Page 30 of Enchanted with the Orc (The Kingverse Orcs #4)

Tasia

I kissed him.

Internally, I was screaming and all the alarms were going off inside my brain. Externally, I smiled at my daughter and then Darak who followed behind her with a bag that was laden with what had to be goodies and toys.

At the same time, my ovaries were screaming at me that I needed to put Gabbi down for a nap and tackle the male that I was sitting on. The male who made my body burn like it never had before. The male who soothed me, comforted me and protected me.

Swallowing hard, I struggled to keep my focus on Gabbi’s words as she told me about her playdate. But it was so much harder than it usually was.

“And Jael gave me gifts,” she added, making me narrow my gaze. “Because it’s his birthday this week but he won’t be here.”

The last was said with a little pout. And I quirked an eyebrow.

“He gave you gifts for his birthday?”

“Yep,” she said with a firm nod. “And he gave me his phone number so I could call him,” she added, blinking up at me with pleading eyes. “I can call him and go see him, right, Mommy?”

How can I say no to that?

“Okay,” I told her, tugging at one of her braids. We were going to have to tighten them soon, especially if she kept attending these play events with the other children. “But you should give these presents back and then get him one for his birthday first.”

“He said I could have them,” she told me, mutinously, tipping her chin up. “Ask Darak,” she said pointing an imperious finger at where the male was standing with his eyebrows raised.

He gave a slow nod. “His parents brought them for her,” he said in his low, deep voice. “And gave me their number for you to call. They’re excited that he has a new friend.”

I frowned, wondering in what world that gregarious little male wouldn’t have a million friends.

“I’ll give them a call,” I told my daughter, putting her down and standing.

Enka did the same, standing with me and walking in the direction of his phone.

“Thank you so much, Darak. I can’t imagine these play dates are fun for you.

” The male shrugged and I grinned at him

Enka handed his phone to me and I murmured my thanks, moving toward the bedroom while Darak sat on the floor with Gabbi to lay out her new presents.

I smiled at the picture they made. One giant, serious male whose glower should scare anyone off and a tiny little girl wearing bright pink and giggling as she clapped her hands in glee. These orcs were quite a surprise.

I didn’t expect Enka to enter the bedroom with me, but he stood there, his arms crossed with expectation as he looked from the phone to me. “Did you… want to talk?” I asked, hoping— praying —that he didn’t.

He shook his head, pointing at the phone. “No, we’re going to call that little centaur’s parents, right?” I smothered my smile at the annoyance in his voice when he said that little centaur. He didn’t like the idea of Gabbi staying in contact with him and that was certain.

It wasn’t until the amusement faded that I realized what he was doing. He was here . He wanted to make the call to her parents with me . It was something I wouldn’t have to do alone. He wanted to be a part of her life. A strong male figure… a father to her.

I had to look away from him before I began sobbing again. I’d done enough of that for the day, I was certain. I didn’t know that my tear ducts could handle much more.

“Okay,” I whispered, tucking my hair behind my ear. “Thank you.”

“For what?” he asked, confused, and that hit me like a sledgehammer to the chest. He didn’t even know why I would be grateful, because it was second nature for this male to take care of us.

Don’t fall for him, don’t fall for him, don’t fall for him.

I kept chanting the words as I dialed, hoping my heart would listen.

“Hello?” a sweet voice answered from the other line.

“Hi, this is Tasia, Gabbi’s mom?” I said into the phone, rubbing my hand against my heart that gave a hard pang as Enka leaned in, his eyebrows furrowed.

“And Enka, her father,” he said without a hitch. Without hesitation.

Do not swoon. Don’t you do it.

“We’re calling because we got your number from Darak,” I continued.

“Yes, of course,” the female responded. “Thanks so much for reaching out. I’m Leran.

Jael’s so excited to finally have a good friend like Gabbi.

I’m really hoping they can stay in touch when we move back into our home.

We were staying here because of some renovations, and I’m so glad we did.

” She sighed with what had to be parental relief and I smiled, knowing exactly how she felt.

“He’s usually so shy. He doesn’t talk to anyone, but with your Gabbi, it’s like he’s finally opening up.

” I heard the tears in her voice, and had to wave at my own face.

That’s exactly how I’d felt when Gabbi had announced that she had a friend.

She didn’t get to interact with children much, and it had been so amazing that she’d bonded so quickly.

“I’m so happy to hear that. He’s Gabbi’s first real friend too,” I told her and Enka scowled. I waggled my finger at him in admonishment for not being more accepting of Jael and he glowered.

“I’m sorry if we sent too many gifts,” Leran said, a sheepish tone in her voice. “But when he said that last week’s party was for his new best friend’s birthday, so close to his, I just added some presents for her along with the ones I was getting for him.”

