I love the fact that he’s not mentioning our conversation last night. Of course we need to talk about all of it again, but I’m perfectly happy taking a break and thinking of something else. I’m also loving how he listened to me and was immediately on my side. This is why I slept so good last night and why I’m reasonably stress-free this morning. Keric has my back and so do all his friends and family. It’s a lovely feeling.
“Did you sleep okay on the couch?” I question as I spread strawberry jam on my toast.
“Yes.”
I don’t believe him for a second. That couch is way too small for his seven-foot frame. I saw how cramped he looked last night before I fell asleep. He must’ve been miserable. Guilt churns in my stomach. “Thank you for breakfast,” I say. “And for everything. For listening to me and being there for me. I know this isn’t easy, taking on my problems, having me here, disrupting your life.”
“You’re not disrupting anything.” His dark eyes hold mine. “I’m glad you’re here. You moving here with me is basically the best moment of my life.”
The sincerity in his voice makes my throat tight. I don’t know how to respond so I just quietly finish my meal.
Afterwards, I get up and clear the dishes. He insists on helping with the whole cleaning up process, even though I’d already told him if he cooked, I’d clean. He did this last night too, not letting me do any of the cleaning alone. He has an oven and cooktop, but no dishwasher so we wash all the dishes by hand. The two of us fall into an easy rhythm. I wash and he dries and our arms brush occasionally, each time I’m very aware of the heated contact.
I’m noticing everything about him now. The way his jaw clenches when he’s thinking deep. The slight furrow between his brows when he concentrates. The rumble in his chest whenhe speaks. We chat about the layout of the commune, because I’m super interested about the place where Keric was born and raised.
Finally, we finish the dishes and sit back down at the table with fresh coffee. The morning light is brighter now, warming the cabin. Everything feels peaceful, which means it’s the exact time for me to ask him something important.
I wrap my fingers around my mug. “You said you’d fully explain about the mating bond. What it means.”
Keric sets down his coffee and gives me his full attention. “Yes,” he agrees. “I did. And now is as good a time as any.” He takes a breath, choosing his words carefully. “Orcs find their brides when they scent compatibility. It is truly confirmed when reciprocal arousal is scented by the bride. The moment I caught your scent at the school, when Garlen lost control, I knew that you could possibly be mine, but I stayed back and didn’t move forward until the wedding. My body became fully heated, for you. This was the first time this had ever happened.”
I bite my lip and shift in my seat, loving the idea that his body became ‘heated’ forme.
His voice is low, serious. “But you have to know that orcs mate for life. There’s no divorce, no separation.”
I nod. “I know. I’ve heard about this and Ellie told me all about it too. But it’s still...” I trail off, not sure what to say.
“A lot,” he finishes. “I know. Which is why I’m explaining everything now. Before anything happens between us, you need to understand what you’d be agreeing to.”
I stare at my coffee, my mind racing.
“I understand that humans are biologically different and don’t have the same instincts as an orc,” he continues to patiently explain. “I know you won’t feel the instant pull the way I do and I will remain patient and give you time to catch up.”
“And if I never do?”
“Then you never do.” His expression is open, honest. “This is always your choice.”
“So living together?—”
“That is the only part that is non-negotiable. For your safety you must remain in the cabin with me while on the commune. You are living with me and will stay under my protection because it’s commune custom.” His voice is firm on this.
I take a sip of coffee, trying to sort through everything he’s saying. “I’m attracted to you,” I admit quietly. “I have always been, since that first moment we truly met and then for reals when we sat together for dinner at the wedding and had time to talk.”
His nostrils flare slightly but he doesn’t move. Just watches me with that intense dark gaze.
“I gave you my number because I wanted to get to know you better,” I continue. “To maybe... see where it could go.”
“I know.”
I blink. “You know?”
“I could scent your reciprocal arousal at the wedding.”
My face flames. Oh my god. He could smell how I felt about him?
“That’s one of the reasons I got your number,” he continues, his voice gentle. “Why I texted. Why I rushed to the bus station when I sensed something was wrong. I knew you felt something too. The attraction isn’t one-sided. If I hadn’t know that I wouldn’t have responded the way I did, so certain that you needed to be with me, instead of on that bus.”
I want to melt into the floor and die of embarrassment. “So orcs can just... smell when humans are attracted to them?”
