Modern Monsters

Torok the Orc

Male Orc Reader x Female Human

A few weeks ago, I got a job to do some remodeling at an old house. Apparently a tree fell into one corner, destroying the front porch. It's an easy enough job, and luckily the weather won't be too hot.

The only problem is the woman who hired me. Like an idiot, I fell head over heels at first sight. Alanna is a vision with long dark hair, thick eyebrows, and perfect skin. She's a makeup artist and has a small studio at the back of her house for meeting clients. She's chipper and bright, and almost always seems to be making cookies. Although the cookies have helped further my crush, I was smitten with Alanna at a glance.

She's paraplegic, hence the urgency to get these repairs done. She has a temporary ramp installed to get in and out, but she absolutely hates it, especially for some of her clients. In order to get the ramp fixed, I need to fix the porch first so the foundation will be solid.

I worry telling her this, but she simply smiles and thanks me. "I can tell you're a hard worker, Torok. I'm not worried about that. Do your job and do it well. That's what I hired you for." I marvel at her smile.

"Well, uh..." I'm always mush-mouthed when I talk to pretty girls, but Alanna makes me feel different. "I'm gonna work me hardest for ya. I know this is important, don't want ya fallin' on that ramp over there."

A slight peachy blush comes to her cheeks. "I could listen to you talk for days," she giggles. "But like I said, do a good job. That's all I ask."

Most of her business seems to take place on weekends, but I notice a steady stream of older women who come in almost twice a week. Alanna takes great pride in her work, and I've never seen a dissatisfied customer when she's done with them.

One afternoon it gets particularly warm, and I'm sweating something fierce. I peel off my shirt to the tank top underneath, but it rides all the way up to my chin. I dab at my face with the shirt, and as I turn around I see Alanna staring from the doorway with bottles of water in hand. Her brown eyes linger on my chest before she looks back up at me. Her face is red, and her eyes are wide and guilty. I chuckle, tugging down my tank top.

"Forgive me, kind lady. Didn't mean to soil yer eyes with my hairy chest."

Alanna clears her throat and paints on that pretty smile again. "I thought you might be hot, so I brought you some water."

"Thank ya." I touch her hand as I grab the water bottle. Her fingers are long and cool, and her skin is so soft. "It's hot out. But I don't think I ever seen ya sweat." I gulp down the water so fast some dribbles down my chin. "Is that a trick of all beautiful women?"

Her cheeks go pinker and she chuckles. "Flatterer! I'm not paying you any extra for your kind words, but they sure mean a lot to me."

"Nah, nah," I laugh. "Not tryin' to beguile or tease for extra pay, tis simply the truth."

"I'm inside a cool house," Alanna replies. "If I were out here working half as hard as you I would be a puddle in no time. I hate the heat."

"I bet ye look better'n me when I sweat," I laugh. "I look like a stuck pig. I bet ye'd glow like a sunset."

Alanna's smile grows, and she giggles shyly. "I bet that mouth of yours gets you into all sorts of trouble, Torok."

"Ye have no idea. I've been married six times." I give her a wink.

Alanna throws her head back as she laughs, and her dark hair shimmers auburn in the sun. "I'm sorry," she gasps. "If that's true I shouldn't have laughed."

"Only tryin' to make ye laugh. I've not found the right one to marry, let alone divorce." I finish off the water bottle, then set back to work. "Ye go back in where it's cool, Alanna. No need to worry about me."