Page 11 of The Orc Outcast's Mate

She shot him a grin. “I guess you would be, huh? You’re plenty strong enough to handle the bucking of a female.”

Amusement burst from his lips in a snort. “Blast! The things you say, woman.”

“You know you love it.” She grinned, standing up again. He gulped as she turned and took his hand in hers, barely sheathing his claws in time. “Though I guess my quips still aren’t enough incentive to, I dunno, take me for a ride?”

Govek’s blood pooled deliciously, heating in his groin and cueing him up in an instant.

“No, Miranda. There are?—”

“Too many predators. I know, I know.” She muttered, sliding her hands up his arms.

The disappointment in her tone forced him to scowl. “I touched you last night, woman. Was that not enough?”

“Of course, it wasn’t. You wouldn’t let me touch back.” She mumbled, blooming more heat in his cock. “Plus, we were tied to a tree branch fifteen feet in the air with my back to your chest, so I couldn’t even see you. Or move.”

“You moved plenty.” His voice was a rumble. Fuck, she would do him in with this talk.

She hummed under her breath and soothed her hands along the sides of his face. Going up on her toes. She smelled like bliss made real and her heat was intoxicating.

Govek resisted.

There were no predators near, but he could still smell them on the wind. He could not risk her safety. She was far too precious.

“We must move on, Miranda. We are very close to the clan now.”

Even the mention of it made his gut clench. He hoisted the elk up onto his shoulders to distract from the fact that Rove Wood Clan was just through the next grove. He could nearly smell the smoke on the breeze.

Two days. Three at most. Then he and Miranda would be gone from Rove Wood. They only needed to rest and raid the storeroom for supplies.

It would be fine.

“Govek?”

Miranda’s brow was furrowed, and her lips were pursed. He should tell her. Speak on his troubles, but the words locked in his throat every time.

How could he even begin to tell this woman what he truly was? Of all the vile reasons his clan despised him. Of all the horrid things he’d done in anger. Mistakes he could never make right.

He was so desperate to win her, and she would never again look upon him with gentleness after she discovered what he was. A beast that could not control his destructive magic. A dread to all in his clan. A danger to her.

“Let’s move on,” Govek said. “The faster we get you to my home, the faster we can be gone.”

“Gone to Karthoc’s forge,” Miranda said, almost to herself. “How many days of food is this elk? Will it last that long?”

“It will,” Govek said. “Though we will need to stop at the butchery in Rove Wood Clan for preservation magics.” If he worked through the night and used enough tinctures, he could get the meat dry in time.

“We’ll stop at the butchery first. It won’t take me long.”

Miranda kept pace beside him. Moving in tandem with his stride. She nestled close despite the dead animal he lugged on his shoulders, and he relished the clean scent of her.

“What if your cousin doesn’t like me?”

“I hope he doesn’t,” Govek grumbled.

Miranda slapped his arm, and he could not help quirking a smile at her gall. She’d been growing brave around him. He begged the Fades to help that bravery maintain.

“So, you’ve got a jealous streak, then?” Miranda asked.

“All orcs are possessive of their women.”

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