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“Goddess above,” she murmured as a picture came up of Tor Arquin himself.
Shona didn’t go for big species. She’d always been attracted to svelte monsters with lean long limbs and high cheekbones. After she’d split with Matteus, she’d contemplated dating a handsome wolf shifter who’d pursued her with flowers and gifts, only to be put off by the gleam of his incisors. She’d gotten too close to serious bite play with Matteus and she really couldn’t risk that again.
As for orcs, no way would she date one. Those big burly, uncouth guys who shouted obscene remarks about her body from building sites. She often saw them lumbering off to work in their high vis with their wide green faces and shiny tusks.
Tusks. Ew. Imagine that.
But Tor Arquin’s face held her gaze.
Made her breath hitch oddly in her throat.
Because for an orc, he was remarkably handsome.
The green of his skin was pulled tight over high cheekbones—her total and utter weakness. His eyes were deep set and very dark, almost black, under brows that had less of the heaviness she associated with orcs. There was a tattoo on his brow, v-ing down between his eyebrows. Tattoos she did associate with orcs, they were usually covered in them, though this one was well executed. She’d seen some real shockers.
Shona’s gaze panned down to the orc’s strong jaw, the full line of his mouth, a fleshy lower lip that spelled sensuality, and a thin upper lip that gave his face a look of determination.
Or, knowing orcs, arrogance.
His tusks were—kind of neat compared to a lot she’d seen, and for some reason they didn’t detract from that undeniably attractive mouth.
And his hair. Shona dilated the photo with her fingertips. Yes, his hair appeared to be braided, lots of tiny braids, and tugged back from his broad skull into a ponytail.
As for clothing, well… Shona pulled a face. The photo was only an upper body publicity shot, but he was wearing nothing but a traditional orc-style leather waistcoat which exposed the bulging biceps of his crossed arms, the swell of his huge pec muscles.
Tacky to show off so much green flesh. She gave an audible snort. Though, zooming in, his garb didn’t look so bad on him, she decided grudgingly. His torso wasn’t typically orc either, there was no hunching of his shoulders, no rounded back. He stood proud, his smile challenging the camera.
Like he knew he was special.
Urgh.
He was probably a prize dick.
She sighed and crossed out her eleven am appointment, a house inspection for a sea urchin who was trying to sell an uninhabited old place in the marshes near Motham Bay.
She guessed it could wait another day. Sales for water creatures were her least favorite commissions, their homes were always full of damp, but houses by the sea were getting more popular nowadays.
So… at eleven o’clock she would be at her office.
Wearing her new pants suit in a delicate shade of lilac and her highest kick-ass heels.
If she was going to this much trouble for him, Tor Arquin had better show.
Chapter
Two
As the plane landed on the tiny airstrip in East Motham, Tor felt his scalp tighten. Surely the authorities could build a bigger airport now that Motham City was thriving? Preferably one far away from the industrial east side where he grew up, with its rows of squat shanty houses all butted up next to each other. If he looked hard enough, he’d probably be able to spot his parents’ house.
All the money he’d thrown at them, and they still chose to live on the shabby old east side.
Hell’s demons, what did you do with old folks?
He’d checked in with Katrina this morning. Dad was home from hospital and doing as well as could be expected, considering he had a large bump on his head and a leg in plaster. Mom was predictably fussing around him and getting overtired.
Tor huffed a sigh. He’d be with them soon enough, listening to their bickering.
But first, he had an appointment with the realtor.
