Page 114 of The Orc Outcast's Miracle

“I’ll take you home.” He lifted her into a seated position. Her legs were still spread around him. Her breasts were firm against his chest. She shivered, squirming, wondering how he could have so much self-control. “We will have a bath, a meal, and a good night’s rest.”

He stepped back, picked up his bloody, tattered clothing. He muttered a dark curse as he tried to pin his pants shut to no avail. He’d torn them too badly.

Her hands moved to her bodice, and she found it irreparable. Her bra too. Shoot, this dress belonged to Savili. She snorted. “That was a bad idea, wasn’t it?”

“We’ll get more from the storeroom.” He chuckled dryly. “Again.”

“Doesn’t really help now, though. How will we get home?”

“You can use my cloak.” He shrugged out of it. Her cloak had been forgotten at the spring. She hoped she could get it back. It was the one he’d given her when she’d first met him.

Who could ever have guessed they would be here now? She felt so warm and full she wanted to collapse with joy and never stop.

“And you’ll go naked?” She giggled. “Just letting your bare ass shine for all to see?”

“Already gave them one show today,” he said. “What’s one more?”

“Oh my god.” She laughed, her body going flush. To think he could make jokes about all the insanity they’d been through. “Govek, you’re terrible. I love you.”

He chuckled, plucked a kiss to her forehead and went to fetch her dress. It had landed next to a row of trunks by the window seat. Something must have caught his eye because he reached over and popped the lock off as if the metal was made of chalk.

Her eyes widened at the heaps of gold coins within. Govek went still.

“Is that . . . money?”

“I don’t know. Orcs have no use for jewels and precious metals. Only goblins mine it.”

She gulped, wondering what that implied. She knew nothing about goblins. “Did Ergoth steal it?”

“Unlikely,” he said before he snapped open the next one. It was filled with opulent fabrics—purple and green and bright blue silks. “We can use this, I guess.”

“I think your bare ass would be less conspicuous,” she quipped, earning a grin from him. “What’s the last one?”

He popped it open and, lo and behold, leather—hats, shoes—and a few pieces of cotton clothing.

He lifted a shirt and shook it out to judge the size. It would be way too small for him, but he could probably make it work. He handed her one of the other shirts before searching through the rest, obviously looking for something bigger, but to no avail.

“This is good quality,” he said, fingering the stitching of a pair of leather slacks. “I could make two pairs for you from this. You still want trousers, yes?”

She grinned at the image of Govek sewing her new clothes like the sexiest of seamstresses. “Is there anything you can’t do? You’re skilled at pretty much every trade necessary to survive.” She trailed off as his smile showed tension.

How many hours had he spent stitching up his own clothing? Teaching himself to carve? To cook? Even to fish and hunt?

By himself. All alone in his home on the outskirts of the clan. Out of necessity. Not want.

The depths Ergoth had gone to isolate Govek were horrifying. She wrapped her arms around him, wishing she could take all his pain away. He leaned in to nuzzle her chest.

She stroked his wet, sticky hair back. God, they needed baths. Needed to wash away this awful day. She moved her hand down to brush his arm.

“You should do me a nice favor and skip the shirt.” She traced his muscles with her fingertips. “I’ll keep you warm for the walk.”

His haunted eyes heated, and he hummed with pleasure. The deep rumble quickened in her veins and made her squirm. “Woman, keep that up and we won’t be getting home at all.”

“You promise?”

He gulped, eyes fixed to her lips as if he were going to kiss her again. “Fuck, woman. Don’t tempt me.” He continued to go through the chest before he paused, leaning back on his haunches. “You know, we haven’t fully discussed it yet.”

Her brow pinched. “What?”

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