Games with the Orc (Monster Smash Agency, #1)

by Kathryn Moon

Look, if I'm right about her, you won't need to be careful for her sake. She's ready. She's practically orc bait. So just…" Ah. I snorted and ground my jaw, my tusk pressing into my upper lip. "I've worked for MSA for eight years, Ast. I haven't mated a client yet. I won't start now."

She was meant to call me master, sir, beast. Why had I given her my name in that first hour? It wielded too much power on her tongue.

"I should've done something sooner, but I was right about myself. I couldn't go the rest of my life without this." Khell purred, head lowering to nuzzle against my hair. "No. No, you are too perfectly suited. You are orc bait, petal."

What were we to one another? Nothing but sex worker and client.

I'd confessed to the way I'd been thinking of Khell by the end of the week, because even though it was crazy to fall in love with the sex worker you’d hired to make your brain explode, Natalie was a safe zone for me.

"You should stay tomorrow night. I feel like it's gonna take a while for your mood to settle. That's one hell of a biochemical trip you just went on."

No more waiting, I assured myself. Perhaps I would go the old way, kidnap Sunny and woo her in my den until she was as happy to stay as I was to keep her.

"And your name…" she pressed. "I usually don't offer one," I said, shrugging. "Or I make one up. But I wanted to hear you screaming mine."

Being “petal” was playful and naughty and sweet. Being “mate” was being cared for and reminded of belonging. I loved both roles.