Chapter 10
Audrey
With Arran’s cum still fresh on my tongue, I smile up at him as he fumbles with the button on my pants, his hands just as eager as I’m feeling right now. My pussy’s so soaked, I’m practically dripping down my thighs just from sucking him off.
“Can’t wait to taste you,” Arran says, his voice little more than a guttural growl as he shoves my pants down my thighs, my drenched thong following. “I want you to sit on my face while I lick every drop of arousal from your tight little cunt.”
“Yes, please,” I chirp back, but it turns into a drawn-out moan as Arran spears a single finger into my wet pussy, my body automatically leaning into his.
Arran bends down to kiss me and I open for him as my breath catches when he adds a second finger, my pussy already feeling full but so ready for more.
Nails scratching at Arran’s back, I pull him closer to me and demand against his mouth, “I want to ride your face right here and then I want you to fuck me hard and fast.”
The arrogance staring back at me is an expression I’ve never seen on Arran, but it does unimaginable things to my greedy cunt.
“That’s the plan, darling,” Arran says as he presses his thumb to my clit. “Just you wait.”
Arran monitors my expressions as he circles my swollen clit, his fingers rubbing at that sensitive spot inside me that has my breaths coming quicker and quicker.
In less time than I thought possible, my orgasm hovers surprisingly close to the surface, and I mentally give myself a high five for my accurate prediction that Arran would know exactly what to do if I gave him the opportunity to make me come.
Hand stilling, Arran whips his head toward the front door. “No. Not now,” he grouches.
“What?” I ask, also staring at the closed door, my arms locking a little tighter around Arran.
The answer arrives in three soft knocks.
“Maybe if we ignore them they’ll go away?” I ask, hyperaware of the unmoving fingers inside me.
“Arran? Audrey? You guys home?”
My formerly close orgasm drifts away on phantom wings as I recognize Nori’s voice.
Arran gives me a look filled half with apology, half with frustration at the interruption. “Would you mind waiting in the parlor while I see what this is about? Eleanor has never come here by herself so I’m afraid something could be wrong.”
I pat Arran on the chest in understanding and give him a wink. “To be continued, stud.”
Reluctantly, Arran pulls his fingers from me and wipes them on the inside of his kilt before helping me stand. He scrapes a fang over his bottom lip as his eyes scan every visible inch of me while I right my pants.
“Oh, lass. We are far from done,” Arran says with so much promise loaded in the statement it makes my empty pussy pulse in reply.
Before I lose all sense of myself and beg him to ignore my friend outside and bend me over the couch right now, Arran is striding toward the door.
I am definitely not watching his very well-defined butt as I follow him.
“I’m sorry for interrupting you so late,” Nori says as she chews at her thumb.
“What’s the matter?” Arran asks, assessing the night behind her like there’s some kind of threat lurking out of sight.
Lowering her hand, Nori says, “It’s Tilly.”
Ice fills my veins and my vision narrows to pinpricks as I step out from behind Arran.
“Is she—? The babies—?” I can’t even get the full questions out.
“She’s okay,” Nori reassures quickly, taking my hand in hers.
“She’s gone into labor a little early, but Tilly said it’s to be expected with twins.
Shinsu has taken her and Bodin to the big hospital in Cape Easton.
Tilly wanted me to come tell you and said not to worry and that her body was made for this and soon you’ll have your little nieces or nephews to fawn over. ”
My body sags with relief while Arran’s comforting hand wraps around my waist. While I knew Tilly was pregnant and that the babies would get here eventually, I put the part about how the babies will make their way into the world out of my mind.
Honestly, it was too terrifying to think about them squeezing through a small—
Nope. I can’t have my mind going there right now. Tilly is strong, one of the strongest people I know. And she’s a nurse practitioner so she knows what to expect.
Plus, Bodin is with her and I have no doubt that there’s anyone in this world more suitable to care for Tilly than him. Bodin would destroy anyone, including himself, before he’d allow any harm to come to Tilly.
Even though I logically know this, it’s still not helping my stress levels. I don’t think I’ll relax until I can see my cousin again with my own eyes.
“Should I go to Tilly? Maybe I can help with something?” I ask, looking between Nori and Arran.
With a small shake of her head and squeeze to my fingers, Nori gives me an understanding smile. “Though the thought is nice, it’s not safe for you to go back to Cape Easton. Not yet.”
“Eleanor is right. It’s best to remain in Starry Hill where I can protect you,” Arran says gently, his thumb brushing a soothing arc on the skin above my waistband.
