Valpar: A Steamy Orc-Rom Com, page 28
I grunted and heaved the goat up under my arm. He was frozen solid, not just fainted. His legs were stiff, his head moved in an odd position.
Strange.
“We can go to my parent’s tree house. It’s over yonder.” My miresa pointed to the left, and I carried them both in my arms.
My shaft was not that scary, and I did not see how a goat would faint over something as simple as a naked orc.
By the time we reached the tree, my miresa was yawning and rubbing her cheek against me. The dirt and grime was falling off my skin, but human bodies were not resistant to the outdoors and their bodies were prone to sickness. I had to get her clean and warm, and hopefully this treehouse would have a way for me to do that.
I wanted to wash her in the stream we traveled through, but she refused, saying she would rather have a warm show-er. I was not looking forward to holding two bodies against me while I climbed, but when we reached the tree, my miresa pointed to a small hidden lev-er and a mysterious ele-vator came from the thick branches of the tree.
She motioned for me to step onto the platform, with its wooden surface cool beneath my feet. With hesitation, I tested its sturdiness, feeling the weight of my body press against it. Satisfied, I tightened my grip on my precious cargo, feeling its weight in my arms. Her laughter did not bring confidence even as she assured me that the platform could bear more than just my weight. It was a claim that seemed unbelievable. As we ascended, sounds of creaking branches and rustling leaves surrounded us, and my tension did not ease until I jumped off the platform.
As we came into the main living area, my eyes widened. It was not a simple treehouse as I had imagined, but a grand house woven into the very fabric of the trees, a strange fusion of nature and cabin.
The spacious living area was created with comfortable sofas and chairs, while vibrant cloths dangled from branches, making the room a rainbow of colors. The sight of the colorful fabrics brightened the space, while the gentle rustling sound they made added a soothing nature.
I did not have these colors back at our cabin, and I would need to make sure that we would bring many colors back to decorate our home together.
“The shower is back there,” my miresa pointed. “You can set down poor Simon over here, that’s his bed.”
Simon was still stiff. When I set him down, he toppled over and let out a long whine.
“When he gets over-tired, sometimes his body won’t unlock for a bit. He’ll be okay.” She patted my shoulder, and I shook my head.
This goat was going to be trouble when we took him back to the Wood. There were creatures twice his size that would eat him alive. Not only would I have to keep my miresa tied to me, but a goat as well.
I would be a laughingstock.
My miresa showed me where their bathroom was. There wasn’t a tub, but a shower. It was large, a place for sitting and even a lounger where someone could lie. There were many shower heads that all came pouring from the walls and I looked in awe at how many knobs there were.
“Mom always wanted a fancy shower, so Dad built it for her. I don’t like it so much; I’d rather take a bath.”
“But there is no tub.” I looked around more as she turned on the knobs. Steam rolled out of the shower and the water on my muscles instantly relaxed me.
“Nope, I usually go bathe in a hot spring.”
I felt a sudden surge of tension, as my muscles contracted and swelled, creating a taut, rigid sensation in my back muscles.
“Naked?” I growled and watched her as she squirted oil onto the towel.
“Well, one tends to get naked when they bathe.” She snorted and continued with her bathing. I watched as the water droplets dripped down her breasts, her nipples hardening.
“You will not be naked, not without me. Do you understand?” I stood next to her and my shaft rubbed up against her leg.
She squeaked and stared up at me. “Never? Without you? So, are we always bathing together, then?”
“Yes.”
She stuck out her lips into a pout and shrugged her shoulders. “Okie dokie.”
I blinked several times, waiting for her to brat back at me, but it never came. Satisfied with her answer, I washed the rest of me and helped her with her hair, combing it with my claws and fixing it into a large braid so she could sleep.
When she showed me her room, I knew my stature was far too large. I had to squeeze inside the doorway and when I finally did, I could see the variety of color she had created on the walls. Pinks, yellows, and purples swirled together in patterns of flowers, streams, mountains and forests. I wanted to wait until the light sources came above the horizon, so I could see what she had done to create such beauty.
