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Even for orcs, it would be complicated if a mating bond snapped in place while one of the mates was fresh out of a relationship with someone else. Mating was celebratory, but it wasn't a magical influence over personal feelings.
"My offer for her information will stand," Astraeya said slowly.
"It's against MSA—"
"I know our policies, Khell. But this isn't something you did wrong. It's just nature. I'll deal with it on my end, don't worry about me."
I sighed at that and nodded. Sunny wasn't ready to be hunted down, reluctance to give up a sexual frenzy or not. But I would have a way of finding her now, if it became urgent.
How long could an orc go out of contact with their mate? I would find out, it seemed.
"Are you sure?" Astraeya pressed.
"If she…if she returns…if she asks for me," I started.
"I'll call you," Astraeya answered immediately. "No one else."
I relaxed a fraction more. Repeat customers were rare in the grand scheme of our work, although they made for steady money. I winced when I thought of my own two regular clients. MSA would break the news to them gently, and I couldn't regret quitting. I would never satisfy anyone but Sunny again. I would never be satisfied with anyone else.
If Sunny wanted me at MSA again, she would find me. If she didn't…
"How much time will you give her?"
"What's enough?" I asked, glancing up from the edge of the desk for the first time in minutes, like a shamed school boy. Astraeya pursed her lips, and I filled in some of what was missing. "Enough for a woman who just ended a long relationship."
Astraeya groaned and sagged backwards into her desk chair, eyes rolling up toward the ceiling. "Woof, Khell. That's not… There's no one right answer to that."
I let out a low grumble and nodded.
"Not too long," Astraeya said, tipping her chin back down to glare at me. "Less time than you think is noble. Seriously, the orcish chivalry customs make my head spin. Considerate behavior to your mate includes everything from how red you mark their ass before guests come to the home, to giving them excessive space and time to accept the mating."
A nice summer rose blush for Sunny's ass would do. She wasn't quite as hearty as an orc, and I wouldn't want her unnecessarily uncomfortable.
"A month?" I asked.
Astraeya huffed and tipped her head side to side. "A month…a month should do."
A month, then. A month to resist hunting Sunny. A month to let her find her footing in her new life before offering her a place in mine, claiming a place in hers.
Surely a mated orc could survive a month of waiting?
"Call if you need the number, Khell," Astraeya said with a grim prediction in her tone.
CHAPTER 18
Sunny
I forgot to ring the doorbell outside of Natalie's house. I stood on her doorstep, cool Chicago autumn winds flipping under my skirt, cum sticking my thighs together, and just stared at that old glass door. Really, I stared at my reflection.
I was a mess, hair tangled and eyes wide with shock, lips still swollen and bruised from kisses. There were marks on my throat from Khell's careful claws and gentle nips. I was dressed in a sweater and a skirt, and I hadn't realized how used to being naked I'd grown in just five days, but even the sight of clothes seemed wrong. The soft fabrics abraded the marks on my body, hid them.
A shadow appeared on the other side of the door, and I jumped in place, my brain shocking back into the moment as it opened and Natalie's husband Theo appeared.
"Sunn—Whoa," he said, nose wrinkling and rearing back. Theo was tall and broad-shouldered, and I'd previously thought of him as impressively muscular, but he was lankier to my eye now after being around Khell. He had shaggy brown hair that looked like he cut it himself and bright green eyes behind rounded tortoiseshell glasses. "Um…come on…Nat!" he called over his shoulder.
"Hi," I said weakly as he stepped back and gave his place at the door to Natalie a moment later.
"Sunny, there you are! Just in time for dinner," Natalie said, beaming at me.
