His nostrils flare. He can smell my arousal. Privacy is dead when you’re living with an orc.
He doesn’t move, just stands there, looking at me. That hungry gaze traveling over my body, landing on my lips. Where he almost kissed me. A muscle ticks in his jaw. He’s fighting himself. “Anna...”
I wave a hand. “Go. It’s fine. I’ll be here.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yeah, it’s fine. I need to call Ellie anyway. Check in with her.”
He nods slowly, still not moving. His chest rises and falls harder than normal, and I realize he’s holding himself back with visible effort. God, this male.
“I’ll be back soon,” he finally says, as he crosses the room. He opens the door and cold air rushes in. Keric pauses on the threshold, looks back one more time. “Text or call if you need anything.”
“I will.”
And then he’s gone.
The cabin feelsempty without him. I already miss his presence, which is ridiculous considering he’s been gone for approximately ten seconds.
I pick up my phone and scroll to Ellie’s contact. I don’t want to talk about the criminals who are chasing me, but instead I want to talk with someone who’s been through this orc semi-dating craziness and can help me make sense of whatever the hell is happening to my life.
Ellie answers on the second ring. “Anna. Oh my gosh, I’ve been dying to talk to you some more. I’m so happy you called.”
Relief floods through me at the sound of her voice. I lean back into the couch. “I know. So much has happened. Do you have time to talk?”
“Of course I have time to talk to Anna Lee. Tell me everything girl. Are you okay? Are you safe?”
“Yeah, I’m safe. And Keric tells me that you, Zoe and your mom are safe too, which brings me to much relief you don’t even know. And as for me, I’m... I’m actually good?” The surprise in my own voice makes me laugh.
Zoe’s voice rises in the background, high and excited, and Loki starts barking. “Hold on,” Ellie says, “let me go somewhere quieter.” There’s rustling, footsteps, the sound of a door closing. “Okay, I’m in the bedroom. Garlen has Zoe. Now talk.”
I settle even deeper into the couch, stroking Dinah’s soft fur. Where do I begin? “I met some of the other women here,” I start. “A group of Brides.”
“Ooh, what are they like?”
“Amazing, actually. I met four of them named Drew, Miranda, Sarah and Megan... they were so welcoming. Like I was already one of them. Miranda is a little older and the others are in their twenties or thirties, about our age.”
“That sounds like what I’ve heard from Garlen’s family. The Maine commune is the original one, right?”
“Yeah. They’ve told me it’s one of the oldest communes in North America. It’s beautiful here, Ellie. Remote but... peaceful.”
“Do you like it?”
I pause, considering. A week ago I was terrified, running for my life. Now I’m sitting in a cozy cabin with a kitten in my lap, thinking about wedding dresses. “I do,” I admit. “More than I expected to considering I’m used to living in cities with a fancy coffee drive thru always nearby.”
She chuckles at my remark. “Okay, now tell me everything else. What’s happening between you and Keric?”
I bite my lip. “I met his parents today.”
“Already? How did that go?”
“His mom basically tackled me the moment she walked in. She didn’t even hug Keric first. Just beelined straight for me.”
Ellie laughs. “I guess you’ve got to give her a break because she’s always had a son and lives amongst so many men. I’m lucky that I already have a daughter from my first marriage, but when you marry an orc there will never be daughters or nieces in your life. She’s probably thrilled at the idea of another female being added to her family. She’s hungry for it.”
“Yeah, I’m sure you’re right. She was very bold, I think in fact she was embarrassing Keric a little with all her personal remarks. In fact, she asked if I cared about Keric. In front of him, while he was cooking breakfast with his dad.”
“What did you say?”
