Page 9 of Bewitching the Orc Chief (Silvermist Mates #1)

CHAPTER NINE

OSEN

T he way sunlight played across Miranda’s face took my breath away. Her hair glowed like spun moonlight, and those caramel eyes sparkled with mischief. Gods, how had I gotten so lucky? If someone had told me a few months ago that a dating app would lead me to my perfect mate?—

Cold frosting smashed into my face. Cake clung to my nose as laughter erupted around us. I blinked once, twice, and grinned. Payback time.

“You little witch.” I grabbed her waist and pulled her close, making sure to thoroughly smear frosting all over her face as I kissed her. The gathered crowd whooped and cheered.

Miranda squirmed and laughed against my lips. “You’re impossible.”

“Says the one who started it.” I swiped frosting from her nose with my thumb. “Though I suppose that’s what I get for handfasting such a troublemaker.”

“Here.” Miranda snort-laughed and dabbed at my face with a cloth. “You’ve got a bit of...” She gestured vaguely at my entire face. “Just everywhere.”

“For better or worse, right?” I caught her wrist and pressed a kiss to her palm. Her pulse fluttered beneath my lips, and my mind wandered to all the ways I planned to make it race later. But for now, duty demanded we stay and celebrate with our people.

Our people. Because she wasn’t just a human, or a witch to be watched with suspicion. She was my mate. My equal. She now shared my burdens, and I’d see her share the joys, too.

“Yeah,” she breathed. Her smile lit up my world, made brighter by the rings sparkling on her finger. “Forever.”

More cheers surrounded us, followed by enthusiastic applause. Music floated on the breeze, accompanied by the sound of laughter and chatter. Colored lights flashed in the night sky as fireworks boomed overhead. Grimstone was in full celebration mode, packed with guests celebrating my mating to the loveliest creature alive.

Our new shaman, Durzum, raised his cup from the head table, grinning. His presence felt right in a way Alris never had—the younger orc actually gave a damn about our clan’s future rather than clinging to outdated isolation.

He’d even picked Miranda’s brain extensively about my witch’s knowledge of herbs and potions. It warmed me to see them grow friendly. Having allies beyond my brother eased the transition for everyone.

Especially since so many had sided with Alris. Too many, in fact. Most may have cheered when Coth and Alris were defeated, but I wouldn’t forget who threw me a weapon and who watched with stony faces.

“The spirits dance with joy tonight.” Durzum’s voice carried over the crowd. “A blessing on the happy couple!”

Galan lifted his glass from his spot at the edge of the feast. My cousin looked uncomfortable in his formal vest, but he’d at least made an appearance. After a moment, he squared his shoulders and strode over with the air of a man approaching the gallows.

“Congratulations.” The word sounded like it’d been dragged out of him. “You make a striking couple.”

“Thank you, Galan.” Miranda inclined her head. “It means a lot that you came.”

He shifted his weight, jaw working. “Father sends his... regrets for missing the ceremony.”

“Coth made his choice.” I kept my voice neutral. My uncle’s self-imposed exile spared us all uncomfortable confrontations.

“Yes, well.” Galan cleared his throat. “The mead is excellent.”

I hid my smile. From Galan, that was practically a ringing endorsement of both the celebration and my mate. He’d been remarkably helpful these past weeks—even suggesting additional security measures now that a number of dissenters had scattered into hiding or to find a new clan.

Torain grabbed my shoulder from behind, his massive grin threatening to split his face. Zral sauntered along at his heels, watching the celebration with calculating interest.

“Sister!” Torain swept Miranda into a bear hug that lifted her feet off the ground. “Happy days! Though I apologize for your future of unhappy nights.”

Miranda snort-laughed even as I cuffed the back of my brother’s head. The sound came easier these days, especially around my overly enthusiastic brother. Their friendship had fully blossomed since she saved his life. He seemed determined to pay her back, somehow, and being forced to endure his outrageous sense of humor was her payment.

“Put her down before you break her.” Zral’s deep voice held amusement. “Some of us want to dance with the bride.”

