I watch Aria move around the kitchen; only now do I notice may have been too simple. In my kitchen and the rest of my house, I only kept everything to a minimum, only the essential things. But now with her here, I'm finding I wish I had more comforts for her.

I don't know who she used to be amongst her people, but I would wager she probably comes from some opulence; with that exquisite face and her refined mannerisms.

Of course, I am only going on assumption, she hasn't revealed to me much about her life in the human kingdom; who she is, how she almost drowned, or if she belongs to anyone.

But thoughts of her possibly belonging to another are not ones I like entertaining. Especially after feeling the scorching rage in my chest whenever the thought passes my mind.

I have elected to give her time until she wants to talk. Not that I am any better, I also haven't told her anything about who I am or where I am from and how come I am the only orc in this realm.

Those are truths I want to tell her, but I am afraid if I am to be truthful with myself. I am afraid of what she will think of me. A disgraced prince who was sent away because they weren't worthy of their place.

Especially not with how she looks at me, with so much trust and respect. What if she loses all of it for me when I tell her? I can't tell her. She can never know.

I have to savor every moment with her. She is fully healed, and I keep thinking I will wake up and that will be the day she tells me she is leaving. A constant source of anxiousness for me these days. I don't know why I don't want to part with this creature, but I don't want to.

This past month has been the best I've had in this realm, and maybe even my life. She brings me both peace and makes me feel inexplicably excited for the days. I am always eager to hear what she thinks and what she will say next. She has a wise mouth, and she is insightful, a true treasure.

"Igor..." her sweet voice pulls me out of my thoughts, and I realize I have been staring.

I clear my throat. "Is the food ready?" I want to stomp on myself, that came out snappy and harsh and she flinches a little at my tone.

She frowns a little before she collects her face. "Whoa, Mr. Orc, are you that hungry?"

I can't help the smile on my face and my tusks reveal more of themselves. She stares at them. She always does it when she sees them, almost like they fascinate her. "Yes, now feed me, human."

"I didn't hear a please, Igor." She folds her arms, and she stares at me, willing me to do it, to beg.

I chuckle lightly. I chuckle because she has no idea of the kinds of things I would do at her beckoning.

"No, little human." I step a little closer to her and I stare down at her, testing her.

I know she is comfortable with me, but I can never help the nagging that one day she will change on me too and treat me like all her kind has treated me, how they all look at me, what they all see when they look at me: just a beast. She doesn't flinch, in fact she cranes her neck and her eyes narrow to mine in determined slits.

"Make me food, now." I harden my voice a little.

"No, orc. What are you going to do about it?" the challenge is clear.

I can't help but find myself bellowing a laugh. I step back, laughter ravaging through me. This little human really isn't afraid of me. That is a breath of fresh air. It took 12 years for the first human friend I made to not cower in fear every time I showed up at his door. But Aria is just...Aria.

"Were you going to challenge me to a duel, Aria?" I ask going to take my seat.

She scoffs. "And I was going to win it. Careful, orc, these hands can do damage."

I laugh harder.

She rolls her eyes and starts dishing our food in our plate. We eat and I can't stop teasing her for scowling so much. I wash our dishes after while she baths for nighttime. We have a little night routine now.

When she is finished, I take her water outside and I come back to seat in my chair where I have often pretended to sleep all the time she's been here. I have only managed to sleep seven times and I can't rest completely because of the chair, and I don't want to close my eyes when I could just watch her.

"You can't go on like this, Igor." She cuts through my thoughts.

"What?"

"Do you ever sleep?" I see the concern in her face. So, she has noticed more than I thought.

"Of course, I do."

"Igor, don't lie to me." she pauses. "Do you struggle sleeping?" there is cautious note in her voice.

"I don't know what you are talking about." I hope I can divert her.

"You will burn out. I know you are a strong orc, but all creatures need rest, Igor, even you." She has a gentleness behind her words I am not used to directed at me.

I know she's telling the truth. A whole month I have slept sitting up on the chair and my body is starting to feel its side effects.

Before I would run through the forest or go swimming or just move around but now I can't because I won't leave her alone, I can't risk going too far and leaving her defenseless.

"Yes, I can. Now go and sleep, woman." I try to dissuade her because I can't do what she is asking.

"Come to bed, Igor." Her voice changes, harder, commanding this time. My gaze sharpens on her because I'll be cursed if that doesn't send all the wrong messages to my cock.

Does she know what she's doing? Is she doing it on purpose? Does she know she is playing a dangerous game? Does she know what she does to me?

I shake my head to her. "My mother told me about creatures like you." I try to make light of the situation. Trying to distract myself of what's happening south of me because I need to reign him in.

