Page 60 of Protective Pucking Orc

Dakvaar held my daughter as if she was precious, and listened to her chatter as if it were fascinating, and shared his interests with her, and solemnly joined her in her favorite things. I remembered my suspicion the first time he’d sat down at the counter to draw with Rosa, thinking he was just trying to manipulate me.

Because I’d never, not once, met a male who treated a little girl as if she were precious; not because of what she could bring him, but who she was.

At Sunday’s game, I’d met a whole busload of them. A whole team of them. The Teal Terrors had adopted Rosa as one of their own, and I heard more than one of them say they’d won because she was cheering for them, which had made her feel very special indeed.

It was impossible not to compare them—Dakvaar—to Anthony, and how he thought of his own daughter. As an asset, something to be traded for more power, money, influence.

Well, fuck him.

I’d run before, and I could run again, but I didn’t want to, not now. I loved Bramblewood Bluff, I loved this home, and I loved Dakvaar. I wasn’t going to let Anthony take that from me.

Not again.

Sunday night I told Dakvaar the truth about my past; now I had to tell him the truth about my future. I needed to tell him I loved him and wanted to stay with him, if it was possible.

When he crouched beside my daughter at the back door to zip her into her fluffy winter coat, I smiled and pressed a kiss to his forehead. Dakvaar tipped his head back and peered up at me, that green gleam back in his eyes.

“What was that for?”

I merely smiled, knowing this wasn’t the time, not yet. “I’ll cook dinner while you’re out there. Chicken thighs and Caesar salad, I’m thinking?”

His chin dipped slightly. “Sounds delicious. There are breadcrumbs in the pantry.” He stood, pulling my turquoise Terrors hat over Rosa’s curls. “I meant to ask you—can you pick out a helmet for her? One I can order? I’d feel more comfortable with her protected.”

Of course he would. I smiled and shooed them both out the door. “Remember she can’t see in the dark as well as you!” I called into the cold night, then shivered and shut the door, heading into the kitchen.

I hummed, feeling strangely excited for the evening. Tonight, I was going to tell Dakvaar I loved him. And seeing the way he was favoring his left side, I had an idea how to do it.

And if everything worked out, I might get something else I’d been needing: his cock. Sure, I’d been enjoying the last few evenings, where he seemed just focused on my pleasure. But the fact that his body had responded to me—was there anything hotter than a guy losing control and coming in his boxers because of how turned on he was by eating me out?—told me he was holding himself back.

Once he learned how I felt, surely, that would be enough?

After dinner and seventeen games of Go Fish, I handed him one of the fluffy bath sheets he favored, and nudged him toward the back porch. “I’ll put Rosa to bed. You look like you need a soak.”

He took it with a grateful wince. “Torrk says I’m going to be bruised. We had a good practice, but we’re pushing ourselves for Thursday’s home game.”

“The hot tub will be good for you. Go.” I softened my command with a saucy wink, which had him raising a brow as he drifted toward the back door.

Rosa demanded three books before bed, and I found myself rushing to get her tucked in, which was an interesting twist; usually I cherished my time with her, but tonight I was looking forward to a chance to be Sofia instead of Mama.

Still, I made certain to kiss her forehead gently. “Goodnight, mija. Sleep tight and cozy.”

“I will,” she yawned, eyes already closed, and Veth’kar the dragon snuggled up beside her. “I’m safe.”

My chest tightened, and I brushed my hand over her hair. “You are. Dakvaar will keep us safe.”

I didn’t know how, but he would.

Maggie had been texting me throughout the week, demanding to know when I would be returning. I’d explained as much as I could—ex-husband after my daughter, finding a place to lie low, hoping to come back soon, etc.—but she was demanding answers.

Answers I didn’t have.

Anthony was nursing his wounds somewhere, I knew it. He’d found us, which meant he would return—for Rosa, if not for me. He had plans—disgusting plans—for her. Dakvaar’s friends had seen no sign of him around town, but I knew he would come back, probably when we least expected it, and try to hurt us both.

I took a deep, shuddering breath, delighting in the way my ribs didn’t ache from it.

I didn’t know what the next few weeks would bring, but I was enjoying this little vacation.

We were in limbo here in Dakvaar’s home, hiding from reality; hiding from my past, but also our future.