Page 64 of The Orc Outcast's Conquest

Her lips trembled. Tears streaked across her cheeks. “I... I heard a warning siren.”

Had she imagined it? “There was no warning, Miranda.”

She gulped. “But I heard . . . I heard . . .”

She’d heard something or imagined it. Tension ebbed out of him. “I thought you were rejecting me.”

Her eyes widened as she snapped to attention. “What?”

“I thought... I thought you were running away from me.”

Gentle fingers played in his hair, smoothing it. She trailed down to his nape. “I wouldn’t. I’m not. You don’t scare me.”

His breath huffed in a disbelieving snort.

Her eyes misted over again, and he went cold. “But I am scared.”

He froze, heaved air. She curled into his chest, her bare body pressing into him and whispered, “I’m so scared, Govek.”

The words broke him, left him crumbling under the storm of his own terrors.

Tavggol was gone. His father had ordered him to his death. His clan had abandoned him.

His world was blighted and dying.

Miranda’s warmth pressed into his chest, his cheek, and squeezed around his neck.

He moved down into her willing, eager embrace. She wrapped both arms and legs around him and nestled closer.

She clung to him like he was her Fades-given miracle and not the other way around.

“I’m scared.” Her voice broke, and he felt it to the pit of his soul.

Me too, Govek thought as he crushed her to him. He was so fucking scared. They were in this dread together, sinking side by side.

He held Miranda for so long he forgot where they were and the dangers that lurked.

Slowly, he sat up, though only far enough to see her face. Fades help him. She was a vision. Her eyes were clear, and her breathing was back to a steady rhythm. He wanted to bury himself in her neck and drink up the scent of her.

She smelled so fucking good.

“Can I pick you up?” he asked, voice thick.

She nodded, and he lifted her effortlessly, trying to keep the motion smooth. It was a difficult task with her clinging to him so tightly, but he managed to get her to the boulder she’d left her cloak and shorts on.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered as she tucked her face into his shoulder. The sincerity in her tone made him ache. “I kinda lost it there, huh? I don’t... know what happened.” Her smile faltered, as if she were about to weep again.

He gripped her soft calf in his hand and drew her leg out, brushed the sand from it. She squirmed as he gave the other the same attention, and then he moved up to her torso and her back. He kept his gaze averted from her as best he could, but his eyes were drawn to every curve and her still bare breasts. His hands twitched at the memory of how soft and full they were in his hands.

Fuck, he was a beast.

“I’m so sorry.” Her voice cracked, and he flinched, jerking his eyes back to her face. “I really don’t know why I ran like that.”

Her breathing was deep and slow as he tucked her cloak around her bare shoulders, protecting her from the forest chill. “It is fine, Miranda. You were just lost in a horror.”

She went lax, and her expression of utter gratitude overwhelmed him. “That simple, huh?”

“Yes.”

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