"Creatures like me?" he quips her brow.

"Yes. Ones that want to steal my virtue."

She laughs. Her angelic laugh that undoes me every time fills the room, touching me everywhere. It used to make me a little angry at first, how could a creature so small have such an impact on me. I find myself wanting things I shouldn't want with her.

Every time I tell myself I shouldn't, that we can never, it is like my body fights me with everything it possesses. And what's more? I want everything she has to offer for myself. Just for myself. I want all her laughs, all her joy and all her scowls. I want it all.

"Come on, I promise I will be a good little human. I won't do to you anything you don't want." She wiggles her eyebrows playfully. This creature. I know she is playing, but doesn't she see what she does to me.

I am so in tune with everything about her. How many breaths she draws a minute, the beat of her heart, how her mouth widens before it spreads to her whole face when she's smiling, how much she hates having dirty hair, and the little dip on top of her right eyebrow when she's scowling or furrowing her brows.

I wish I could tell her me keeping my distance is for her own good. I have never been a creature of self-restraint, or patience but I am trying to be a better me for her.

And it's like she sees the better me. The me my people wished I was, and I never thought I could be, but she looks at me like I am already that; that, and maybe even more. It makes me want to be better every day for her.

I huff instead and I near the bed. I don't want her to get more inventive, then I'd really be in trouble. I switch off the lamp.

I sit on the bed. I wait for her to get settled in before I also lie on my back. I look up to the darkness. It's a half moon, so there's little light seeping into the room from the window. She moves and I feel the warm blanket on my skin. She's covering me.

"What are you doing, Aria?"

"I'm sharing the blanket." She says simply.

"It won't stretch for both of us. I promise, I am okay. I'm hot blooded, remember?"

"Well, goodnight, Orc." She retreats. Which is a surprise. Aria never just retreats easily. It's one of the things I like about her and fascinate me very much.

I hear her breath even out after a few moments, and she is quiet. Aria has no trouble sleeping. She always falls asleep almost immediately when her head hits the pillow. Another thing I admire about her.

I turn my head quietly, and I stare at her. Nighttime is always my favorite time with her. I get to watch her beautiful form sleeping.

Aria is the most beautiful creature I have ever laid eyes on, but I don't know how she is most beautiful when she's sleeping and not even trying. I stare at her until sleep steals me away too. And its not even that hard this time.

My eyes meet brown skin and a face smooshed in my chest.

Aria is touching me.

She is so close, and her arms are around my stomach. Does she even know she is holding on to me like this? Was she aware when she touched me? Should I wake her?

But I decide to take a moment before she wakes and relish in this moment, a moment I'm sure will never happen for me ever again. Orcs like me don't end up with creatures like her. I have studied every bend, hollow and mountain of her face but it is something else to gaze at her this close.

Her soft breath fans my chest and her open mouth has a little drool coming out, wetting my chest and it is the single sexiest thing I've ever seen.

Aria has gotten more and more relaxed the longer she's here. When I first knew her, she was so closed off and guarded. But now she's...I think she trusts me a little and I never want to betray that.

I look down and my cock is definitely sprung and ready for action. I am harder than I have ever been, and the lust grips my body like a vice. I only know I need to move from here.

From her scent and her delicate little body that makes me wish I could be a praying orc. Her body was made to lead men astray or bring worshippers to temples. I've never seen such perfection in one creature.

I try to move as quietly as I can. It proves difficult when she stirs when I try to remove her hands from my stomach. Maybe if I had smaller hands.

I've never been ashamed of who I am, but I wish I could be a twinky human, so she won't even feel my movements. I try again and she makes a complaining sound in her sleep and holds me tighter.

Well, frack.

The dire situation in my south gives me the strength to clear my throat loudly because I need to move. I need to find a way to wake her, or this will get embarrassing for both of us. She stirs but she just runs her face on my nipple, and I can't help the deep growl that bubbles inside of me.

This is torture. I try to shake it, but my body reacts on its own, vibrating a little more from the growl I am suppressing, and she jolts awake.

Her eyes land on mine when she wakes, and she is confused for a second before she realizes where she is. She looks at her hand and embarrassment taints her cheeks.

That makes me feel bad. I don't want her feeling bad.

"I'm sorry. I don't know when I...why I touched you. Hope you don't think that..." her eyes wonder as she sits up before her mouth falls open and all her words leave her when her gaze lands on my south.

Frack.

Well, this is humiliating.

I move swiftly off the bed, and I turn from her. I get out of the room, and I head to the direction of the river.

Frack.

Frack.