Page 10 of The Orc’s Sweetheart (Creatures & Cottages)

Chapter 10

Bodin

I watch Tilly all evening, the way she interacts with Beryl and Calixta, and how relaxed she is in their company. And funny. And sweet.

Could I have been wrong about my assumptions? Could she be different from Cape Easton creatures I’ve encountered in the past?

Tilly shifts in her seat, inadvertently pressing herself tighter against me, but I don’t move an inch. At first, I didn’t move because of Aurelius, though now I’m starting to wonder what my motivations actually are .

Fingering the base of her wine glass, Tilly looks at Beryl. “Okay, I have to admit, I’m a sucker for proposal stories, and I’d love to hear yours.”

Beryl smiles lovingly at Calixta as she answers Tilly, “You know, I was so nervous that day. Thankfully, Bodin helped me set everything up and gave me one heck of a pep talk before.”

Calixta frowns. “Why were you nervous? There was zero chance that I’d have refused you.”

Beryl’s smile is soft and she cups her wife’s cheek. “The person asking always has that inkling of doubt.”

Shaking her head, like the idea is preposterous, Calixta says, “Impossible. You had the beach picnic, at sunset, and we danced with the waves breaking around our feet before you whipped out that seashell ring box. Absolutely no one can say no to that.”

Tilly clutches her chest like she’s enraptured with the idea. “That’s so romantic.”

I wonder if she would like a similar proposal. No, I don’t. That is none of my business.

Aurelius leaves our table after his second drink to search for a creature more receptive of his advances, clearly not making any headway with Tilly despite all his antennae combing and wing fluffing. I find immense satisfaction in watching him saunter off.

The conversation remains light while Starry Hill tries their best to entertain the crowd. As usual, Beck’s performance outshines everyone else’s—including Calixta’s. Calixta’s felt more like a private serenade to Beryl than a song meant to entertain the pub. The way Beryl fell to her knees in front of the stage in worship to her wife… I can’t imagine that kind of pa ssion where you don’t even care where you are—your only concern is the object of your affection.

“Hi, Bodin,” Peregrine says, stopping by our table. I nod back my greeting but his attention turns to Tilly before my chin has fully dipped down.

Tone exponentially brighter, he says brightly, “Tilly! So glad to see you here! Are you performing tonight?” The satyr eyes the arm I have slung behind Tilly with keen interest and I force my face into a neutral expression. No need to give the gossip mill any new ammunition.

There’s nothing happening between me and Tilly anyway. I’m only sitting like this because it’s comfortable. That’s my story and I’ll stick to it if anyone ventures to ask.

Tilly shakes her head and chuckles lightly. “Oh, no. I’m not much of a singer, unfortunately. As a medical professional I want to refrain from damaging your eardrums with my inability to stay on key.”

Peregrine puts his beer down on the table and tilts his head at Tilly. “I’m sure it’s not that bad.”

Tilly grimaces and her shoulders climb up to her ears. “I’d rather not prove it tonight. I’m still new in town and want you guys to like me, not scare you off with an offensive rendition of your favorite songs.”

Why do I want to massage her shoulders and tell her it’s okay and that she doesn’t have to do anything she’s not comfortable with? If Peregrine doesn’t ease off soon I’ll simply have to step in. Though, watching Tilly give him a piece of her mind like she did to me earlier this week might be entertaining.

Pouting playfully, Peregrine folds his arms over his chest. “We like you enough to accept any renditions.” He leans forward to add in a whisper, “And, news has been swirling around town about how you helped Viggo with a certain ink-leaking problem, and that basically gives you a free pass. I’ve even unbanned him from my shop now that I don’t have to worry about him staining any of the fabric.”

Tilly stiffens next to me. “I was just doing my job,” she says kindly. “But I’ll keep performing in mind for next time. Maybe one of these days I’ll surprise you.”

Lucky for Peregrine, he takes that as the dismissal it is, and smiles at her once before moving off to join Katie and Caoimhín at their table.

Throughout the night, this scene repeats itself. Different creatures stop by our table to say hi, mostly to see Tilly or to offer her a drink, which she graciously denies each time. She’s clearly become a quick favorite in town with everyone, and I’m starting to feel like the odd one out.

Perhaps I was a bit quick to judge her on her first day, my prejudice exacerbated by a few misunderstandings on both our sides. Seeing her interact with everyone, being relaxed and funny and kind, makes me realize my reservations about Tilly might be due to what happened in my past, rather than a reflection of her character.

Tilly has no reason to like me after how I’ve treated her, so I thought she’d move away from me at the first moment possible, but except for a quick visit to the bathroom, she has stayed next to me in the booth the entire time .

“Have you seen Calixta or Beryl?” Tilly asks, one hand on the stem of the single glass of wine she’s had all night as she squints at the mingling crowd. Beside her, the booth is empty, still keeping space for the newlyweds. Perhaps I should’ve told her they left a while ago and they’re definitely not coming back.

I take a gulp of my beer before answering, “Uhm, I think they may have snuck out early.”

