“Emmie doesn’t eat breakfast,” Darrell whispers behind his hand as though we are sharing a secret, which I oddly enjoy. I lean down so he knows I am listening. “She doesn’t believe in waking up until likenoonand then it’s coffee until she eats chocolate for lunch.”
“You will come with me and eat.” I reach for her hand, the scent of her bleeding cycle I picked up on during the night swirling in my nose. “You need nourishment, now.”
“Wait,” she mutters as I start to drag her toward my dwelling. “Dominic?”
“No, it’s good!” I hear Dominic say. “Go, eat, have fun.” He chuckles as Emmie stumbles along, my hand gripping her wrist, the softness of her skin and the thrumming of her pulse making me sweat, and my erection presses at the leather of my kilt again.
Inside my structure, I reach down and encircle her waist, lifting her like a feather and seating her on the wooden counter next to the iron-forged indoor cooking station I installed yesterday. The coals in the basin are still glowing as I stuff twigs, then larger cut logs, on top. I blow inside a few times until the fire is alive, close the cover and dig into the insulated cold box humans call a refrigerator.
I withdraw the foods that will enrich her depleted iron. Orc women have this same cycle, although there are subtle differences, but instinctively I know what she needs to be sure she is healthy during this time.
“What is that? I’m not eating that.” She stares at me with defiance, crossing her arms, pushing her tits into the opening of her robe and making my mouth water.
I grunt and continue the preparation as she makes disgusted noises and chatters on about all the reasons she can’t or won’t eat what I’m making.
I season the liver and crack open the chilled oysters my mother and sister bartered for yesterday at the market. I scoop out a spoonful of the white beans soaking in a small barrel and add them to where the liver cooks, sizzling with butter and two thick slices of bacon.
As the scent of the cooking rises, Emmie leans over to watch, her defiance softening as I arrange the food on a long carved wooden board and set it on the counter next to her along with a tall mug of cool water.
“Honestly, I’m not a morning eater and this looks great, but…” She rubs her stomach. “I’m—I just—” She twists her lips, squinting one eye. “I can’t put that in my mouth.”
“You will. You need this food now. You are bleeding, your body needs iron, water and rest.”
She blinks a few times, cute pink lips dropping open. “Did you say,bleeding?”
I nod, pinching off a piece of the cooked liver, scooping a few beans on top with the mixed bacon and holding it out to her lips. “Open. This food you need.”
“I don’t—” she starts, but I cut her off, gripping her chin with two fingers while I feed her the small bite with my other hand.
She kicks her feet, her toes hitting the leather of my kilt, which in turn bounces my fucking hard cock like an iron bar against the insides of my thighs. She makes horrible sounds, flapping her hands, eyes closed, but it’s all show.
She’s chewing, the kicking stops, eyes open and she swallows.
“Wow.” She wipes the back of her hand over her lips. “That’s not bad.”
I nod, gathering a cracked oyster this time and going through the same process until she settles down. She will realize my patience will win over her tantrum if that’s what is good for her. I will not back down.
Each bite I feed her, feeds me more. Knowing I am the source of her care and comfort is the most meaningful thing I’ve done in my life so far. It’s as though all the years have been leading up to this moment. Watching my fingers graze her lips as I provide her sustenance like a child swells my heart and leaves me half crazed, wanting inside that sweet heat between her legs.
“So,” she starts as she lets out a contented sigh, “what’s this that you said I was bleeding? How did you know that? I just started during the night so…” She shakes her head as I run my fingers over her warm cheeks.
“Orcs have heightened senses and deep primal instincts. I detected the change in your scent during the night when I sat outside.”
She nods, considering my answer. “That’s…next level.”
I nod back, unsure of the meaning of her words, yet sure of the spirit of them.
Her eyes are wide with wonder as I stand in front of her, working my thighs between her knees, widening them and closing the space between us, her scent swirling and tightening the muscles down my back.
“What was that thing last night you said…about being yours, or something. Like, family by choice? Because we’re neighbors?” Her eyes search my face as her teeth nip into her bottom lip.
I shake my head, wrapping my fingers around the back of her neck, my thumbs settled at her pulse points which bump, bump, bump against the pads of my thumbs.
“No, not the same as your family by choice as you say.” I lean her back, arching her neck, holding her steady as I lower my face to hers. “Mine means you belong to me. Mine means I will take care of you forever. Mine means I will protect you with my life. Mine means…forever, Emmie. You are my mate and you are mine.”
She trembles like a leaf in the wind and the seed my body has saved for her for three hundred years seeps from the tip of my dick and down my leg. I feel my second cock come alive as well, being this close to her. I’ve yet to see the glow, meaning she is not in a fertile time, but that will come. And so will both of us.
“You should kiss me,” she whispers, sweet, warm breath against my lips.