Page 8 of His Orc Warrior (Human Omegas for Monster Alphas #1)

Thrain

Lucas had to be bored. Had to be. I knew I was bored to death—of the game, at least. An orc, a human, any living being could only play so many rounds without driving themselves mad.

I’d moved the entire table of snacks and food closer to the small table we played on so it would be easier for him to eat.

In the hours we’d been here, no one else had shown up and while I’d hoped for a good turnout before, now I couldn’t give a shit. My mate sat across from me.

My stomach twisted, thinking that any moment Lucas would call this whole visit a bust and leave.

There had to be a way to make him stay.

“I win,” he said, flashing me that gorgeous smile again.

“You’re really good at this.”

His dimples grew deeper as I gathered all the cards up. “I usually suck at games but…I think you’re just really bad at it.” A giggle erupted from him and even though he was poking fun at me, it made my chest warm. What it would feel like to whisper something while I pumped inside him and made him laugh like that again. A sexy sound in the middle of the night.

“Maybe so. I, um, I only have this place rented until five, so I’d better get everything cleaned up.”

I expected him to leave. He was a guest here, a paid ticketholder, but instead, I watched him gather things and start to throw trash away.

“Lucas, you don’t have to do that. It’s my responsibility.”

“It’s okay. I don’t mind helping. I’m…I’m not ready to leave yet.”

That one statement made my cock bounce against my loincloth and I let out a growl. “Sorry. I wasn’t growling at you.”

The omega shrugged one shoulder. “I didn’t know orcs growled.”

“Only sometimes.” Mostly in the presence of our mates.

“That’s interesting. I didn’t know that. I read a lot of orc books but they are mostly romance.”

“Is that right? I’ve read some of those. They get some things right but some things are wrong.”

“Like what?”

I felt my cheeks heat up. “I read one series where the orc’s um…”

Lucas smiled. “Are you blushing, Thrain? Your cheeks became really, really green.”

Nodding, I busied my hands with folding the tablecloth so I didn’t reach out and touch him. I would’ve given anything to touch him. Even if it was only once. “I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“No, tell me. Come on. We’re friends after today, right?”

Friends. Sounded like a dirty word when all I could think of was mate. “Well, one of the series, um, the orc’s sperm tasted like spicy cinnamon and oranges. It was strange.”

“That’s a running theme in romance novels. Though cinnamon and orange is a new one.”

We talked for a few minutes about orc lore and how silly some things were.

Lucas even helped me bring everything to the car. When I shut the trunk, I knew I had to do something.

“I know this was just a meet and greet but I really like you, Lucas.”

His cheeks turned the most delicious shade of pink. “I like you too, Thrain. I’ll be honest, I thought I was going to come here today and be awkward and strange and hide in a corner only to leave shortly afterward, but I feel so comfortable around you. So…relaxed.”

That’s because you are my mate, sweet one.

“I’m glad. I would never want you to be afraid of me. Lucas, would you want to go out with me sometime? We could do dinner or a movie.”

Lucas bit down on his bottom lip. One day, I hoped to do that to him in turn. “I do want that but I have another idea.”

I took a step toward him as a group of loud humans walked by. The omega looked over at them and then back at me. Yeah, I was being protective already. Couldn’t be helped. I was an orc alpha and on top of that, a warrior to the core.

“You said you had an idea,” I prompted, wanting to get back to our conversation, though I had my eyes on everything around us.

“I do. How about you come over to my place and I cook dinner for you?”

Every cell in me lit up. He didn’t know what he was offering. A meal—for me—made by his own hands?

Every orc’s dream come true.

“I would absolutely love that. Oh…we should exchange numbers if you feel comfortable.”

He nodded and handed his phone over. “Call yourself from my phone. Then we will both have each other’s numbers.”

We did so and I watched as he saved my number in his contacts. “I…please text me when you’d like me to come for dinner. I can bring something. A dessert? Bread? My mother makes excellent bread from scratch.”

“Wow. I’ve always wanted to learn to bake. I will text you. Is…is tomorrow too soon?”

“Tomorrow is not too soon, Lucas.”

He blushed even harder. “That’s fantastic.” He wrung his hands together. “I…would you mind bending down a little?”

“What for?” I asked.

“Please, Thrain. Just a little.”

I bent at the waist, not able to deny him this request, even if I didn’t understand his end game.

And then Lucas, this sunshiny omega, kissed my cheek.

It was sweet and chaste, but somehow the touch of our skin together sealed him in my heart.

“Text me when you get home, okay?”

He scrunched his eyebrows together. “What for?”

“So I know you’re safe, omega. I won’t be able to sleep tonight if I don’t know.”

“Okay, Thrain. I can’t wait to see you again.”