Page 15 of The Orc’s Sweetheart (Creatures & Cottages)

Chapter 15

Bodin

T he sensation of having Tilly’s eyes on my back—and ass—as I pull the cart toward town, is a heady feeling. I lengthen my strides to engage the maximum amount of muscles for her viewing pleasure, but keep my pace slow so it won’t be over too soon.

“How’s your week looking?” I ask over my shoulder, wanting to know everything there is about this female. My female. I hope. Soon.

Tilly gasps, but before I can assume the worst, she scolds me playfully, “You stole the words right out of my mouth. I was just about to ask you that. My mouth was already open to form the words.”

There’s a warm and cozy feeling forming in the pit of my stomach at her showing as much interest in me as I am in her. Knowing that this isn’t one-sided or based on physical attraction alone makes me extremely hopeful for our future.

“Glad we’re on the same page,” I say. There’s an added pep in my step as I propose, “You tell me yours and I’ll tell you mine.”

“Suggestive, aren’t you, you big flirt?” Tilly teases.

My smile only grows and I look south toward the ocean, breathing in the fresh morning air of what promises to be a fantastic day. I’ll surely be called out on all my smiling this week. I can guarantee it won’t go unnoticed in this small town.

“To be clear, I only flirt with you,” I say, and try to shoot her a wink over my shoulder, but I think it might have come out as a twitch. I’m definitely not a winking-type of male.

“Ditto,” Tilly says softly, before launching into her plans. “Starting today, I’m going to be in charge of consultations in the mornings, and your mom will sit in on them. Originally, we planned for me to do a couple of house calls in the afternoons, so I can introduce myself to a few of the creatures who don’t visit the clinic regularly. But I don’t think my ankle is quite up to long distances yet.”

I nod and turn right at the fork in the road, away from Kraken Cove and north toward town. “She’ll be very understanding if you tell her about your injury.”

“Yeah, I think so too. She’s been great. I really like her.”

“I’m glad you like her. She likes you too.” I can’t hide the smile from my voice. It makes me really happy that Tilly and Ma genuinely like each other.

Tilly switches topics and asks, “What’s your schedule like this week?”

“I’m heading to Beck’s mill this morning. There are a bunch of shipments coming in. He usually handles getting them across the water and onto land, and I act as postman and ensure they get to their intended destinations. After that, I’ll pop by Richard and Annamae’s cottage. Some tree roots have grown into a wall and I want to check the integrity of the structure. And then of course, dinner with Ma tonight.”

“Wow. I didn’t know that roots can compromise the structure of a cottage. Does this happen often? Should I be on the lookout for it?” Tilly asks, genuinely concerned.

I shake my head. “You don’t have to worry about it for your cottage. This is a recurring situation with Annamae, though. Whenever there’s a special occasion, she’ll dance with the plants and it will encourage growth. A friend of mine has a cottage close to theirs and he has found himself ensconced in a grove of tangerine trees ever since Richard and Annamae celebrated a milestone wedding anniversary.”

“That’s adorable and funny,” Tilly says. “I’ve seen the grove on my morning runs and thought it looked so pretty, if not overgrown. I hope your friend likes tangerines.”

“He liked them for a while, but I’m guessing he might have grown tired of them.”

“I can imagine. Does the rest of your week look similar? ”

I set the cart down in a blind spot not visible from the shops on the hill so Tilly and I can continue talking a little longer without a hundred eyes on us.

Stepping toward Tilly, her legs automatically bracket mine, and I pull her into my arms. Her hands find their way under my shirt, making a shiver run down my spine at the feel of her fingers trailing softly against my skin. I can’t wait until I can be in this exact position with her, but without any clothes between us.

“Besides hoping to spend every free moment with you this week, my days kind of look the same. Cottage care, shipment deliveries, and a couple of upcycling projects. My friend Marisol, the siren who runs The Singing Seahorse, went through a lot of tables when she started karaoke nights, until she finally invested in very sturdy ones that can carry the weight of creatures dancing on top of them. She gave me the old ones that I’m repurposing now.”

Tilly’s laugh is light with a hint of self-deprecation. “I can vouch for their sturdiness, I still have a bruise on my hip from the one I bumped into.”

I lean back and place my hand lightly on the exact spot I know the bruise is. “Do you want to show me so I can kiss it better for you?”

Tilly’s fingers still and her eyes narrow like she’s considering it. “Don’t tempt me, Bodin. I don’t think I’m able to say no.”

“Soon,” I promise.

“Soon,” Tilly echoes.

I take one of her hands in mine and marvel at how tiny and soft it is. “Can you make me a promise? ”

Tilting her head to the side, Tilly says, “That’s a little broad, buddy. Care to specify?”

I chuckle at her insistence of keeping that nickname. Knowing I’m going to give her a very good reason to replace it very soon, I let it slide and say, “I want you to tell me if you are set on making those house calls after all. If you’re going to venture outside The Bandage Heart for long distances, let me walk with you. I can rearrange my schedule easily.”

“You’d do that for me?” she asks, her brows scrunched together.

I look directly into her warm brown eyes as I answer honestly, “You’ll come to find there are many things I’d do for you.”

Tilly’s face takes on a dreamy look and her body sags into mine. Her scent sweetens and my heart starts galloping. Unable to resist any longer, I lean down and kiss her.

I’m really falling for Tilly. I may have fallen already. Who am I kidding? I’m a goner for her.

