The Orc and the Innkeeper (Elderberry Falls, #1)

by Cora Crane

But then, to my shock, he nods slowly. “Alright, Ms. Parker. You’ve given me much to consider.” He picks up his luggage once more, but pauses. “I’ll be in touch with Thorak directly. To discuss…potential next steps.”

Snuffles trots over to me, a discarded sock dangling from his mouth. I chuckle as I bend to take it from him, scratching behind his ears. “Thanks for the help, buddy,” I murmur. “And for sticking by me through all of this.”

And I no longer look like a heartbroken slob, even if I still feel like one inside. It’s a start.

“But guess what?” I continue. “It’s my life, and I get to make my own choices. And I am done being polite about it for the sake of respecting you when it’s clear you have no respect for me.

I’ve spent the past weeks living through heartbreak that I think I’ve inflicted on myself. I can’t stop thinking about you and about what we had. How perfect it felt while it was happening. How incredible you made me feel and how right it seemed. I realized that…I was falling in love with you. And I fucked it all up.”

I want to crush her against me, claim her lips in a searing kiss, trail my hands over every delicious curve. But I hold back, knowing we have wounds to mend first.

“I love you, Mariah,” I confess, the words tumbling out in a rush. “I think I’ve loved you from the moment I first saw you again, standing in your inn with pixie dust in your hair. It consumes me. It controls me. And I’ll spend every day of the rest of our lives proving myself worthy of your trust, if you’ll let me.”

“Oh, Thorak,” she breathes, a radiant smile blooming across her face. “I love you too. And I promise, no more assumptions, no more running away. I’m yours.”

Unable to hold back any longer, I capture Mariah’s lips in a heated kiss.

Never breaking our frantic kiss, I hoist her up, encouraging her legs to wrap around my waist. She does so without hesitation, rolling her hips against the evidence of my arousal.

“Thorak,” Mariah gasps as I trail open-mouthed kisses along the slender column of her neck. “Please...I’ve been thinking about this for weeks. I need you. Let me show you that I’m sorry this time.”

“You’re not worried that someone might see?” I ask Mariah, the risk of being caught sending a delicious, forbidden thrill through me.

“We don’t have any lube,” I say. “I have some in my bag,” Mariah says, blushing. Her gaze goes down to the purse by her feet. “I didn’t want to assume you’d forgive me, but…just in case…”

Then, I hike her back up, bracing her against the wall as I notch myself at her entrance. Our eyes lock, the intensity of our shared gaze a silent promise, an unbreakable vow. I slowly push into her heat, pausing as I go to make sure she’s comfortable.

The sensation is indescribable, like coming home after an eternity adrift.

I still, savoring the exquisite sensation of our bodies joined so intimately. Mariah hooks her ankles around my lower back, pulling me impossibly deeper.

Slowly, reverently, I begin to move. Long, deep strokes that make her shudder and clench around me.

The sight of her, lost to the bliss I’ve given her, is my undoing. With a guttural roar, I spill myself deep inside her.

“I meant what I said. I love you, and I want to be with you, for real this time. No more pretending, no more hiding. Will you...will you be my girlfriend? My partner?”

“Yes,” she whispers. “Yes, Thorak, I’ll be yours if you’ll be mine.”

“Let’s go back to the reunion, hand in hand,” she suggests, a playful lilt to her voice. “Show everyone that we’re the real deal now.”

I lead Mariah onto the dance floor just as a slow song begins to play, the romantic melody swelling around us. Pulling her into my arms, I hold her close, swaying gently to the music.

“I love you, Thorak Ironfist,” she says, her lips curving into a tender smile. “I’m sorry it took me this long to realize it.”

“I love you too, Mariah Parker,” I rumble, brushing a feather-light kiss across her forehead. “More than anything. And I’m going to spend the rest of my days proving it to you, and making up for all the time we lost.”

He opens up his palm and sitting on it is the family heirloom engagement ring, the same one that they had given to Ygra. But they’ve made changes to it. The orcish swirls and designs in the metal band remain the same but they’ve swapped the gem out…to a diamond.

Da pulls me into a brusque hug, so unnatural for him. And then he utters words I’ve been waiting years for him to say. “I’m proud of you, son.”

“I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Mariah,” Thorak says, reaching out for my hand. “I want to build a home and a life with you. Will you be my mate? Will you marry me?” For a moment, I’m speechless. And then, through my tears, I manage to choke out a single word. “Yes.”

“Call me that again,” I whisper.

Pride and prejudice vibes

“Mrs. Ironfist,” he murmurs, his lips brushing deliciously against my neck as he pulls me on top of him. His arousal grows below me and I moan. “I like the sound of that.” “Again,” I say. “Mrs. Ironfist.”

I gasp as Thorak’s massive, ridged length brushes against my slick folds, teasing me with the promise of what’s to come. His eyes blaze with desire as he grips my hips, pulling me flush against him.

“I love you too, Mr. Ironfist,” I whisper, my voice hitching as he slowly sinks into me. “Forever.” The feeling of him stretching me, filling me so completely, is almost too much to bear.

He begins to move, slow at first, letting me adjust to his impressive size. But soon, his thrusts pick up speed, each one sending waves of ecstasy crashing over me, building and building until I’m drowning in sensation.

My orc. My husband. My heart.