Page 6 of My Orc Package Deal

Right.

Right. This marriage was…a convenient arrangement, nothing more.

And I needed to remember that.

The deep breath I took was shuddering, and I couldn’t help the way I pressed my cheek against Korrad’s palm just briefly before I pulled away with a shaky smile.

His gaze was on me when the officiant said, “By the power vested in me as the mayor of Eastshore Isle, and this handy certificate I got from the internet, I can now pronounce you husband and wife.”

And because of that, I was sure Korrad saw the way my breath caught, and my eyes widened as the cheering erupted behind us.

I heard Jay’s whoop, and Milo’s adolescent cheers…and unexpectedly, my eyes flooded with tears.

Husband and wife.

I was…I was married?

Chapter Two

Korrad

I couldn’t seem to let go of Kesha’s hand, even though the well-wishers kept trying to welcome her to the island during the reception Jay had organized. This was okay, right? I mean, we were married now, so holding her hand in public was totally normal.

Nothing about this is normal.

Yeah, but at least we got along, right? I knew from experience how important that was.

In fact, despite the unusual beginning of our marriage, I figured we had a fairly strong foundation. I mean, we seemed to like each other, which was better than I could say about my long-ago relationship with Sharra.

There’d been a moment, earlier today, when I’d almost balked.

Kesha and Milo had arrived on the island around noon, and we’d agreed to meet at my house. That way they could unpack their car—I was surprised she didn’t have a moving truck—and the boys could meet in person before the wedding.

I suppose it allowed us to meet in person before the wedding.

But I’d been so focused on Jay’s excitement to meet his new brother that I had almost forgotten I was going to be meeting my bride. Right up until the car stopped, the door opened…and Kesha Briley climbed out.

My mouth had gone dry and my Kteer—that primitive part of me which was mostly silent these days—began to hum in my chest, like a chord struck low and slow.

She was…stunning. Taller than many human females, with curves my claws ached to caress. She moved confidently, full of certainty…like a goddess. My body—my Kteer, breath, cock—had reacted so strongly to her that I second-guessed this impulsive decision to marry her. I’d seen what pure lust, built on nothing else, could do to a relationship, and as I’d struggled to get my reaction to her under control, I decided I was glad for our agreement to keep separate bedrooms.

Thank the gods we’d been able to focus on the boys’ jubilant greetings—and the dozens of photos, posed and unposed—instead of my body’s reaction to her. By the time Jay finished giving Milo a tour of the big oak tree in the backyard, listening to them plan the tree fort they’d build there, I’d wrestled my Kteer back under control.

I wanted Kesha Briley in the worst way, but that wasn’t part of the arrangement.

Kissing her had probably been a bad idea.

Yeah, but when Sakkara had prompted, my Kteer had sort of…taken over. I’d been reaching for her before I’d known what I was doing, then Kesha was melting against me, and gods below, her lips…! I was amazed she hadn’t startled at my growl as I managed to wrestle control back.

Pretty sure even Brakkor had smirked at that—impressive that he’d noticed, considering how hard he’d been staring at the brunette female who’d stood beside my new wife during the ceremony. There was a story there, and just as soon as I could get my head out of my own fog, I’d ask about that.

You just got married. You should be focused on your family rather than worrying about your twin brother.

Family.

Shit. For so long, that had meant me and Jay and Brak—and our younger brother Kardok, when he was around—against the world. Moving from Colorado to Eastshore Isle had been one hells of a trust move, and it had worked out for us. But now my family had expanded, hadn’t it?

Oh shit, I had two new people to take care of, two humans relying on me…