Could she paint our cabin this way? Make it bright and beautiful? Perhaps I didn’t decorate my cabin because my miresa would make our house into a home.
My miresa yawned again, and I shook that thought away, wrapping my arm around her waist.
“Come, we sleep.” I grabbed a ribbon from a shelf and tied it around her wrist and then to my ankle. She eyed me for a moment, but again, she did not argue.
“I’m gonna put some pajamas on.” She rubbed her eyes. I shook my head and took the towel that she used to dry her body.
“No, your body goes against mine. Consider it your punishment for leaving me alone in the bed of furs.”
My miresa muttered under her breath, “But is it really punishment?”
I chuckled, and she fell into her bed, which was far too small for my body. She curled up next to me, her cheek resting next to my chest.
“We still have stuff to talk about.” She yawned and closed her eyes. “Lots of important stuff.”
I hummed, stroking the little piece of hair around her face. “We will, in the morning, sweet female. Sleep long, we have all the time.”
Her nose scrunched up, and she blew out a breath.
If she wasn’t so tired, I was sure there would be an argument there.
“Oh, don’t pet the fart squirrels, if they come by at light sources rise,” she added.
My eyes darted open.
“Fart squirrels?”
“Yeah, they are black and white, and sometimes hang outside my window and I give them treats. Don’t go near and pet them. They throw stink at you if you scare ‘em.”
I tried to contain my laughter, but my body shook. “My little fairy, that is a skunk.”
She grunted. “No, it’s a fart squirrel.”
I rolled my eyes and let her be. Soon after, I fell into a light sleep, because I would not have her running off without me again.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Calliope
Valpar snarled and hurled his body on top of me. “Stay down!”
A scream pierced the air, causing me to shout in surprise. Valpar growled and tightened his body around me. The screaming behind him didn’t stop the shrill, high-pitched scream.
I screamed, too, because I recognized that scream. Panic rose to my throat because my mother had just walked in on Valpar and me… completely naked!
“What the fuck!” I heard my dad’s voice come through it all. “Whose ass is that!?”
What? This juicy biscuit? “It’s my mate’s! Don’t kill him!” I shouted.
Huh, I did not see this coming.
Probably should have, since this is my parents’ house, and I didn’t really believe they would stay a whole month away from me.
Valpar forcefully twisted my body, positioning me right in front of him. As I moved, the soft fabric of the blanket trailed along my body, providing a thin shield to protect my nakedness.
The sound of Valpar’s heavy panting trailed down my neck, his breaths coming out in ragged gasps. His grip tightened around one of his menacingly large daggers, the cold steel gently touching my arm reminding me he was in protection mode.
So hot.
“No one will kill me or touch my female!” Valpar hissed.
My mom was restrained by my dad, his face wearing a smirk reminiscent of my uncles. I could see the amusement in his eyes. Meanwhile, my mom’s face reflected sheer terror. Her complexion had turned pale, and her mouth agape wide enough to let a pixie sit inside.
“What in Hera’s name is going on? Birch, get that thing away from Calliope!” She struggled in his hold, her body trembling with anger as she tried to get free.
Birch held onto her tighter. “I don’t think there is a problem here, Theresa.”
Mom screamed, again. She jumped and squirmed in his arms. “What do you mean, there is no problem? He’s got her tied to him!”
Birch looked at the ribbon, which wasn’t a strong material anyway and frowned. He let go of Theresa and put his hand to his hip, which held a sheathed knife.
Uh oh.
“Wait, wait!” I held out my hands, but Valpar grabbed them back.
He gripped me by my waist and lifted me, his dick was hard, despite the circumstances, and I groaned when Mom screeched again, her hands slapping her face.
“Cut it off!”
Nope, can’t do that.
“Mom! He’s my mate! I swear to you!” I held onto Valpar’s forearms to steady me.
Birch eyed Valpar up and down with a slightly skeptical look. “Osirus did say that Calliope had found her mate. Let’s hear them out.”
