Page 50 of Horn in My Side

Brown doe eyes bulged. “We’re having all of this?”

“Yes.”

She actually let out a little squeak. “You’ll have to roll me out of here. But, Mal, this must cost—”

He held a hand up. “Remember what you told me today? About telling you you’re wrong if you complain about how I spoil you with money? Well, you’re wrong, Jasmine.”

“Fine.” But she said it with an adorable pout. “Spoil away.”

The waiter arrived to drop off an amuse-bouche, then took their orders.

“This really is nice, Mal,” she began, taking a nibble at the edge of the tiny lobster-and-caviar bruschetta. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. You deserve this treat.” And she really did, with all the hard work she’d been putting in at the shop, for the animals, and for Clawdia. “And you look beautiful.”

She tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “Thank you.” Her skin was like gold under the soft glow of the mood lighting around them, her brown eyes soft and inviting. Time slowed and the air around them turned soundless. This felt like the moment to tell her.

“Jasmine—”

A soft buzzing sound made her start. “Sorry.” She reached for her phone inside her purse. “Might be the gnomes.” Glancing at the screen, she went pale.

The tendons in his neck tensed. “What’s wrong? Is it the shop?”

“I . . . No.” She put the phone face down on the table. “It’s Housen Hatchery.”

“Housen Hatchery?”

“That’s the place that sent us Clawdia.” Her fingers skittered at the edge of the table. “They’ve actually been calling for a while.”

“How long?”

Guilt flashed across her face. “About a week now?”

“A we—” His voice rang out in the quiet atmosphere of the dining room, so he lowered his volume a couple notches. “A week? Why didn’t you say anything to me? Have they been harassing you all this time?”

“This is only, like, the third call,” she clarified. “And remember what the lawyer said? We’re not obligated to tell them about Clawdia. So, I figured I don’t have to pick up the phone and talk to them.”

“Good.” Still, he did not like that they were bothering Jasmine. “If they insist, tell them you want their demands in writing.” That’s what Nakamoto had advised, to leave a paper trail. “And like I said, I have your back on this.”

“I know, thank you, Mal. And I’m sorry to have to drag you into this fight. Don’t worry, once I get the loan, it won’t be your mess anymore.”

Dread seeped into his chest.

She doesn’t think I’ll be around.

And if he were perfectly honest with himself, he didn’t know if he would be around.

“Here are your drinks.” The waiter placed two glasses of wine in front of them. “Your first course is on the way.”

“Thank you,” Jasmine said. She glanced at the menu, excitement on her face. “Ooh! That’s the caviar spheres with fresh herbs. I can’t wait.”

Despite the distraction of the sumptuous meal, Mal couldn’t stop thinking about why he couldn’t just say “I love you” to her.

He’d never felt this way about anyone before and he had no reference or experience to guide him in what to do.

It was like doing a renovation job without a contract or a plan and not having the right tools for the job.

“This meal was amazing,” Jasmine gushed as she finished off the dessert course—a panna cotta sphere literally floating over a pool of mango puree. “Mal, I can’t thank you enough. Really.”

Seeing her happy was enough for him. “You’re very welcome.”

After they finished dinner, they took a taxi back to their hotel and headed up to their suite. “I’m gonna get ready. I brought a little surprise for you.” She winked at him over her shoulder as she sauntered into the bathroom.

Mal walked over to the bed and sat down on the mattress, loosening his tie and then tossing it aside.

When the door opened, Jasmine called, “Hey.”

“Hey, you’re—” He nearly swallowed his tongue at the sight of Jasmine leaning against the doorjamb, wearing a white lace bra that pushed her tits up, a skimpy pair of thong panties, and white stockings.

“Do you like it?” she asked as she approached him.

He answered by lifting her up and laying her down on the bed. “You’re so beautiful,” he whispered against her skin as he nuzzled her neck.

“Mal,” she moaned.

He wanted it to be like this forever, to just hold her and be alone with her, without a care for the outside world.

His hands roamed over her lush curves and soft skin, memorizing how they felt.

Catching her mouth with his, he kissed her tenderly, his lips caressing hers with an aching gentleness that pulled at his chest.

“Need you so bad. Need you.” His claws slashed at the thin straps of her thong to expose her to his touch.

How he managed to unzip his pants with shaking hands, he didn’t know, especially with his cock fully swollen.

He pointed the tip at her entrance, rubbing his lube all over before he thrust all the way in.

