Page 72 of The Orc Outcast's Conquest

Why couldn’t she save them?

“Hush,” Govek whispered into her hair and her body relaxed even as her mind took a few more minutes to calm.

“Sorry,” she whispered against his chest, cuddling into his warmth. “I know I’m a mess.”

“You are not a mess, Miranda,” Govek said vehemently, and she sat back to look at him. His expression was an odd mixture, furrowed brow with soft eyes and a grim set mouth.

He continued slowly. “Many injuries cannot be seen, only felt and experienced. That does not mean you are unworthy of care or owe apologies.”

“You’ve had to do so much for me,” she insisted, lowering her eyes to the cave floor. Fixing them to the spot where the soft cloak he’d given her met the harsh stone. “And I know I’m never going to be able to pay you back.”

“Stop this,” he snarled, snapping her back to attention. His expression tightened, and he quickly adjusted her so she was sitting between his legs with her back to his chest.

Much the same way she had been when he’d touched her in the spring. Her thighs clenched.

“I do not want you to pay me back. It is my responsibility to offer boons. And in exchange, you allow me to enjoy your company. It is simple.” His hands went back to her hair but were a little tighter now. The mild sting felt wonderful. Secure.

“You make this sound so transactional.”

“Transactional?”

She tried to turn to face him, but he gripped her shoulders and pressed her firmly into his chest. “Yeah, you know. I give you companionship and you give me stuff in return, but that’s not really how relationships work.” She paused. “Well, that’s not how I want my relationships to work. Not that we’re in a relationship. I just mean, in general, I want to be on equal footing with my partner.”

“What are you trying to say, Miranda?”

She let out a little huff, organizing her thoughts. “It feels... dirty to have you giving me physical things in exchange for my company.” Especially where sex was concerned. “I don’t want you to offer me boons, as you say, expecting I’ll spend more time with you.”

There was a long pause. Miranda could feel how tense Govek was becoming against her back, but she bit her tongue, determined not to talk over him.

“Then . . . how do I win you?”

Miranda pushed at him until he finally let her turn around. His brows were furrowed, his eyes showed confusion. His jaw was set tight around his upper teeth.

She moved her hands to his jaw, working at the muscles, getting him to lower it back into the right spot. “You’ve been doing an excellent job of winning me over so far.”

His eyes narrowed in obvious confusion, and she almost laughed.

“I like you too, Govek. I would never have begged you to take me with you if I didn’t like you.”

“I was your only option,” he muttered, making her snort.

“Arrogant much?” she teased, ruffling his hair and making him blink rapidly. “I figured it out on Earth. I would have figured it out here, too.”

“That I believe,” he said, the gruff tone turning low and sweet. She smoothed his hair away from his face.

“Your strength is a vision, Miranda. You are a wonder for showing such optimism in the face of your sorrow.” Govek leaned close enough to her ear that she could feel the heat of his breath. “Your laugh is like light from the Fades themselves. Your joy reflects in me so strongly it is bliss.”

She shuddered out a deep breath, aching and needy.

His lips brushed her ear and his fingertips dragged from her forehead to her nape. “You are breathtaking, Miranda, and all I want in this world is to be allowed the pleasure of continuing to bask in you.”

Miranda tripped right over herself, eyes prickling with tears. The depth of his words pulled her into emotions she didn’t have a name for.

She forced his hands off her shoulders so she could lean back enough to see his face. Slant her mouth over his.

The sensation of his soft lips contrasting with the harsh touch of his tusks on her cheeks was intoxicating. She craved to make those fangs dig deeper. Get him to open his mouth so she could have a better taste. Use the sting of his sharp teeth to distract her away from the horrors lurking at the corners of her mind.

Govek’s growl of pleasure caught her attention, eased her out of her darker urges and back into his warmth and comfort. His hands were so gentle as he threaded his fingers through her hair, like she was so fragile she might snap under his touch. She parted her lips tentatively, wanting to show him she needed more than his gentleness, but unsure how to get it.

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