Page 7 of Protective Pucking Orc

I didn’t answer him. Instead, I nodded at Lila. “Thank you. That’s… helpful.”

She smiled, but Kardok wasn’t done. “Hold on. Is this for a niece? A cousin? Do you have brothers with kitlings?” I began to back away, and Kardok all but chased after me. “Do you even have relatives here?”

My grip tightened on the duffel. “Goodnight, Kardok.”

Lila laughed, tugging on his arm. “Come on, you big oaf. Let’s go home before you scare him off for good.”

Kardok let her pull him away, but not before calling over his shoulder, “You can’t hide forever, Dakvaar!”

I didn’t watch them leave. Instead, I turned toward the parking lot, my boots crunching on the salt-strewn pavement. The cold bit at my exposed skin, but I barely felt it.

The Inkwell was a small, warm shop, shelves lined with colorful pens and smooth paper. I could buy Rosa some supplies. Perhaps I could draw with her?

My Kteer rumbled in approval, the first sense of rightness I’d felt all day.

I adjusted my bag and headed for my car.

First, the store. Then, tomorrow…

Tomorrow, I’d see Sofia again.

I slept fitfully Wednesday evening, but that was how I’d been sleeping these last few weeks, as the Mating Bond made itself known. I shouldn’t be surprised. By three in the morning, I had almost convinced myself that it was unhealthy to continue tormenting myself by seeing Sofia each morning, and I should stay away.

But by sunrise, I knew I couldn’t.

Besides, today I was going to see Rosa.

So when I entered the café, I nodded my greetings to Sofia and the older server who always smiled at me, but instead of sitting in my usual booth, I took a place at the counter, one stool down from Rosa, and placed the bag from The Inkwell on the seat between us.

To my gratification, the kitling looked away from the video on the phone in front of her, almost eager for a distraction. I told myself that was a good thing.

I pretended to peruse the menu, allowing her to study me from under her lashes. Up close, she looked even more like Sofia; dark hair, darker skin than most humans in Bramblebluff, big dark eyes and a wide mouth that dimpled when she pursed her lips in an adorable approximation of her mother’s thinking expression.

She smelled of curiosity and boredom.

When Sofia bustled up, Rosa brightened. “Mama, could I have some sausage?”

Instead of brushing her off, my Mate dropped a kiss on the dark hair, which was pulled back in two small tails on either side of her little head. “I think we could make that happen.” She turned a smile my way. “And what’s going on with you? Just decided to switch things up a little?”

Grateful that she’d given me an excuse to turn toward Rosa, I angled myself so both the females could see me easily. “Yes,” I agreed solemnly. “Sitting at the counter allows the breeze from the door to cool me whenever someone enters.”

“Breeze?” Sofia laughed. “It’s not even going to get up to twenty today, and you call that a breeze?” She poked her daughter playfully. “I think orcs have a different definition of cold, what do you think?”

As Rosa nodded, wide-eyed, I reached for the menu and murmured, “Orc biology is different in many ways; we have faster metabolisms.”

“If we had faster metabolisms, we wouldn’t have to pay so much for heat, huh, mija?” Sofia nudged her daughter, still smirking at me.

The kitling giggled and nodded eagerly at me. “My mebbalism means I need sausages.”

My lips curled in surprise at this declaration, and Sofia burst out laughing, a smile so real I wondered how anyone could think the grin she gave her customers was anything but a mask.

“Sausage for Rosa, coffee for you, Dakvaar.” She reached out to take my menu. “Did you want something other than your usual?”

I shook my head, my Kteer singing to see those plump lips shape my name. “I’m looking forward to the skillet. Add a side of sausage to my order, for your daughter.”

Sofia’s real smile was my reward, and as she bustled off, I knew I’d do anything to receive that reward again.

With her mother gone, Rosa continued to watch me with interest, so I nodded politely. “Hello, little one. My name is Dakvaar.”