Page 64 of Secret Twins for the Orc

Her face immediately reddens in a deep blush, and when her eyes dart away, my hand snaps to the back of her head, fisting around her loose hair and forcing her gaze back to mine. I lean down—but no, no, I can’t kiss her. If I kiss her now, I won’t be able to stop.

“You need to run.”

“But…” she stutters. “But…”

“I’ll find you.”

“But there are animals!”

“I’ll keep you safe.”

“But, Rhokar!” She pushes her hands against my chest to move me backwards, and a spike of lust roars through me. I don’t even realize I’ve moved until I feel bark beneath my palms as I flatten Ella into the nearest tree, grinding my hips into hers.

“That’s right, beautiful,” I rasp, leaning down to graze my tusks against her collarbone. “Push away from me. Go.”

She gasps, but her small hands fist against my shirt and her back arches. “You… I… Rhokar…”

I take in a final, glorious lungful of her scent, before throwing myself away from her, because if I don’t move now, I will have her against this very tree.

She’s breathing heavily, cheeks flushed and staring at me with a mixture of defiance and lust.

“You don’t make any sense,” she huffs, although I can smell her desire rising, and it drives me insane. “You’re actually crazy. It’s official.”

But I don’t have any words left in me to explain, and I feel my growl building once more, my thighs tensing and ready to chase.

“Ella,” I tell her, the last warning I’ll be able to give, and I grin. “Run!”

Chapter 24

Ella

I take off through the forest in a random direction, hoping a bear doesn’t come out of nowhere to eat me up. Stupid Rhokar, what on earth has gotten into him? This is a disaster waiting to happen, I just know it. My knees aren’t what they used to be; I don’t know how long I’ll be able to keep this up before I trip on a pebble and snap my neck.

Confusion. This is the main emotion running through me right now. Confusion and annoyance. Why the heck am I doing this? What’s even the point? I huff as I pump my legs in a mild jog, slogging through underbrush and dirt, trying to ignore the fact that jeans aren’t exactly the best jogging pants. When was the last time I even did cardio? Good grief…

A branch full of soft leaves springs out of nowhere to whip me in the cheek, and I grumble to myself. How did I let him convince me to run through the freaking woods?

Actually, I can probably answer that, if I’m honest. Because the way he’d pushed me against the tree, the way he’d scented my neck like an orc possessed, the look in his eyes when he’d lifted his dark, piercing gaze to mine and told me to run… Dear lord, I’d been suddenly and inexplicably filled with desire, and I would have done anything he’d told me in that moment.

Including running through the damn woods like some sort of prey…

Something snaps in the distance behind me, an ominous echo through the now silent trees, as if there’s a predator on the loose and all the other animals are hiding to avoid its notice. And I have a very strong feeling that predator is Rho.

Last I’d seen him, Rhokar had been digging his fingers into the trunk beside him as if physically holding himself back from chasing after me, his black gaze sharp and intent as he tracked me between the trees until I was out of sight.

I have a strong feeling he’s no longer standing still, but finally giving chase.

A thrill courses through me at the thought, and I find myself picking up speed without conscious intent.

I still have no idea what’s going on, and he’s going to have some serious explainingto do, but somewhere deep inside, I’m responding to this situation. My legs are filling with energy, as if my body knows exactly what’s going on even though my brain still wonders. I veer to my left, changing course deliberately to make it more difficult for him.

Something primal is being activated within me, and a tingle runs down my spine as I start to hear his heavy footsteps. I throw a look over my shoulder, but I don’t see him yet, and I push myself to run faster, feeling a grin begin to form.

“Ella!” His deep voice echoes through the forest, commanding and strong. “Come here.”

But my grin turns feral, and I try to run faster. He wanted me to run? Fine. I ran.

Now he has to come get me.

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