Summoning the Orc (The Kingverse Orcs #2)

Chapter Twelve

Becca

I was almost certain that Dristan was a traitor who’d sold me down the river. Rok was walking with us, his curious gaze traveling around us as we walked.

When we came to Dristan’s SUV, I saw Rok’s hand go to his axe and I stopped him, shaking my head with vehemence.

“Can you tell him to not attack your car?” I asked Dristan and the male quirked a grumpy eyebrow before speaking to Rok. There was a short exchange where Rok prodded the SUV with the wooden end of his axe. He grunted before strapping it to his back once more.

His expression was filled with awe as Dristan opened the door for Penelope. His big fingers played at the handle for the back door, clumsily finding the latch before holding it open for me, a proud grin crossing his face.

Oh, wow. More of a gentlemale than any of the idiots I’ve dated before and he doesn’t even know what a car is.

I took my seat, sliding over to make room for Rok. His expression was curious as he clambered in, the top of his axe grazing against the roof. He grunted a few words in orcish and Dristan released a grudging laugh before he took his own seat.

“Your male’s going to be staying with you,” Dristan told me in Common and I blinked at him.

“What?” I asked, looking between them.

This is a conspiracy. Orcs sticking together and all that.

“But I don’t know him,” I argued.

“I have other apartments, of course,” Dristan said, pulling away from the curb. Rok’s arms shot out to grip me, yanking me closer against his side, his other arm holding onto the door, his knuckles almost white. “But he’s not from here. He needs someone to help him learn his way around.”

He barked out a few words in orcish and Penelope and Dristan both laughed.

“He just told us to slow the beast before it digests us,” Penelope giggled. “I like him.”

“Yeah, well then he can stay with you guys,” I groused, my heart melting as he tucked me protectively against his chest.

“He’s going to demand to stay with you and you know it,” Penelope called, peeking at me with a mischievous grin. “And you have to admit that he’s pretty handsome.”

Dristan’s growl earned him a comforting stroke down his chest from his mate. She grinned at him, smacking a kiss across his cheek. “Not as handsome as you, of course.”

Dristan grunted his agreement, eyeing us in the rearview mirror. “A mated male isn’t going to stay away from you. And I’m guessing he’s not from this dimension. You should cut him some slack and let him stay with you. Our mates keep us calm,” he said, leaning over to press a sweet kiss to Penelope’s lips.

I watched Rok’s gaze sharpen with interest at their kiss, his head tilting with curiosity and then he turned to eye me with speculation. I looked away, hoping he wouldn’t try that with me. I wasn’t sure I could resist him.

The fact that Dristan was defending Rok—and using so many words to do so when he wasn’t the most talkative orc in the world—told me that he found the male to be trustworthy. I wasn’t heartless. I knew it was my fault that I’d summoned him in the first place, but I didn’t trust myself to keep my hands off him.

And I was a romantic at heart. I believed in happily ever afters. What if I fell head over heels for this male and then he had to go back home? I had Penelope and her parents here. I couldn’t imagine never seeing them again.

This mating—while it was something I’d dreamed of for a long time—didn’t seem like it was in the stars. Why would the Gods send me a fated mate from wherever the hell he came from instead of right here? It wasn’t fair. I’d been dreaming of an orc mate and now that I had one, I’d probably have to wish him goodbye.

I allowed myself a quick nuzzle against his chest, his scent relaxing me in a way I’d never felt before. He tugged me closer still—almost on top of his lap—before I pulled myself free.

“Fine. He can stay with me, but he’s sleeping in the other bedroom,” I sniffed.

“Your sleeping arrangements have nothing to do with us,” Dristan said, but Penelope was already turned in her seat to grin at me.

“Come on, Becks. The one bed trope is our favorite for a reason!”

“In books , maybe,” I huffed. “But this is real life and that is a real orc next to me.”

I eyed his bare chest, licking my lips before I could stop myself and Penelope snorted out a laugh.

“Yeah, you’re going to be sharing a bed before the week’s out. I can already tell,” she cackled.

“No one asked you,” I retorted, tugging a lock of her curly hair.

She laughed, saying something to Rok in orcish. The male looked down at me with a possessive gleam in his eyes and responded to her.

“Oh, he said he’d definitely be staying with you,” Penelope said to me in Common with a semi-feral grin on her face. Ever since she’d fallen in love with Dristan, she’d been trying to set me up with every available orc in the city. “And I’m guessing that means you’ll be getting l-a-i-d, finally.”

I rolled my eyes, but heat rushed to my cheeks as Rok nuzzled his tusk against the top of my head again.

Damn it. I can’t fall in love with this male. He has to go back and I don’t have the emotional capacity to deal with that.

“No, no!” I gasped, reaching out to take the keycard back from Rok as he took it right out of my hands.

His eyes had been roving around with curious interest ever since we’d exited the SUV. He was less inclined to grab his axe for every vehicle that we walked by, and I figured that was an improvement.

Dristan and my traitorous best friend had both grinned at me when Rok had yanked me against him protectively in the elevator, suspicious of it and trying to keep me close.

“You’re both assholes,” I muttered, glaring at them as I tugged Rok out of the elevator onto the floor my apartment was on. The doors closed behind us while Penelope sent a wink my way.

“Enjoy yourselves in there,” she called and I rolled my eyes.

I knew she had my best interest at heart, but couldn’t she see that I was in an impossible situation? He might be the male of my dreams, but he wasn’t mine to keep .

He followed me without complaint, his eyes warm as they stared down at where I held onto his hand. He adjusted our fingers, entwining them and released a low purr of pleasure. It sent a shiver up my spine and warmth spread in my chest.

It felt amazing to be wanted by this male. Even such a small touch affected him. Clearing my throat, I moved toward the door and released him to get the keycard from my purse. That was when he decided to confiscate it.

“That’s not yours ,” I told him, my hands on my hips, glaring at him. “You can’t just take everything.”

He tilted his head as he watched me, grinning as he held it out to me. I reached for it, but he pulled it away again. I huffed, holding my hand out with my demand.

He lowered his head to mine, tapping his lips with his finger. I blanched, shaking my head.

No way. There’s no way I can kiss this male and get away without jumping his bones.

“No kisses,” I insisted, and he shrugged, tucking the card into the satchel that he carried, crossing his arms over his chest.

We stood in a stand-off, and I glared at him. “You can’t just take that!”

He tapped his lips again, another grin playing across his mouth and I shook my head. His shrug said everything that he couldn’t say in Common.

Then I guess we’re staying out here.

“ One. Kiss ,” I gritted each word and when I stepped closer to him, triumph gleamed in Rok’s eyes as he lowered his head.

He was so big—so formidable. I licked my lips, waiting for him to bend closer. Even if I tried, I would never be able to reach him. He lowered himself, his own wide tongue sweeping out to moisten his lips. My face fit snugly between his large tusks and then he was kissing me and my mind went blank.

The electricity that arced between us shot through my body, a keen awareness and sensitivity overtaking me. This was unlike any kiss I’d ever had before. I reached up, gripping his shoulders, holding him close.

His own big palms curled around my waist and he released a low growl of pleasure as he moved his lips against mine.

What’s happening to me?