairlie that she spent a night with a murderer? The thought makes my stomach churn.
Fairlie gently hands her coffee and bagel to Osric and steps up to me, her touch soft as she cups my cheek. “It’s okay, Ovivia. No judgment. I just want to understand what happened and why.”
Osric motions to the couch, and I move automatically, sitting down on the loveseat while Fairlie and my brother take their places side by side on the couch.
“What do you want to know?” I ask.
“To start, why did your heat last only a day? Osric said it should have been two or three?”
“No idea. My best guess is since I had a partner and my body got what it needed, it ended early,” I tell her honestly. It’s another point to add to theFairlie affects me like no othertab.
“Why do you go to the clinic alone during your heat? Why did you look so… primal? I don’t know how to explain it. You looked wild,” Fairlie says, her gaze searching mine.
I take a deep breath, steeling myself to tell her the whole sordid story. I recount everything—moving here, hiring Brelle, and how my heat was manageable until it wasn’t. How it ended with her dead.
When I finish, I force myself to meet Fairlie’s gaze, expecting to see fear, disgust, or even anger. But instead, her eyes are full of sympathy and understanding.
“It was an accident, Ovivia,” she says softly.
“I’m dangerous during my heat,” I respond, my voice tinged with regret. “I’m surprised I didn’t hurt you.”
“Osric was there the whole time,” Fairlie reassures me. “You never even tried to hurt me. In fact, when your tusk cut my lip slightly, you acted like you’d seen a ghost. You were perfect.”
“I’m still sorry that I put you in that position,” I murmur, guilt gnawing at me. “You’re my brother’s girlfriend, and I used you like some sex toy.”
“I didn’t mind,” she says with a shy smile, flashing her gaze up at me from under her lashes. “I liked it.”
I blink, surprised. “I didn’t know you were into women?”
“I didn’t know either,” Fairlie blushes. “It’s never been a hard no, but that was a first for me. It was my first threesome, too.”
I can’t help but laugh, the tension breaking slightly. “Oh, perfect. So we corrupted you. I hope my brother at least wrapped his junk this time.”
Her eyes widen in realization, and she turns to Osric. “You did, right? Dammit, I was so nervous and focused on doing it right I didn’t ask or make sure.”
Osric shakes his head. “No.”
“Dammit, Osric!” I scold, my voice sharp.
“What the fuck?” Fairlie whispers, her face morphing from shock to anger. She slaps Osric hard across the cheek and storms down the hall, slamming the bedroom door behind her.
“Well, I guess I fucked up,” he sighs, rubbing the spot where she hit him.
“You did,” I agree.
I'm not angry like Fairlie, but there's a sternness in my voice that cuts through the air. I hold his gaze, my eyes full of disappointment, letting him know without words that this mistake isn't something easily brushed off. It's not just about what he's done—it's about the trust he's shattered, the hurt he's caused.
“Now what do I do? I can’t lose her. I just got her. But she’s it for me.”
