Orc Boyfriend: Moreno 2 (rough draft)

In the few months since his return home, Moreno was already quite the popular topic. It seemed now that anytime you went near the woodshop, there were people there. Either shopping or talking to Moreno about his time in Charbagne. Even at the brewery people flocked to him. They wanted to hear his stories, catch up on the gossip happening elsewhere in the world. He’s good looking too, so there was no shortage of people flirting with him. You had to admit it did seem like he belonged here more than Charbagne. But each day it felt like there was a little more distance between you.

That fact that bothered you or was even a thought in your head was worrisome. Why did it matter to you if Moreno was getting flirted with or was surrounded by admirers. You had your own collection of them too. You tried to ignore it, to forget the moment that your heart skipped a beat with Moreno. Unfortunately, that proved to be difficult for you.

One morning, like usual, you went to the woodshop to take Moreno his breakfast. Moreno was already up and in the shop, but he had a guilty expression upon his face.

“What are you doing here?” he asks.

You look around the room, expecting him to be hiding something. “I always drop by in the morning to give you the leftover pasties.” You set them down upon the counter. “What are you so jumpy for today?” You walk around him, looking over a chair he was working on. It was beautiful for something so simple and mundane.

“I’m not jumpy.” He tries to stay close to you. “Just didn’t get a lot of sleep last night.”

“Really?” You say with a smirk.

He glances back over his shoulder. “I’m kind of busy, I’d love to talk, but maybe later today. I’m trying to-”

“Moreno?” A woman’s voice drawls from the stairwell. “Are you there?”

You stand up, alert and bristly all over. “Oh, I see.” You force out a laugh. “I get you, lucky you.” You playfully punch him, although you do hit a little too hard. “I’ll be quiet and sneak out.”

“No,” he gasps. “That’s not- she’s not-” He fumbles over his words. “Goldie, listen.”

You still your hand upon the doorknob and look back at him. “You don’t have to explain anything to me, Moreno,” you say with a smile. “So you have a girl over. Big deal.”

“No, that’s not-”

“I’ll see you later.” You don’t give him time to explain, you simply make a quick escape. You leave the woodshop behind, you walk past your own house. You go right back to the brewery where you know you will be alone. You walk through the dining room, going into the kitchen and then downstairs where the brewery actually is. It’s dark and cold down there, filled with the scent of yeast. You sit down, taking a deep breath.

“What the fuck?” You ask the nothingness around you. “Tell me! What the fuck?” You scream. You hang your head between your hands. This is miserable! This is pathetic! He was supposed to be your nemesis and yet you couldn’t ignore how you felt around him. Ever since he came back he’s been the missing piece to life in Rivaden. He’s filled a void you didn’t realize you had. He’s wonderful.

You weep softly into your palms. You hated it because you had promised yourself you would never shed a tear again over Moreno and his antics. His wooden frogs wouldn’t scare you. His horror stories about bears wouldn’t bother you. So why does this? His cruelest trick of all!

After a brief weep, you gather yourself and go back up into the brewery. Your eyes feel hot and puffy from crying, so you try and think of a way to explain that on your way home. You can’t let your family know you cried over a boy. Let alone cried over Merona of all people.

At the brewery that evening, it’s a tad slow. You’re keeping yourself busy by tending to the patrons you do have, chatting with them while you wait for more. Moreno comes in alone and you quickly try to excuse yourself before he can get to you. Unfortunately, he has much longer legs than you.

“Can we talk for a second?” He asks. The look of guilt on his face is the same one he had on that morning.

“I’m busy.” You still try to get behind the bar.

He follows close behind you. “I just want to tell you what happened this morning, Goldie. But you ran off too fast.”

You brush his big, warm hand off your shoulder. “There’s nothing to explain! You had a girl over.”

“No, I didn’t. I mean,” he huffs in frustration. “I did have a girl over but it was nothing!”

“I don’t care,” you scoff. “You don’t have to run your dalliances through me. Although, that level of power does sound alluring. But I’m not your boss.”

