Page 19 of The Orc's Stolen Bride

He held out his hand, an invitation and a promise.

She hesitated for a moment, then reached out and placed her hand in his. He drew her closer, until he could feel the warmth of her body against his. He brushed a loose tendril of hair from her face, and when he cupped her face, she didn't pull away. He caressed her soft cheek with the pad of his thumb, marveling at the silky texture of her skin.

This time, she kissed him.

The warmth of her mouth against his sent another surge of arousal through him. He parted his lips, ready to deepen the kiss, but she drew back. He kept his hand on her waist, his fingers itching to explore but forcing himself to maintain control. Her eyes were a mix of desire and apprehension, and he forced himself to step back, putting distance between them.

He didn't know what caused her uncertainty, but he sensed her struggle and yearned to ease it. He didn't want this to be something she felt obliged to do. He needed her to be here with him, not merely accepting her circumstances. Patience, he reminded himself for what felt like the hundredth time, and smiled at her.

"Time for bed."

Her pretty lips parted in a startled oh, and he realized she'd misunderstood. He'd thought that the familiarity of sleeping together as they had on the trail would reassure her.

"To sleep," he added quickly.

She looked from him to the bed, and once again he wished he knew what she was thinking.

"You are safe with me, Kari."

He almost sighed with relief when she finally nodded.

“Sleep.”

He smiled at her, then hesitated. At home he usually didn't bother with nightwear, but she'd never seen him naked and he was afraid she would be alarmed. He went to the dresser and pulled out a pair of linen drawers, then hesitated again. She looked very pretty in her new gown but it was not designed for sleeping. Would she prefer her usual attire?

He brought out his finest linen shirt and offered it to her. She looked at it, then gave him a genuine smile for the first time since he'd returned to his rooms.

"You certainly seem to like me in your clothes."

He didn't understand the words but he suspected the meaning and returned her smile. She took the shirt and disappeared into the washroom while he changed hastily and climbed into bed. He carefully kept himself on his own side of the bed, hoping the distance would help her relax.

When she returned wearing his shirt, her curvy legs bare beneath the hem, he realized that the fine linen shirt was thinner and more transparent than the one she'd worn previously. He could see the shadowy outlines of her delightful breasts and he had to force his gaze back up to her face, swallowing hard. His drawers were not as confining as his leather pants and he was grateful that the heavy furs helped conceal his erection.

He pulled back the covers for her, careful to keep them over his lap, and she settled in beside him. After a moment's hesitation, she slipped close and put her head on his shoulder. The warmth of her body against his side, the enticing curve of her hip under the soft shirt, made his cock jerk demandingly but he forced himself to remain still. He didn't want her to retreat from him again.

"Safe," he whispered, and she murmured an agreement, snuggling closer.

He lay there for a long time after she'd fallen asleep, his thoughts troubled. How was she going to break the curse? And more importantly, how would he earn her trust? Despite the current distance between them, he was hopeful that in time she would come to recognize the bond between them.

It took all of his self-control to keep his hands to himself as he listened to her quiet breathing beside him. When he finally fell asleep, his dreams were filled with visions of Kari - her lush curves, her soft lips pressed against his, her eyes flashing with passion.

He awoke to an empty bed and cold sheets.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Kari woke early, the sky barely beginning to lighten outside the uncovered windows. She'd snuggled even closer to Wulf during the night, her arm across his wide chest and her knee resting on his thigh - and against his erection. She swallowed hard as she realized the hot, solid length of him was pressed against her leg. Her shirt had risen up as she slept and the velvety skin covering his cock felt wonderful against her bare skin.

Despite the number of times she'd been aware of his erection, she'd never touched it directly and she was suddenly overcome with curiosity. He was still sleeping heavily, his breath deep and even, and she very cautiously lifted the furs enough to get a glimpse.

Oh my God.

He'd slipped free from the linen underdrawers he was wearing, exposing the whole massive length. His cock was a deep, rich green, darker than his skin, with a flared head and a second thicker area around the base. She swallowed again, not sure if she was more intrigued or terrified, and quickly let the covers fall back into place.

She carefully extracted herself from the tangle of furs and blankets, pausing to look at his for a moment before she slipped out of the room. His strong features no longer seemed strange to her but rather strikingly attractive. The dark braids tangled around his face gave him a wild look, and her heart skipped a beat as he smiled in his sleep.

I'm in so much trouble, she thought, and hurried into the small washroom to wash her face and gather her thoughts. His role in bringing her to this world still troubled her. She believed he hadn't meant to take her away from her home, but would he have hesitated if he thought it would save his people? And how could she possibly do anything of this kind?

She sighed and returned to the bedroom just as he sat up, a wild look on his face. A heavy sigh escaped him when he saw her and he held out his hand.

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