The kid’s gaze flicked to Jocelyn. “That’s Aunt Jossy, but she’s not my real aunt. She’s my mom’s friend so she’s known me since before I was born. You were both in the wedding too.”
Jocelyn cleared her throat. “You didsowell during the ceremony, Milo. Are you ready for your cupcake reward?”
Godsdamn, her voice was just as creamy as I remembered, reaching into my trousers and squeezing my cock…
But the kid was still staring at me, and I didn’t like it. “What?” I barked, maybe a little too harshly, what with the trying-to-distract-myself-from-a-hard-on situation.
“You have a lot of tattoos.”
Oh. “Yeah, I guess I do.” In our world, tattoos were used as memories. There was shit I wanted to remember, shit I didn’t want to remember, and some random designs I’d chosen just because I liked them. “Why are you nervous?”
It wasn’t until I heard the words that I realized I’d said them out loud. Damn, that was probably rude to point it out.
The kid bristled as Jay moved up beside him. “I’m not nervous,” Milo muttered.
And I felt my lips twitch. “Good, getting angry is better.” I tipped my head toward Jocelyn. “Your aunt’s like that, she’s hiding her nervousness.”
I heard Jocelyn shift, heard her sharp inhale, even as Milo asked suspiciously, “How can you tell?”
Embracing my asshole qualities completely, I let a wicked smile curl my lips, knowing she was watching me, and made a show of inhaling. “She doesn’tsmellnervous.”
Oh no, that was an entirely different scent caressing my nostrils right now.
Jocelyn made a noise like a groan and dropped her forehead to her hand, which made me grin wider.
Her nephew’s response was unexpected, though. He gotexcited. “You can smell what I’m feeling?”
So I shrugged. “Human fear is sour-smelling. Nervousness or worry is more muted.”
The kid whirled on Jay. “Canyoudo that? You never told me you could do that!”
My nephew was looking awkward, glancing between me and Milo. “Kinda,” he finally admitted. “Dad says it’s not polite to bring it up though, because humans can get weird about it.”
My grin grew conspiratorial. “I’m not real polite, kid.”
Jay nodded solemnly, although I could see the amusement flickering in his dark eyes. “Dad says I shouldn’t take my social cues from Uncle Brak.”
I shrugged. “I’m kinda an assh?—”
“Okay!” blurted Jocelyn. “Who wants more cupcakes? Two more? Eight more?” Under her breath, probably too low for anyone but an orc to hear, she muttered, “Anything to shut you up.”
And I realized I was having the time of my life, kneeling there in the sand. I was talking to two kids, but all my attention—and myKteer’s—was locked on her. Onteasingher.
She was here, she was with me, and I had another chance at her.
But Milo hadn’t been distracted by her offer. Instead, he cocked his head as he studied me. “What do I smell like now?”
I didn’t even have to inhale. “I would guess you’re more interested than anything. You haven’t been around many orcs?”
Before he could answer, Jocelyn interrupted in a too-bright tone with, “Iwould guess you’re interested in another cupcake!”
Milo shook his head, and I was hard-pressed to hide my amusement. She clearly wanted to end the conversation, and I was enjoying the hells out of drawing it out. I could kneel here and talk to her nephew forever, if that’s what it took.
But his next question changed the game. “You said Aunt Jossy’s not nervous. What doesshesmell like?”
Like getting off work on a Friday afternoon.
Like jumping off a mountain waterfall.
