Page 4 of How the Orc Stole Christmas

JULES

K las avoided me for the next several days, but I had no shortage of helpers.

Sadly, they weren’t the ones I wanted. Story of my life.

I always chased after the men who didn’t want me.

If I spoke to a shrink, he’d probably say that was because I was always seeking attention from my parents who had replaced me with a new family.

Only, Klas hadn’t replaced me. He never wanted me in the first place.

Though, I had often wondered through the years if my parents had ever really wanted me, too. Was there something about me that was unloveable?

The orcs in the village didn’t think so, and even some of the minotaurs in the neighboring herd were joining in on the fun, trying to attract my attention.

But none of them were the grumpy orc I wanted.

Olivia told me to keep my options open and to be patient, but even I could see tempers flaring the longer my decision dragged on.

But none of the orcs interested me like Klas did.

I had hoped he was changing his mind when he rescued me from the fire and the hotheads who lost their tempers, but he left me hanging yet again. A girl could only take so much rejection. It was time I moved on. I mean, how attached could I have become after only a day or so with Klas?

Olivia had a great idea to occupy my suitors.

Use them to help us prepare for the Christmas celebrations.

We started at the communal dinner fire, explaining what Christmas is and our plans to celebrate it.

Predictably, the human females were excited while the orcs were skeptical.

I caught Klas’s expression as he scoffed at our plans, though he said little.

One of the orcs, Bakh I think he was, raised his hand, which was cute. “You bring trees inside your hut? Intentionally? Why?”

I exchanged glances with Olivia, and she stepped forward. “Specific types of trees. We call them pine trees. They have needles, not leaves, and keep their needles all year long. We decorate them and put presents under them.”

The orcs murmured among themselves, clearly confused by the entire process.

“The tree, or even other greenery like wreaths and boughs, represent hope and life during the winter when everything is sleeping and is dark. It brightens the winter season. There are some religious aspects, too, but we’ll focus on the other stuff. ”

Jarrus, the minotaur second mate of Olivia, slowly stood. “We could use some hope right now. It’s been a long, cold season, with random attacks by King Tarfu. We could use some joy, especially for the younglings.”

I hadn’t spent much time with Jarrus, but he had seemed to be more of a thinker, someone who took his time to consider options before rendering his opinion. The herd respected his opinion and the orcs followed.

Once everyone appeared to be on board, except the grinch in the back, we divided up the responsibilities and agreed to meet up in the afternoon tomorrow to see how everyone had done.

I looked for Klas to give him a task, but he had disappeared.

I stifled my disappointment and let Bakh walk me home, trying to see him as anything other than an eager young male who was more a younger brother than a potential mate.

We got to my door, and he paused, shuffling his feet and glancing around. I finally took pity on him. “Was there anything else, Bakh?”

He flushed a darker shade of green, which I’d learned was a blush for them, and he stared at my lips.

Oh lord, he wanted to kiss me. Was I ready for that?

If it had been Klas, I would have already been leaning in, but Bakh was more like a brother, or cousin, not someone I had feelings for.

He was certainly quite handsome, with a lean build and strong muscles.

He tended to wear a fur lined vest and three-quarter pants, like most orcs, as if they didn’t feel the cold of winter, so it showed off a good part of his body.

While he had a body that a cover model would die for, he didn’t do anything for me.

But I had to try, right? I had told Olivia I would give them a chance, see if someone would be a good mate, after she had explained there was no way to get back to earth. I had to find a place here with the clan.

I was finding my niche, working with their healer to help the human females with their pregnancies, and it was so rewarding.

Honestly, I was making friends and had a position that I enjoyed.

In a week, I felt more a part of a community than I had in three years at the hospital in Phoenix.

I was needed here and people cared about me, though some of them hoped I would be their baby-maker.

I wouldn’t mind finding someone to share my life with.

Seeing how those mates doted on their females had incited a longing inside of me for a family that I had suppressed for far too long.

But the only male who interested me avoided me like I was a plague-carrier.

Bakh scuffed his foot and looked at me shyly. “May I kiss you?”

Aww, he was so sweet. He even asked permission. I felt so old right now. But I smiled and raised up on my tiptoes and brushed his lips with mine. And, as I suspected. Nothing.

Bakh put an arm around me and pulled me closer and kissed me deeper, finally taking some measure of control. His lips were firm against mine and it was a decent kiss, but there were no sparks, no fire in my belly. We drew back and Bakh studied me regretfully.

“We’re not mates, are we?”

“I’m sorry, Bakh. I don’t think so.”

His shoulders slumped, but he nodded. “I didn’t think so, but I had to try. Thank you.”

I took his arm. “We can still be friends.”

He gave me a dejected smile, nodded and melted away in the night. I felt someone watching me. I looked into the night, letting my eyes adjust to the darkness, and saw Klas watching me with burning eyes. I crossed my arms in front of the chest and arched my eyebrow at him.

He stalked out of the darkness and loomed over me. “That wasn’t much of a kiss. He’s not your mate?”

“Do you care?”

“I want you to select one so our males can refocus on their job defending our community,” he growled.

“Or maybe you’re jealous that he kissed me. Why else were you following us?” I challenged him.

He stepped so close that I was forced to look up at him. “Maybe I was protecting you. Or looking out for Bakh. If you break his heart, he could take chances that could place us at risk.”

I laughed at his ridiculous explanation. “Do you hear yourself? You’re making so sense.”

He stared down at me, his gaze burning. Suddenly, he wrapped his arm around him and pulled me against his body and lowered his lips to mine, claiming my lips in a firm kiss.

His lips were nothing like Bakh's tentative touch.

Klas kissed like he fought, when I watched him train the younger orcs,—with absolute certainty and overwhelming power.

His mouth claimed mine, hot and demanding, stealing my breath and my anger all at once.