She screamed his name as she raked her fingers down his back.

Despite their hurried start, Mal took his time.

He moved with slow, deep movements, kissing and licking and touching, memorizing the feel and smell and taste of her, pouring his emotions into her.

While he couldn’t say the words out loud, he would tell her this way that he would do anything for her—build her a million hatching tanks, slay her a hydra, walk through fire, just to please her.

He wanted to make this moment last, to burn it into his memory so that he would never forget how she tasted, felt, and smelled.

How beautiful she was whenever she came around him.

“Mal!” she cried out once more, after what was probably her second or third orgasm. “I can’t. You have to . . .”

“One more, ashak’a,” he urged. “One more for me.”

This time, he picked up his pace, gathering her tight against him as he bucked into her. “Such a good girl . . . You can do it. Squeeze me with that pretty pussy while you come. Do it—come, Jasmine.”

She moaned against his chest, her body writhing as her inner walls spasmed around him.

The pressure became too much, all the synapses firing in his brain at the same time. “Jasmine,” he growled as he rocked into her. “I lo—” The strangled groan ripping from his throat mercifully drowned out the rest as the pressure released.

Breathing hard, he crumpled on top of her. After a moment, he rolled away and pulled her on top of him. He held her like that, enjoying the feel of her in his arms until she wiggled off.

“Sorry, need to use the bathroom,” she called out as she hopped off.

Sighing, Mal stared up at the ceiling. He had almost told her he loved her. How come even then, in the throes of passion, when he let go of everything and was at his most uninhibited, he couldn’t say the words aloud?

Grunting, he hauled himself up and swung his legs over the side of the bed.

She’d looked so godsdamned sexy in that lingerie that he couldn’t even wait to get his clothes off to fuck her.

He rose up to right himself, when the soft thud of his cellphone hitting the carpeted floor caught his attention.

As he bent down to pick it up, he noticed the envelope icon on the top of the screen, indicating he had an email in his work mailbox.

But who would be emailing him at this time of night?

He sat back down on the bed and opened the email app, every muscle in his body tensing as he read the subject line.

From: [email protected]

To: [email protected]

Subject: Congratulations, Mal of Urduk Horde

Dear Mal,

We are pleased to inform you that the elders have accepted your bid for the construction of the new Historical Center.

After reviewing many applications, the elders feel your bid demonstrated the best combination of technical knowledge, competitive pricing, and an appreciation for the preservation of our culture and history.

Please find attached the official contract, as well as more details of scope of work, requirements, payment terms, and other important documents.

Please reply to this email or contact me at the Historical Society at your earliest convenience.

We look forward to working with you.

In glorious victory,

Grok of Harvik Horde

Coordinator-in-charge

Orc Historical Society

Mal couldn’t breathe as he sat there, reading and re-reading the email. He tapped at the refresh button over and over again, waiting for a follow-up email with the subject “Re: Oops, sorry we made a mistake.” But the email confirming that he had, indeed, been chosen remained on top.

He’d done it. After all the work, all the waiting, this moment was finally here.

And now, he didn’t even know if he wanted it.

“Mal?”

His head jerked up. “Yes?”

Jasmine padded over to him. “Everything okay? You look like you’ve heard some bad news.”

“What? No.” He tossed his phone onto the bedside table like it had been made of hot coals. “Just tired.”

The corner of her mouth tugged up, then she straddled his lap, legs hanging off the side of his knees. “You just spoil me so much. Too much.”

“No such thing.” He cupped the side of her cheek. “You deserve it.”

Leaning down, she kissed him, then swung off his legs.

“Why don’t you get changed and we can go to bed?

Slip into something more comfortable, like I did.

” She motioned down to her pajama shorts set.

It was baby blue and had small prints of capybaras.

“Not as sexy as the other one I was wearing, huh?”

“You look absolutely sexy and beautiful.” And she really was, just standing there, breathing and being her.

She threw her head back and laughed, as if they were sharing a joke. “Oh yeah, I’m sexy all right.” She rubbed at her belly. “And look at this food baby right here. I’m surprised you didn’t get turned off.”

I want to put real babies in there.

“Nothing about your body could turn me off.” He pulled her in for a kiss. “But you’re right.” He got to his feet. “I should get changed.”

“Bathroom’s all yours.”

Mal brushed past her, her perfume still tickling his nose. He closed the door behind him, buried his face in his hands and groaned.

Who knew shit sometimes came in the form of the universe giving you what you wanted?