I’m so very irritated to learn that my mysterious orc neighbor has been hired as our town’s newest firefighter.
I wanted that job.
How did he get that open position instead of me?
I’m a highly qualified EMT who belongs to the National Guard. I teach self-defense classes twice a week and can handle a gun better than anyone in the county.
Most people fear me, for reasons I can’t fully understand.
And last night, that orc rudely pounded on my door at 2 am, ordering me to turn down the music.
I gaped at the powerful, shirtless male who dared interfere with my “why didn’t I get that job?” drunken sleepover party.
Then I swiftly kicked all my girlfriends out to comply with his demand.
Therein began my obsession with the scrumptious, green-skinned and heavily muscled Kavin Irontree.
What I didn’t expect was for him to shun my all-out, flirtatious charm offensive.
After some detective work at the local orc tattoo shop, Heat & Ink, I discovered that Kavin’s mother had abandoned her infant son and mate, which instigated his father’s debilitating alcoholism and eventual suicide, leading to Kavin’s orphaned upbringing.
This caused the broken orc to swear off human females entirely.
His viewpoint is understandable.
Too bad for him. I don’t give up that easily.

Author’s Note: You asked and I delivered! Kavin and Mia, originally introduced in Marked by the Wild Orc, get their HEA. Mia is getting “marked” at Heat & Ink!

Welcome to Heat & Ink where hot possessive tattoo artists leave their mark in more ways than one.

The Heat & Ink series mixes Contemporary, Sci Fi Romance, and Paranormal in three standalone stories by best-selling STEAMY authors, Hope Ford, Michele Mills, and Olivia T. Turner.

Have you read the whole series?
Marked by the Possessive Biker by Hope Ford
Marked by the Wild Orc by Michele Mills
Marked by the Grouchy Grizzly by Olivia T. Turner
Marked by the Possessive Polar Bear by Olivia T. Turner
Marked by the Protective Biker by Hope Ford
Marked by the Scarred Orc by Michele Mills
Marked by the Broken Orc by Michele Mills
Marked by the Filthy-Mouth Grizzly by Olivia T. Turner
Marked by the Obsessive Biker by Hope Ford

Published
September 30, 2025
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Heat & Ink

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