Page 56 of Protective Pucking Orc

Dakvaar

Coach gave us Monday off since we were getting back in the wee hours of the morning. Usually the bus rides back from Denver were an uncomfortable pain in the ass—how much trouble would it be for the team to buy a bus designed for males over seven feet tall?—but this time I didn’t mind the discomfort.

Not with my two females trusting me enough to fall asleep curled up against me.

Sofia woke as we pulled into the parking lot, sat up, and began to wipe her eyes and apologize.

I silenced her with a kiss; I loved the way she stiffened, then melted against me.

Rosa never once woke as I buckled her into the car seat I’d purchased that very first day. When I carried her into her bedroom, I nuzzled her cheek.

“Kitling,” I whispered, “I know you’re awake and just faking it to get out of having to brush your tusks.”

The little giggle she gave—eyes still squeezed shut—told me our debate about what to call her teeth was still going. I tucked her into bed and lingered to press a kiss to her forehead.

When I straightened, I felt Sofia watching us from the doorway. To my relief, there was a sad sort of smile on her lips, rather than disapproval. I took her hand and led her, in silence, to our bedroom, where I waited for her to perform her evening ablutions, then tucked her up beside me in the bed, all without words.

My Kteer was quiet for a change. I suppose it was because it had worked overtime in tonight’s game, keeping me on edge—and alive—on the ice. It had been rewarded with our win.

And with my Mate’s show of trust as she confessed about her past.

I was exhausted, yes, but I wasn’t going to push Sofia. I held her as she fell asleep, and stared up at the ceiling until I had to admit I couldn’t come up with a solution to the Anthony problem tonight.

Apparently my ability to keep from pleasuring Sofia lasted until dawn, when I came awake with my mouth already on her—I’m not sure if it was instinct or my Kteer—but her orgasm was just as sweet as it had been on Saturday.

I made her come twice more, in between naps, before I finally forced myself to roll out of bed, away from her. Mainly because I’d heard Rosa clanking around the kitchen, doubtlessly looking for breakfast.

When I appeared in the doorway in my sweats and t-shirt, the kitling’s face lit up. “Dak! I’m hungry. Can I make pancakes again?”

Hiding my yawn, I padded to the coffeemaker. “How about I make the pancakes, and you cut up the strawberries for the top? But we have to be quiet so we don’t wake your mother.”

Sofia still wasn’t awake when we plated, nor when we sat down to eat quietly. I’ll admit that my Kteer preened softly, knowing my Mate was nearby, trusting enough to continue sleeping.

“Dak,” Rosa whispered comically loud, “can we go skating today? I think I’m getting better.”

“Getting better at what?” I teased, since she’d never been out on the pond. I’d only been able to find an extra pair in her size two days ago. “Putting on the skates?”

The kitling nodded eagerly. “They look the best with my pink sparkly pants. I could put them on!”

“Oh, so you’re getting better at accessorizing, that’s what I’m hearing?”

“I’d the best at assessoring! I’ll show you!”

Chuckling, I had her help me clean up, then cautioned her again to keep her voice down as I shooed her into her room to get changed.

Amazing how, in such a short amount of time, that guest room had become her room. At times I found myself imagining how I would decorate it for her—unicorns would likely be involved—before I clamped down on the musings.

Rosa had an apartment, with her things in it. She was viewing this stay with me as a vacation—a camping trip. And I couldn’t go to her apartment and gather her things until the Anthony threat was dealt with.

And once the Anthony threat was dealt with, there’d be no reason for my females—my family—not to return to their own apartment. Our interlude together would be over.

Unless, a little voice inside me whispered, Sofia makes the choice to return to you.

And she wasn’t going to do that until she knew the truth. My truth, the truth I’d been hiding from her all this time.

Skating with Rosa—teaching her to skate—didn’t take up all of my attention. Which was good, because my mind and my heart kept circling back to the thought of telling Sofia she was my Mate. I knew, after her confession last night, that it had to happen if there was ever going to be a chance at forever with her.

Up until last night, I hadn’t fully understood what she was running from, so I couldn’t plan. Now I did, and I knew we did have a chance.