Page 33 of Magic in His Arms

“You do have a blunt grasp of cursing.”

“I studied.Most male orcs do not like female-centric type insults, so that was easy and fun to put on his scalp.His hair won’t grow back either.That’s funny to me.”

“To me as well.He has just lost a lifetime of authority with this one stunt.”

“What’s funnier is if he makes a move against me or mine again, all of his limbs break at the same time.”She snickered.

Her bike came into view, and Tam-or sighed.

“What is the sigh for, Speaker?”

“Our time is coming to an end.”

“Is it?”She smiled and got taller with every step until she was eight feet tall.

He grinned, and his other aspect took over; energy patterns glowed through his clothing.They stopped next to her bike, and she looked at him.“Thank you for the talk.”

He nodded.“Can you think of something you want from my people so that I can negotiate for it?”

She touched his cheek and smiled.“What about a farewell kiss?What is the price of that?I rarely just get to talk shop.”

He thought about it.“The cost for a kiss from the speaker is the promise of a second kiss if our paths cross again.”

She looked at his banded tusks, the grey and green skin, and he bent to kiss her as soon as she said, “Deal.”

Never felt his lips against hers, tasted his breath, which was sweet and lemony, and then his mouth was firmly against hers.

The kiss reached into her soul and stroked all of her senses.She sighed and shifted closer.His arms wrapped around her, and he held her carefully.When his tongue stroked hers, she groaned softly.They continued to kiss standing there until he lifted his head.

It took her a few attempts to get control of her tongue.But she said, “You paid attention.”

He chuckled.“You said your sister looks sweet, likes it rough, so I guessed that you look like a warrior but rarely get sweet.”

She nodded.“Well-spotted.Well, I am heading back to the hospital.My sister has very specific snack requirements.I want to make sure they are met.”

“Thanks for honouring our traditions and doing things the right way.”

“As fun as going to holding and pulling her out by her nose was to imagine, I can be circumspect.I am surprised your shaman hasn’t bolted out here to try banishing me.”

“We don’t have one.Our shaman just passed at the age of one hundred eighty.”

“Ah.So, now you have to wait for another to be born.Rough.”

“Yes.With every pregnancy we watch.Nothing so far.”

“Wow.That must be unnerving for the pregnant women.An entire clan watching them.”

“It has been observed that creepy is a good descriptor.”He chuckled.

They were now back at normal size.He stroked her arms.

She saw her helmet and brought it to her with the flick of her fingers.“If I see you again, I will pay the price.”

He grinned.“Good, I like a woman who keeps her agreements.”

“I like a man who melts my knees when I’m eight feet tall.”

His eyes glowed.“Don’t tease.”