The arm around my waist pulled me flush against his chest, and I gasped at the heat radiating from his skin.

My hands flew up instinctively to push him away, but the moment my palms pressed against his chest, something electric shot through me.

My fingers curled into his shirt instead, holding on as my knees went weak.

His tusks pressed against my cheeks, not uncomfortable like I'd imagined, but thrilling—a reminder of his otherworldliness that made my heart race faster.

He tasted like ale, and when his tongue swept across my bottom lip, I opened to him without thinking.

The kiss deepened, and I heard myself make a small, desperate sound that should have embarrassed me.

Instead, it seemed to fire him up. His grip tightened, one large hand sliding up my back to tangle in my hair.

This wasn't just a kiss anymore—it was a conversation without words, an argument, a challenge.

Each stroke of his tongue against mine felt like he was trying to prove something, but all he was proving was how perfectly we fit together.

The rough pads of his fingers against my scalp sent shivers down my spine, and I pressed closer, wanting more of his heat, more of this impossible connection that made my skin feel too tight and my chest ache with need.

When he finally broke the kiss, I swayed forward, chasing his lips before I could stop myself.

His breath came in harsh pants that matched my own, and I could feel his heart thundering against my palms where they still gripped his shirt.

I forced my eyes open, not sure when I'd closed them, and found him staring down at me with an expression of shocked recognition that probably mirrored my own.

“That wasn’t—” he started to say, his voice rough.

“Shut up,” I whispered, and pulled him back down to me.

This time he came willingly, a growl rumbling deep in his chest as his mouth crashed into mine.

The gentleness of before was gone, replaced by raw hunger that matched the fire burning through my veins.

His tusks scraped my chin as he changed angles, deepening the kiss until I could barely remember my own name.

I needed to be closer. My fingers released his the edges of his vest to slide around his neck, feeling the powerful muscles there flex under my touch.

He responded by backing me up until I hit the rough wood of my hut, using his height to cage me in completely.

The cool night air didn't stand a chance against the heat of his body pressed against mine.

A burst of laughter from the direction of the communal fire shattered the moment. Klas jerked back as if I'd burned him, his chest heaving. In the dim light, his eyes glowed like embers, and the sight of his kiss-swollen lips sent another wave of want through me.

But he was already stepping away, putting space between us. His hands clenched into fists at his sides.

“Make up your mind, Jules,” he growled, voice still rough with desire. “Stop playing games. Choose a mate—any mate—but choose soon.”

Before I could respond, he turned and stalked away into the darkness, leaving me trembling on my doorstep with my heart trying to beat its way out of my chest. The ghost of his kiss still burned on my lips, and I knew with absolute certainty that no other kiss would ever compare.

But he didn't want to be my mate. He'd made that perfectly clear.

Sinteklas

I thought about that kiss all night. I even had to take my cock in hand twice to get some relief.

Spending any time around Jules was testing my control.

My temper was shorter than usual and I was more irritable even in training.

As a result, I took to the forests to hunt alone the next morning, hoping to avoid the ridiculous celebration preparations.

I’d need stock up on meat if I was bringing home a hound puppy, anyway.

I would not be able to leave it for long for a month or two.

Kharag said I could pick a puppy in two days.

I checked my traps and had a few rabbits. I also shot a buck, which would bring a good amount of meat for our stores. I was headed back with the buck and rabbits when something made me stop, something Jules had said coming to the forefront of my mind.

In front of me stood a tree with needles.

The only green tree in the area. She had sketched what this tree should look like, the tree you put in your home.

It was a triangle shape, not too big, not too small.

It had to fit inside and be of a pleasing shape.

I was looking at what appeared to be the perfect tree for Jules.

I had vowed not to get involved with that ridiculous holiday. Yet it brought her joy.

I remembered her talking about it, the traditions and customs, and her excitement.

She almost glowed with it. This tree would make her happy.

I knew she was struggling since she came here.

Many human females who came through a portal struggled initially.

Caroline, one of the orc mates, cried for a month.

Shannon wouldn’t talk to anyone for almost three months.

Olivia had settled nicely, but she had a mentor at her auction.

Jules was learning, working with our healer, but I know the males were trying her patience.

Tempers were wearing thin among the males as they battled each other to show their worth.

I could have told them, skill in battle was not how you won a mate.

I should know. I lost one that same way.

It was many years ago and not worth dwelling on, but females wanted more from their males than battle skill.

I had to figure out how to bring a tree, a buck and rabbits all back to the village, several miles. I quickly built a travois, chopped the tree, then loaded it with the tree and the buck, and headed for the village. He finally got back late in the afternoon.

“Ho, Klas. What do you have there?” One of the sentries, Bakh, called out.

I was pleased to see him returning to duty and not despondent over his rejection. “A buck and a couple of rabbits.”

Bakh joined me. “Looks like you got something else. Is that a tree?”

I avoided his knowing gaze. “Jules mentioned she was looking for something like this. I thought she might like it.”

He clapped me on the shoulder. “She’d make a fine mate. None of the other trees have been as nice as this one.”

I shrugged. “Let me get the meat to the stores before it spoils.”

He chuckled and returned to his post. I dragged the travois through the village, stopping to unload the deer. I headed for the center, where everyone had already gathered with their assignments. Multiple orcs had trees and Bakh was right. My tree was the nicest.

Jules’ eyes widened when she saw me coming, a tree slung over my shoulder. She hurried over, moving to the side to inspect the tree. She clapped her hands in delight. “Klas, this is a beautiful tree. Perfect for our celebration! We could use it right here.”

I shook my head. “No, this is for your hut.”

Her smile grew even bigger. “I love it. Thank you, Klas. But you have to help me decorate it.”

I sighed. But secretly, I was looking forward to time with her.