Page 98 of Halfling
He liked to think he was doing all right in those regards; keeping her fed, warm, safe, and sated were all an immense pleasure for him.
Now, he turned his mind to keeping her.
His heart had gone hopeful now that it was full of her, and he couldn’t abide even thinking of parting with her. For however many days he had left before they reached her home, Orek was determined to prove what a good mate he could be.
If he needed more time, well, he had a few ideas there, too.
Taking the hand that wasn’t being gnawed on by the kit, Orek twined their fingers together. A possessive rumble worked up his chest, and he brought her hand to his lips.
Sorcha leaned her head back and peered up at him, a grin teasing at her lips. “What?” she asked.
“Nothing,” he said. “I just like looking at you.”
A blush stole across her cheeks. “You’re going to spoil me with all this sweet-talk.”
That’s the plan.
“Tell me something,” he rumbled into her ear. “Would your lord sell land to someone like me? Or do you know of a human who would?”
The question hung between them, crackling as surely as the fire. Orek kept quiet, letting her think as he traced patterns along her thigh with his thumb.
If he couldn’t convince her to stay with him along the rest of their journey, he’d simply have to stay near her to press his suit. Humans valued land, and with some of his own, he’d have something to offer her, a start at a life. Somewhere they could build something—together.
And if she finally decided to end what was between them once she returned to her family, at least he could remain near her. It would be agony, but the mate-bond wouldn’t allow him far from her, not now.
But that was then, in a possible future not worth thinking about. Now, she was in his arms, and he had every intention of keeping her there. Orek had had so few good things in his life. He wasn’t about to give up the best one without a fight.
His mate was worth every effort, every sacrifice. He’d do whatever it took to stay with her—for they were mates, whether she knew it yet or not.
“Oh…” Her brows knit as she considered. “I don’t see why not. Lord Darrow has always been gracious, and Granach has been growing over the past few years. There are plenty of tracts available.”
“Good.” He didn’t need much, and it didn’t need to be the best farmland or the prettiest. He just needed a place to stay near her, and at least if it was his, no one could be suspicious over the halfling lurking nearby.
Sorcha plopped her head on his shoulder so she could look up at him again. A little line of confusion marred her brow, and he smoothed it with his finger.
“You would want to buy land? In the Darrowlands?”
“I’ve considered it.” It wasn’t his ideal plan, but he’d do whatever it took.
Darrah climbed up Sorcha’s chest to nip at her, drawing her back into their game. She took the distraction, and Orek didn’t let his foolish heart worry too much about her responses. He had a little time yet, and he’d use it all to win her heart and show her what it meant to be a mate.
That he would kill for her, die for her, and most especially he would live for her.
Sorcha keened with relief when Orek finally sank his cock deep inside her. Head tossed back in the furs, she came apart on another wail, body convulsing with pleasure so intense, pinpricks of light burst across her vision. The culmination of a long, torturous evening of kisses and light nips had finally come with a searing orgasm that left her gasping.
It was only when she’d come down just a little from her peak, mouth agape as she gulped down air, that she realized he hadn’t moved. Instead, he’d let her milk his cock and take her pleasure—and now that she’d had it, he was determined to have more, she could see it in the hot glint of his eyes.
Sorcha groaned as his hips met hers in perfect, gentle thrusts that brought him, inch by inch, deeper inside. He worked her slowly, just as he had all evening, raining warm kisses and hot swipes of his tongue from her head to her toes, though he paid special attention to her quim. He’d lapped there for ages, past the point of coherence, until she was just a babbling mess writhing in the furs.
“You always take me so perfect,” he rumbled, eyes fixed on where his cock, glistening with her slick, disappeared on each sure stroke inside her. “I love watching you take my cock.”
The sure, steady rhythm of his hips kept her hovering near another peak but not quite letting her fall over into relief. By the time his pace picked up speed, she was clenching her teeth and digging her fingers into the thick muscle between his neck and shoulder.
“Orek!” she pleaded.
With a satisfied grin, he finally came to her, giving her some of his weight. It changed the angle of his thrusts, his cock hitting herjust rightwith every stroke, and his hipbone teasing her clit as he sank to the hilt.
“Do you feel me there, so deep inside you?” he purred in her ear.