He frowns down at you. “No, it wasn’t even a dalliance. Just listen to me.”

“I don’t want to hear about it, Moreno!” You snap.

He stands still, almost like the whole room turned to listen. You clear your throat and shake your head. “Everything is fine, Moreno. You don’t have to say another word.” You walk away but he follows you behind the bar.

“Nothing happened,” he whispers. “She was very, very drunk so I took her back to my place because she was being followed.”

You glare him down.

“I’m serious,” he hisses. “I was trying to help her out so she didn’t get hurt. I slept downstairs on the floor all night.”

You feel relieved, but you’re not ready to believe it. “You don’t have to lie to me. Why are you even-”

“I’m not,” he says softly. “Goldie, you gotta believe me.”

You look at him, teary eyed despite forcing yourself not to. “I don’t know why that matters,” you laugh.

“Because it does.” Moreno looks embarrassed, as if he suddenly realized the bar wasn’t empty. “I didn’t want you getting the wrong impression of me.”

“Oh, Moreno,” you sigh, “it’s never been right.” Your smile grows, so does his.

“Oh my god just kiss!” Luz shouts from the other end of the bar. You turn to glare at her while the place erupts with cheers and whistles. You look to Moreno then quickly dodge, going back to work, clearing off a now empty table.

Moreno stays late, even as you’re starting to shut the place down. He spent the evening talking to people, like he always does. But by the end of the night he was sitting at the bar while you cleaned.

“You can go home, I don’t need you here. You’re probably tired.” You tell him, not looking up from your chores.

“Maybe I want to be here.”

You smirk to yourself. “What for?”

“I don’t know.” He picks at the bowl of crackers on the bar. “Just to be here.”

You set the glasses neatly upon the shelf. “Don’t you have drunken ladies to rescue?”

“Not tonight.” He pushes the bowl aside so you empty it into the trash and clean out the dust and crumbs inside. “Someone said they saw a bear the other night. So I thought I’d walk you home just in case.”

“You know that story that bears like golden haired girls best is a load of bull right? Just tall tales to keep kids in bed and behaving.” You turn and look back at him, his head down, his distant though they are focused on the countertop. “I’m not scared of bears like I used to be.”

Moreno’s smile is soft. “Still, it is late and I worry.”

“I’ve walked this road home dozens of times on my own.” You chuckle. “You don’t need to worry about me.” You walk out from behind the bar, blowing out the lamps on the individual tables. The room gets dark and Moreno stands up from his seat at the bar.

“Can’t help it,” he sighs, only lit by the moonlight coming through the window. “I know you’re a tough one, but you’re Goldie so-”

You smile up at him and your damn heart decides to skip a beat again. “Since when did you care?” You say to tease.

“Always,” his voice rasps.

You freeze in place, rag clutched tight between your hands.

“I have always cared about you.” It sounds like all the air is being squeezed from his body. “When we were little, even when we bickered, I cared.”

“Moreno I-”

“I thought about you so much during those ten years. Little things. Simple things I thought would fade away eventually. But they didn’t. They stayed with me. I missed you, like there was something missing from my day to day.” He laughed weakly, bowing his head from embarrassment. “Even when I fell in love with someone that piece was still missing. And when I came back it’s like-” He stops, takes a breath and holds it in his chest.

“It’s like the day is finally complete,” you finish for him. “There’s nothing you feel like you’re forgetting as you go to bed.” You swallow, though your throat is horribly dry.

He smiles faintly in the darkness. “Yeah, like that.”

“I get it.” You push out a laugh. “I actually do.”

Moreno steps closer to you, moving his hand awkwardly as he tries to decide where to place it. He settles on your hair, gently rubbing it between his fingers until he’s combing through the pale gold strands. His knuckles brush against your cheek, then his palm gently cups it. You look up at him, through the shadows of the dark bar. You lose your breath for a second, then you forget how to breathe altogether. His face comes so close, his long hair falls off his shoulder.

