Page 37 of My Ogre Husband
ChapterThirteen
The days pass much quicker now that I have someone to spend time with. Timble isn’t shy at all, which is perfect for me. She’s funny and bright, and even makes a few dirty jokes. She lives alone, but that’s by choice.
“I’m just not interested,” she says with a shrug when I ask whether she’s considered marriage herself. “I like having my space, and I don’t really need, you know…” She winks. “Sex isn’t something I care about, and I’ve never been much of a romantic, either.”
In this way, we are polar opposites, and it’s fascinating. She’s dated a few times, but finds she prefers spending her time in the company of close friends. One day, we meet up for coffee with one of these friends: a very tall, very clawed harpy with a loud voice. She’s a little much for me, but it’s clear Timble adores her, and I love how dedicated the troll is to those she cares about.
But as one week turns into two, and I still can’t be with Egorr in the way I want, my mood takes a turn. Giving him blowjobs every day, and getting eaten out in return, sates a need in me, sure—but it doesn’t take care of all of them, and I’ve come to detest sitting in the warm water every day just waiting to heal. I try to keep smiling when Egorr is home, but even I can’t keep the disappointment off my face when we agree that we shouldn’t try out the forging class yet. It’ll be too strenuous an activity.
“I’m sorry,” Egorr says, bending down low to look into my eyes as they get wet with tears. “I know it’s hard.” He hugs me tight, but I still feel like he deserves more than I can give him.
Timble has opened up to me a lot since we started spending time together, but I’m still hesitant to tell anyone about my injury. Eventually, though, she notices I haven’t spoken much on our walk.
“Are you all right?” Timble asks in that low, soothing voice of hers. “Usually you’re all energy.”
I bite the inside of my mouth. “I’m fine. Just tired, I guess.”
We cross the street, heading toward the park, while Timble crosses her arms behind her back and hums.
“You know, if there’s something you want to talk about, you can talk about it with me.”
I think it’s the first time I’ve heard her inner therapist peek out.
“Talking won’t help,” I say with a sigh. “I just have to wait. And I hate waiting.”
“What are you waiting for?”
I take a deep breath, because I’ve been dreading this. “I’m… waiting until Egorr and I can try having sex again.”
Timble lowers her head to peer into my face. “Try again? Wait, back up. What do you mean?”
I knew this was coming, and now I have no choice but to tell her the whole story.
Keeping back the gory details, I give an overview—how I rushed us into it, then Egorr took me to the doctor, and now there’s still two or more weeks to go until I’m cleared for any funny business.
“Oh, I’m so sorry, Maddie.” Timble shoots me a sympathetic look. “That sounds difficult. And painful, too.”
I shrug. “It’s not as bad now as it was at first. I think the stupid warm water baths are working.” As much as I hate to admit it. “But it sucks that it’s stalled everything. We were doing so well!” I kick a rock.
“What do you mean? Are you and Egorr not doing well now?” Timble frowns. “I would have expected better of him.”
“No, no.” I wave my hands to dispel whatever bad thing she’s thinking. “I think I’m more upset about it than he is.”
Timble looks relieved. “Egorr’s a good ogre.”
“He really is.” I sigh. “Which is why this blows so much. I want to show him how much I like him, but I can’t.” My face heats as I add, “Outside of giving him tons of blowjobs, I guess.”
I love Timble’s gravelly laugh. “I imagine he gets the picture.”
But does he? No matter how much Egorr assures me that he likes me, that he cares about me with or without sex, I still wonder. I wonder if it’s enough for him, if he’s going to lose interest before I’m better again.
And even then…
“Maddie?” Timble’s giving me a concerned look as we pass under the tree branches, which are now almost bare. The sky is clear but it’s chilly out, and I’m glad I brought my thicker coat today.
“It’s just that, you know, even when I do heal, we’re just going to have the same problem again. Isn’t that going to be awkward?” I bunch up my shoulders, trying to keep warm. “I guess I haven’t really gotten over what happened at the pub.”
Egorr wouldn’t have this problem with that ogress we met.
