26. Gracie
Chapter 26
Gracie
“ T ruly?” Tark asked.
“Truly.”
“How is this possible?”
How was it possible that he didn’t see what an amazing person he was? I felt his goodness, his sweetness in every touch of his hand, his every glance my way.
Well, it was time I showed him.
I took his hand and led him toward the back entrance of the hotel. He followed me like a puppy dog in need of pats, but a fearless wolf lurked beneath his exterior. I’d seen that side of him when he rushed in to protect me from the big pink ostrich and then with the sorhox bull.
This guy was everything I’d ever want and need and if it took me the rest of my life to prove it to him, I was up for that task.
I loved him.
“Where are we going?” he asked as the door banged closed behind us.
“Upstairs.”
“Your room is upstairs.”
“Yes, it is.” I shot him a smile as I started climbing the stairs with him trailing behind me. “We’re going to my room.”
“So I can say goodnight? I think in the streaming images I saw, that was what the cowboys did.” He scratched the back of his neck. “He maybe kissed her. I need to watch it again to make sure I’m remembering it right.”
“I have something steamier in mind.”
We reached the top of the stairs, and he stopped.
“Steam? In one of the other streaming images, the male prepared food over a campfire for the woman he adored. Steam rose from the pan. If that’s what you need to win your heart, we should go to the kitchen. Or outside. I could collect wood and light a fire.”
I faced him. “Tark, the heat I’m interested in has nothing to do with food.”
“Heat…” His face cleared, and his eyes smoldered. “Hold on. You said you only need me .”
“I do. In every way possible. I want to take you to my room, lock the door behind us, remove our clothing and climb into bed.”
His head tilted, his gaze narrowing on my face. “To sleep?”
My lips curled up. “Maybe by morning if you’re worn out.”
“Redness could result from this,” he said quite gravely.
“I want you. I want redness. Lots of redness.”
“You do?”
Biting on my lower lip, I nodded.
His growl ripped from his chest, and he lifted me, flinging me over his shoulder. Thuds rang out as he raced down the hall, only slowing when we reached my door and flung it open. It slammed against the interior wall as he stepped inside, where he kicked it closed behind him.
In seconds, he tumbled me onto the bed and followed me down onto the blankets. He braced himself over me, his gaze meeting mine.
“I love you. I want you forever, Gracie. I’ll watch every streaming image and do whatever those cowboys do as long as you feel the same one day.”
“Aw, I love you too!”
“You do?”
“Darn right, cowboy. I do.” I looped my arms around his neck. “No streaming images or cowboy moves needed.” I yanked off his hat and tossed it aside. “Just kiss me. Touch me. And love me.”
“I do. I will.” He was so happy and goofy that my heart melted.
Tark’s weight pressed into the mattress around me, his body tense, his breathing already ragged. His hands hovered, unsure, his fingers twitching like he wanted to touch me but was afraid to do it wrong. I reached for him first, smoothing my palms over his broad shoulders, feeling the strength coiled beneath his skin.
“Gracie,” he groaned. “Only you. Always you.”
His fingers skimmed the edge of my shirt, and when he paused, I guided them to the hem and lifted my arms. He caught his breath and tugged the fabric upward, his touch careful and endlessly endearing.
I wasn’t sure I’d ever felt this treasured before.
His vest came next. He slipped it off, his muscles flexing, and flung it to the side. I ran my hands down his chest, tracing the hard ridges and the heat beneath his green skin. A shudder traveled through him.
“I like when you touch me,” he said.
I smiled. “Good, because I plan on touching you a lot.”
He grunted, his eyes darkening even further as he reached for the top of my lounge pants. His fingers fumbled with the ornamental tie I'd bound at least three times to keep it from coming undone. He growled under his breath and wrangled with it some more, deep furrows appearing across his brow.
I covered his hands with mine, fighting a laugh. “You can leave it.”
“No,” he said, his jaw tight. “I want to learn how to remove this human garment from your body.”
“As long as you know it's not a fastener, only a bow for decoration.”
He scowled at it. “I'll still undo it.”
I lifted my hands. “It's yours. I'm yours.”
His determination sent warmth flooding through me. I stayed still, letting him work, each brush of his fingers against my skin igniting something deep in my core. The bow finally unraveled, and his pride shone through the glare he sent it.
“I did it.” His eyes shot to mine.
“You did.” My pulse pounded as he slid the elastic waistband down, baring more of me with each slow inch until the pants hung around my knees.
His breath caught. A quiet moment stretched between us, thick with anticipation. Then, his fingers, rough and warm, traced the curve of my hip.
I shivered. “You’re staring.”
“I have never seen this,” he said, voice hushed, full of awe. “Not like this. Up close. Beautiful.”
“Sure you did. In the meadow.”
“That was in sunlight. Now I'm seeing you in moonlight. I want to see you in every light there is.”
“We'll find them and you will.” Emotion caught in my throat. I cupped his face, tilting his chin so his gaze met mine again. “I feel the same about you.”
