Page 2 of My Orc Pen Pal (Mated to the Monster: Season 3)

Akhmim

“Gods below, Tarkhan!” I bellowed, pounding on the bathroom door. “Your armpits are clean enough! Get out of there!”

My only answer was the sound of the shower and a quiet snort behind me.

I turned to glare, but Aswan merely twitched a dark brow and went back to the sauce he was stirring over the stove in the kitchen. Hells, this apartment was too small for all of us! I don’t know how Simbel and Memnon had been able to share a space for so long.

“Fuck,” I muttered and began to pace.

“You look fine,” Aswan said without looking over at me. “Everything’s clean, your shirt is buttoned properly, and you brushed your hair after your shower. What do you need in there?”

I resisted the urge to flush and stammer out an excuse. I was the youngest of the four of us, but not by much, and Aswan fussed over all of us. So I shoved my hands in the pockets of my jeans and grumbled, “Condoms.”

At that response, clearly unexpected, the other male placed down the large wooden spoon he’d been holding in his thick green fingers, and turned to give me his whole attention. “Confident, are we? This is your first date with Rosemary.”

I scowled, because yeah , maybe it was, but then again, I’ve known her— her , the real her —for months. So I turned away and mumbled something about being prepared.

After a moment, Aswan offered, “There’s some under the sink in our bathroom. You’d better use them before they expire.”

Did condoms expire? I didn’t know. To be fair, before coming to the human world, I hadn’t dreamed of anything like them, much less why I’d want to sheath my cock before claiming a female, but Tarkhan and his exploits—his many, many exploits—had been an education in itself.

Apparently, humans could pass diseases to one another through their pussies! Who knew!

But that wasn’t why I needed these tonight…

I was tucking a second one into my wallet as I came out of the house’s main bedroom, and thus didn’t realize Aswan hadn’t gone back to his cooking.

“You know, there’s no risk of pregnancy with a human female unless you’re Mated.” His words were casual, as if he was trying to teach me something without being obvious about it.

So I lifted one brow in challenge and met his eyes. “ I know .”

Both of his dark eyes widened. “She’s the one? This Rosemary you’ve been talking about for months? The reason we had to move here?”

I hid my wince as I turned away from the kitchen, stepping in front of the mirror always-vain Tarkhan had hung in the living room— to reflect sunlight , he claimed. I pulled my hair over one shoulder and began to braid it, hoping Aswan would take the hint.

When Sakkara had reached out to us and offered us a place on Eastshore Isle, the haven he was building here on the East Coast, the four of us were initially hesitant. After all, we’d built a home for ourselves in Bramblewood, and the thought of leaving was difficult.

Of course, Tarkhan was always up for an adventure, although I suspected he’d voted yes merely because he’d run out of females to date in the small mountain town. We hadn’t expected Abydos to agree to the move, mainly because he didn’t have anything good to say about humans, but he had, for his own reasons.

Aswan had the most difficult choice. He’d built a place for himself as the executive chef at one of the town’s most successful restaurants. Of course he wanted to stay in Bramblewood Bluff.

And me?

I was happy in Bramblewood. Happy enough, at least. I had a remote job with a good company, my friends, and Rosemary’s emails to look forward to. I’d been interested to hear her insights into the pros and cons of such a move.

But as soon as I’d heard she lived on Eastshore, every other consideration ceased to matter.

I’d voted yes to the move and gone out and sold my house right away. As much as it would have pained me, I would have moved to Eastshore without the others, just for her. But it turned out, I didn’t need to because they’d all agreed it was time to be with our own kind once more.

Our brothers.

And now that we were here? Well, it wasn’t quite the transition we were expecting. For one thing, it turned out that temporary housing—rentals—were rare on Eastshore, which is why we were all?—

“We have got to find a bigger house!” announced Tarkhan as he slammed the bathroom door open, the steam wafting through the space and mixing with the scent of the pasta sauce on the stove. “Or I’m going to find my own place.”

“Please do,” I heard Aswan mutter from the kitchen as I turned around.

And promptly wished I didn’t.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake, Tarkhan.” I surged back, jerking my palm up to block my view of him. All of him. “Did you run out of towels?”

My cousin planted his hands on his hips and smiled toothily, his tusks becoming more prominent. “And deprive you of this glorious sight? I would never be so cruel.”

I switched my gaze to the ceiling. Much better. “Thanks for thinking of us, but I’d rather you turn around.”

Nodding solemnly, Tarkhan did as I requested, but didn’t move further. “More of an ass man?” he deadpanned, glancing at me over his shoulder. “I understand. I’ve been told I have a very alluring butt.”

When he squeezed the muscles in his cheeks, as if flexing to show off, I slammed my gaze upward again, suddenly very, very glad I hadn’t barged into the bathroom for those condoms after all. Tarkhan and I shared thi hall bathroom, because Tarkhan slept in the small secondary bedroom, while Aswan and Abydos, being brothers, shared the larger one when Abydos was on the island instead of dealing with his business.

As much as I hated to admit it, with him standing there flexing his ass at me, Tarkhan was right. We all needed more space.

With a satisfied smack of his own rear, my cousin crossed to the living room and plopped down on the couch, crossing one leg over the other. Aswan turned to him, spoon raised.

“Remove your testicles. From. My. Couch.” Each word was a low hiss, but Tarkhan just smirked.

“I’m dry. I’m clean. What does it matter?”

“It matters because I have to sit there,” growled Aswan. “Get off. ”

“Oh, I don’t think you want me getting off on your couch.” Tarkhan pretended wide-eyed innocence. “Unless you’re into a weird kink I don’t know?—”

“Enough!” I held up both hands, a little surprised when it stopped their bickering. “We do need more space.”

