Page 12 of The Orc’s Sweetheart (Creatures & Cottages)

Chapter 12

Tilly

W hen morning comes, I’m a ball of excitement and nerves. Something shifted between Bodin and me last night, and I’m not mad about it at all. I’m curious. Very, very curious.

And horny. So fucking horny that I got myself off twice before falling asleep. And once when I woke up again. All while imagining it’s Bodin’s hands exploring me, in me, as he whispers filthy things in my ear.

I’ve been up since dawn, both because that seems to be my default setting, and also to air out the place so Bodin doesn’t walk into a nest of horny pheromones. Wouldn’t want to assault his sensitive orc senses like that—unless he wanted me to.

No, Tilly. Think DIY thoughts. Construction. Don’t recall what it felt like when he picked you up and threw you over his shoulder like you weighed nothing. Think about nasal mucus, specifically purple troll nasal mucus.

I hobble around the kitchen to wrap the dishes in some newspaper I still had left over from the move, before stacking them neatly on the counter for Bodin to collect later.

My ankle is better today, though I won’t be able to go for a run for at least a week.

As I bend down to get the final stack of bowls out of the bottom cupboards I had moved them to for storage, there’s a gentle knock at the door. Knowing who it’ll be and not quite feeling like shuffling inelegantly all the way there and back, I call, “Come in,” only for the words to sound like a grunt as I lift the bowls and place them on the counter.

“Morning,” Bodin damn near purrs from close behind me and places a warm hand on my waist. I turn in his arms, and he casually keeps his hand on me like it’s the most natural thing in the world, and not at all like it’s rearranging the very atoms in my body.

I look up into his gorgeous face and the floppy piece of hair that has fallen onto his forehead, and I almost do something ridiculous like reach up and brush it away.

I can’t just rake my fingers through his silky-looking hair, can I?

“Morning,” I breathe back, my voice hardly more than a whisper. I brace my hands on the counter behind me so I don’t actually run my palms over his beefy torso and trace every muscle.

One side of Bodin’s mouth lifts into a smirk and his grip on my waist tightens a fraction. “You’ve been a bit naughty, haven’t you?”

“Who? Me?” No, shit, Tilly. Who else is he talking about? Is he smelling what I did this morning? Or maybe sensing the havoc he’s wreaking on my pussy when his voice rumbles like that?

Bodin’s smirk transforms into a genuine smile. “And here I thought you were a healthcare professional,” he teases lightly. I’m glad I recognize it as a joke and not overanalyzing the words like I would’ve done two days ago.

This new Bodin is so cute he’s making my toes curl. I look down at my feet to see they are in fact curling, and I feel my cheeks heating with a blush.

“According to the article I read last night,” Bodin continues and places a knuckle under my chin so I can look at him, “your ankle needs rest, plus ice, compression, and elevation. I can see you took care of the compression with that bandage you have wrapped around it, but you’re not following the other guidelines.”

“I’m a professional,” I say with a wink, then internally cringe at how obviously suggestive that sounds. Quickly needing a new tactic, I add with more sincerity, “I’m mostly okay because of you. If you hadn’t carried me home, I’d be in a lot more pain today. Getting up to prepare the dishes for you seemed like the least I could do in return. I’ll get back to icing my ankle again after you leave. ”

“Believe me, it really was my pleasure. If I remember correctly, you have a bunch of DIY plans for today and I hardly think you’re just going to sit on the couch with your ankle raised. So, let me help you.” It sounds like an actual request and I do want to spend more time with him… Saying yes wouldn’t be the worst idea, would it?

“You don’t have to…” I protest weakly.

Bodin tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “I think I can decide for myself how I want to spend my day off, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. Now, get up on the counter for me.”

“Counter?” My voice comes out as an embarrassing squeak, yet I can’t be bothered by it as I stare into Bodin’s fervent onyx eyes.

“Here.” Bodin places both hands on my waist and lifts me onto the counter behind me like it isn’t the smoothest, sexiest move in the world. My hands automatically land on his shoulders and he leans forward between my parted knees.

“Morning, sweetheart.” Minty-fresh breath fans over my lips as he whispers the words and I just about melt out of existence. My tombstone can read “ Here lies Tilly, melted by a sexy orc. ”

I don’t know how to handle this sexual tension without unzipping his pants and impaling myself on what promises to be a magnificent cock, so I reply, “Morning, buddy.”

Bodin chuckles and leans his forehead against mine, his hands moving to my thighs in a soft caress. “We’re going to have to work on that nickname.”

I tilt my head back to look at him. Feeling emboldened, I lift a hand to his hair, finally brushing back the espresso-black lock that has been begging to be touched. “You’re going to have to do something very remarkable to justify a replacement.”

Bodin grips my hand and gently drags a tusk up the soft skin on the inside of my wrist. “I’m sure we’ll think of something,” he says and places a tender kiss on the slightly reddened skin.

I suck in a breath and nearly swoon, but the fact is that Bodin has officially ruined my panties and it’s not even lunch yet.

Bodin seems to be equally as interested in me as I am in him, but I refuse to make this easy for him after the shit he put me through over the past week.

Though, something tells me there are some major misunderstandings between us that stem from a bigger issue. And judging by his discomfort when talking about Cape Easton yesterday, I’d bet my thrifted dishes that the city has something to do with it.

“Let me get the dishes to my cart, then we can start on removing the doors for your open shelving,” Bodin says as he stacks all the plates and bowls in his arms. I shift forward with the intention to help him, but a single arched eyebrow from him has me pausing. “Don’t you dare move. Just sit there and look pretty while I do the heavy lifting.”

Fuck. He’s gonna make me fall in love with him, isn’t he?