His throat bobbed. Slowly, he finished easing my pants down and away. My underwear too. The moment I lay beneath him completely bare, his whole body tensed. His nostrils flared as his gaze roamed, not only with hunger, but with something deeper. Something sweeter that was completely his own.
“You are…” His head tilted, his words failing. Instead, his fingers traced my ribs, creating a path light as air. “Perfect.”
Heat rushed through me, not only from his touch but from the way he looked at me, like I was something he’d never be able to get enough of.
I reached for him, curling my fingers around the waistband of his pants. “You too.”
His eyes widened, but he didn’t shy away. He let me unfasten them and work them down, shifting to help until they slid off, joining the pile on the floor. His own orc-version of an undergarment followed, and the last barrier between us fell away. We finally were skin to skin, warmth against warmth.
His body pressed over mine, but he kept his weight from fully settling, his arms braced around me. His restraint only made me ache more. I ran my palms over his sides, savoring the bunch of his muscles.
“Tark.” I tugged him closer.
His forehead dropped to mine. “I am trying to go slow.”
“You’re doing perfect.” I smiled, tracing the back of his neck. “But I don’t need slow. I need you. Give me some of that redness. You've been holding out on me for much too long.”
A snort erupted from his mouth. “Funny.”
“That's me. Humor all night long.”
“I like that we can laugh, even about this.”
“It relieves the tension, doesn't it? Takes some of that pressure off. We did great the other day, but I know there will be times when it might not work for one of us, and that's okay too. We're together, showing the other that we care, and that's the most meaningful part of this.”
“You say such nice things.”
“I say them to you, Tark. I love you. Some would say I've fallen too fast, but I think if you meet the right one, you just know.”
He lifted his hand, turning it to show the round symbol that matched my own. “Gracie Weeks? I need to tell you that this is a mating mark. It appeared when I first touched you, and I think yours appeared after that day in the meadow. For orcs, this means we've met our fated one, the person we'll adore until our dying day and beyond.” His gaze met mine. “That's you, Gracie. You.” He pressed a fist against his chest. “I will love you forever, Gracie. I hope that's alright with you.”
“Totally.”
“Totally.” He mimicked with a low laugh, his shy smile rising.
“Does this mean we're married?”
“For orcs, it does.”
“Cool.”
“Yes, cool.” His features tightened. “I think I need to kiss you and get started giving you that redness now.”
“I can feel your coorails humming.”
“Only for you, mate. Only for you.”
His mouth found mine, warm and searching, his lips brushing over mine as if memorizing the shape. I kissed him deeper, tasting the heat of his breath, the eagerness in his touch. His body trembled as he settled more of his weight over me, careful not to press too much.
The heat of him pulled me deeper into the world building between us. I traced my fingers down his sides, feeling him shudder at my touch. His hands, broad and steady now, followed the curves of my waist, my hips, exploring with clear wonder.
I pulled back enough to whisper, “I love you.”
A growl rumbled in his chest, vibrating against me. “Say that again. I’ll never get enough of hearing it.”
I smiled, threading my fingers through his thick hair. “I love you.”
His lips parted, his breathing unsteady. “I've dreamed of hearing this, even before I thought it could be mine.”
He stared down at me, his brow furrowed, and I suspected he was struggling to pin his urges inside.
“You don’t have to hold back,” I said. “Not with me. Please show me everything, Tark. I need you.”
His restraint broke. His mouth covered mine in a kiss that sent fire racing through my veins. His hands mapped my body, no longer hesitant but sure. I arched into him, letting him know exactly what I wanted, what I needed.
His lips found my throat, his breath hot against my skin. “I want to give you all of me.”
“You already have.” I wrapped my legs around him, pulling him closer.
Tark let out a sound that was half a groan, half a growl. His forehead pressed to mine, his chest rising and falling fast. “You feel like home.”
I smiled against his lips. “Then let’s stay here a while.”
His lips moved over mine, slow and searching, as though he was discovering something precious. His hands roamed down my sides. Every slide of his fingers sent heat surging through me.
I parted my lips more, deepening the kiss. He hummed in the back of his throat, a pleased, low sound that made my skin pebble. His tongue brushed over mine, and I could feel the shift in him, the way his uncertainty gave way to need, the way he allowed himself to act on instinct alone.
One of his hands slid up my waist, his palm warm as it cupped my breast. His thumb flicked over my nipple, sending a jolt straight to my core. I gasped into his mouth, my hands tightening on his sides.
His breath stuttered and he frowned down at me. “Did I do that right?”
I let out a laugh, my pulse racing. “Very right. You need to do it again.”
His grin was a little crooked, full of pride and something deeper that made my chest ache. As his hand continued on my breast, delivering delicious jolts through me, he dipped his head, trailing kisses along my jaw and down the column of my throat.
I bowed my spine against him, encouraging, guiding him with the shift of my body. He groaned against my collarbone. His tusks scraped, pulling another gasp from me. His lips followed, soothing where he had nipped, worshiping.