The music shifted to something slower, more intimate. I pulled Miranda back against my chest, nuzzling her neck. A shiver raced through her, and my cock twitched in response. “You’ll have to get in line. This one’s mine.”

“Come on, Chief.” Her smile lit up my world. “Show me those moves you’ve been practicing.”

I let her lead me onto the floor, wrapping my arms around her waist as we swayed together. Her head rested against my chest, right over my thundering heart. Everything about this moment felt right—the warmth of her body, the scent of rosemary and citrus in her hair, the way she fit perfectly against me.

“Happy?” I murmured against her temple.

“Mmm.” She pressed closer. “Though I still say we should have let Gus be the ring bearer.”

I chuckled, remembering how the hellcat had sulked at being denied. “He’s already terrorized half the clan. Let’s not push our luck.”

Miranda huffed a laugh and tucked herself closer. My hands settled at her waist, content to have her close. We hadn’t seen each other since waking this morning, thanks to endless preparations and human traditions. I’d missed her scent, her soft skin, the gentle curves under my palms.

My mate. My witch. My forever.

MIRANDA

The world shrank to just us as we swayed to the music, my cheek pressed against Osen’s chest. The steady thud of his heart grounded me in this moment—this impossible, perfect moment that I never thought I’d have.

A few months ago, I’d been running scared, convinced my past would taint everything I touched. Now here I was, handfasted to an orc chief and accepted by most of his people. Not bad for a witch who once thought redemption was a foolish dream.

The Sisters were gone, scattered to the winds by our victory. My demon mark still lurked beneath my skin, but it no longer felt like a curse. I’d used that power to save rather than destroy. To protect rather than harm. The mark was mine to define now, just as this life was mine to shape.

Osen’s thumb brushed my cheek, drawing me from my thoughts. He tucked a stray hair behind my ear, his touch impossibly gentle for someone so large. “Have we missed any of your human wedding customs?” he asked. “I want to do this right.”

“Mmm.” I cocked my head and considered. He’d asked if I needed anything in particular when he asked if I’d handfast him, then sent an army of helpers with the same question. But the answer was always the same: just him, whatever official would make things official, and an extravagant party they’d talk about for ages.

And well, the Sisters certainly took care of the last.

“There is the tradition of carrying the bride over the threshold.” I leaned back enough to smirk up at him.

“Ah.” He nodded thoughtfully. “Not so different from the orc custom of dragging our chosen brides from the village to our beds.”

I nearly swallowed my tongue. “You’re joking.”

His expression remained perfectly neutral. “Am I?”

“Osen!” Heat crept up my neck at the hunger in his eyes. “You can’t just say things like that and not tell me if you’re serious.”

“Can’t I?” His massive hands spanned my waist, thumbs stroking slow circles that made me shiver. “Perhaps you’ll have to find out for yourself.”

I rose on my toes to brush my lips against his jaw. “Is that a threat or a promise?”

His only response was to pull me flush against him as the music swelled. We swayed together, but there was nothing chaste about the way his hands roamed my back or how he nuzzled my neck. Every brush of his lips against my skin felt like a brand.

I lost myself in the music and the heat of Osen’s body. So much so that I didn’t notice how far we’d drifted from the others until the song faded. The next one began, but the beat was faster—more upbeat and lively and perfect to hide our escape.

Osen guided me toward the gate with a grin stretching around his sexy tusks. A thrill went through me as we ducked through the shadowed archway. Running away from my handfasting with my big, sexy, green husband felt exactly as scandalous as it should.

We made it three steps before Torain’s voice boomed across the clearing. “The happy couple’s trying to sneak away!”

Cheers and whoops erupted around us. Someone started banging rhythmically on a table. My face burned, but Osen just laughed and quickened his pace.

Osen kicked the door shut behind us, the heavy wood muffling the sounds of celebration outside. I leaned against his chest, listening to his breathing and feeling his heart pound as fiercely as mine. The dim light from the fireplace cast shadows across his face, making his features look more severe than usual. But his touch remained tender as he cupped my cheek, tracing his thumb over my lips.

“My mate. My beautiful witch,” he murmured, the words rumbling through his chest. “I love you.”

The words hung in the air between us. Simple. Honest. Earth-shattering.