Do humans fall this fast? I hope I don’t freak her out, but she’ll have to mark out a couple of days in her schedule in the near future so I can claim her properly. The orc way.

With remarkable self-control, I’m able to draw back from Tilly before I take her back to the cottage and lock us in for three days.

Tilly smiles softly. “You’ll have to stop saying such nice things to me if you want me to function today. My brain is going to be replaying my favorite moments with you on a loop.”

I cup her face with my free hand and rub my thumb across her rosy cheek. “I’ll stop for now. But just know, I plan to give you many replay-worthy moments. ”

“There you go again. Quick, change the topic before I swoon.”

I press a chaste kiss to her forehead, and assume an unaffected tone. “Okay, tell me more about what plans you have. Work-wise, or DIY plans for the cottage.”

“Nice neutral topics.” Tilly nods with approval. “My biggest aim for this week is to study some of the files of Starry Hill residents. I want to familiarize myself with their medical histories. I’d hate for an emergency to happen and to not have some kind of idea of who they are or what they’ve been through.”

“That’s a great idea.”

Tilly’s mouth turns up a fraction. “Thanks. I really care about my patients and want to give my best to Starry Hill.”

“You’re amazing.” I can’t help but praise her. Being wrong about someone has never felt this good.

“Hardly,” Tilly huffs.

“I’m not asking for your opinion, I’m just stating a fact.”

Tilly tries to hide her smile at that, but I can see how much my comment means to her.

“So… uhm…” I start uncertainly, wanting to bring up someone I’m concerned about, but not sure how to broach the subject. “It’s not my place to make suggestions that involve your job, at all, but if you’re open to it…”

“You can always make a suggestion.” Tilly shrugs one shoulder. “If I’ll take you up on it or not is something yet to be determined.”

“Fair. Do you think you can maybe take a look at Ren’s file? ”

Tilly’s whole demeanor changes and her face switches into a serious expression I’ve not seen before. “Sure. Who’s Ren?”

“He’s the friend who lives in the tangerine grove, and he happens to be a bit of a recluse,” I explain.

“Is there something specific that you’re worried about?” Tilly asks in a medical-professional voice. I admire her for switching into this role so quickly and how seriously she is taking my concern.

“Well, uhm, his color seems a bit… dull,” I explain sheepishly.

Tilly’s brows furrow. It’s almost like I can see her filter through medical diagnoses. “What type of creature is he?”

“An incubus.”

“And he’s a recluse, you say?”

I nod. “Yeah. He’s really nice, but extremely shy. Ren hardly makes eye contact with anyone when he leaves his house. I stop by sometimes to check on him. If you were to visit him I could go with you?”

Tilly shakes her head. “That’s really kind, but I’m not sure what kind of message that would send if I bring my ‘friend’ along on a house call.” Her cheeks flare a beautiful rosy red and I almost lean down to kiss them, but I don’t want to distract from the conversation.

“Ren is waiting for a new generator to arrive this week. He’s a computer programmer and needs extra electricity to keep his servers switched on at all times. We could schedule your visit for the same day I drop the generator off. I’ll introduce you and explain you’re a nurse and a ‘friend’ of mine. Then I can step outside and walk you home when you’re done. ”

Tilly considers that for a second, then asks, “You’d really go out of your way and rearrange your schedule to suit mine?

I aim for an arrogant expression and raise an eyebrow at her. “I thought we’ve established how much I’ll do for you.”

“Fucking hell, Bodin,” Tilly sighs. “I can’t keep swooning so much. Quickly tell me about another creature whose file I need to read.”

I chuckle but quickly switch to someone else who needs help. “Have you met Arran? I think I mentioned before that he founded our town. He lives in the castle if you continue down the path along the southern coast, just a bit past your house.”

“Oh!” Tilly exclaims. “That castle is gorgeous. I’ve never seen him out though. Is he also a recluse?”

“No. He’s a vampire.”

“And?” Tilly asks, complete confusion marring her brow. I don’t understand why she’s confused.

“Vampires can’t go out in the sun,” I say slowly, wondering if she hasn’t encountered vampires before. “He walks around the island at night and collects his blood bags from The Bandaged Heart. Before dawn he locks himself away in his dark castle so he doesn’t get sunburned.” With every word out of my mouth, Tilly’s jaw lowers a little more.

“Is that what he’s been told?” she asks after a moment of processing.

I nod hesitantly. “He has the burn marks on his arm that proves it.”

Tilly waves a hand in protest. “But, there’s vampire sunscreen. It came on the market a couple of years ago. Vampires go out all the time and lead normal lives now. I can order him some today when I pop by The Sparkling Cauldron to see Samara.”

“Are you serious?” I ask, completely shocked. Tilly nods as I continue, “That’s amazing. But, maybe go see him first and chat about it. He’s quite old-fashioned and not good with change. We can walk over to the castle after dinner one night?”

Tilly’s smile is radiant and feels like a sunbeam warming me up from my toes to the tips of my pointed ears. “That sounds lovely. But let me get the sunscreen ordered anyway. If he’s open to it, it could be a nice surprise. If not, it’ll be good to have in stock for an emergency.”

We leave the cart behind as we slowly walk up the hill, discussing a few more creatures whose files Tilly should read. I resist the urge to scoop her into my arms, reminding myself that very soon she’ll be mine and I’ll be able to hold her whenever I want.