Page 7 of My Orc Pen Pal (Mated to the Monster: Season 3)

Akhmim

The restraint I had shown on Wednesday evening had been worth it, because I had my pen pal back. After those horrible few days of not hearing from her, I was getting emails from Rosemary at regular intervals now, which was wonderful.

Each time my phone dinged with a notification from her, I felt a little more at peace. I’d taken to working at the library, because the apartment was just too crowded, and I knew I needed a more permanent place. For one thing, I needed to set up my real computer, not just this tiny laptop. For another, I wanted to be able to talk to my Mate when she?—

Whoa. She hasn’t even given you her phone number to text, much less call. Much less agree to be your Mate .

Something was holding her back, yes. But I could sense a weakening of her resistance.

In fact, on Thursday afternoon, right after school ended, I received this email:

Akhmim, it’s dumb to keep communicating only this way. Here’s my number. Text me.

It was all I could do to keep from howling in victory right there in the library. The head librarian was Mated to Luxor—the only male younger than me who came through the veil with our group—so she’d likely understand, but I was trying to be civilized.

A fist pump was good enough for now.

And so my conversations with Rosemary moved from email to text. This kept us busy throughout Thursday and Friday…and then, Friday evening, she called me.

It was wonderful .

Unwilling to share her with the other males, I went for a long walk, the phone cradled against my ear, as Rosemary and I talked about everything from family to work to recipes. I felt as if I could discuss the mundane or the mystical with her in equal parts, because she was my everything.

Sleeping on the couch in the living room of our shared apartment was made acceptable because I could now fall asleep while texting with her. Tomorrow, Saturday, was our second date, and I couldn’t wait to see her again.

But when the phone rang mid-morning, I knew something was wrong. “What is it, dkaar ?” I asked as I picked up.

“Akhmim, I’m so sorry ,” she wailed, “I have to cancel whatever you had planned today.”

I reacted to the panic in her voice. “It will be okay, Rosemary. I promise.”

“I’m sorry! I had so much fun with you last time, and I was looking forward to today…”

I was too, but that was secondary compared to her sorrow. “Breathe, love. Tell me what’s wrong. Can I help you?”

There was the sound of a few sniffles, then I heard her inhale and exhale once, then twice. “Good,” I murmured. “Good girl. It will be okay.”

“I’m sorry,” she finally said a third time. “I just got a text from my brother that Dad is smoking a few pork butts, and I’m expected to be there. I…” I heard her defeated sigh, and I winced. “It’s like a family tradition. I hate that he sprang this on me, like he just assumed I don’t have anything better to do, but Mom would be really disappointed if I’m not there.”

“I understand,” I murmured soothingly. “Rosemary, family is one of the most important things in our lives.” I ought to know, having walked away from mine ten years ago for the possibility of a future here in the human world. “And I know how close you are to yours. I would expect you to honor them.”

“Thanks, Akhmim.” She was quiet for a moment, but I could tell she was thinking, so I said nothing. “I don’t suppose…” She took a deep breath. “I don’t suppose yo u’d want to come with me? I mean, I know you said you wanted our dates to be private, but you’re my friend, and I know my family would enjoy meeting you.”

My brows had gone up. “They would?” As soon as I said the words, I regretted how surprised they sounded. It was my experience that some humans weren’t the most welcoming when it came to big green monsters dating their daughters.

But I could hear Rosemary’s shrug when she said, “Sure! My mom’s always bugging me to find a boyfriend so I can bring him home and she can feed him. Are you sure you don’t mind being overwhelmed by?—”

“ Dkaar ,” I interrupted firmly, “I would be honored to meet them.” And it was the truth. If my Mate’s family lived nearby, then they would become my family as well.

But I admit I was nervous when, a few hours later, we climbed out of my Jeep in front of one of the little cookie-cutter houses in Eastshore’s largest neighborhood. This house had been added onto over the years, and there was still a tire swing hanging from the large oak in the front yard.

“A perfect place to grow up,” I murmured.

Rosemary slid her hand through my arm. “Yeah, it was.”

I shifted the bouquet I’d stopped to pick up from the floral shop to my other hand and tucked her against my side. This felt… good . Meeting my Mate’s family as one of our allotted dates felt right .

When the door opened to our knock, the female looked like an older version of Rosemary, and her smile of welcome caused her eyes to crinkle, which told me she was pleased to see us. “Akhmim! Ro has told us so much about you! Come in, both of you! Call me Mindy, please.”

This last was exclaimed as she pulled first Rosemary, then me, into hugs. She only came up to my chest but was just a ball of joyful energy that delighted me. “Mindy,” I rumbled, offering her the flowers, “I can see where my Rosemary gets her sense of style from.”

“Oh, what a perfectly sweet thing to say!” she sputtered, taking the flowers and blushing. “These are beautiful! Did Maya make it? Of course she did. That Mate of hers is all thumbs when it comes to flower arrangements, but he did our garden, and it’s never looked better. Come, come, I’ll show you, everyone is enjoying the shade out back!”

I sent Rosemary an amused glance, but she merely rolled her eyes and shrugged, as if she’d long ago accepted her mother’s energy, and didn’t want to change it. I wanted to tell her that I loved it. I loved her family already, and I’d only met her mother.

One might expect that meeting one’s Mate’s family, especially unexpected, especially when one was a different species, would be awkward. But her parents and siblings and their spouses did everything they could to make me feel welcome.

I appreciated it beyond words.

One of Rosemary’s sisters-in-law was an anthropologist, and we had a long talk about orcish Mating traditions. Her sister stood nearby listening, occasionally inserting snarky comments, until Rosemary swooped in to drag me away. Her brother offered me a beer and, when I learned that he also worked in software development, we had plenty of notes to compare. Through it all, her mother flitted, refilling drinks and snack bowls, bringing out games and toys for the half-dozen children playing in the yard, and generally being a bright and cheerful hostess.

