Page 9 of His Stubborn Mate

Why was she now welcoming me?

And did it matter?

Ye have the opportunity to protect her, even for a few days. Ye ken ye’ll take that, nae matter what prompted it.

Aye, ‘twas true.

So I tried for one of my brother Severn’s charming grins—and likely failed.

“I’m stuck in yer world for a few more days, and I wanted to see ye again. I’ve brought supplies—bribes, I suppose. Might I stay with ye? ‘Tis growing colder out here.”

Her chuckle seemed a little forced and her breath clouded the air in front of her lips as she caressed my cheek again before dropping her hand to tuck it into her shawl for warmth.

“I would welcome you to share our humble shelter even without bribes, but extra supplies will be welcome. You eat twice as much as us, as I recall.”

Since this was said with a teasing tone, I took it as such. I reached for her bare hands, pulling them from their pitiful wool protection to cup them between mine. I rubbed vigorously to warm them as I grinned at her.

“I stopped in yer auld town and acquired a horse and supplies before heading out here.”

One dark brow rose. “Acquired?”

Shrugging unrepentantly, I tucked her hands back under her shawl. “I left ten gold coins in the stable. That is fair.”

“That is…more than fair. But how did you know⁠—”

“Where ye and Ewan were?” My brows lowered as I remembered my anger at the unfairness. “John told me of yer banishment.”

And just like that, her wariness was back.

“Ah.”

One of her hands dropped to her stomach, which really was huge, considering she could be no more than seven or eight months along. Unless she was already pregnant when I spent that fortnight with her—nay, nay, humans didn’t carry their bairns any longer than orcs did, and my sister Issa had dropped her daughter Lizzette after nine months.

Her gaze flickered over my shoulder, then to my chest, and I could smell her nervousness and confusion.

“John told you…?”

“He’s a bastard, Cataline.” I bent forward and brushed a kiss over her forehead. “I hate that he helped them treat ye like this.”

Her “hm” wasn’t an agreement, and she didn’t meet my eyes again.

So I leaned down to kiss her, and she reared back in surprise. Her dark gaze snapped to mine—finally—and her voice was sharp.

“What are you doing?”

Startled, I froze. “Trying to kiss ye?”

And to my relief, her expression melted into a smile, with genuine humor in her gaze.

“Then you have forgotten everything I taught you.”

She lifted one hand to the back of my head, causing her shawl to fall open as she tugged me down toward her.

“Purse your lips between your tusks, please. My mouth is not big enough to address all of your lips.”

Chuckling in relief, I did as she instructed, remembering those first few awkward kisses, and beyond thrilled she was allowing me to taste her again.

Her lips were soft against mine, achingly familiar yet somehow new all over again. She tasted of the tea I knew she preferred in the morning—honey and herbs—and when she parted her mouth to me, I nearly groaned at the warmth of her.