Page 5 of My Orc Pen Pal (Mated to the Monster: Season 3)

Akhmim

I woke Rosemary with my tongue.

I believe, last night after I bathed her and washed her hair, she was past her shyness with me. My Kteer had crowed at the opportunity to care for her in such a way.

Care for my Mate.

Because yes, that’s who she was. I’d guessed it by my Kteer ’s response to moving closer to her, but after an evening in her company, I was more certain. And after feeling the way she came apart in my arms, I was sure.

Last night, she might’ve worn clothing to sleep, had I not pulled her into my arms and wrapped myself around her. I hadn’t even asked to sleep in her bed, it had just been…natural .

Naturally too small . Well, yes, her bed was too small for me. But that could be easily fixed. I stayed up late into the night cataloguing the things I would need to do to move in with my Rosemary, to set up my life here with her.

And in the morning, unable to hold back any longer, I crawled down her beautiful, naked body to use my tongue to slowly drive her mad.

I couldn’t get enough of her flavor, her scent. She was ambrosia to a starving male. She was everything .

My Kteer knew the moment she gained full wakefulness, as if my entire being was focused on the female beneath me. A moment later, her fingers dug into my scalp as she gripped my hair and ground her hips against my mouth.

My lips curled into a proud smile even as I slid my fingers inside her. Two, three. Preparing my Mate to take my cock. I curled them forward, teasing the rough patch behind her clitoris I knew drove her wild.

Sure enough, she gasped and stiffened, then relaxed on a moan and rocked her hips against me, trying to draw me deeper, deeper . My Mate enjoyed my touch, and I vowed to do everything else she enjoyed as well.

“Akhmim,” she whimpered softly, clutching at me. “Please.”

My Mate liked morning play? Then I would wake her this way every morning for the rest of our lives.

As I stroked her, I slid my tongue along her soft folds, dragging it up toward her clit. When I felt her inner muscles begin to quiver, I closed my lips around the little bud of her pleasure and sucked the way I’d discovered she liked .

“ Akhmim !” she screamed, coming undone. As she spasmed around my fingers, I grinned against her curls, loving the fact that my Mate called for me. My Kteer crowed with pride.

Her orgasm seemed to last a long time, and I continued to stroke and lick, drawing it out as long as possible. Even after she collapsed, spent, against the pillows, and I withdrew my fingers, I continued to lick her. Her dew was the most intoxicating thing I’d ever tasted.

“Enough,” she laughed, swatting at my head. “Let me up.”

I groaned, grinding my hips against the mattress, trying to apply pressure to my cock, which was desperate for release. No , I told it. Not until we’ve satisfied our Mate a few more times .

“Akhmim!” she yanked her leg out from under my hold and rolled away. “Seriously, I have to pee. I can’t believe…”

With a tiny huff that I hoped was laughter, Rosemary rolled from the bed and padded naked into the bathroom. I flopped onto my back, my hand idly stroking my cock, listening to the sound of water running and gargling.

At long last, she returned, tying the belt of a pink quilted robe I assumed she’d made. Disappointed, I watched all that beautiful skin disappearing beneath the fabric.

“Are you hungry?” she asked, crossing to her dresser.

“Ravenous.” Abandoning my cock, I sat up to watch her. “But for you, Mate. ”

“Uh-huh. I want some eggs and bacon. Sundays are for eggs and bacon, don’t you think?”

I pushed myself off the bed and went to her, wrapping my arms around her as she straightened from sliding her panties on beneath her robe. I guess this was her way of telling me that sexy times were done for the morning. But we still had the rest of the day.

As I nuzzled the top of her head, I asked, “And what do you have planned for today?”

“Grading,” she sighed. “It’s amazing how much work I have to do outside of work hours. But I figured I’d just hang out in my jammies and put on a romcom and eat junk food while I did it.”

“That sounds delightful.” Even the romcom part, and those normally weren’t my kinds of comfort movies. “I will go fetch my jammies and join you.”

Laughing, she pushed away from me. “I did have fun last night, Akhmim, and I want to do it again.” She pulled out a sweatshirt from the drawer. “But Sunday afternoons are for grading, so I’ll have to see you later.”

I frowned. “Tonight, you mean?”

She shook her head, even as she glanced around the room. Spying my clothes, where I’d folded them last night, she crossed to them, her own t-shirt draped over one arm.

“I have work in the morning, so I can’t stay up too late tonight.”

“That’s not a problem,” I announced proudly. “I’ll help you sleep soundly, I’m sure. ”

Rosemary’s grin was exasperated as she pushed my pile of clothing against my chest. “Probably, but I can’t upend my life for sex, even if it is good sex.”

I dropped my shirt as I fumbled for my boxers. “ The best sex ,” I corrected, waggling my brows. “When I claim you, Rosemary?—”

“What?”

She’d reared back and was now frowning at me. I hurried to explain.

“An orc’s cock is made to bring pleasure to his Mate. One of our evolutionary adaptations is that as soon as I’m fully seated inside your sweet pussy, you will come.” My cock throbbed at the thought, and I found myself leaning closer to her, inhaling her scent. “It serves the purpose of lubricating you to be able to take my cock, which is so much thicker than human males’, but our Mates enjoy it for its own benefits.”

