Page 73 of Falling for the Orc All-Star

“I lived on my parents’ terms for a long time, and sometimes I was put into situations I hated. I finally have a situation with you. That I like. With something that feels real and comfortable. I don’t want her to pick it apart. To tell me you’re too young for me. That I’m not supposed to be interested in some sexy young hockey player.”

“You’re still interested?”

“So much. More than I thought possible. I don’t want anyone to burst my bubble. Everyone here just seems so happy that we’re together.”

“Because they like you. And for some reason—they like me. Probably because I can shoot a puck past the goalie five out of seven times,” he mutters.

“Sure. And now because you’re the local hero. The guy who went and read “Pine Ridge Pumpkin Tales” to the second-graders. The guy who spoke to the high school about helping old people get pets. The guy who talks up everyone and everything. Even me.” It’s my turn to fight as the smile drops off my face, and my lips tremble.

Halloween, and all the masks come off.

“I don’t believe you were arrogant. I believe you didn’t realize how much you could hype up people, how much love you could give them, so you just focused all your attention on yourself.”

“It’s hard to do that if you’ve never been in love before. Maybe?”

At that, I have to nod vigorously. This feeling of falling, and rushing, and yearning, and clinging... And yet, you end each day happier and better? “Probably. I was never in love before, either. Not like this.”

King’s eyebrows rise. “Did you say you’re in love?”

I lick my lips. “Yeah.”

He sits back, stares, then leans forward, cupping my cheeks. “With me, right?”

“Yes, skates-for-brains, with you.” I push myself up to kiss his lips. “I was just teasing. I love your brain.”

The knot in my stomach unravels slowly, as if someone were carefully unpicking a tangle of nerves, fears, and emotions.

My hands glide up his legs. His chest. “I love your body.”

“Mm.” The next kiss is directed by my sexy Orc boyfriend, and it’s hungry and sweet. Long and drawn out. “I love your body. Your hips. Your thighs. Your breasts. That perfect little spot where your stomach is all soft and pillowy.”

“Only you could make me want to keep my problem area, the thing I’ve been trying to get rid of for the last six years,” I groan.

“You do, and I’ll rebel. I’ll... I’ll convince the dogs to join me. We’ll bark and chant until you admit that you are as fine as fuck and every part of you is huggable and delicious.” King hauls me into his lap, hands mauling the black nylon top I’m wearing. Fingers dig in—and the shirt is in two pieces.

“Hey!”

“You’re lucky I can’t run right now, because if I could, I would chase you, catch you, and mate you right here, anywhere I could catch you. You love me. I love you.” King grunts against my neck and rocks his hips against mine. “I thought I might have to let you go. Now... Do I get to keep you?”

Keep me.

My throat freezes after a long, low moan escapes it.

Keepme?

What a beautiful, wonderful, terrifying thought.

But isn’t that what the goal of real love is? To last?

“You want this to last?” I whisper, letting him tear, letting him thrust, and giving it back as good as I get. My hands ball up his jersey,and I scramble to get it over his head, so my chest can melt into that smooth, muscular green oasis.

“Want me to prove it? A little ritual on a holy night?”

“What kind of ritual?”

“A little anointing.” King arches one eyebrow, and everything in me turns to molten liquid. The knot in my middle comes back, but this time as a steady throb, pounding between my thighs.

“A little magic?” I rise and pull him carefully with me. King uses me as one crutch and braces against the wall in place of the other.