“Really? When?” Tilly frowns and I resist another unwelcome urge to comfort her, to cradle her face between my hands and smooth the worry away with my thumbs.

Instead, the corner of my mouth lifts into a smirk. “Judging from the looks they gave each other while Calixta was on stage? I’m thinking they left right after that performance and went straight home. If they even made it that far.”

“That far? Oh. Oh!” Her tone changes as understanding dawns and the cutest blush blooms across her cheeks. “I thought they were coming back. Sorry, I’ve been in your space all evening. Let me scooch over and give you some room to breathe.”

“That’s okay. I don’t mind having you close.”

Tilly pauses to stare at me, lips parted and eyes blinking slowly as she tries to make sense of my words. Compared to how I’ve acted toward her until now, that confession might come as a bit of a shock to her. I’m not taking the words back, though, even if it seems as if she’s expecting me to.

With a sharp intake of breath and the widening of her eyes, Tilly seems to understand that. “I think I should head home. I’ve got a busy day tomorrow. ”

Before I can reply, Tilly scoots out of the booth and hurries toward the exit. Hand on the door, she looks back at me and exits before I even have a chance to wave goodbye.

“Ah!” The sound of Tilly’s yelp has me out of my seat and rushing to the door faster than my brain can process.

I burst outside and almost stumble over Tilly as she leans against the wall, one hand cradling her ankle.

“Are you okay?” Stupid question, Bodin. Of course she’s not okay. She’s hurt. See if she needs help.

Behind me, a few creatures pop their heads out the door to see what the commotion is about. When they see it’s Tilly, they try to crowd closer but I do my best to block them without making it too obvious.

Tilly scrunches her eyes closed, and says through gritted teeth, “I’m okay. Just forgot there was a step there and twisted my ankle. I’m more embarrassed than anything else. Thank you for your concern, though.”

One by one, the other patrons wish her well and head back inside. I lean a shoulder against the wall and cross my arms over my chest as I wait for her to prove that she’s really okay, because all the cues I can pick up from her body language show that she’s actually in pain and not just embarrassed.

When Tilly finally looks up and sees I haven’t left, her reaction is not very favorable.

“Oh,” she sighs out. “You’re still here.”

“Yup.”

Bent over to inspect her ankle, Tilly says, “Okay, buddy. Would you like to lecture me now on my clumsiness or that I could’ve hurt someone if I wasn’t careful? Because if you are, I’d rather have you get it over and done with now before I head home and drown in embarrassment in the privacy of my own home.”

I’m such an asshole. That’s really why she thinks I’m here. And why would she think otherwise when I’ve yet to give her a reason to?

“I…” Not quite sure how to finish the sentence, I can only stare at the beautiful female as she waits for me to berate her.

Fuck. I have some groveling to do.

“You?” Tilly prods, still not giving me her full attention as she pokes at her ankle.

“I’m sorry,” I state plainly, knowing that it’s insufficient but needing to start somewhere.

Tilly’s brow furrows and her hands still. “Sorry? For what?”

I uncross my arms and stick my hands in my pockets. “For being an asshole.”

Tilly straightens up and chuckles. “Glad we’ve established that you’ve been a bit of an asshole. But you were kind of nice tonight. Now head back inside before you break the streak.”

“You’re hurt,” I point out, jutting my chin at her ankle.

“Thanks for stating the obvious, but I’ll be fine,” Tilly says with no heat in her voice. “Believe it or not, this is not the first time this has happened to me.”

“I’m starting to sense a theme with you,” I try to joke.

“You could say that,” she breathes out.

As if we both sense the newly formed truce between us, we take each other in for a moment in comfortable silence.

Needing a practical way to act out my apology, I say, “Let’s get you home. ”

Tilly’s brows shoot up her forehead, but a small smile plays on her lips. “Let’s? How are you involved in this now?”

“I’m going to carry you home,” I state confidently.

Tilly shakes her head. “There’s no way you’re carrying me. I can walk just fine.”

“Prove it.” I fold my arms across my chest for a second, then think better of it in case it looks too arrogant, and put my hands in my back pockets instead. The stance feels unnatural to me since I never stand like that, so I quickly put them in my front pockets, hoping she’s not noticing my odd behavior as she tries to walk.

Tilly hobbles awkwardly with lips pressed together into a tight line and she breathes unsteadily through her nose, trying not to put weight on her sore leg. If she is planning to make it home like this, she might reach her cottage by the time the sun rises tomorrow morning. I can’t stand the thought of her willingly putting herself through so much pain for no reason. Either she’ll have to swallow her pride and ask for help, or I’ll simply convince her to accept mine.

“See,” she says through strained breathing after a few painful steps along the cobbled path. “I’m fine. Have a good night.”

“You can’t do it, can you?”

“I am doing it.”

“I mean, ask for help. You’re incapable of asking anyone to help you,” I say more than ask, keeping my voice gentle so she knows I don’t mean it in a menacing manner.

