My Orc Santa Claus (Eastshore Isle #5)

Epilogue

EPILOGUE

Sakkara

I woke before dawn on Christmas morning, which is really something to brag about if you were up till twelve-thirty putting together a giant dollhouse and a new scooter.

But for some reason, I wasn’t particularly tired.

Maybe it was the buzz which had been running through my veins since the parade a few days ago. Maybe it was the knowledge that I finally had everything I ever wanted, right here in this house. Maybe it was the woman in my arms.

Nikki made a little noise in her sleep and scooted closer, pressing that sweet ass against my crotch, and my Kteer preened lazily.

Yeah, definitely my Mate.

Smiling smugly, I let my hand rise to cup her tit. Gods of the ancestors, Nikki had the most perfect breasts—heavy and so responsive. The way she sighed in her sleep and arched into my touch told me nothing had changed .

I loved that she’d begun to sleep nude with me.

Leisurely, I played with her nipple, plucking and tugging and rolling, until I heard her breath hitch. I lowered my mouth to her shoulder and kissed her, wondering how long I could keep her asleep.

Challenge accepted.

I moved my hand down her stomach to her thighs, which were curled forward. I gently shifted them back toward me so I could cup her curls.

She was wet for me, and I smiled against her skin.

Stroking her gently, I shifted a bit so I could reach for my cock with my other hand. My Kteer howled, ready to spear her and claim her in the most primitive way. But I forced myself to be patient, to bring my Mate pleasure first.

With her thighs still pressed together, I slid my cock between them, then shuddered at the incredible sensation. My hardness was bracketed by her wetness and the pressure from her thighs; I might as well have been inside her.

When I rocked my hips, my cock slid along her cunt, each ridge stimulating her folds. Meanwhile, I pulled her closer and shifted my arm under her so I could play with her nipples in one hand and her clitoris in the other.

Nikki moaned and pressed into me, and I grinned.

My Mate was waking up.

My pace increased, sliding my cock back and forth along her cleft until I could feel her muscles tensing in anticipation. She was ready to come, and I couldn’t wait.

She squeezed her thighs together, trapping me, and I retaliated by pressing the heel of my hand against her clit and rubbing it in circles.

“Oooh, Daddy,” she moaned, and I knew she was fully awake .

“You like that?” I pushed forward again so my cock slid full-length along her wetness. “You want to come?”

“Please,” she gasped, gyrating against me. “Please, Daddy.”

I pretended to consider it. “Hmm. Have you been a good girl? I have a list, you know.” She’d been teasing me about my role as Santa for the last few days. “I could check it twice.”

“No, I’m a bad girl.” Her voice was husky from sleep. “So bad.”

“Then you need to be punished.” I pressed down on her clit and thrust my cock forward. “Like this.”

When the tip of my hardness hit her clitoris, Nikki gasped, “Yes!”

“Oh, you liked that, my little human slut?”

“Yes, Daddy,” she whined, rocking her hips to try to capture that sensation again. “Please.”

“Maybe you are a good girl after all…”

“So slutty,” she gasped, clutching at her breasts, tugging on her nipples. “Fuck me, please, Daddy.”

“Soon, my pretty little pet.”

I lowered my mouth to her shoulder. When I slid my cock forward again to bump against her clit, I clamped down just enough to dig my tusks into her skin.

My Mate gasped at the sensation, and I felt her spasm around my cock as she came.

I hummed against her shoulder, then soothed the bite mark with a gentle lick as she rode her climax and my cock.

I was so hard, so ready. Each convulsion of her wetness around me felt like a spark to my brain, but I held myself still so I wouldn’t spill into her curls. No, I needed to remain in control so I could give her the Christmas morning she deserved .

When her breathing returned to normal, I began to move again, rocking just slightly, reveling in the sensation of her clamped tightly around me.

“Hmmmm. I don’t think that was the kind of punishment I had in mind.”

Her hand reached down between her thighs to cup my cock. “Bad girls need punishment, Santa Daddy.”

