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I don’t have the answer to that, and when I put the key in, I look at my hand on the wheel. My glasses are in it. I would swear they were on my face when I locked the door. Yep, I’m losing it over an orc. Maybe an orgasm will make it all better?

I drive home, and as soon as I walk in my front door, I’m yanking my tights and panties off. My fingers find my clit, and I come in about forty seconds.

Shit. My legs are trembling, and I’m leaning against the wall. I wanted it to take the edge off, and it didn’t. Now I just want him even more, and I’m going to be up half the night.

Chapter 2

Yorrel’s on the library steps when I get to work on Friday morning, and my stomach flips in anticipation.

“You told me ten o’clock,” he says.

“It’s not ten yet.” I get my keys out, which takes longer than it should because he’s watching my hands.

“Oscar told me to be early on the first day.”

“It’s your second day.” It comes out sharper than I mean it to. He doesn’t seem to mind. He’s looking at me like being told off is part of the fun, and I’d like to know how to make that stop working on me.

“Then I am early on the second day also.”

I laugh. Dammit, I really do like him. “Did you tell the others about yesterday?”

“Yes. Gundrik made me tell the ladder part twice.”

He looks pleased about it, and I wish I didn’t find that as charming as I do. This is all so inconvenient.

I unlock the door, and he follows me in. The library feels smaller again. My mouth goes dry, and I tell myself it’s because I didn’t drink enough coffee. What am I supposed to do with him here? Read to him, probably. It’s a library. Or skip the reading and fuck him on the far table. It’s a bit early to be having these thoughts.

He gets a children’s picture book and sits down at the far table, flipping through it while I do my morning routine.

At eleven, Oscar walks in with a woman carrying a leather folder. She looks official, so this must be Carol. I wave them both into my office, which is cramped with three people in it.

“Ms. Sutton, I’m Carol Hayes from the Portland office. Yesterday, Mr. Reyes reported a recognition event at—”

“I know. I was there.” I hold my hand out. “Give me the form.”

She blinks and slides it across the desk. It has four boxes, and I read them out loud as I go. “Do I consent to the resident remaining in town. Yes. Do I request he be relocated. No. Do I want a counselor and a cultural liaison. God, no. Did I receive this in person today. Yes.” I take the pen out of her hand and sign it. “Done. And your pamphlet says a woman may feel a ‘pull.’ Whoever wrote that sucks.”

Carol looks at the form and then at me. “Do you understand what he is to you?”

“He’s my mate. I’ve known him twenty-five hours, and I have a board hearing in less than two weeks. I don’t have time to pretend I’m confused about it.”

Carol tucks the form into her folder. “The pilot was planned because of the complaints that the orcs never live on Earth. We just wanted to see if integration was possible. Nobody expected the orc bond to fire in the town, Ms. Sutton.”

“Well, they’re doing great at it.”

Oscar looks miserable all the way to the door. Carol stops to look at Yorrel, and then she follows Oscar out.

The door shuts behind them, and it’s just me and Yorrel.

He hasn’t moved, and he’s watching me with his ears flat. I haven’t seen flat before. My guess is it means he wants something. The canvas jacket is stretched tight across his shoulders. I want to peel it off him and find out how many licks it takes to get to the center of an orc lollipop. My nipples tighten and my clit throbs hard enough that I shift my weight. I’ve been turned on since yesterday morning, and it’s annoying.

This is stupid. I just told Carol that he’s my mate, and I meant it. He’s mine. Something tells me he’d do anything I asked. So if he’s my mate, why am I not enjoying him?

Fuck it. The petition can wait an hour.

“Get up,” I say.

He gets up.