Page 29 of My Orc Contract Husband (Eastshore Isle #9)

Sami

Even after a year of marriage, Tarkhan still managed to surprise me.

This morning I thought we were just going to have a relaxing shower together, which I’d been excited about because I loved the way he massaged my scalp when he shampooed my hair. But the way he’d gone down on me as the water splayed across his back? Yes please.

But then, he’d turned me around, planted my hands around the grip bar, and slid into me from behind. My orgasm was immediate, and I rode his cock, my cries echoing around the shower as he began to move.

I loved the way he held my breasts, squeezing and pulling at the nipples, holding me almost off the tiled floor as he slammed into me. I felt stretched, pinned, adored .

Thanks to a year’s worth of experience, he knew exactly how to make me come, and I was ready long before he was, squeezing his cock in desperation. Tarkhan reached down, playing with my clitoris, sending me shooting over the edge of oblivion once more.

It wasn’t until he let me slide back down to support myself on shaking legs that I could feel the drip of his come down my aching thighs, and I smiled as I tipped my head back against his chest.

“Happy anniversary, dkaar ,” he murmured.

Oh hell yes.

In the last year, we’d grown—not just as individuals, but as a couple—and he’d been right about the Mating Bond.

I still don’t know if us being married first had affected the bond, but it was amazing how well I knew and understood Tarkhan now.

We knew each other’s bodies, we knew where each other were, and sometimes we could even feel each other’s emotions.

It was wild .

Sometimes Riven and I got together for girls’ night and ended up pausing the movie and just talking about how lucky we were that we’d found such amazing Mates. I would have never imagined either of us could be this fulfilled.

When Tarkhan bundled me up in the big fluffy bath towel, I sighed in happiness, even when he plopped me in the middle of the bedroom and smacked my ass lightly.

“Get dressed, I’ll make breakfast. I have something for you. ”

Briefly, I wondered if I could get away with putting on one of my favorite acronym shirts.

It would almost certainly result in Tarkhan carrying me back to the bedroom and calling me his good little slut as I came on his cock…

but today was a workday, and I had a showing in—I checked the clock—seventy-five minutes.

Sighing, I pulled out my favorite business skirt and a pretty green blouse Tarkhan told me matched my eyes.

I was pinning on my earrings when I joined him in the kitchen, where he was making sausage to go with the dozen-egg-and-spinach omelet he preferred.

I’d often teased him that we needed my inheritance just to keep up with his grocery bills, but the truth was, we did perfectly fine.

Real estate was booming on Eastshore, especially since the new condos opened, and Tarkhan’s talent was in high demand as a handyman on the island.

We were more than comfortable, and his workshop out back saw plenty of traffic. He’d already begun on our addition, but I told him not to rush, because I wasn’t looking forward to him having to knock out the living room wall just to add a few more bedrooms. Not if we didn’t need them yet.

“So, about that surprise?” I prompted as he slid a small section of eggs and sausage onto my plate.

To my surprise, my Mate flushed slightly as he sat across from me. “It’s not a surprise, really. Just something I wanted to talk to you about.”

I watched him pull a folded piece of paper—no, a bunch of papers—from his back pocket and raised my brow at him .

It wasn’t until he unfolded it and laid it in front of me that I realized what it was.

Our marriage contract.

“Tarkhan,” I began, but he interrupted me, one thick finger tapping on the front page.

“We signed this three hundred and sixty-five days ago, Sami. But do you remember the deadline?”

I did. “A year and a day,” I murmured.

“I don’t want tomorrow to be the end.” My eyes widened at his words, even as I watched him take a deep shuddering breath. “Sami, I love you. I want to stay married to you tomorrow, next week, next decade . We’re Mates.”

“Oh, Tarkhan.” My fork clattered to my plate as I lunged across the table to scoop up the papers. “Really? That’s what’s been worrying you?” I shook my head. “This contract didn’t say we had to stop being married after a year and a day.”

“Yes it did,” he said solemnly.

“It says we only have to stay married for a year and a day.” I grasped the tri-folded papers in both hands. “We’re Mated , and that means we’re stuck together forever, mister.” With a flourish, I ripped the contract in half.

At least, that was my intention.

Folded like they were, the papers were too thick, and I wasn’t strong enough. Screwing up my face in concentration, I tried again. Then there was a scrape of the chair being pushed back, and suddenly Tarkhan was behind me, his hands over mine .

“Together?” he whispered in my ear.

With his strength, we easily tore the marriage contract in half.

I let the papers fall to the table—likely getting covered in sausage juice—as I turned and buried my face against his chest, wrapping my arms around his waist. “I love you,” I mumbled against his T-shirt, and felt him smile.

“Happy anniversary, Mate.”

And that’s what we were: Mates. We would be Mates until our dying day, and there was something incredibly fulfilling about that.

Who knows how long we might’ve stayed there, holding one another, had Tarkhan’s phone not buzzed. He heaved a put-upon sigh and straightened to pull it from his pocket.

“Hello?” he snapped, but as he listened, I watched his body language change.

He pulled away from me, his breath catching, his gaze going to mine, eyes widening in what I thought was hope and excitement.

After a long time listening, he nodded once.

“Yeah. Yeah, that would be great. I’ll talk with Sami, and we’ll meet you here this afternoon. ”

When he ended the call, I was already on my feet, wringing my hands. I had guessed what it was about but hadn’t really dared to hope. Not after so many disappointments.

“Tarkhan?” I whispered.

“That was the social worker,” he announced, holding my gaze. He took a deep breath, held it, then burst into a grin. “She’s bringing a four-year-old boy from the mainland, they’ll be here at three. His name is Ethan, and he’s our first foster placement.”

The sound I made could only be called a whoop as I threw myself into his arms. As he spun me about, I realized we were both laughing.

A foster son! We were going to have a little boy living with us!

We knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but it was worth it. Tarkhan’s long-ago dream had become my dream, and now we were finally going to see it fulfilled. We would help make the world a better place, in memory of Torrah.

And really, wasn’t that what marriage was all about? Helping each other fulfill our dreams?

Our spin slowed, but he clutched me to him, our foreheads pressed against each other’s, our smiles wide.

“I love you, Sami.”

My heart was full. How had this worked out so perfectly, so beautifully? My contract husband becoming my whole world? I pressed a kiss on his nose.

“And I love you, my perfect Mate.”