I smirked. “Yes, they do. I can think of a few. But what do you think would be appropriate for a naughty little human slut like you?”

“There’s only one way to teach me a lesson.” Before I could banter back, she lifted her thigh, reached between her legs, and grasped me. “You’ll have to fill me up with your thick orc cum, Daddy. Don’t let me taste even a drop.”

And with that, she shifted forward, lifted my cock, and slid back atop it.

Immediately, her second climax hit, and I knew this one was stronger than the first, because she cried my name. “Sakkara!”

Without pause, I rolled onto my back, taking her with me.

Her legs were now spread wide on either side of me, her back against my chest, her head falling against my shoulder. I slapped one hand over her mouth, grabbed her tit in the other, and slammed my cock upward into her sweet, wet cunt.

She panted and moaned against my palm as she came, and each little noise was ambrosia to my Kteer . I thrust again and again, my ridges torturing us both, as she continued to come on my cock.

I had my favorite fuck-toy splayed across my chest, her juices drenching my cock as she writhed and moaned helplessly.

And that was everything I needed .

With a muted growl, I came, shooting my seed against her womb.

After, when I could think straight once more, I gathered Nikki in my arms and rolled out of bed, cradling her to me effortlessly. As I stood, she pressed her cheek against my chest.

“Mmmm. Good morning.”

“Morning.” I dropped a kiss to her temple. “Merry Christmas.”

I ran the shower, then washed her carefully, making sure to worship her in every way. I massaged her scalp and stretched her muscles to prepare her for the day, each movement deliberate and leisurely.

The sun was rising outside our window as I dried her.

Still naked, she pushed herself up on her toes to kiss me, and I eagerly returned it. Her arms were around my neck, and I reveled in the feeling of my Mate in my arms, safe and happy and cared for.

“So, Mr. Santa Claus,” she finally said with a sigh as she dropped back down to her heels. She grinned up at me, looking pleased with herself. “It might be a good thing we can’t make a habit out of that.”

I frowned slightly. “Why can’t we?”

“Because Christmas only comes once a year.”

It took a moment to get her joke, but I snorted and slapped her butt. “Maybe by next year, you’ll be on the good girl list.”

“That was a delicious way to wake up.”

“Well, I wanted to make your Christmas morning memorable. Unfortunately, the rest of your gifts are mundane.”

She snorted. “I shall persevere. I only have a few things for you. ”

“I told you, Mate, that you don’t have to give me anything. It’s my job to take care of you .”

Still grinning, she untangled herself. “Well, I can’t deny I’m excited to see Emmy’s face when she sees that scooter.”

It was the dollhouse which had given me a sore back, but I agreed that she’d likely adore the scooter. “Well, we’d better get dressed before she runs in here.”

Sure enough, Nikki had just finished slipping into the top of the matching pajama set she’d bought us yesterday—hers featured a reindeer wearing a cockeyed wreath over its head—when we heard stirring out in the hallway. I pulled up my pants—my chest was still bare—and we both dove beneath the covers and slammed our eyes shut.

I heard the door creak open, and a little voice whisper, “ Taba ?”

Pretending to yawn, I blinked woozily and pushed myself upright. “Emmy? What are you doing here?”

Her little eyes sparkled. “It’s Christmas.”

“No,” mumbled Nikki at my side, her face buried in a pillow. “Are you sure? Pretty sure Christmas is tomorrow.”

Laughing, Emmy threw herself onto the bed, causing Nikki to oof . “Christmas morning is now ! Santa came, I peeked.”

Nikki bolted upright. “You’re not supposed to peek without us!”

The little girl shrugged unrepentantly. “I want to open presents!”

I chuckled. “We will. But I have something to give Nikki first.”

Suddenly, my daughter shrank back. “Me too,” she whispered uncertainly.

Nikki, bless her, leapt to gather Emmy in her arms, shifting the little girl to her lap. “I would love to see what you got me, Em. Is it edible? More cookies? ”

Emmy snickered, then held up her arm. Her nightgown matched the buffalo plaid pants Nikki and I were both wearing, and she slid up her sleeve to reveal two beaded bracelets.

