5. Mia
Mia
I replay that fantastic moment by the mailboxes in my mind for what seems like the hundredth time.
The way his skin felt against mine.
That brief brush of hands that shot desire straight through my entire body.
Heat pooled between my thighs so fast it caught me off guard.
Did I gasp out loud? I’d wanted to grab him and give him a deep, erotic kiss with lots of tongue, strip him naked and have those massive hands on my naked body.
Most importantly, I want to know what it would be like to feel him slide inside of me.
I fan myself because I’m getting hot and bothered all over again. And also, all this sex-on-the-brain is bringing up more thoughts about what it would be really like to go there with Kavin Irontree.
Maybe it’s a good thing I’m forced to take things slow with Kavin.
There’s a lot I need to think through and get squared away in my head before we get any further.
I’ve never had an actual boyfriend, only one-night stands so being in a relationship is uncharted territory.
And this isn’t simply getting together with some guy, this is me thinking of basically marrying an orc, which is next level relationship building.
Orcs don’t do hook-ups or short-term dating.
To them it’s all or nothing. If I have sex with Kavin even once, he’ll consider it a lifetime commitment whether I’m ready or not.
My long-term birth control won’t mean shit because human contraception doesn’t work on orcs.
One time with him and I’d be pregnant with his orc son.
No going back, no casual dating, no figuring things out slowly.
Talon’s words echo in my head: “Orcs don’t date human females.” They take brides. For life. In sickness and health, till death do us part, the whole nine yards.
Am I ready for that right this moment? Marriage, motherhood, a life where I’d never have daughters and only give birth to orc sons who look like Kavin’s family line?
The logical part of my brain says I’m crazy to even consider it. But the rest of me, the part that lights up every time I see him, that part whispers back: What if this is exactly what you’ve been waiting for?
Kavin’s resistance might be wanting to make sure I’m not like those other human women I’ve heard about who flake out on orcs when things get real. Women like maybe his own mother? That could possibly be the trauma Talon was hinting at.
I can’t blame Kavin for being careful. If I were him, I’d want to be damn sure about me too.
My phone buzzes and I grab it, hoping it’s a text from Kavin. Instead, I see it’s Jessica asking if I want to meet up for coffee later. I’m about to accept when I hear a knock on my door.
I pad over in my socks and peer through the peephole.
Kavin stands in front of my door, and my heart does that stupid fluttering thing it’s been doing every time I see him.
I open the door, suddenly aware that I’m wearing my old National Guard PT shirt, yoga pants and my hair in a messy bun.
At least I brushed my teeth and my skin looks good. “Hey.”
“Hello.” His dark eyes take in my casual appearance, and I swear I see heat flicker in them before he looks away. “I apologize for bothering you, but I need assistance with something. Can I come inside?”
“Oh, of course. Come in.” I step aside, secretly thrilled to have him back inside my apartment.
“I need help understanding human banking systems. Direct deposit, health insurance, pension plans. The paperwork is…confusing.”
The vulnerability in his voice catches me off guard. I love the idea of helping out this big, powerful orc. “Absolutely,” I respond with a big smile. “No problem. I can help with that. Let me grab my laptop.”
We settle on my couch, me with my laptop balanced on my knees, him leaning in to see the screen. He smells so good, like sunshine and leather. I could sit next to him all day.
“I’ve never had the need for a bank account before,” he admits. “And I’ve never had a job that wasn’t paid in cash or gold. This is all very new to me. I appreciate you taking the time to explain.”
I do my best to hide my surprise at what he’s just admitted. He needs a friend right now who won’t make him feel dumb or different, so I get busy, looking at his paperwork and calmly explaining everything to him.
“Okay, so direct deposit is just…”
Midway through all the explanations and answers to his questions, I’m having difficulty because I’m distracted by how close we’re sitting.
His thigh brushes against mine as he shifts to get a better view of the screen.
When he reaches over to point at something, his large hand covers mine on the trackpad.
“This section here,” he says, his deep voice rumbling through me. “What does this mean?”
I try to focus on the screen instead of the way his breath tickles my ear. “That’s asking about beneficiaries. Who do you want to receive your benefits if something happens to you?”
His fingers pause on the form. “I don’t have anyone.”