To my surprise, Aswan’s expression turned speculative. “Well, perhaps you’ll be out of here soon.”

“Oooh yeah,” Tarkhan smirked. “With your Mate . Cilantro? Oregano?”

I flicked him off and refused to correct him. “She’s special. I’m looking forward to meeting her.” That was an understatement. I could barely breathe for excitement at finally gazing into her eyes. But I wasn’t going to give Tarkhan more ammunition to tease me.

My Kteer thrummed deep in my chest. It was a part of me in the same way my liver or my voice box was; something I noticed but rarely acknowledged. It was a sense all orcs had, something from our distant evolutionary past that had kept us alive when we lived in a more primitive time.

Or a more primitive place.

Since coming through the veil to the humans’ world, I’d mostly been able to ignore my Kteer . But in the last few months, it had become active, and I had a suspicion why.

Rosemary.

“It’s almost six,” Aswan announced, striding toward me. He halted in front of me, giving me an inspection that started with my braid, seemed to check that my shirt was nicely pressed, and included him sniffing. “You look great. Go have fun with your Rosemary.”

Just like Aswan, always taking care of us. I don’t know what he was going to do now that we were here on Eastshore Isle, and he didn’t have his restaurant to fuss over…but he deserved happiness. I hope he found it. I hope we all found it.

As for me?

I grabbed the keys of my Jeep as I hurried out the door.

I couldn’t be certain, but my Kteer was telling me that happiness was close.

Ro

I couldn’t believe how nervous I was while waiting to meet Akhmim. I mean, I had no reason to believe he wouldn’t be punctual, and he’d emailed me as he’d left, saying he was ten minutes away…

And that was probably why I was out on my front walk, pacing.

I lived on the backside of the island, off Seahorse Lane, with a great view of the salt marsh, and not a lot of people to see me acting like a crazy woman. Stop biting your nails, you’ll ruin your manicure .

Right. I exhaled, forcing my hands down my sides and hips. “ Right . ”

No need to be nervous. This is just Akhmim! You know Akhmim! Good ol’ Akhmim, your friend.

Right.

And I have to admit, as soon as I realized the Jeep heading toward me was going to turn into my driveway, I suddenly felt a lot calmer. Like… Whatever was going to happen was going to happen, and I couldn’t stop it, so I might as well have fun with it.

But when he stepped out of the driver’s seat, his admiring gaze stroking me like a lover’s hands, I…

Lover’s hands? That’s where you went with that?

Well, who could blame me? I might not have ever thought of orcs as hot , but I’d never met Akhmim before either.

“Rosemary?” he croaked hopefully, his voice raspier than I expected.

Nodding, I lifted my hand in a completely awkward little wave. “Hi, Akhmim.”

Hoooooboy. He was gorgeous ; as tall as every other orc on Eastshore, yeah, with tusks and green skin and everything I’d come to expect. But his hair was longer than any orc I’d seen, in a thick braid over one shoulder…and he had a really sweet smile.

Or maybe I only thought it was sweet because I knew him?

He’d crossed the yard, somehow missing the ornamental bird feeder and the baby palmetto, without taking his eyes off me. Now he cleared his throat, so his voice sounded more normal when he said, “Nice to finally meet you,” and thrust out his hand.

Without hesitation, I took his hand, thinking he just wanted to shake it, but he enveloped my hand with both of his and just stood there, staring at me.

It should have been weird.

Okay, from the outside, it was weird.

But honestly? I was busy staring at him too.

And trying to tamp down on the shivers currently running up and down my spine at whatever had sparked between us as soon as he’d touched me.

“I’m so glad you agreed to meet me,” he murmured. Then that grin of his turned crooked. “And when I said nice to meet you , I don’t think that fully conveyed how momentous this occasion actually is.”

My smile bloomed because there was the Akhmim I knew.

It was crazy, that I felt as if I knew this male so well, having never met him, or spoken to him in person. But in the last months, we’d shared everything from behind the safety of our computer screens.

“I’m really glad to meet you too,” I managed, knowing my cheeks were flushed.

Finally, he released my gaze to glance over my outfit. “You look…amazing.”

I was known on the island for making some of my outfits, and the off-the-shoulder pale pink dress I’d chosen for tonight was no exception. As I was getting dressed, I was a little afraid it was too short for the occasion, but right now, with him looking at me so approvingly?

I felt just right.

“Thanks.” I tried to squeeze his hand, although since he was so much bigger, I wasn’t sure it had any effect. “You’re pretty hot yourself.”

Instead of smirking, Akhmim’s gaze slammed back into mine, his eyes wide. “Really? You…you’re not just saying that?”

Huh. It was the vulnerability I saw in his expression that tugged me closer. I slid my arm through his and tipped my head back to softly smile up at him. “I’m not, Akhmim. I’m really glad to meet you, and I know I was surprised as hell when you suggested we have dinner tonight, but you know what?”

“What?” he breathed, staring down at me with what looked like awe.

My smile grew. “I can’t wait. Let’s go have some flounder sandwiches.”

For a moment, his expression clouded. “That’s…not a euphemism I’m aware of?—”

Laughing, I tugged him toward his Jeep. “It’s The Waterfront’s specialty, and what I’m in the mood for! Let’s go eat, Akhmim!”

“Lead the way,” he murmured. “I’ll follow you anywhere.”

And although I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to have heard it, the words made me warm inside.

Yep, I was definitely looking forward to tonight.