“Oh,” I gave a nervous laugh that had Enka stiffening. I sent a warning glare his way before continuing. “Thanks so much, but it’s just too many—”

The heavy sigh on the other end made me pause. “Oh, my husband said it was,” she sighed. “But I was just so… excited. I’m so sorry if it made you or Gabbi uncomfortable.”

“Not Gabbi,” I laughed. “Trust me, she loves the presents. I just think it might be a little much. ”

“I’m sure it is,” Leran agreed. “I can return them if they make you very uncomfortable, but I bought them with her in mind. Jael talked about her so much I feel as though I know her already. I’m sorry if I overstepped.”

The sweet female on the other end hadn’t meant any harm and I looked up to Enka, but he was searching my face as if waiting for my reaction on the matter.

The least overbearing male on the planet.

I smiled, and his relieved expression told me that he hadn’t wanted to take the toys from her either. “In that case, thanks so much, Leran. But you have to tell us what Jael likes so we can get him some presents, too.”

The happy cry from the other end told me that she was over the moon. “Will you be willing to come to his party?” she asked, a pleading note to her voice. “We’re going to be having it this weekend and it just wouldn’t be the same without Gabbi.”

I looked up at Enka, and he stepped closer, his big hand cupping mine under the phone. “The thing is,” he said in a low, firm voice. “We have a bit of a security situation going on, and we can’t leave the hotel.”

“Oh,” Leran gasped, and I cringed, wondering if she was going to cancel the invitation. We might be more trouble than she was willing to handle. “Of course, we can host it at the hotel,” she rushed to say. “And I’m so sorry to hear that. My husband’s a lawyer if you need any kind of help.”

I stared down at the phone, surprise and gratitude filling me. After David, I’d begun expecting the worst from anyone outside of my family, but I was beginning to see that my expectations might be skewed.

“Thank you, but we don’t need one quite yet,” Enka said, reaching out to take hold of my hand, spreading comfort with the simple touch. “If we do, you’ll be the first one we’ll call.”

“Good,” Leran said. “And I’d love to meet you, too. If you don’t mind attending a children’s party. ”

“Of course. We want to meet you,” I told Leran, adoring the use of the word we . I was part of a we and it was amazing.

“I’ll text you the details,” she said.

After we’d hung up, I turned to look up at Enka, pressing my hands to his chest as I tiptoed to press a small kiss to his lips that somehow still sent me up in flames.

“Thank you,” I whispered against his lips and with a low moan, he clasped the back of my head and pressed his lips harder against mine.

The kiss careened out of control in a few seconds. His lips moved against mine and I found myself falling into it. I parted my lips and he didn’t hesitate, sweeping his tongue inside. The taste of him, the smell of him and feel of him made my pussy throb.

I was tugging him backward before I even knew what I was doing. When my thighs hit the back of the bed, my eyes flew open and I froze. His eyes opened as well, his lips still pressed to mine for a long moment before he pulled away to search my expression.

He frowned, shaking his head. “I don’t want to pressure you,” he whispered. “You can tell me to stop any time.”

I licked my lips, and his dilated gaze darted there before they went back to mine. He was so worried, so bothered by the fact that he could have pushed too far, that I didn’t stop the moan from leaving my throat before I grabbed him by the tusks and pulled him back to me.

The enthusiasm of the move made me fall backward, and my hold on his tusks pulled him with me. He braced himself as he fell, not pressing against me the way I wanted him to. I kissed him again, and he groaned, the low sound sending a flurry of butterflies in my stomach.

“Gruk-ir,” he gasped, turning his face from mine, and I pulled away to look at him.

“What?” I asked, my brain filled with lust-filled thoughts of what he would look like naked. Glorious , I was certain.

“Gruk-ir is outside. She’s expecting us back,” he whispered, pressing drugging, sensual kisses along my shoulder. My eyes were rolling back in my head, but I struggled to stay present.

“Right, we should stop,” I murmured, but I ran my feet over his heavy, thick calves, pinning him against me. “We should definitely stop.”

His low chuckle made me look at him. “I want to keep going,” he whispered. “But she’ll come looking for us soon. How about…” he trailed off, studying me the way that he always did, gauging my reaction. “How about we continue this later tonight? When she’s asleep?”

I nibbled on my lower lip, contemplating the idea.

I couldn’t lie and say I didn’t want to continue.

Not after mauling him multiple times. And he would never hurt me.

He’d had so many chances. So many opportunities, and instead, all he’d done was protect my daughter and I.

I took a deep, calming breath before giving him a slow nod.

“Okay,” I murmured, licking my lips.

Hope flared in his eyes and then they darted to my lips, lust burning there with such intensity, the heat almost scalded me. “Later,” he whispered as if he was promising it to himself, before he stood, holding out that huge palm for mine.

I took it without hesitation.