Then he growls and pushes back. “I cannot live a life where you show up occasionally to check in on your sons, have sex with me and then leave to return to your real human husband and offspring, back in the human world. It isn’t fair to me or our orc sons,” he thunders.
I suck in a sharp breath. “Now you’re the one who believes in nonsense,” I challenge. “I only want you Whelan. Just you.”
“You say that now, but what about a year from now? Two years from now? Other females have done that to our orcs. They beg at the gates to be let back in just for a night and are turned away.”
“You need to stop blaming me for the mistakes of other women. I am ready to commit to you, Whelan. Ready and waiting.”
He puts his hands on my shoulders and gently pushes me back, drops his own hands and steps away. “Drew, I cannot trust you, therefore I will not touch you.”
And then he turns his back on me and he’s gone.
Chapter 9
Drew
Two days later we’re still at a stalemate.
We are friendly and get along great, but he’s not even sleeping in the same bed at night with me. He squeezes his huge body on the too-small couch in the front room because apparently, it’s the only way he won’t end up fucking me, which he refuses to let happen.
Meanwhile, I might verbally respect Whelan’s boundaries, but I can’t seem to help my insistent arousal. Every time I pass too close to him in the hall, or whenever I’m alone in the bedroom or the shower all I can think of his how much I want his cock in my mouth. My clit throbs for his attention. My vagina weeps for him. I literally can’t help myself from trying to entice this amazing male to have hot sex with me. And he continues to reject me, despite his semi-permanent erection, which I assume is painful since he’s often grabbing it through his pants, trying to adjust it.
I want nothing more than to help him with that, but I’m not allowed. I can see the outline of his long cock under this towel after his showers and it’s epic. I’m constantly reminded of why I fell into bed with him in the first place. Every time Bran and Owen go down for a nap, I wish we could scurry off to bed together. But he considers me untrustworthy and my motives problematic.
Meanwhile, the more I get to know Whelan Overlook, the more I like him.
It’s crazy but I’ve felt very comfortable around Whelan from the first moment he arrived at the cabin. I breastfeed and pump in front of him, like it’s nothing. In a short amount of time, we’ve fallen into a caring-for-the-babies-together routine that feels right. It’s comfortable. He lets me sleep in every morning and makes sure I take a nap in the afternoons. I feel like I’ve caught up on all my missed sleep. I look at myself in the mirror and the circles under my eyes are fading.
He really does do all the cleaning and I do the cooking. Our life here at the commune with our boys is cozy. I want to be in his arms. I want to be able to snuggle next to Whelan and entwine my legs with his. I love cooking for him and wish he’d let me feed him by hand because it’s so loving.
The thought of packing up to leave without my boys or my orc makes me want to cry. I look back at the first three months in California without him and wonder how I even managed.
I’m about ready to set up a desk in a corner of the bedroom so I can open my MacBook and get back to work from his cabin.
That’s when you know I’m serious.
I should continue to be angry that he doesn’t believe that he growled at me in his sleep and said he wanted to kidnap me, which was my whole reason for initially running away. But I’m distracted because it’s obvious Whelan is head over heels for me, it’s just there under the surface. The way he looks at me, the way he can’t help but reach out and brush his rough fingers against my cheek at least once a day and the way he eagerly watches me nurse the babies. He sleeps on the couch, but I know that won’t last long. He’s got it bad.
I’m patient. He’ll finally see reason.
The good news is that we’ve stopped arguing. I’ve said everything that’s to be said about the subject and I suppose he has too. Now I concentrate on showing him that even though I initially left—for very a good reason—I now want nothing more than to live with him here in this commune. I want to raise our family together and make a life here with him.
One day, he’ll crack and realize this is right. And I’ll be there with open arms.
“You know tonight is Halloween?” I say from the floor next to Bran, trying to start another conversation with my brooding orc husband.
Whelan sits against the couch with Owen propped on his thighs, making funny sounds that makes our baby gurgle with delight. “Yes, I heard,” he comments.
“Are you going to dress up in costume?”
“I don’t need to dress up for this strange human tradition, considering I already appear monstrous to humans.”
This response breaks my heart. “I’d like to have a chance to show you that it can be fun, even for orcs. Don’t you celebrate it at all?”
He shrugs. “No, but I am willing to accommodate my Bri—” he cuts himself off and goes silent.
“Your…what?” Was he about to call me his Bride?
“Nothing,” he responds with a gruff voice, avoiding eye contact.
Heh. “No one is mentioning Halloween around here, which is troubling. I haven’t seen any carved pumpkins or mention of trick or treating. My condo got lots of kids trick or treating, which I always loved. It was fun dressing up, decorating the front of my doorstep and passing out mountains of candy. The best part was seeing the children’s costumes was telling them how much I loved what they were dressed up as and watching them beam at the praise.”
He grunts. “I can see how that could be enjoyable.”
“If I have to give up Halloween to stay with you, then I can. But if I can get you to try it out, even just a little and meet me halfway, I’d be forever grateful.”
He nods in acceptance.
A secret smile widens across my face.
A few hours later a shirtless Whelan is chopping wood outside with his hair tied into a sexy man bun.
The sun starts to lower in the sky and I take the opportunity to dress up both babies in their cute pumpkin outfits. I have a great time getting them ready and take lots of pictures to send to Amelia. By the time Whelan returns, looking sexy and sweaty, I’m posing on the couch, wearing a witch hat and both babies are propped in their bouncers in their orange costumes kicking their feet with excitement.
“What is this?” he exclaims.
“Surprise! Come on, you have to admit they’re adorable.”
He chuckles. “Yes, they are.”
“Halloween doesn’t have to be about anything scary if you don’t want. It can just be dress up and candies. Or, it can be about making scary things, not so scary anymore.”
He bends down to examine each costume and he even touches the brim of my hat and smiles.
“Can we order pizza?” I question. “It’s something I like to eat on Halloween night. If we’re not going to have trick or treaters at least we can eat pizza and candy.”
“I’m never eaten pizza.”
“What?” I gasp. “This is a travesty I will correct immediately. First, can you hold Bran and Owen so I can take a picture of the three of you?”