Tansy of the Wilds

Chapter Thirty-Six

Later that night, the rasping rhythm of the whetstone sliding against the deadly edge of Xer'tal's axe seemed to melt into the cracks of the warm comfort in the cabin. Xer'tal was more at ease in this cozy corner of their shared home than he had ever been, observing the transformation in his beloved Tansy. She was relaxed, languid, she chattered without end and he had never heard a sound more beautiful. It was only an added plus that she wore her hair down and he could see his tusk marks on her neck and shoulders. It left a part of him utterly satisfied at the marks of possession his darling wife wore.

As the evening had worn on in the main house, Tansy's raw glimmers of apprehension morphed into a subdued warmth, her laughter tiptoeing back into their conversation, her hand on his had gradually turned into an intimate caress. The familial battle seemed to have emerged victorious for them, for Tansy. He still didn't care much for her family, there was a lot they had to make up for, but it made Tansy happy so he would put up with it, within reason of course.

If they thought they could belittle her when he was around they would find themselves at the wrong end of a pissed off orc. Several times one of her brothers had opened their mouths only to have whatever insult they imagined die on their tongues when Xer'tal gave them a deadly glare that dared them to say a single fucking word against his precious wife.

Without Rose, the stinging barbs did not exist and Xer'tal made sure everyone was aware that he was only there for Tansy, that no one could say or do a damn thing against his Tansy without fear of retaliation. He was an orc, through and through, and like great hells he would let some human tarnish his sunshine's glow.

"The very second thing I thought about you when I walked into the tavern. Was that you were the most striking, handsome man I had ever met." Drawn out of his silent musings by Tansy's tender voice, his red eyes were warm with a fiery glint. He decreased the whetstone's slide against the axe's edge as he turned to Tansy, his eyes reflecting the flickering firelight, radiating a soft and unspoken intimacy he knew he would share with no one else.

He wasn't going to lie, her admittance caught him off guard and Xer'tal let out a snort, trying to mask his discomfort at her sweet words, his rough exterior struggling to keep up with the unfamiliar force of tenderness causing a tremor in his heart. "Ya say the damnedest things, woman." His voice was all low gravel but he couldn't hide the warmth lining his gruffness.

As he stood up, he stretched before setting aside his axe and whetstone on the table. He walked over to where she was lounging in their bed, all tousled and languid. He got onto the bed beside her and stretched his long, muscular legs out on the soft bed, pulling Tansy closer. His war roughened fingers gently caressed the soft, freckled skin of Tansy's cheek, lingering a breath away from her bottom lip, his eyes filled with a myriad of unspoken promises of love.

As he felt a strange warmth moving through his veins, Xer'tal planted a soft kiss on Tansy's forehead, pulling her closer. A thick, protective arm coiled around her petite body, anchoring her to his side, anchoring her place in his life and in his bed. She was his life and these moments of mundane intimacy were better than anything he had imagined.

"Guess that's why ya went gaga over this ugly chunk of orcish meat, huh?" His deep laugh bounced around the cabin, an unusual sense of peace permeating the air of their home, their intimate sanctuary that was worlds away from the festering disquiet of the main house. "Whatever ya saw in me, I'm fuckin' glad ya did." His gruff voice whispered into her ear, the unspoken words lingering between them that were full of love, of belonging.

He watched as a cheeky smile grew on her face. "Hey now, I happen to like ugly chunks of orc meat." Her voice was teasing as she looked up at him and then gave him a quick kiss. "I married one, didn't I?" Her eyes twinkled and she gave him that sunshine smile he so loved.

Despite his tough exterior, Xer'tal found it hard not to melt under the radiant warmth of Tansy's loving gaze. Soft words, soft touches, and soft kisses. Xer'tal's heart pounded against his chest, a symphony of unfamiliar feelings unfolding with each rhythmic beat. A disarming smile cracked on his severe features as he reveled in Tansy's quip, avalanche laughter tumbling from his throat.

"Hah! The way you make me sound," He playfully glared down at her. "It's as if I'm some blighted beast you've won over and tamed at a damned circus!" As his laughter rumbled his chest, he cupped her face in his calloused hands. Xer'tal gazed at Tansy through a different lens, his eyes softened, his rigid expression melted into an almost tender adoration. His thumb traced the curve of her cheek, his touch lingering softly on her lips. Growing slightly serious, he let his gaze wander away for a minute, before he whispered. "Good thing, ain't it? That ya like ugly hunks of orc meat. I would be mighty lonely if you didn't." He pulled Tansy closer within the circle of his large arms, getting her to sprawl across his chest.

Tansy chuckled lightly, "You're the one who makes it sound like you are some sort of barbarian beast." She wrapped her arms around him, relaxing into his embrace and he stroked her back, desire slowly curling through him at her proximity. "I called you the most striking and handsome man I had ever seen." Her lips twitched into a smile that he smirked at. "And I just happen to love orcs that go by the name of Xer'tal who I picked up from a tavern after I poked a bandit in the dick with a knife." She cracked up at that, laughing hard enough he had to laugh as well.

"Oh, amauk'awa, ya sure have a wicked way of landin' yerself an orc. Stabbin' bandits in the cock and all that." He chuckled, reminiscing about the utterly bizarre beginning of their intertwined paths. He could remember telling himself that she was just a job, that she was just a damned job. His heart pounded a happy rhythm, filled with overwhelming love for this spitfire of a human woman who tossed him into the whirlpool of emotions he barely understood but cherished, nonetheless. "Alright, wife." He grumbled playfully, "I might just be the luckiest fuckin' orc in all the realms for ya to pick me over all others."

"Luckiest man really." She sighed it out as she rested her chin on his chest, smiling up at him. "I've had a lot of men come and go in the lumber yard that expressed interest but I never wanted any of them. Not until I saw you." Her hazel eyes seemed to study his face and she smirked slightly. "I wanted to climb you like a tree the first time I saw you." One of her hands snuck under his tunic, drawing teasing patterns on the muscles of his belly. "I told myself I wasn't allowed because I would fall in love with you for sure."

He gave a low growl as her touch moved lower, inflaming his desire and he looked down at her. "Aye? And how does last night rank then?"

"I was right." She murmured it as she kissed him softly, straddling his hips. "I definitely love you more after it." She pushed his shirt up, dropping her head to brush her lips across his chest and Xer'tal chuckled before he rolled her underneath him. Her giggles were music to his ears as he kissed her again and then again.

"Let's make sure ya love me the most ya can then." He rumbled the words as he yanked off his tunic and buried his hands in her hair. He kissed her until she was breathless and moaning but he wouldn't be satisfied until she was mewling at him sleepily to leave her be just like she had last night.

And so he did.