Page 6 of One Night with Her Mountain Orc (Toothsome Monster Romance #1)

Bjorn

“O h my gods, it stinks in here! What did you do?” Grev’s booming voice wakes us both. August gasps, it’s the cutest sound. She burrows down deep under the blanket, her ass rubbing up against me as she wiggles down. I growl in pleasure, my erection aching for relief.

“A female.” Grev grumbles out the word, as he opens the fridge and rummage through. As if I have any food for him. Why is he here?

I hate my brother so much.

“Get out.” I rotate my head away from August as I snarl my words at him, but I don’t let go of her. She feels like paradise on a summer day.

Grev continues to go through my kitchen, just to annoy me. I just moved in; I don’t have anything for him. Mentally, I calculate all the ways I’m going to beat him up later.

“Koru wants your help at the brewery today. And lady, please know that Bjorn is bad news.” And with that, the door shuts. I curse under my breath. Way to go, brother. Way to ruin the one good thing that’s happened to me in the last five years. Or maybe ever.

“Well, now you’ve met one brother.”

“How many brothers do you have?” she whispers. I exhale at her melodic voice.

“Too many.”

I can sense how tense her body is. See the arch of her neck as she listens with both ears. Once his footsteps fade away, August exhales loudly, plops her head back on the pillow, her hair billowing out around her, and lets out a great laugh. She laughs and laughs, until I’m caught up in it. Watching her neck arch and her mouth open wide in joy is like watching birds take flight—mesmerizing, majestic, full of life that gives me hope.

We lie together, laughing until she can’t catch her breath and tears stream down her cheeks. Gasping for air, she finally settles a bit. We make eye contact, and my cock isn’t the only thing swelling. Her eyes are so sincere, so full of delight—my heart is full. Before I can say anything poetic or romantic, her lips are on mine. Now I’m the one sighing in delight.

“I’m sorry, I have to go,” she whispers against my lips. My heart plummets to the floor. I knew it was too good to be true. Resigned, I release her. She jumps up, yells as she lands on her ankle, then hobbles down the hall, shooing my hands away as I try to steady her.

I don’t follow. There’s no need. She’ll dress, walk through the door, and I’ll get on with my life. Make an actual list, mark off the boxes. Buy a bed, like a grown-ass orc.

The bathroom door opens, and rage fills my veins. I’m an orc. I don’t play at these stupid human emotions. My kind have found their mates in caves and hillsides and palaces and mc-mansions. There’s no reason I can’t have every good thing I want. And I refuse to let August mess me up. I have work to do.

It was stupid of me to think that falling for the woman I rescued on my first day at my new job was a good idea. Folly to consider that touching her would help in my meager attempts to reform my bad-boy persona.

Footsteps echo down the hall, interrupting my pep talk to myself. A squeal. Silence.

Ooof. August lands on top of me. Hair and blankets fly around me. Huh.

“Sorry, did I hurt you? I couldn’t tell where you start and stop.” She’s straddling me, her petite hands pushing down on my shoulders, as if she could keep me here. The smile on her face falters. “What’s wrong?”

“Aren’t you leaving?” I growl. It’s my turn to pout.

“Do you want me to leave? I just really had to pee.” She moves off me. I grab her thigh to stop her.

“You’re not leaving?”

“I didn’t have plans to. I really like being here with you. You make me feel safe and desired.” Her cheeks flush with her vulnerable words.

“You are safe. And desired.” I pull her back on top of me and kiss her. Pressing her into me, molding her soft curves to my hard lines is art worthy of the classics. Feels like joy—the same joy that rushes through me as I dangle off the side of a mountain. The same rush of satisfaction of helping someone in need—like August earlier.

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August

B JORN HAS ROLLED ON top of me, his elbows keep him from crushing me. I’ve never felt safer. His lips make light, tickling kisses down my neck and across my chest. My skin prickles in delight, and my core twists—wanting more and more.

AC/DC blares from somewhere in the apartment. “What is that?” I ask, wondering if we aren’t really alone like I thought.

“A different brother.” His groan matches the slump of his face as he rolls off of me. “I have to get it. If I don’t, he’ll never quit.” Sighing, he gets up and saunters down the hall, and I snuggle back into my blankets.

Fatigue washes over me. I must fall asleep, because I jump when I hear Bjorn banging around. Getting up, keeping the blanket wrapped around me, I ask him what’s wrong. A flash catches my eye on the counter. My phone’s been charged, and it’s flashing that I have messages.

“Hey. You’re awake! I didn’t want to wake you. My other brother, Koru, called. He has a stick up his ass about some brewing competition. I have to help him at the brewery.” He sighs, angry. I know he isn’t angry at me; I would hate to be on the wrong side of his anger.

“You’re welcome to stay here and rest, or come with.” Undecided as to where to go today, I contemplate if tagging along to Bjorn’s brother’s brewery is a good idea, I look at the messages from May. Uh-oh.

“I think I need to get dressed and go. My cousin, May, is really worried about me. I guess she thinks I’ve been abducted.”

Bjorn’s nostrils flare—whether in anger or amusement, I’m not sure, but then he growls, and I understand. “Call her and tell her you’re safe.” He mutters something under his breath that I don’t quite catch. I don’t dare ask. His frustration is understandable; lots of misinformation spreads about orcs, but I don’t know how May knows who I’m with.

“I think I should go talk to her and set her straight. Yesterday was so stressful. I don’t think I called her once I was safe.” My fingers twist, unsure that I want to do this.

He catches my gaze. So steady and true. I am calmer, surer of myself with his dark eyes on me. “Brann called her. Part of the process with the rescue. My guess is he told her we were together.”

“Orcs are more gossipy than I imagined,” I say, teasing him. He huffs and rolls his eyes.

“My brothers are the worst. But just wait until you start hanging with the gargoyles—their need for gossip is insatiable. Alright, dinner together tonight?” His eyes glint with desire. I nod, embracing the butterflies coming to life in my stomach, knowing who I want for dinner.