We’d danced around them, of course. Hinted at the deeper threads binding us together. But hearing them now, seeing the raw emotion in his dark eyes—it stole the air from my lungs.

“I love you too,” I whispered.

The words felt right, settling into place like the final piece of a puzzle. This wasn’t just the mate bond talking. Somewhere along the way, I’d fallen for the orc himself. His strength. His kindness. His dedication to protecting the ones he loved. Even when he pushed too hard, he did so out of love and respect.

This man saw me, really saw me—and accepted me completely. Demons and all.

“I love how grumpy you are in the mornings before your first cup of coffee.” A smile tugged at my lips. “I love watching you with Torain, seeing the bond between brothers. I love the way you make me laugh ten thousand times a day.” My hand slid down to rest over his heart. “I love you , Osen Axebreaker. All of you.”

Osen captured my lips in a searing kiss. He claimed me, explored me, tasted me with agonizing thoroughness. His tusks pressed gently against my skin, their ridges rubbing just right as he deepened the kiss.

I whimpered when he pulled back, chasing his lips. The smile he gave me was pure male satisfaction.

“Mine,” he growled. His hands slid down my sides, leaving trails of fire in their wake. “Say it again.”

“I love you.” I leaned into his touch, drunk on his nearness. I loved the warmth of his body. The scrape of his calluses on my sensitive skin. “I love you, I love you, I lo—oh!”

Osen’s mouth latched onto my neck, right over my claiming mark. His tusks added to the sensations, scraping deliciously across my skin. My knees buckled, but his powerful arms kept me upright.

“Osen,” I gasped. “Please.”

With a growl, my mate scooped me into his arms. In three long strides, he carried me to our bedroom and tossed me onto the bed. I bounced once, laughing breathlessly.

Osen covered me a heartbeat later. He pinned my hands above my head, leaving me helpless as his lips moved over my skin. Warmth pooled low in my belly. Each brush of his tusks over my neck had my hips arching in search of friction.

“Patience, sweetheart.” The gravelly rasp sent a shudder racing down my spine. “We’ve got all night.”

All night, and the rest of our lives. I wrapped my legs around his waist, pulling him closer. His bulge pressed against my aching core, sending pleasure surging through my veins.

I reached for the laces of my dress, but Osen knocked my hands aside. “No,” he growled. Those massive fingers plucked at the knot with surprising dexterity, easing the tension that held the bodice together. “Let me.”

He made quick work of the laces and shoved the fabric aside. Cool air kissed my heated flesh as he revealed the bare curves of my breasts.

Osen dipped his head, teasing kisses across my collarbone. One broad hand spread across my stomach, calluses rough against my soft skin. I squirmed, seeking contact, but he held me still as he tortured me with featherlight touches.

By the time he finally reached my breasts, I was ready to climb out of my skin. Tension coiled within me, winding tighter and tighter as Osen worked me into a frenzy. Only his strong hands kept me pinned while he worshipped every inch he exposed.

Desire thrummed in my veins. I wanted to drag his shirt off, shove my hands into his pants. Instead, he sucked one nipple into his hot mouth and pinched the other, sending bolts of electricity straight to my core. I bucked against him, wordlessly begging for more.

The corners of his mouth curved up wickedly. His free hand traveled down, tracing delicate patterns across my stomach and thighs. Goosebumps broke out across my skin as he drew maddeningly close to my aching pussy.

“Please,” I groaned. I needed more. Needed to feel his fingers inside me. Stroking me. Fucking me. Making me scream his name as I shattered.

The tip of his middle finger brushed my clit. Another jolt of pleasure ripped through me.

“Please,” I gasped, reaching for his belt. “Fuck me.”

Osen caught my hands easily, trapping them above my head. His nostrils flared as he scented the air. A predatory grin spread across his face. “You smell divine,” he rumbled. “So wet for me already.”

Oh goddess, he was going to take his time with me. That realization alone had me panting harder.

Slowly, he worked his way down my body. By the time he settled between my legs, I was ready to explode. The slight pressure of his fingertips tugging my panties off sent shivers of anticipation racing through me.

