Page 54 of The Orc Outcast's Conquest

“Shampoo?”

“Hair cleaner.”

“In a way. It is a tincture. Magic.”

She clicked her tongue in thought. “You make a magic hair tincture for humans?”

Why was she so disappointed it was only for her hair?

“It is technically for healing, but it will work just as well.”

“Oh. You don’t have to waste it on me.”

“Turn around,” Govek said.

She finally obeyed and a zing of excitement instantly replaced all the disappointment when he put his gloved hands on her waist, forcing her to move backward, settling her between his legs with her back deliciously close to his chest.

Dang, having him on the bank watching her bathe was nothing compared to having him so close. Her skin prickled as she squirmed, resisting the urge to cover her bare breasts and cross her legs.

It didn’t matter. He’d already seen it all.

So instead, she rested her hands on his knees and her elbows on his thighs. He sucked in a breath.

“Is this okay?” she asked a little more breathlessly than she had intended. “Do you want me to move?”

“No,” he grated, making her shudder again as delight bloomed in her stomach.

Wet leather grazed her cheeks as he trailed his fingers over them, pulling her hair back. Goosebumps broke out on her neck.

“Tell me if I do something you find unpleasant.”

Her chest tightened as he began to work the knots from her hair, cupping water to soak it, and smoothing it into compliance. He was so brutal, yet inexplicably capable of such gentleness. Every careful pass of his fingers through her strands had her leaning into his touch for more. He worked sighs out of her so easily it was like he’d done this a million times.

“You’re... really good at this.” She was in such bliss she’d let him get away with everything. Lord, she hoped he wanted to.

“Not that good,” he muttered, frustration clear. “I may need to cut some.”

“Go ahead.”

“I will need to use my claws to do so.”

“That’s fine.” Her skin tingled, imagining him raking those claws along her scalp and down her back. The inside of her thighs. He’d run the sharp edges against her sensitive flesh and sooth the tingling sting with the pad of his warm fingers.

Did he really only want to touch her hair? She couldn’t find the bravery to ask as he took off a glove and began slicing away her tangles. It was painless and she could tell he hadn’t needed to cut much, but she still wished she had a mirror.

“I want to use this boon now,” Govek said, reaching around to show her the corked bottle. He’d already put the glove back on.

She’d barely nodded before the cool liquid was poured onto her head. It smelled strongly of lavender.

He soothed his hands into her hair, soaking her scalp with the oil, sending tingling pleasure through her. It skittered down her spine and lapped at her stomach. Pooled liquid heat between her legs.

“Lean back now,” he ordered. She hesitated, keenly aware of how hard her nipples were, of how slick she was between her thighs. Would he notice any of that?

She closed her eyes, too nervous to look at him as he pressed her shoulders. Slowly, she sank down until she was floating on her back in the water. Breathless and trying not to move.

A harsh growl danced bliss through her limbs and her eyes burst open to find Govek’s piercing gaze dancing over her body, skewering her through with heat and deep pleasure.

Heaven help her. Any sense that he only wanted to wash her hair was completely destroyed.

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