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He bit back the joke that he was the only species she needed to worry about. What was it with orcs and their dumb jokes? Next he’d be punching her on the arm to show his undying affection. He almost snorted out loud at his stupidity. Did he honestly think he’d ever impress a human like Shona?
“I promise. Come,” was all he said. “I’ll show you round the island.” He turned and strode up the beach toward the hillside, relishing the squeak of the fine white sand under his feet.
“Where are we going?” she called out, and he realized she was running a little to catch up.
He stopped and waited for her. “Over the headland. I have a secret spot to show you.”
With that, he jumped easily onto a rocky outcrop, turned and once again held out his hand to her. “Just watch out, a few of these rocks are loose.” Without hesitation, she placed her hand in his, and he loved how easily it slid into his palm, how natural it felt to close his big fingers around hers, capturing them. Somehow, it seemed necessary to keep holding her hand as he led her up the steep path, and the fact she didn’t draw away—if anything, she seemed to be almost clinging to his side—filled Tor with a warmth that had nothing to do with the sunshine on his back.
As they finally scaled the ridge, he reluctantly let go of her and they stood gazing out at the view. She was close enough for him to hear her gasp softly. “It’s beautiful.”
“I know, right? I’d forgotten just how beautiful,” Tor answered, his eyes panning the scene before them and his big chest full of emotion. From here, the cliff ran steeply down to a valley, verdant with rainforest. And nestled between all that greenery, way, way further down, the crystal waters tumbled and gushed into a beautiful, clear, heart-shaped pool, followed by another then another and another, heading down the valley as far as the eye could see.
“Is it real, or am I dreaming? Should you pinch me?”
Tor resisted the urge, he’d probably be too rough, too eager.
“It’s real. Just the best kept secret. Here, let’s go down to the water.” When he held out his hand, she took it with no hesitation, and once again a deep sense of intimacy settled inside his chest. He took the rocks easily with his big steady feet, sensing her picking her way along behind him more delicately. Tor reeled in his energy and went at her pace.
When they reached the first pool, with the water tumbling over the blue and silver striated rocks, the fairy ferns and delicate wild orchids framing its edge, Tor didn’t know whether to stare at the pool or at her.
He let himself do both.
Her parted lips, her eyes the same deep blue as the water, held him in thrall. “Thoughts?” he asked gruffly, trying to hide his emotions.
“I’m—I’m speechless.”
He felt strangely lightheaded, as if his senses had been hijacked by something otherworldly. He could lose himself here, with this amazing woman, in this magical place.
And that could potentially lead to more… much more.
“We’ll come back later, when we’ve explored the rest of the island,” he said, and this time he did not reach for her hand. If he did, he knew he would be tempted to lead her to a rock, lay her down and do wicked and unmentionable things with her for the rest of the afternoon.
They spent the next hour exploring the island. It didn’t take long to walk its length and breadth. Birds sang sweetly and a little creature scuttled up a tree.
She startled.
“Don’t worry, that will be a kirikee.”
“What’s that?”
“A miniature tree squirrel. Again, only found here and I think way up north on a couple of islands.”
They’d soon walked the length of the beach and now wound their way up again, picking their way up the tree-covered hill to where Tor remembered there used to be a clearing, on a rocky outcrop.
He growled triumphantly when he found it. To one side there were views of the ocean, and to the other, the pools and the waterfall. The panorama was phenomenal.
It was remarkable that he still remembered how to find this spot from his mere handful of visits. But somehow it must have got stamped into the cells of his brain, imprinted on his soul.
“Here,” Tor said triumphantly, jumping up a few more rocks until he was standing proud on the best vantage point. When he’d helped her up, he said, “This is the spot where I want to build. It’s wide enough and level enough and with 360 views.”
“How would you get building materials up here?”
His lip curled and he rubbed two big fingers together. “Enough coin can achieve anything.”
She cast him a wry smile. “I guess.”
Tor inhaled deeply and held her gaze. “I will buy this island, Shona. And I will build my home here.”
