Page 34 of Her Orc Blacksmiths

“I’m sorry.” He leans his forehead against mine. “I shouldn’t have tried that.”

I shake my head, trying to clear my thoughts. “I want this.”

“But not yet, aye, I understand.” He lets me down gently.

My heart thumps painfully at the loss of his warmth. For a moment, I consider asking him to return to that lovely position, because I do want this—I want him. And yet…

“It wouldn’t feel right.” I fidget in place, trying to find the words to explain what I’m feeling. “Being, um, physically close with one of you while the other one was left out.”

And that’s the issue. Since last night, when we shared the same bed, and Torren promised me I wouldn’t have to choose between them, I’ve been thinking about how I want to proceed. And while there are options for our future that include me spending alternate nights with each of them or something similar, I don’t want any of that.

Morg takes my chin and lifts my face. “You’re saying you want him there when I touch you for the first time?”

I squeeze my eyes shut at the embarrassment but finally nod. “Yes. I’d say the same to him if he asked.”

He leans down over me and brushes his lips over my temple. “Then let’s get him.”

I gape up at him. “Now?”

He grins. “Aye. No time like the present.” Then he sobers up and focuses that dark gaze on me. “If I have to wait one more hour before tasting your pussy, I’ll go mad, Jasmine. The scent of you is…” He shudders, his grip tightening on my waist. “If you don’t want me, you only have to say so. But if you do, I need you tonight.”

“O-oh. All right.” I swallow thickly, need and want pulsing through my body. “I do want you, Morg. So much.” I push my hair back from my face, my fingers trembling slightly. “Do you know where he is?”

Morg wraps his arm around my shoulders and drags me along the corridor. “In his room, likely. He always retires there before dinner. He bathes, then reads in silence. Doesn’t like to spend his time in the great hall because he’s too much of a grump.”

I pinch his side. “Must you always poke fun at him?”

Morg pats my backside. “If it pleases you, I will stop. But he makes it so easy.”

I squirm away from him, my hands at my hips. “If we want this to work, we all have to make an effort.”

He scowls at me. “You think I’m not making an effort, Jasmine? If I wasn’t doing my best to hold back, I’d drag you back to my room and have my way with you, and we wouldn’t leave the bed for a week.”

I purse my lips, pretending to think. “Well, we can do that. But you’ll have to catch me first.”

I don’t know what’s come over me to tease him so, but his reaction is immediate. Morg mock growls at me, his tusks glinting in the low light, and lunges for me. I squeak, giggling, and take off, my boots slapping on the packed earth floor. But he’s on me in a moment, warm hands closing around my waist. He swings me up and over his shoulder, so I’m hanging head-down. My braid slaps me on the cheek, and I yelp in surprise, then brace myself on his back, trying to get my bearings.

“Put me down,” I demand. “This is not how you get in my favor, Morg!”

He buries his face into my skirts. “Your scent says otherwise, sweet Jasmine.”

“Oh!” I gasp in outrage, then pinch his side through his tunic.

Morg only laughs and continues his way down the hallway.

“Torren won’t be happy if you carry me into his room like a sack of grains,” I hiss as we pass a middle-aged orc couple looking at us curiously.

The woman, whom I’ve never met before, calls after me, “Do you need us to interfere, love?”

“No,” I reply, waving at her, “but thank you for asking!”

She snorts. “Have fun.”

I really should be more embarrassed that Morg is putting on such a display, but at least he’s not carrying me through the great hall but taking a detour through some of the less crowded corridors.

“Torren will take one sniff at you and try to murder me, probably,” Morg says conversationally as we round yet another corner. “I would, if he brought you to me smelling so good.”

I don’t want to get into this conversation while hanging upside down, but I really think there’s more going on between them than either one of them wants to admit. Their enmity feels charged, as if they’re both saying and doing things they don’t mean just to get under the other’s skin. I cannot wait for it to snap, because I have a feeling the explosion will be delicious.

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