“You taste good,” he muttered, his voice thick. “I didn’t think humans could taste like this.”
I laughed again, breathless. “Like what?”
“Sunlight.” His lips brushed lower, over the curve of my breast. “Like moonlight.” Another kiss, placed with infinite care. “Like something I never want to stop tasting.”
A shiver raced across my skin, and I tangled my fingers in his hair, tugging him up so I could kiss him again.
I moaned, and he kissed me deeper, molding his body against mine.
His lips left mine, trailing kisses down my chin, my throat, and across my collarbone. Each touch was like a brand, burning into my skin, marking me as his. I shivered as he moved lower, his breath hot on my belly.
He looked up, his dark eyes gleaming in the moonlight streaming in through the windows. “I’m going to taste you again.”
I nodded, my heart pounding in my chest.
His hands slid down, his fingers hooking behind my knees. He spread my legs, opening me up to him. I felt vulnerable, exposed, but the way he looked at me, like I was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen, made me feel amazing.
He settled between my legs, his broad shoulders nudging my thighs wider. His breath felt hot against my center, and I squirmed, anticipation coiling tight in my belly. He pressed a soft kiss to the inside of my thigh, then another, and another, moving closer to where I needed him most.
“Tark,” I breathed, gripping the sheets.
He looked up at me, his eyes dark with desire. “Tell me what you want, Gracie.”
“I want… I want you to lick me. There.”
“Your cleat?”
Cleat…?
I’d explain later. “Yes, there.”
“It’s yours.” A growl rumbled in his chest, and he dipped his head, his mouth covering my clit. I gasped, my hips bucking off the bed as his tongue stroked across me, circling my clit slowly. Pleasure shot through me, hot and sharp.
“Good?” he asked, his voice muffled.
“So good,” I managed to say. “Don't stop.”
His tongue moved faster, his hands gripping my thighs to hold me still. Flames coiled within me, the heat building, arching through me.
Tark's mouth was relentless, his tongue circling and flicking, sending waves of pleasure crashing through me. I writhed beneath him, stroking his hair, my breaths coming in ragged gasps. When I thought I couldn't take anymore, he slid one thick finger inside me.
I moaned, arching my back, as he began to move his finger in and out. The sensation of him filling me, even only this much, was almost more than I could bear.
“Yes,” I whispered.
He looked up at me, his eyes dark and intense. “Like this?” He slid a second finger inside, stretching me until I felt like I'd burst.
I nodded, my lips parted. “Just like that. Please don't stop.”
He lowered his head again, his tongue moving in time with his fingers. He curled them slightly, hitting a spot that sent a surge of pressure through me. It built, the flames coiling tighter and tighter in my core, but he kept me on the edge, not letting me tumble over.
His fingers moved faster, his tongue working me hard. My body kept tensing, my muscles coiling, ready for release. But every time I got close, he'd slow down, bringing me back from the brink.
“Tark,” I gasped, my body slick with desire, my heart pounding in my ears. “Please.”
He looked up at me again, his eyes smoldering. “Not yet. Let’s make this last.”
I whimpered, my body aching for release, but he smiled, his fingers and tongue continuing their delicious torture. He slid his fingers deeper, crooking them just so, hitting that spot again and again. When he added another finger, my groan rang out. He pumped them fast, driving them deep while his tongue continued its relentless pace, his lips sucking, sending electric bolts through me.
But every time I got close, he'd slow down, bringing me back to the bed and reinforcing my need. It was maddening. It was delicious. It was everything I never knew I needed.
Tark slid his fingers out of me. He rose above me, his body silhouetted against the window. Moonlight outlined his stiff cock, the coorails and their beads pulsing with a life of their own. After sliding off the bed, he tugged me to the side. I wrapped my legs around his hips, pulling him closer.
As he loomed over me, I finally understood the purpose of the orc-sized beds. The height of it, which had seemed odd before, now made perfect sense. It aligned our bodies perfectly, his hips level with mine as he stood on the floor.
Tark stroked my clit with one hand, his touch sending blasts of pleasure through me. With the other, he guided the tip of his cock to my entrance. He paused, looking down at me with a mix of love and need. Heat radiated off him, the hum of his coorails vibrating against my sensitive skin.
He pushed the tip inside, and I gasped at the wonderful sensation. He was thick, long, and the hum of the coorails added a layer of pleasure I'd missed since we'd been together in the meadow. He held himself there, his body tense, as he continued to stroke my clit, his fingers circling, teasing.
I writhed beneath him, my hips bucking as I tried to take more of him. But he held back, his control so much better than mine.
“Tark,” I begged, my voice ragged. “I need all of you.”
He leaned down, curling his body to steal a kiss. His tongue mimicked the actions of his fingers, stroking and teasing. Tension bounded together in his body, the strain of his control showing in the creases on his face and his muscles cording. His cock pulsed at my entrance, the hum of the coorails growing louder, more insistent.
Pulling back, his eyes locked onto mine. “I love you, Gracie.”
And with one swift motion, he plunged his cock deep inside me, filling me completely.