“I made these,” she whispered shyly.

Nikki took her hand and tipped it so she could read it. “The pink one spells your name. It’s lovely!”

“And this one…” Emmy carefully tugged off the other bracelet, made with blue and teal beads, Nikki’s favorite. “Here.” She thrust it at Nikki and dropped her gaze as if embarrassed.

My Mate exchanged a glance with me, then held up the beads. “A-M-A-T? Or is it the other direction, T-A-M-A? Emmy, I don’t—”

But I’d sucked in a breath when I realized what they spelled out, and Nikki’s eyes widened at the same moment.

“Of course, Tama ,” she whispered. She glanced back and forth between me and Emmy. “ Taba and Tama .”

Emmy peeked up at her. “Is that okay?” she whispered. “I know you’re not my real mom…”

“Oh, Em,” she crooned, enfolding my— our —daughter in a tight hug and rocking her back and forth. “I would be beyond honored to be your Tama . And you’re going to be my little girl until you’re a foot taller than me, right?” she asked, tickling the girl’s sides.

Giggling, Emmy burrowed against her. “Yep. And you’re going to teach me how to do multiplication and love me and never leave me.”

“I promise,” Nikki whispered against the top of her head. “I love you, Em.”

“Love you, Tama ,” came the muffled response.

I didn’t think my heart could get any fuller, but seeing my two heartbeats nestled against one another like this? I cleared my throat. “I think this might be a good time for my gift.”

I leaned to the side, scooped a small box from the top drawer of the nightstand, and shifted to face them both. I opened the top and saw Nikki’s eyes widen.

Inside the box nestled a ring; a perfect round turquoise stone, surrounded by tiny diamonds. It hadn’t been expensive, but it was perfect for my Mate.

“Turquoise,” she whispered, her fingers hovering over the stone.

“Turquoise,” I agreed with a smile. “To remind you how we met.”

Her gaze flicked to mine as her cheeks pinked just slightly, and I knew she was thinking of our sessions on MonsterSmash. But then she was gazing at the ring again.

“Does this mean what I think it means?” she murmured.

“What does it mean?” blurted Emmy, craning her head to peer into the box.

I pulled the ring out and took Nikki’s hand. I held her gaze. “It means, Nikki Rios, that I love you. I love you and need you to be part of my life forever.”

“I’m already your Mate,” she whispered, eyes wide.

“And now I’m asking you to be my wife. Be Emmy’s Tama . Not just in our hearts, but in the eyes of the law too. Be part of our family— no .” I was already shaking my head. “Before you, it was just me and Emmy against the world. Having you in our lives made us a family.”

There were tears in her eyes. “I love you, Sakkara,” she whispered. “Thank you for saving me from myself.”

“Thank you for saving us ,” I murmured, sliding the ring onto her finger.

It fit perfectly.

“Oooh, Tama !” Emmy grabbed Nikki’s hand and held it up so the light would catch the diamonds. “It goes so pretty with your bracelet!”

As they bent their heads over the jewelry, I marveled at this miracle I’d been given.

We’d moved to a community that accepted us and welcomed my daughter.

Emmy had begun to blossom, overcoming the trauma of her past slowly but surely. Was it only a few months ago she wouldn’t even speak to me ? And now she was opening to both of us, and maybe soon even my brothers.

I’d been given a place of honor here in Eastshore, a position where I could protect and fight for my new home.

And I had the most perfect Mate, one who made me a better male.

My heart was suddenly filled to bursting, and I lunged forward and gathered them both in my arms. “I love you both.”

“I love you both!” Nikki declared, kissing the top of Emmy’s head, then twisting to peck my cheek.

“And I love both of you too,” Emmy declared proudly. “Now let’s go see what Santa brought us!”

Laughing, I dragged us all out of the bed, then held Nikki’s hand as we padded down the hall after our daughter. I didn’t have to hurry because I already knew what Santa had brought me.

I lifted Nikki’s hand and placed a kiss on her palm.

A forever .