“That’s not true,” Tilly says, pointing a finger at me. “I asked Annamae for help with my garden. She’s going to come dance with my plants. ”

I tilt my head at her. “Will you let me help you home?”

Tilly’s smile is soft, appreciative, as she replies, “That’s kind of you, but I don’t see how you can.”

“I told you I’ll carry you,” I state calmly, my smile echoing hers.

Tilly scoffs. “You can’t carry me.”

“It’s a little insulting if you think I can’t carry you.”

“You… you… you’d throw your back out,” Tilly gesticulates wildly in the direction of my back.

I kick at the cobblestones on the street and pretend to be hurt by her comment. “Another insult. You’re going to have to stop or my ego will be crushed.”

“No, but seriously,” Tilly says with a hand on her chest. “The thought is very nice, but I already got you hurt once. I’m not planning on doing it again.”

I stalk forward slowly until I’m standing in front of Tilly. Placing a finger under her chin, I tip her face up until she’s looking at me. “I’m carrying you home. Do you want to ride on my back, or are you going over my shoulder?”

“That’s… I’m…”

“Shoulder it is.” I bend down and Tilly squeals as I scoop her up so she’s bent over my shoulder. Banding an arm across the backs of her thighs to secure her as I start walking down the hill, Tilly squirms and braces herself against my back by grabbing a fistful of my shirt.

I did not think this through. Her plump ass is right next to my face and I have this terrible idea to either smack it, grab it, or take a bite of it .

“Bodin! Put me down!” she demands breathlessly. “This dress was not made for this position.”

“What?” I ask as I take each step carefully down the hill, not understanding what her dress has to do with it.

“Bodin Terral. If you don’t want all of Starry Hill to see my boobs falling out of my dress tonight, then you have to put me down.”

“Oh.” I stop instantly and help Tilly into a vertical position, though I don’t lower her onto the ground. She slides down until my arms are banded under her ass and her barely contained tits are in my face.

I need a thousand gold stars for not leaning forward and motorboating the life out of them.

By some miracle, I’m able to shift my gaze from Tilly’s breasts to her face. I expect to see anger or outrage, but I’m met with curiosity as she rights her dress and searches my expression.

Slowly, Tilly places her arms on my shoulders and it feels as if the world freezes, time itself stopping for us. The entire universe dissolves away until it’s only us under the bright stars of a cloudless night, the sounds from The Singing Seahorse long since faded away.

The moment lengthens as we stare into each other’s dark eyes, lips parted as we silently breathe each other in. I tighten my grip on her, wanting her even closer, and Tilly shifts her arms around my neck.

We lean forward, gazes flicking between eyes and mouths, slowly closing in like our lips are two magnets destined to find each other .

“Get a cottage!” A shout rings out from a building one street down and Tilly and I break apart like two naughty teenagers caught by their parents. I keep my arms around her, though, ready to fight whoever is ruining this moment for us.

Bursting from a dark alley between The Horned Pearl and The Viny Shears, Calixta and Beryl stumble out with happy giggles, rearranging their clothing and fixing hair as they run away hand in hand.

The same voice yells, “This is why we have homes spread out on the island. No one wants to hear others go at it and then have to make eye contact the next day.”

Tilly snorts a laugh and brings her head down to lay against my shoulder. Her body vibrates with quiet laughter, and my own chuckles join hers. I lean my head against the side of hers and adjust my grip so she’s more secure in my arms.

This feels good. This feels… right. Tilly feels like she’s slotted into my arms in a way that no one has before. I’ve been attracted to her from the moment I saw her on the dock, but tonight I finally had an opportunity to see a glimpse of the real her, and she’s more than I could hope to deserve in my lifetime.

I can’t mess things up with her again. This might be something… special. She is something special.

Part of me wants to take her home right now and drive my cock into her sweet cunt, but I’m going to have to pace myself so she can get to know the real me too if I actually want a chance with her.

Once our laughter subsides, I ask, “Can I carry you home like this or do you want to climb onto my back?”

Tilly’s smile is so sweet that I feel it to the tips of my tusks. “I’m not going to try to argue about walking on my own again. And unless we want Mr. Grumpy to scold us too, it might be safer for me to get on your back.”

“Too true. I’m going to carefully set you down now. Please don’t try to put any weight on that ankle of yours. We can ice it when we get home.”

Fuck. Did my brain just skip forward to calling it home aloud? I’m going to freak her out. Slow down, Bodin, before you freak yourself out too. Get her to fall in love with you first.

Wow, that’s a sentence I didn’t know I’d be telling myself today.

I slowly let Tilly down, keeping my mind on the stars and grass as the length of her body slides down mine. When her feet touch the ground, I keep her in my arms, not ready to let go of having her pressed against me. I take a moment to really look at her, at how small she is in my arms, how soft her skin feels in my callused hands, but mostly at how delicate she is.

Starting tonight when I get home, I’ll devise a thousand new ways to keep Tilly safe, to woo her, and protect her. To make her mine.