Page 68 of The Orc Outcast's Conquest

He paused his search.

“I mean, I don’t know anything about your world. Is it all forests like this? Are there towns too? Civilization and...”

“There are villages of humans and clans of orcs. Goblins have retreated deep into their mines and sylphs live high in the mountains and have not been seen for decades,” he said, half distracted. He’d just gone over every possession he owned. There were nowhere near enough medical tinctures. No blankets or furs to keep the cold away. No extra food to keep her hale.

Fuck! What was he going to do? Where would they go? Karthoc’s forge was much too far, and the nearer orc clans were at war. They could run right into battle if he wasn’t careful.

But he would not, he could not, return to Rove Wood Clan. It was not an option. He would have to think of something else. Anything else.

His claws extended in the gloves and he feared he might shred them, but he couldn’t control himself. A deep simmer of rage bubbled in his gut.

“Govek? I’ll follow you anywhere. And I can help you too. Kinda. If you show me herbs to hunt down, I could try to find them. I could learn to start fires and gut fish.”

He wasn’t going to be able to provide for her. Not like this.

“Not sure I’ll ever be as good at catching fish as you, but I can try. And you really don’t have to hunt for me. I’m more than happy to live off fish and plants. Though... I guess there aren’t very many foraging options right now. Your planet is going into winter, right?”

Govek breathed deep, worked for calm and logic. There was a cave near here. An old entry to the goblin mines, long abandoned, but that was only a temporary option. It would not serve them through the harsh winter.

“Sorry, I’ll try to shut up now,” she murmured, jarring him out of his thoughts.

“You may speak as much as you like, Miranda,” he assured her, though it came out too harsh.

She fidgeted on the rock. “I know it’s too much. Sometimes it just... stops my brain, you know?”

“If I wanted to stop my brain, sleep would be my preferred method,” he stated, earning a chuckle from her.

“Sleep, huh?” She narrowed her eyes at him, a sly smile striking up his longing. “I can think of something else that could keep us both nice and distracted.”

Fuck. He gulped hard, moving closer to her. Desperate for whatever pleasure she was willing to gift him. His mind grappled with what boons he had on hand to give her to keep her lust high.

He picked up his damp slacks. “I’m going to give you these.”

“I was joking earlier about stealing your clothes,” she said. “I mean, not that I don’t want you to strut around naked.”

“I will give you my underwear too if you want them, Miranda.” He grumbled low, causing her to blush. It was too easy.

Then her gaze raked down his body, and he gulped.

“Oh, wow,” she whispered in a reverent tone.

Miranda’s jaw was slack, and her gaze lingered on his groin, at the outline where his cock lay tucked beneath his undergarments, semi-hard and aching. She bit her lower lip and his blood simmered.

“Fuck me . . .” She breathed under her breath.

Heat speared him. Was that a request?

She lustfully moved her gaze from his groin to his chest, then his face. “Are you sure you’re real?”

He was afraid to move less he startle her and ruin this. He’d never felt such hungry eyes upon him before.

“Come over here,” she said and jerked him forward until she could rest her hands against his sides. She guided him to stand between her legs.

He lost his breath.

She gifted him with a hint of a smile before reaching up to tug his head down to her level. She lingered her lips on his cheek, just as sweet and potent as her first kiss had been. He held still, willing her to remain for a few moments longer.

Miranda moved off, and it felt like the sun had set on him.

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