I ended up standing with Rosemary’s father at the grill as he moved around the brats he was making for anyone who didn’t eat pulled pork. He’d been introduced as Richard, but since he was as quiet as his wife was energetic, I knew little else about him.

“You a big griller, Akhmim?” he asked.

“No sir. We learned long ago that none of us can compare to our friend Aswan when it comes to meal preparation, so we let him get on with it. Back home…” I trailed off, doubting it was the time to point out more differences between us.

But Richard clacked the tongs twice and turned to me, his expression serious. “Back home what?”

I took a deep breath, remembering my long-ago life. “I grew up cooking meat over open fires. There’s an art to it.”

The older man studied me for a long moment, then nodded once and clacked the tongs again. “There is, but the woodsmoke makes it worth it.”

He didn’t turn back to his grill, but instead continued to look at me, long enough to make me uncomfortable. I shifted my weight. “Yes sir,” I finally said, wondering if that’s what he was waiting on .

But he glanced over his shoulder, as if ensuring there was no one around, then turned back to me. “Akhmim, what are your intentions for my daughter? She dates sometimes, but I can’t remember the last time she brought someone to meet us. She said you two were friends.”

I took a deep breath, noticing the way Richard’s gaze dropped briefly to my shoulders. Wondering how strong I was, perhaps? He needed to know I would only use my strength to protect his daughter.

“Rosemary and I have been friends for a while now,” I began.

“But?” he asked, with another clack of the tongs.

“But when I met her in person, I realized the truth. She’s my Mate, sir.” My hand rose to my chest, and it wasn’t until I felt my claws dig against my skin that I realized I was trying to scratch the itch that wasn’t really there. “Orcs are certain of these sorts of things. I know she’s my Mate, and that means I will spend the rest of my life loving only her, devoted to only her.”

The older man studied me, his gaze turning speculative, before nodding and turning back to the grill. “Wondered if that’s what the glowy eyes thing meant.”

I exhaled, feeling as if I’d been released from a dangerous situation. “It is. It’s biological. It might seem sudden to anyone who doesn’t realize we’ve been corresponding for months, but that doesn’t make it less true.”

He nodded again, once, and gestured over his shoulder with the tongs without looking up. “Ro’s older brother met his wife online. It’s the thing these days. You didn’t use the word marriage, but I’m thinking you don’t need to, not with that pretty speech about forever you just gave.”

Was this…was this his blessing? “Thank you, sir,” I managed, throat tight.

He glanced my way, a hint of a smile at one corner of his lips. “Welcome to the family, son. Good luck.”

Still reeling from that casual acceptance, I rasped, “Why?”

His grin grew slightly. “Because I don’t think Ro’s accepted she’s your Mate, and she’s as stubborn as her mother.”

“Well…” I managed a weak smile in return. “I still have one more date to convince her.”

It was going to have to be a hell of a date.

It was dark by the time Mindy finally called an end to the festivities, and only then because the youngest of her grandchildren had fallen asleep on her. I suspect it was because he’d spent at least a half hour climbing all over me—his favorite place to perch had been on my right shoulder as he held my braid.

I shouldn’t have been surprised by the warm goodbyes and embraces I received as we were leaving, because Rosemary’s family had been nothing but kind and welcoming to me, but I was . I was still amazed that humans this wonderful would welcome someone so different.

So I was in a thoughtful frame of mind as I drove Rosemary back to her house. It wasn’t until I came around to her side of the Jeep and opened the door for her that she finally asked why.

“What are you thinking about?”

I took her hand and answered truthfully as we headed for her porch. “Your family. Your father.”

“I noticed the two of you talking for a while.” When I glanced down at her, she was trying for nonchalance. “What were you talking about?”

My grin turned teasing. “You, dkaar .”

She blew out a breath and swung around to climb the steps in front of me, so her eyes were even with mine. Since she was so close, I settled my hands on her hips.

“Thanks for chatting with him. My dad isn’t the easiest guy to get along with.”

My brows drew in thoughtfully. “That isn’t entirely true. He is a quiet male, yes, but it’s only because he’s considering his words and actions thoroughly.”

Rosemary reared back, surprise in her eyes. “What?” I asked.

“ I know that about him,” she murmured, her gaze caressing my face as if searching for clues. “I’m just really impressed you were able to see that so quickly.”

I smiled softly. “You have a beautiful family, Rosemary. Thank you for inviting me to be a part of it today.”

Her lips parted, a breath tinged with surprise escaping, and it looked as if she was searching for words. “You… You’re a very special guy, Akhmim, you know that?”

My Kteer soared at her compliment, and then— and then !

Rosemary threw her arms around my neck and pulled my head down to capture my lips with hers.

I grinned against her mouth.

All week my Kteer had been miserable, missing this female—her scents, her feel. I needed to press her skin against mine. I needed to sink into her, to claim her.

But she wanted to start over, and that was fine with me. Because this kiss? It told me she was weakening for me.

I focused on coaxing little moans and whimpers from her, using only my lips and tongue. The night air was perfumed with the sweet scent of her arousal, and my cock throbbed at the sensation.

But she wasn’t ready, not yet.

After a few million heartbeats of losing myself in her, I realized I wasn’t going to be able to rein in my Kteer if we went much further. So I was the one to pull back, to stare down at her. In the light of the front porch lamp, her lips were swollen, her eyes glazed, her breaths coming in heaving pants.

I was going to remember the way she looked right now, tonight in the shower when I stroked myself. In that vein, I grinned wickedly and dropped one more quick, hard kiss to her lips, reveling in the scent of her arousal.

Before I escaped back to the driveway, I murmured a command: “Think of me tonight, dkaar .”