“Fuck. What am I supposed to do until then?”
“Doc Calla is at the clinic and waiting by the phone for any updates,” Nori explains, trying very valiantly—and failing spectacularly—not to look at the fingers splayed against my hip. “She’ll send Katie with news as soon as they know anything.”
It seems like everyone is very rational—even relaxed—about this, but that’s my person, one of my favorite people in the world, going through a life-altering event.
Pushing out two half-orc babies isn’t for the faint of heart, but I’d prefer not to think about it. I need to find a way to stay busy, find something useful to do with myself until I know for sure Tilly and the babies are okay.
I roll back my shoulders and lift my chin. “Okay. While Tilly births two new beings, I’m going to their cottage to tidy up a little. I want to make sure the dishes are done and put away and that she has a couple of meals prepped before she returns.”
Nori nods encouragingly. “That’s a great idea. Do you need help?”
Arran clears his throat and his grip on my waist tightens the tiniest bit. “That’s a generous offer, Eleanor, but I’ll assist Audrey tonight.”
Fuck. I don’t think the word “assist” will have a neutral meaning ever again.
I don’t plan on anything else happening between us at Tilly’s cottage, but this could be a good opportunity for me and Arran to chat and set some boundaries. I can bring up the ‘let’s not catch feelings and simply enjoy all the benefits of being roommates’ talk.
Mind made up, I bump Arran playfully with my shoulder. “I can use a good assistant in the kitchen. Let’s see how good you are with your hands.”
A quick change into some comfortable clothes and dry underwear later—and clearly a new, unrumpled kilt for Arran too—we’re on a short starlit walk to Bodin and Tilly’s cottage.
In the distance, the soft, rhythmic whooshing of waves crashing against the shore helps to ground me, settling a little bit of the unusual anxiousness I’m feeling tonight.
“Tilly will be okay,” Arran assures me while keeping a close yet respectable distance from me. “The babies, too.”
I give him a sidelong glance. “Of course she will. If anything bad happens to her, I’ll kill her myself.”
It takes Arran a moment to sort through my reply, and I’m still unconvinced he fully understands my threat, but he wisely chooses to leave it alone.
Right now, I don’t need empty promises. I need distractions.
Taking a deep breath in, I let the salty night air wash over me and turn to Arran. “Can you tell me about Starry Hill?”
“What would you like to know?”
I give my answer some thought, considering the list of things I’m curious about. Like, who was the first creature to join him here? Who named the shops? How is it so peaceful all the time? Who’s his usual fuck buddy?
As we round the final bend that leads to Bodin and Tilly’s cottage, I decide not to ask any of those questions—yet—and start at the beginning so I can understand the vampire I’m cohabiting with a little better.
“You founded the town, right? How did that all come to be?”
“It’s a long story.”
“Well, stud, I’ve got time.”
Arran opens the cottage’s yellow door for me and I step inside to assess the space.
The living room is relatively tidy, but the couch pillows are creased where Bodin and Tilly sat and the throw blanket is on the floor, as if they left in a rush.
I don’t think Bodin would’ve been okay with them taking the time to tidy the house while Tilly was in labor. He probably scooped her up and carried her straight to Shinsu’s dock on the northern edge of the island before she could argue.
I’ve always liked that about Bodin. How deeply he cares for those he loves. I wasn’t super impressed with him at first because he kind of treated Tilly like shit when they met, but after hearing more about his history and why he acted that way, I’ve come to understand him a little better.
Plus, the way Bodin’s made up for initially acting like an asshole can go down in the history books. He’s a devoted husband to Tilly and I couldn’t have picked a better partner for her if I designed him myself.
I head for the jizz couch and start fluffing pillows while Arran returns from the kitchen with a broom in hand.
Arran moves the colorful mats out of his way and begins sweeping the stone floor. “It’s been a long time since I’ve told this story, since someone asked me about how I came to be here, so bear with me.”
Finished with the first couch, I start tidying the one across from it as I give Arran time to gather his thoughts.
He doesn’t look up as he sweeps. “I was born on the mainland and grew up way up north between formidable mountains and stormy dales. The rugged landscape was my home, the mist-shrouded peaks as familiar to me as the back of my hand.”
Wide-eyed, I stare at Arran, hugging the pillow I’m fluffing a little closer as I picture the setting, so different from the rolling hills drenched in sunshine and wildflowers that we’re surrounded by now.