The quiet sadness in those words hits me right in the chest. “You will,” I say softly. “Someday you will.”
He turns to look at me, and his chin drops and suddenly we’re face to face, inches apart. The tusks, the horns and that face I adore. His eyes linger on my mouth. “Mia,” he rumbles.
I lick my lips. “Yeah?”
For a moment I think he’s going to kiss me. Then he clears his throat. “The insurance forms. Can you explain those?”
The spell breaks and I force myself to focus on the laptop screen. “Right.” I exhale. “Health insurance. So, this is your monthly premium…”
We spend the next hour going through the rest of the paperwork, and despite the sexual tension humming between us, I genuinely enjoy helping him navigate the bureaucracy.
He’s intelligent and asks good questions, and there’s something intimate about being the person he trusts with this kind of practical help.
When we finish, he leans back with a sigh. “Thank you. This would have taken me weeks to figure out on my own.”
“Anytime. I know how confusing all this stuff can be.” I close the laptop, look at the clock and quickly think up a way to spend more time with him.
“Want some coffee?” I ask. “I mean, some fancy coffee and maybe some pastries or a sandwich? I’m going to leave right now to meet up my friends, the same ones you met that first night in my apartment, at that new place that recently opened on Third Street. You could come with us if you want.”
He hesitates, and I can see he looks undecided. “As friends,” I add quickly.
“As friends,” he agrees. “Yes, I would like that. I have to stop by the station first to drop some stuff off. How about I meet you there?”
“That sounds perfect.”
Thirty minutes later, I’m sliding into a booth at Grinder’s Coffee with Jessica, Carmen, and Riley.
We start chatting and I let them know that Kavin will be joining us.
I’m surprised at how busy the place is and how many people I recognize among the patrons.
Soon after, I spot Kavin walking through the front door.
“Oh my god,” Carmen hisses under her breath. “He really showed up?”
“Of course he did,” I huff, suddenly nervous about how this is going to go. “He said he was coming.”
Carmen cups her hands around her mouth and shouts across the coffee shop. “Kavin. Come sit with us.”
I grin and shake my head at my friend’s antics.
Kavin gives a polite chin lift in our direction and heads toward the counter to order. I watch him scan the room, and my chest tightens as I notice the way some of the other customers look at him. Not with curiosity or interest, but with suspicion and discomfort.
I might’ve made a mistake inviting him to a place I’d never been to before. This place might not be as orc-friendly as I assumed. I stand without really thinking about it. “I’ll be right back.”
“Where are you going?” Jessica asks.
“To make sure he’s okay.” I weave through the tables toward the counter, where Kavin is waiting patiently in line.
When I get there, Kavin steps up to order. A young guy behind the register, who I assume is college-aged, is already looking at Kavin with undisguised disgust.
Immediate anger roils in my chest. No effing way is anyone, anyone going to mistreat Kavin Irontree. Not on my watch.
The server crosses his arms. “I don’t serve orcs here,” he loudly proclaims so half the coffee shop can hear. “Orcs are dangerous to humans. Your kind kidnaps women, and you hunt down and kill and maim men.” He points at the door. “You need to get out right now and never come back.”
Every protective instinct I’ve ever had roars to life, and suddenly I’m not Mia Martin having coffee with friends, I’m instead Staff Sergeant Martin ready to destroy anyone who threatens someone under my protection.
“Are you kidding me with that crap?” I snarl, stepping in front of Kavin so I can lean into this guy. “What century do you think this is?”
The server takes a step back, clearly not expecting pushback for his words. “I’m just saying?—”
“You’re admitting that you know nothing about modern orc integration,” I snap, pointing a finger at his chest. “This orc you’re denying service to is a firefighter who risks his life on a daily basis to save people like you, every single day.
He’s probably saved more lives in the past month than you ever will in your pathetic existence. ”
“Mia,” Kavin says quietly, his hand settling on my shoulder.
But I’m beyond reason now. This punk-ass server is a threat to someone I care about. “You want to talk about how orcs treat women? Let me tell you how this orc treats me, with more respect and courtesy than most human men I’ve ever met. So take your outdated bullshit and?—”
“Mia.” Kavin’s voice is louder and firmer this time, and his grip on my shoulder tightens just enough to get my attention. “Step aside and let me handle this.”