“Wait,” you stop him before there is no distance between you at all. “Wait, let’s just wait a second. Wait.” Your mind is buzzing, spinning. “Morneo this is so strange, don't you think. It’s us. We’re cats and dogs. We’re oil and vinegar. We’re-” You stop yourself as you look at him. “I don’t want to prove my sisters right.”

He smiles and laughs leaning down and placing a kiss upon your lips. It was sweet, it was warm, it was exactly what you had been wanting since he returned home. Dizzy from forgetting to breathe, you swoon back a bit, balanced by his gentle hands. You see his kiss out again, grabbing hold of his tunic to keep balance while you stood on your tiptoes.

“It’s late,” he says as he reluctantly pulls away. “I should walk you home.”

“Okay,” you murmur in reply.

Just before you get to your house, you stop him. You tug on his hand and look up at him. “I forgot your breakfast at the brewery.”

“You don’t need to fret over that every morning. I’m a grown boy, I can manage to find breakfast on my own.” He attempts to walk ahead again, but you don’t budge.

“Maybe I should stay with you for the night, so I can get your breakfast in the morning.” You squeeze his hands tight. You don’t want to outright say what you want, not now at least, but you hope he gets what you are saying.

“You want to stay with me?” He says, scratching behind his ear. “All night? Just because of breakfast?”

You nod without saying anything.

“Where would you sleep?” He asks, catching onto your drift.

You step closer to him, squeezing his hand again. “In bed.”

“Ah.” He clicks his tongue. “I seem to remember your sister saying you were a blanket hog.”

“I get cold easily,” you mutter.

He walks along, taking you towards the woodshop rather than your home. “I’ve got extra blankets.”

You weren’t sure if he got your drift, but you never let go of his hand. Once inside the woodshop, it was darker than the brewery was. He had the shutters closed so only one window let in the moonlight. “Just stay by me, I’ll get you up the stairs.”

“Okay.” You stay by his side, keeping pace with him as he ascends the stairs to his small apartment. There’s more light, more windows to let in the moonlight. His bed looks neatly made and the area is clean aside from discarded clothes.

“This is it,” he says, fumbling with some matches to light a lantern. “Although I’m sure you remember it from when you were little.”

“This is where we first lived, before Erea was born.” You sat down on the bed. “After you and Andre found me.”

“It’s weird,” he huffs.

A spike of fear pierces your chest. “Oh?”

“I’ve wanted you here for so long, now that you’re exactly where I want you, I’m so nervous I feel stupid!” He chuckles. He sits down beside you, placing his hand over his. “I want to do this right.” His hand trembles.

You take a ribbon from your pocket and tie your hair back. “Then lay back, let me settle your nerves.”

“What?” He says, half laughing. “What do you mean?”

You kiss him, soft at first then turning it more passionate. “Lay back. If you don’t like it, pull my ponytail.”

You lay him down on the neatly made bed, his body propped up upon the pillows. You make a cozy nook for yourself between his legs and work on his belt, undoing it then removing the laces on his pants.

“Goldie,” he breathes.

You look up at him. “It’s okay, I want to do this.” Once his pants are undone you reach inside, pulling out his flaccid cock. It twitches, becoming aroused already. You look back up at him as you kiss, feeling the heat of him against your lips. You moan against him, dragging your tongue down. He’s so warm. The skin there is darker at the base, becoming paler and more pastel under the tip. He’s becoming harder at the core, so you stroke him while taking the tip between your lips.

Moreno exclaims loudly, keeping his hands firmly against the bed. He throws his head back, panting as his excitement grows. You feel him pulsing, and taking him deeper into your mouth you feel more confident. You press your palms against his thighs, solely using your mouth to please him.

“Goldie,” he breathes. “Oh Goldie.”

You lift up your head, finding his cock now stands on its own. “You can touch me if you’d like.” You dip back down, kissing along the curve of the shaft.

His hand comes down, touching the back of your head. His fingers knead into the back of your neck then stroke down your back. He moans between breaths, hissing as you take him back inside your mouth. Once he’s good and hard you sit up. You look him in the eye as you remove your clothes, taking off your blouse and skirt while his hazy expression focuses and becomes sharp again.

