Page 20 of The Orc's Stolen Bride

"I thought you'd left me."

She understood enough of that to give him a reassuring smile, then walked over and put her hand in his.

"You're cold," he said as his warm fingers closed around hers, still chilled from the icy water in the washroom.

Before she could respond, he tugged her back under the covers and wrapped his arms around her. They both froze as his naked erection pressed against her stomach. She snuck a quick look at him and saw he looked startled as well as pained and she had to fight a sudden urge to giggle. Apparently he hadn't realized his cock had escaped.

He cleared his throat, his voice hoarse.

"I... I did not..."

Taking pity on his obvious confusion, she pressed her lips softly against his. He returned it just as gently, almost reverently, and she found herself melting into it. A rush of warmth flooded through her, from her lips down to her toes, and her worries and doubts started to fade away.

"We must rise," he murmured when he finally pulled away, a regretful tone in his voice. "There is much to do."

"There is?"

"Always." He hesitated. "I take many of my meals either with my warriors or in the communal hall. Would you prefer to break your fast here?"

"Definitely," she said firmly as she soon as she deciphered the question, shuddering as she remembered that sea of eyes.

He grinned and dropped another quick kiss on her lips before climbing out of bed, forgetting his state of undress again.

Heat rushed to her cheeks, but it didn't stop her from inspecting that magnificent cock in even greater detail. She didn't even think she'd be able to put her hand around it, let alone her mouth. She blushed again at the direction of her thoughts, and his shaft jerked.

"You make control very difficult, my gemshin."

She understood enough of what he said to quickly look away, but one word confused her.

"Gemshin?"

She heard him pull on his pants before he returned to the bed, taking her hand and placing it on his bare chest over his heart.

"Gemshin."

He'd called her his heart? She melted a little inside, patting his chest shyly. He started to bend towards her and a brisk knock on the outer door was followed almost immediately by Merow bustling into the room with a tray of food.

"I didn't say enter," Wulf growled, but Merow ignored him.

"I thought you might be hungry this morning, Kari."

"I was about to fetch food for her," he insisted, but the older woman waved him away.

"You're needed elsewhere," Merow said firmly. "I'll take care of Kari."

He hesitated, then finally nodded, giving her a reassuring smile before pulling on a shirt and leaving. Merow grinned at her.

"Did I interrupt anything?"

"No," she said firmly, but she couldn't help feeling a little disappointed at the interruption.

Merow had brought porridge, a sweeter version than Egon had prepared on the trail, along with berries, fresh bread, and a strong sweet tea. The other woman was right - she was hungry - and she devoured it all before Merow helped her into a new gown, this one perfectly fitted.

Then, despite her nerves, Merow led her out into the bustling clan grounds. To her relief, although she caught many speculative glances, they were respectful rather than intimidating and she didn't feel as overwhelmed as she had the previous evening.

As they walked, she noticed the scarcity of females. She spotted a few more but they were mainly older, like Merow. The absence of children was even more striking and her heart ached for Wulf and his people.

"This is where we smoke our meat," Merow explained, gesturing to a large structure billowing with fragrant smoke. "And over there, that's where we tend to the livestock."

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