Page 6

Chapter 6

Deegar

S he was my true mate, and my heat was upon me.

While I’d like to remain in my improvised nest with her until my heat waned, it wouldn’t be fair. She enjoyed the life she had in this town, and it would be wrong of me to do anything to interfere with that.

“I’m not sure what to think of all this . . . mating stuff,” she said as we left her house and continued with our errand.

“I imagine it’s not easy to adjust to. I’ve learned enough about human culture to know that you don’t have true mates and humans don’t go into heat.”

“You said you want sex.”

“All the time, but what we’ve done so far has satisfied me for now.”

“I like you, Deegar. I . . .” Frowning, she shook her head. “I like you a lot . But it sounds like you’re suggesting we spend a lifetime together.”

“That’s the way it is with true mates. We meet, have lots of sex.” I grinned when she ruefully shook her head. “And we remain together forever. True mates fall in love quickly.”

“I’ve never been in love,” she said wistfully. We turned right at a corner, walking down the next sidewalk. “But surely you can’t be falling in love with me already.”

I sensed I’d frighten her if I told her I was. “It’s easier for the male.”

“Why?” We entered a grocery store and walked down the aisles.

“I guess I should say it’s easier for an orc male. From the time we’re little, we’re told about true mates and how we must ask the fates to send us ours. We’re told that we’ll know when we kiss, and we’re instructed on how to build our nests.”

“You said it’s rare. Maybe you’re mistaken?” She picked out chicken, placed it in her basket, and strode up the next aisle.

Walking with her, I pressed my fist against my chest. “I know it’s true here. But you can have a day or two to come to the same conclusion.”

Her laughter snorted out, but she quickly sobered. “You’re not joking.”

I shook my head. “I’d never tease about something like this.”

“What if I tell you no?” she asked softly, selecting vegetables, adding them with the chicken.

“Then I’ll return to the orc kingdom and go to one of the caves. They’re set up for males to remain in until their heat wanes. And after that, I’ll stay as far away from you as I can. I wouldn’t want to trigger my heat again. It can be . . . quite painful.”

“You said I have a few days to think about this?”

“Yes.” A mating could never be forced.

“Alright.” She remained pensive as we paid and left the store, walking to another. I opened the door for her, and we went inside.

“We need a cell phone,” she told the clerk, who took us to a display of devices.

I was offered a phone when I first arrived in the human realm, but I turned it down. Once the treaty was signed, I wasn’t going to remain here, and the phone wouldn’t work in the orc kingdom.

Now all I could focus on was making sure I got Cat’s number.

It didn’t take long to add my phone to her plan, and we left with my new device in my pocket—and her number programmed in.

“Next is the thrift store,” she said, taking my hand.

I linked our fingers, enjoying being close to her this way.

“You’ll take the cost of the phone out of my wages,” I insisted.

“We’ll see.” She shot me a shy smile. “They gave you an incredible deal, and it doesn’t cost much to add another line to my plan.”

We entered the thrift store and strolled through the aisles.

“They only have a few items that’ll fit an orc,” she said with a twist of her lips. “You’d think now that orcs live here, they’d have more. I’m sorry. I thought we could completely outfit you with one stop.” She held up a tunic made of a stretchy material with a swooping symbol. “This might fit.” She pressed it against my upper body, frowning. “The color’s okay, don’t you think?”

“It has another male’s name on the front.” I wasn’t complaining, not when the selection was this limited.

“Nike’s a brand, not a person’s name.”

I stared down at the black shirt with pink writing. “Alright.”

She nodded and laid the shirt over her arm. “Here’s another.” This one was blue with yellow writing, still with the other name. “Sweatpants might work well, though we’ll look for jeans in your size. What is your size?”

“I don’t know.”

“I’m sure it’s hard to compare our sizes to yours. What size are you in . . . orc clothing?”

“I don’t know that either.” I peered around. “Is there a clerk who could help us?”

“Not here. But we can look in the big and tall section; maybe we’ll find something there.” She led me to another aisle where she sorted through the clothing.

So many items and almost none that would fit me.

“Okay, what about these?” she held blue pants against my frame. “They’re capris on you.” Shaking her head, she returned them to the rack and pulled out another garment. “I think we’re going to have to go with these.” The gray pants had a drawstring at the waist and were cuffed at the ankle. And they were long enough not to be considered cap-rees .

“Why don’t you try them on?” She led me to the back of the room and urged me behind a curtain where she hung the garments on a hook and stepped out, closing the cloth behind her. “You can change in here. Come on out when you’re wearing them.”

I removed my clothing and pulled on the gray pants. They were snug, but perhaps that was the fashion. I added the black tunic with what I still suspected as another male’s name emblazoned on the front and stepped beyond the curtain where Cat was waiting.

Her lips trembled, and her eyes sparkled. “These aren’t going to work.”

I looked down at where the pants outlined my thighs and cock. “Why not?”

“Change. We’ll keep looking.” Pivoting, she stalked over to a chair and sat, leaning forward to cup her chin in her palms.

I returned to the tiny space and removed the items, donning my original clothing.

We purchased the shirts and left, walking down the street to another store where we bought items Cat called athleticwear. Everything had numbers and other people’s names, and I wasn’t sure why.

Returning to her home, we cooked the chicken, and I helped her make the cheese sauce. It was amazing. I could eat a vat of it plain.

I consumed more than I should have, but it all tasted wonderful. After, we sat on the sofa where she explained how to use the cell phone.

“I don’t know anyone but you,” I pointed out, unsure I truly needed this device.

“You’ll make other friends, and you’ll want to call them.”

I nodded slowly.

“We could set up your social media presence if you’d like.” She showed me how to take a shelfi—no, a selfie —and then I took a bunch of photos of us playing around and laughing on her sofa. Those, I’d treasure always.

What would I do if she decided she didn’t want to be my mate?