Theresa shook her head. “Not to an orc, there is no way she is mated to this green monstrosity!”
I gasped. “Mom, are you racist? I can’t believe it!”
Mom took a step back. “No, no, that is not what I am saying! It’s just…you are both completely different, this is… no, this is a mistake. You are so… and he is just…”
“Just what?” Valpar snapped
I snickered. “Aw, you talking about his junk being too big? Don’t worry, it fits!” I pointed at the club between his legs.
As Mom gasped for air, her eyes fluttered and rolled back into her head. The room filled with a tense silence, broken only by the sound of Dad’s knife slipping from his grip. He swiftly reached out, catching Mom just in time to prevent her from collapsing onto the cold, hard floor.
Birch sighed and shook his head, putting an arm under her legs and one behind her back. “Why don’t you both get dressed? Meet us in the living room.” Birch eyed us one more time and swallowed. “And please, take the restraints off of Calliope. I can only do so much with Theresa, and having you tied to her is going to throw her into a fit.”
Valpar grunted and jerked his jaw toward Dad in understanding. At least, I think it was understanding. Or maybe it was just an ’Okay, I’ll appease you for now, but I’ll tie up my mate later,’ sort of deal.
We dressed quickly, although. we didn’t have a leather loincloth to cover Valpar’s jewels, so we had to make do with some silk wrappings that hung around the walls. I picked the manliest color, a dark blue, but he had to use a bright pink to tie his pecker to his leg!
Please Mom, don’t ask why he has a tie around his leg.
By the time we walked into the living room, with Valpar’s hand tightly around my shoulder. Mom was coming to. She was still pale, lying on the ornate deep purple couch that Osirus gifted Birch for a mating present.
“It wasn’t a dream?” Mom groaned, and I fisted my hands into the extra fabric of Valpar’s cloth. A little of me was disappointed that Mom wasn’t happy for me, but the other part knew why.
She knew what was going to happen to me. She knew I was going to get my memories back.
“Don’t talk to my miresa that way,” Valpar growled, and the branches shook in the tree.
Birch didn’t turn around, just swiped a cloth over Mom’s head.
“The Moon Fairy gave her to me, and I will protect her—”
Mom sat up from the couch. “Ha!” She interrupted. “You, protect her? You think you can protect her from what’s coming? You do not know what you have done, what you have subjected her to. Now, she will be heartbroken because this—” she pointed between the two of us, “This cannot be a completed bond. Not on my watch.”
Before Valpar could growl or snarl, I did it on my own. I ripped myself from Valpar’s hold. Mom leaned back onto the couch and her eyes widened as she saw me approach her. I leaned forward, my lip curled.
“You will not separate us. You will not break us apart. You think you know everything when you don’t. I’ve grown up a lot since you have been gone. I should have grown-up years ago.”
Mom’s eyes softened. “Calliope—”
I shook my head. “No. I… I know you were trying to protect me. Whatever it is, I was trying to protect myself, too, and maybe I needed that break for a while. I know what’s going to happen if we mate.” I felt my throat closing up around me, then, I felt Valpar at my back. His warmth enveloped me when his arms wrapped around my waist and his jaw touched the top of my head. “But now, I need to make some decisions, and now that I have a mate—” I stared up at him, his face was void of any emotion and I knew it was because he didn’t care for Mom very much at the moment. “—I can get through it.”
Mom leaned her head back on the couch, her arms limp in defeat. “I just love you.” She sniffed. “I just remember seeing you—holding you when—” I jumped into her lap and she let out an oomph, wrapping her arms around me.
“I’ll be okay.” I nuzzled her neck. “It will be fine.”
Valpar’s throat let out a rumble, and I stood up and felt him pull me back to his body.
Birch stood and held out his hand, ready to grasp Valpar’s forearm. “We haven’t been properly introduced. I’m Birch. Calliope’s adoptive father. This is Theresa, Calliope’s adoptive mother.” He nodded to Mom.
