18. Tark
Chapter 18
Tark
T he sun hung low in the sky, casting golden rays over the grass where we lay. Gracie pointed at the clouds, her fingers tracing the shapes she saw, sharing them with me.
“That one looks like a dragon,” she said, eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.
“More like a dog.” I squinted at the fluffy mass. “Dragons have sharper angles than that.”
She stilled in my arms. “You've seen a dragon?”
“Haven't you?”
Her gaze sought mine where I lay in the grass naked beside her. “There are dragons in the orc kingdom?”
“A few. They hide. It's a challenge to find them.”
“Won't they eat you, breathe fire on you if you get too close?”
“Why would they do that? They're polite and friendly, but incredibly shy.”
“Dragons,” she breathed. “I can't believe they truly exist.” Her finger jutted up to another part of the sky. “I still think it looks like a dragon. My version of them, that is.”
“I haven't met your dragons yet. I'm surprised. They're big. It would be hard to miss them.”
“I'm kidding.”
Kid… “What do baby goats have to do with dragons?”
“Nothing if they're smart and don't want to be eaten.”
“Dragons graze like a sorhox. They'd never eat a goat. All that fur. Bones. The dragon would probably vomit.”
Her laugh rang out. “It looks like I have a lot to learn about your world. Simply amazing.”
“It’s special.”
Her fingers linked with mine, each fingertip igniting a spark of warmth that washed over my insecurities. In her firm yet gentle grip, I sensed whispers of commitment, unspoken vows that I craved more than anything. “So are you.”
“And you.” Funny how my confidence had soared since I'd claimed her. I had been scared of hurting her, and I’d kept my focus there and tried not to worry too much about my technique.
My technique? I wasn't sure such a thing existed. But she'd found pleasure. I’d felt it around my cock.
I wanted to feel that again every single day of my life.
Her laughter made my chest ache in a good way. Pride roared through me because I knew I had a part in bringing her joy. The fading light flirted with her hair, creating a glowing circle around her head. I couldn't stop thinking of how she'd gasped under my touch.
Another cloud caught her attention. “That one's a heart.”
“I think you're right.” It was mine, burning so hard for this woman that it had spread itself out in the sky for everyone to see. And for once in my life, that feeling of being visible didn't make me want to cringe.
After a while, we rose, brushing blades of grass from our bodies with soft laughs. At the stream, I knelt and gently began to wash between her legs. The cool water lapped around her skin, and she shivered and released a shrill laugh.
Then I saw redness on her inner thighs, on her swollen feminine lips.
“I hurt you.” The dread filling me should've drowned me.
She shook her head. “Not at all. I feel amazing. Trust me.”
“But you're red there.”
“Because we had fun. You're big but not that big.” Her sigh bled out, and I swore her eyes sparkled, though I wasn’t sure why. “If only you were a little bigger.”
My fingers stilled while cupping more water. I was desperate to wash the redness away.
“Bigger?” I gulped out. My heart sank and worry swarmed through me, stinging hard.
But I caught the glint in her eyes again. The humor. Laughter bubbled up inside me, bursting out louder than I ever thought possible. Gracie joined in, her happiness nearly knocking me off my feet.
I dried her with soft leaves and helped her dress, my fingers brushing her skin, sending heat through me. We'd shared something special, and it felt exhilarating despite her lingering redness.
After we’d dressed, I called out to Castree, who'd wandered, and the creature came bounding over to us.
I boosted Gracie onto her back, then leaped up behind her, wrapping my arm around her waist to help her feel secure.
“Hold tight,” I said, feeling her warmth seep into my chest. My cock noticed how close she was and started stiffening. But…redness. She'd brushed it off. Joked about it. But red wasn't good, and I wasn't going to do it again with her—assuming she asked me to—until long after the redness had faded.
With my heels nudging the beast gently, we set off toward town. The landscape blurred around us, a whirl of colors in the dying light. Thoughts of introducing her to my home flipped through my mind, but this wasn’t the right day.
Dinner was my plan. The saloon's kitchen waited, promising warmth and familiar comfort. I would take gentle care of my mate. I'd create the best meal she'd ever tasted. Then I'd escort her to her room, sealing the wonder of this day with soft goodbyes.
That would be enough for now.