Page 9 of My Ogre Husband
“Good.” I can’t help rubbing my ass over that lump in his pants, and he lets out a groan. “Get your ducks in a row and come back for me when you’re ready, then?”
With that, I open the car door and slide out, leaving Egorr dazed. I give him a kiss on the cheek before heading inside, where I’ll once more be locked behind the high walls of the preserve.
But at least now, I know my path out, and it’s at the side of a big, green ogre.
ChapterFour
I’m absolutely buzzing with excitement—and a tad of horniness—by the time I get back to my house. The second I’m in the door, I call Celeste to tell her what happened.
I did it. I asked Egorr to take the next step with me, and he agreed. I’m simply soaring.
“You’re doing a trial marriage already?” Celeste asks the second she arrives at my house. Her lips screw up in uncertainty. “But you just spent the last month getting over Shisek, Maddie. Are you sure it’s wise to jump in so soon with someone else?”
“I know, I know.” I put on some hot water while we talk. “But I have a good feeling about him. Areallygood feeling. We got along great, we had an amazing time together, and we have serious chemistry. I just want to know if it’ll work out or not before I invest too much more in him.”
“A trial marriage is a big investment,” Celeste says in that even tone that says she’s trying to bring me back down to earth. Then she narrows her eyes at me. “You want to sleep with him, don’t you?”
My shoulders curl defensively. Sitting on Egorr’s lap certainly didn’t do anything to remove that possibility from my mind.
“Is it so bad that it’s important to me?”
Celeste sighs. “I guess not. I just don’t want you to rush into anything and then maybe…”
“What, ruin it?” I ask. My tone is more biting than I mean it to be, but I still feel responsible for what happened with Shisek. I still wonder, even now, if I was the issue, if I was the reason it all fell apart.
“No,” Celeste says, with a pitying look. “I just don’t want to see you get hurt again.”
If I know anything, though, it’s that Egorr won’t hurt me. He would never. He’s a gentle giant with a funny, playful side. He’s sweet and thoughtful, and even a little dirty. He has a good heart.
I wave her off. “It’ll be fine. I know what I’m getting into this time. I’ve done a trial marriage before.” I don’t mean it as a jab, since Celeste has never gone on more than one or two dates with a monster, but I can tell by the look in her eyes that she’s hurt.
“You’ll find someone to go home with, too,” I say quickly, apologetically. “I know you will.”
“Maybe.” Celeste gets up to make the tea now that I’ve forgotten all about the kettle. “So tell me about your date with Egorr. What made you so sure?”
“Well,” I begin, “He had the biggest boner I’ve ever felt in my life.”
She bursts out laughing.
“Kidding,” I say. I have to think a little harder about an honest answer. “I think it was that I could be myself, you know? I didn’t have to be quieter or change my sense of humor. He just… accepted me. He thought my jokes were funny. And he held my hand. A lot.”
Celeste quirks an eyebrow. “That’s what does it for you, huh?”
“Shush. But it was a nice touch.”
“I’m sure he’ll have lots of other nice touches for you, too,” she says, and I can’t help cackling.
I hope so. I really hope so.
* * *
Telling my parents about my decision is much easier than telling Celeste. I fill them in on our first date—minus the part where I sat on Egorr’s lap and we made out—and they’re thrilled for me.
“I think someone like this would be a good fit for you,” Mom says, reaching around my shoulders to squeeze me in a hug. “Much more genuine than thatShisek.” She practically spits the name, and I have to laugh.
At the end of the week, after Egorr has had some time to prepare his home for me, it’s time to go. It’s a Saturday, so we’ll have all weekend to get me settled before Egorr has to go back to work. In my little house on the preserve, I pack up what I think I’ll need, hoping that I won’t have to bring it back.
Mom and Dad wait with me at the entrance to New Eden for Egorr to arrive. He’s right on time, pulling up in his tiny sedan and popping the trunk open. I run out into the road to hug him, ready to be wrapped up in his soft arms again, and he chuckles as he brings me in close. He kisses the top of my head.