Osen’s fingers traced the length of my slit, spreading me open. Then his mouth closed over my aching clit, and the world exploded into a haze of white-hot pleasure.

My hips rose off the bed as he sucked and licked without mercy. When his tongue dove inside my aching pussy, I thought I’d come apart right then. Every flick of his tongue brought me closer to the edge. Each graze of his tusk made my magic sing.

When two thick fingers plunged into me, I went crashing over the edge. Pleasure roared through me, drowning out the rest of the world. Waves of bliss pulsed through my core, setting my nerve endings ablaze.

My cries echoed through the room as Osen continued fucking me with his fingers. He brought me to another peak with practiced ease, his tongue circling my clit in torturous circles. Stars exploded across my vision, and my bones dissolved into molten heat.

“Beautiful,” my mate said. He placed a reverent kiss on my thigh. “Perfect.” Another kiss. “Mine.”

By the time he withdrew, my limbs felt like jelly. I sprawled on the bed, boneless and breathless. Sweat glistened on my flushed skin. Osen stood and stripped off his clothes, revealing the defined muscles and swirling tattoos beneath. Firelight flickered over his tusks and dark green skin, giving him a wild, animalistic beauty.

He crawled up the length of my body and kissed me deeply, letting me taste myself on his lips. The head of his cock pushed against my folds, spreading me open inch by agonizing inch. My body stretched to accommodate his girth, a delicious burn that had me gasping for air. I arched my hips, urging him on, but he paused just long enough to meet my gaze.

“Say it again,” he commanded. His pupils were blown wide with desire, his arms shaking with the effort of holding back. “Tell me you’re mine.”

“I’m yours,” I panted, grabbing his ass and pulling him deeper. “Goddess, I’m so yours.”

Then he was moving, and stars burst across my vision.

Each stroke was perfection—deeper, harder, faster. The drag of his cock inside me lit sparks deep in my core, pushing me higher and higher.

“Gods, Miranda,” Osen hissed. His eyes were dark with lust as he looked down at me. “You feel so fucking good wrapped around me.”

All that honorable, civilized control snapped and his hips slammed harder against mine. One large hand gripped my thigh, hiking it higher around his waist. The new angle had me seeing stars, pleasure building with each thrust.

I raked my nails down his back, earning a growl of approval. Osen’s teeth scraped over my mate mark, sending sparks of pleasure shooting through my body. My magic surged in response, crackling just beneath my skin. I felt wild. Untamed. Like I could shatter the world with a thought.

“That’s it,” he rumbled. “Let everyone hear who you belong to.”

His fingers found my clit, rubbing tight circles as he pounded into me. I was close again, teetering on the edge of bliss. “Osen,” I panted. “I’m going to?—”

“Come with me,” he commanded.

A few more thrusts, and my world went white. I screamed Osen’s name as my body clenched around him. He growled against my throat, hips stuttering as he followed me over the edge.

We lay tangled together, both panting heavily. Osen’s weight was a comforting pressure, grounding me as aftershocks of pleasure rippled through my body. He nuzzled my neck, pressing gentle kisses to the mark of our bond.

“I love you,” I murmured, running my fingers through his hair.

Osen lifted his head to meet my gaze. The tenderness in his eyes made my heart swell. “And I love you,” he rumbled. “My brave, beautiful witch.”

He rolled to the side, gathering me against his chest. I curled into him, savoring the warmth of his skin against mine. His fingers traced idle patterns along my spine as we basked in the afterglow.

“Was that a proper human wedding night?” Osen asked, amusement coloring his tone.

I snorted a laugh. “I’d say it exceeded expectations.”

“Good.” His chest rumbled with laughter, and those idling fingers swooped closer and closer to my breast. “Though I believe I heard something about needing to consummate multiple times?”

Heat pooled low in my belly at the hunger in his voice. I propped myself up on one elbow, trailing my fingers down his chest. “Well,” I purred. “Far be it from me to break tradition.”

“Such a stickler, you are,” Osen agreed, cupping my cheek and drawing me in for a kiss. “Guess we’ll have to keep going until dawn.”

Until dawn. And then forever, together.