For the next couple of hours, Dad took the lead in the conversation. Valpar was mostly quiet and answered questions in a gruff tone. I was able to explain how we met, how I deliberately disobeyed her, followed my Fairy Godmother’s advice and went to the mating ball, anyway.
Mom said nothing, but Dad had to hold Mom’s bouncing thigh still with his hand. He whispered to her, “It was the Goddess’ will for her to be there.”
Mom went to the kitchen and prepared us food. I offered to help but she waved me off and said she needed time to process. It hurt, but I understood. She was trying to protect me, but it was time for me to stand on my own.
Mom brought back the snacks and food, but Valpar ate little, his hand was on my thigh, my butt on his lap. On occasion, my Mom would let out a sad sigh, but dad would just pat her back in reassurance.
Mom was really upset. I wasn’t sure if it was because I was going to be leaving the treehouse for good, or what was yet to come for me.
After I explained to both Valpar and my parents about Starla’s visit in my dream last night, about what was going to happen, Mom started crying and Birch consoled her. Valpar, again, showed no emotion on his face but I felt his body tense. His arms tightened around me, his hand on my chest. He was reading me, just like in the tent, and after a while his eyebrows furrowed. I knew he wanted to take me away from my parents and have us be alone in our own little world, to discuss things on our own.
“Have you decided what you are going to do, honey?” My mom wiped away a tear. “With the whole, take it all at once or a little at a time? You know, about the memories?”
I felt Valpar’s gaze on me, and I squeezed his arm. “That’s something Valpar and I will talk about. I think we need to do that alone.”
Mom nodded.
I knew she had to feel some sort of jealousy, maybe hurt. I could see it in her body language as she curled up on the couch and her head leaning on Dad’s shoulder. She’d done everything for me since I came here. It was her time, though, her time with Birch to start her own family.
There wasn’t anything I could do to make it better for her. I couldn’t rely on them anymore. My past was mine and I knew Theresa and Birch were in it. They saved me but they didn’t have to keep saving me anymore.
Valpar was my future.
“Please don’t worry,” I whispered. “This was meant to happen.”
Why else would my fairy godmother be pushing this, especially right now? Unless it was her own agenda, which I didn’t believe.
Mom hummed. “You really fell out over the banister, did you?”
I buried my face into Valpar’s chest.
Mom rolled her eyes and smacked her head. “Calliope, I swear you are the most accident prone, little thing I have ever seen. I remember when we first brought you to the tree house, you almost fell out of the tree ten times, in ten minutes. We had to have a witch put an invisible ward up the first year.”
I giggled, but Valpar stiffened around me.
Birch huffed. “Valpar, you will do fine with Calliope. She is a lively one, but it seems you have calmed her. She appears to have slept-in this day. She is usually awake before the light sources rise, and playing with the woodland creatures on her balcony or climbing down the tree wreaking havoc through the forest before we can stop her.”
Valpar’s large hand squeezed my thigh.
“That’s because he thoroughly wore me out last night,” I chirped. “He did me dirty on the forest floor because I made him chase after me.”
Mom was halfway drinking her tea when it all came spitting out of her mouth.
Birch leaned his head back on the couch. “I see she has not gained an ounce of restraint on that mouth, yet.”
Valpar chuckled, squeezing me tight against his chest. “No, but I enjoy her this way.”
We talked for longer, and the longer we did, the more I felt myself grow anxious. I wasn’t used to sitting this long, but I was doing it for Mom’s sake. She would look at me occasionally and smile, but I could see the worry and, maybe, sadness.
I quickly realized our time was short and I would have to travel back to the Wood with Valpar.
They eventually told us of their travels. Which comprised of visiting Creed and Odessa, the dragon shifters who were relatively quiet and private, raising their two daughters. They were now pregnant again with their third, maybe fourth child. They were excited, but could only visit for a day with them, since Creed was very territorial over Odessa and their children. Birch said he felt sorry for his daughters that they may never find their mates.