“Still nervous?” You ask.

He kisses you, his hands touching bare skin. “Only a little.” His breath beats against your skin, kissing, nibbling, slowly working his way to make sure every inch is touched.

You grab Moreno’s hand and take his finger, suckling upon it until it’s wet. “Touch me.” You lower his hand down, looking into his eyes as he moves it between your thighs. You stroke his cock while his finger rubs against your vulva.

“It feels nice,” he moans to you.

You bite your lip and nod. “So do you.” You look back into his eyes. “Touch me deeper. Please.”

Moreno bites his lip, smoldering for a moment before he obeys your desire. His finger slips inside you and you tighten around it. You forget to breathe again as it feels so good, so very wanted. He moves it gingerly, feeling your inner walls cling desperately to him.

“Is it wet?” You breathe.

He nods.

You kiss him, pressing up close against him. “Do you like it?”

“Of course,” Moreno moans.

You bite the tip of his ear. “Do you want it?”

“I want you,” he sighs. “Just you, Goldie.”

You push him back down upon the pillows. “I want you too, Moreno.” You straddle his lap, slowly lowering yourself upon him. He’s not quite what you’re used to, so you work slowly to be able to take him. He shudders, throwing his head back so his hair spills all over the pillows. He looks beautiful like this.

“Hold onto me.” You whimper. “Keep your hands on me, don’t stop touching me.” His fingers sink into your hips and rear.

“Goldie,” he whines.

“Morneo, look at me.” You pull up his face, meeting his eyes. “Right there, stay there.” His fingers tremble around your hips. “You’re wonderful.”

Morneo kisses you, grabbing you up so one hand was on the back of your head and the other was on your lower back. His hips pulsed, pushing up inside you. He felt deep inside and he almost felt too much at once. You cried out against his lips and he did it again, this time it felt so much better.

“I can’t stop,” he breathes.

“Don’t. Don’t ever.” You tangle your fingers into his long hair. “I need it. I beg you.” He kisses you hungrily, both of you clashing as your bodies knotted together.

Come dawn, you feel a chuckle against your neck. Warm breath, soft hair. You moan and cuddle more against the pillow.

“Give me at least some of the blanket,” his deep voice rumbled against your ear.

“Hm?” You look back at him, seeing him laying naked beside you while you’re cocooned in the blanket. “Moreno?”

He arches a brow at you. “Did you forget where you were?” He snags the blanket, able to pull it away from you so he can get back under them.

You stretched out and yawn. Your legs don’t feel right, and yet somehow everything feels perfect. “I’ve not slept that soundly since dad got sick.”

He kisses your shoulder and down your arm until he captures your hand. “You were so beautiful while you slept.”

“You were beautiful last night,” you purr. “I’ve never been with a man who looked so lovely during sex.”

Morneo kisses you, his hair spilling onto your chest and arm. “That’s quite the compliment. I don’t think we’ve ever shared them without barbs in between.”

“It’s been a long time. I’m sure we were nice to one another a few times in youth.” You snuggle up beside him, resting against his strong, hairy figure. “I was too wound up in my own bullshit back then.”

“I know,” he murmurs. “So was I.” His hand rubs down your back.

You breathe in deeply, feeling as if it’s your first breath in a long time. “I like it here.”

“I do too.”

You stay there as long as possible, but eventually, duty and hunger win out. Moreno dresses and goes down first to open the shop, leaving you to dress on your own. Once you head downstairs, Moreno is at his work bench polishing something small. He looks up at you and smiles.

“Come here.” He pulls you into his lap and shows you one of the rings you’d noticed on his desk months ago. It’s polished to a high shine like the beads on his earrings, making it look like gemstone. He places the ring upon one of your fingers then kisses your cheek.

“Do you like it?” He asks. “I wanted to make you something nice for taking care of me since I got back. I just could never find the perfect one until now.”

“It’s beautiful.” You twist it about your finger. “I love it. Thank you.”

Moreno kisses your cheek again. “Then it is perfect.”