Rosemary’s eyes had half-closed, her lips parted, the air so perfumed with the scent of her arousal I couldn’t tell what was from our lovemaking and what was happening now. Perhaps I could convince her to forgo the bacon and eggs and climb back into bed with me.

“ Dkaar ,” I murmured, lifting my hand to cup her jaw. “When I claim you, you will scream with pleasure?—”

She blinked and suddenly surged backward, smacking my hand away. I was disturbed by the look of… Was that fear on her face?

“Rosemary? ”

“ Claim me ?” she rasped. “Akhmim, what the shit? I’m not a prize.”

“Oh, you most definitely are,” I crooned, stalking after her. “You are my Mate, and I?—”

“Mate?” Her voice had gone unnaturally high, her eyes wide as she backpedaled toward the bathroom. “ Mate ? You called me that last—Oh my God , Akhmim, what are you talking about? We haven’t even had sex yet! I—I barely know you! I’m not your Mate!”

The scent of her panic finally broke through the haze of my arousal, and I stopped, confused. “You do know me, Rosemary. Just as I know you.”

“We’re pen pals . That’s it! Last night—this morning—was fun, sure, but…” Wide eyed, she was gripping the doorjamb. “Dude, it was fun . It wasn’t like… forever . Why are your eyes glowing like that?”

Oh fuck .

Was it possible that she didn’t feel the same strong connection I did? Or did she feel it and not understand it? It had to be the latter, because everything I’ve heard and read is that when an orc finds his Mate, the knowing goes both ways. Humans didn’t have a Kteer , but Rosemary should be feeling the same connection, the same attraction.

She just wasn’t letting herself understand it.

And she was afraid of it.

Although my Kteer was urging me to take her in my arms and comfort her, I tamped down on my primitive desires and backed toward the bed, sitting to pull on my clothes, and watching her from the corner of my eye. Exhaling, she edged toward the door to the bedroom, as if looking for an escape, and I hated that I’d made her feel like she couldn’t trust me.

As she opened the door to the hall, I stood to button my pants, and her concerned gaze darted back to me. When I knew she was listening, I nodded.

“To answer your question, an orc’s eyes gleam green when he is in the throes of a powerful emotion. In this case, it’s almost certainly the Mating Heat.”

“Mating Heat,” she repeated in a small voice. “Like…you just need to mate with someone, and I’m here?”

“No, dkaar . My Kteer ”—My claws extended as I pushed my fingers against my chest, digging into my skin—“my heart and soul recognize that you are my Mate, the female I will be devoted to for the rest of my life. That is why my eyes are glowing.”

That is why I’m feeling like I have hot coals buried beneath my skin .

She was eyeing me, chewing on her lower lip in consternation. Now it popped out, and I tried not to groan at how erotic that was. “That sounds…intense.”

“It is. I know it might seem sudden to you?—”

“I just met you last night!” A bark of laughter escaped her lips, and she dragged her hand through her hair, gathering it over one shoulder. “Maybe I shouldn’t have invited you in. I shouldn’t have kissed you or jumped all over you. ”

I needed to go to her, to assure her she was wrong, and that this …this was right. But instead, I busied myself with shrugging into my shirt.

When I could control myself, I straightened. “You didn’t just meet me last night. I’ve known you— the real you —for months, Rosemary. I’ve shared everything about my heart and my soul, and you’ve told me things you haven’t told anyone else.”

“Because I never thought I’d meet you in person!” she wailed.

I inclined my head. “Be that as it may, I know you . You know me, and I know you’re my Mate. We have a saying—well, it translates to There is a knowing .” I resisted the urge to dig at my chest with my claws. “I can feel our connection, and I hope one day you will too. I would ask…” Curling my hands into fists, I took a deep breath and lifted my chin. “Give me a chance to prove it.”

“What?” she asked, confused.

I held her gaze. “I know we are Mates. Let me prove it to you. Give me another date—no, ten more dates. I’ll prove it over the next ten dates.”

Her eyes narrowed. “One more date.”

It was limiting, but my Kteer soared at the knowledge that she was considering it. “Seven?”

To my surprise, especially after her outburst, I saw Rosemary’s lips twitch. “ Two dates.”

Ah. We were bargaining? I nodded firmly, trying not to let my triumph show. “Twelve more dates. ”

Her laughter burst from her. “Who taught you to haggle? You’re bad at it. Three dates. I’ll give you three more dates, Akhmim, but…” She shook her head, her expression turning serious once more. “I have to warn you. I like my life.”

Feeling far more hopeful than I had a moment ago, I nodded in agreement. I think I would agree to anything at that moment. “I like your life too.”

“I mean, I like it the way it is . I don’t believe in…well, it doesn’t matter. I’m just saying, you can’t show up in my life and declare yourself my Mate. I might be willing to call you my boyfriend though, and we can start over. This?” She gestured between us, then to the messy bed. “This didn’t happen. We’re starting over , okay?”

“Okay. But I get three dates to change your mind?”

Rosemary’s smile was a bit sad. “You can try. It’s not going to work, though.”

“Oh, dkaar .” My grin was determined. “I will heal your heart.”