Page 47 of The Orc's Sweetheart
Katie x
P.S. I’ll tell you who got stuck tomorrow, but don’t want to write names down in case it can be used as evidence of “gossiping.”
P.P.S. The sunscreen is on my desk with some stationery you can use for your note to Arran.
If I had any doubt that Katie was the author of the letter before, that postscript note proved it null and void. She has the uncanny ability to make even the most mundane information sound titillating. Also, I wonder who got stuck.
I move the letter to the side and look at all the tiny notes sticking out of Ren’s file. This might be a long night if I have to work through all those before visiting Ren. At least Bodin let him know that I’m coming with him when he delivers the generator tomorrow. I don’t want the shy male to be surprised by a female suddenly showing up at his house if he’s not used to having manycreatures in his space.
But first, I need to call Audrey. I can’t work when my mind is such a mess.
I open the cupboard where I keep all my extra clothes, and reach for my phone that I don’t even bother to carry around anymore. A quick glance at my notifications shows nothing needs my immediate attention, so I scroll down my call list and press on Audrey’s name. She answers after one ring.
“What happened?” Audrey’s brusque tone brings a smile to my face and I lean back against the chair.
“Why do you think something happened?” My words are slow because now I’m questioning how much I want to tell her. If anyone is going to be brutally honest with me, it’ll be Audrey. But do I really want to face reality when I’ve been in such a bubble of happiness with Bodin?
“You don’t call easily.” Suspicion is rife in her voice and I can almost hear Audrey narrow her eyes at me.
I pause for a second, thinking about where to start, but in Audrey’s books that hesitation is a second too long.
“Who do I have to kill?” she asks, completely serious.
“Me,” I sigh out, propping my elbows on the desk and resting my forehead in my free hand.
“You’re gonna have to explain better than that, dear cousin. Am I getting on the next boat out or are you just venting?”
“Venting,” I admit.
“Great. I’m at home. Switch to video so I can see that pretty face of yours and we can deliberate if I’m planning an extraction mission or someone’s demise,” Audrey deadpans. When it comes to my cousin, I’m not exactly sure if that threat is a joke or not. But I sure am happy to have her on my side.
I click the video icon and Audrey’s serious face fills the screen. Her brows dip low and she moves the camera closer to her until I can only see her smooth forehead.
“Matilda darling, did you get in a fight with something or have you had an exceedingly good time with a lover recently?” Audrey drawls.
“What?!” I hold the phone closer and inspect my neck in the mirrored frame. “Oh, shit. I didn’t know it looked this bad.” My entire neck is covered in light hickeys and scratch marks.
“Tilly!” Audrey gasps with excitement. “Do you have a loverrr? Tell me everything.”
I open and close my mouth a couple of times, still a little flustered and not sure where I should start with the story.
“Who?” Audrey demands, voice thick with humor. “Spill already.”
“Uhm… it’s Bodin.” I instinctively grab my neck, the memory of his tusks dragging up the thin skin, marking me, almost a palpable sensation.Is it weird that I like it so much when he marks me like this? If my neck can look like this from just this afternoon, imagine what my entire body could look like after a whole night together in the bedroom.
Audrey’s head rears back. “The mean orc?”
“What? He’s not mean. He’s really thoughtful and sweet.”And sexy, and tall, and kind, and considerate, and—
“Girl.” Audrey starts with a warning tone. Placing her phone in the stand in the living room, she moves back and crosses her arms over her chest. “How good is the dick if you can overlook how he treated you when you first got there? Because if it’sthatgood, then I’m calling dragon boy and demanding a trip over. The dicks are dull as fuck here.”
I smile at that, because it’s true. Cape Easton might have a much larger population, but the dating market isn’t anything special. Audrey and I had to rescue each other from dull dates on more than one occasion. But getting Audrey to Starry Hill will be like unlocking Pandora’s box. She’ll be a lot of fun and spice things up for sure, but I don’t know if I’ve met anyone yet who would be able to match her energy.
My nose scrunches up as I admit quietly, “Well, Bodin and I haven’t had sex yet. Not full penetrative sex anyway.”
Audrey accepts that easily and nods. “Not penetrative? That’s cool. There’s a bunch of other things that might even better than that.”
I’m unable to hide my smirk as I recall what we’ve done so far. “Don’t I know it.”
