Page 7 of Captured By the Orc

GAROTH

The ship groans like it has a bellyache. It’s a tight squeeze in here, all wires and pipes, not meant for two bodies, especially not my big orc frame.

“Hand me that hydro-spanner.”

Her fingers brush mine, except I ignore the jolt it sends through me.

“Is this what you need?” Her voice does something to me. Damn diplomatic charm. But there’s a tremble under it. Excitement? Fear? Don't know and don't care.

“Perfect.” The word comes out like a fucking growl. I’m used to barking orders, not this... whatever the hell this is we’ve been doing since she helped me fight those space pirates and warlords. Never thought a human female would be anything but trouble and a dead weight. She proved me wrong.

I just need to get her to the warlords who paid me to capture her for them. I’ll collect my credits, and she’ll try her charms on them. Though a lot of good it will do. Not my problem.

I wrench at the stubborn bolts, my muscles bulging.

The ship needs fixing. I can’t have it falling apart out here in the black. That’s what matters. Not how soft her sighs are. Not the feel of her hip against my thigh.

“Careful,” I grunt, not sure if I'm warning her or myself. “These systems are finicky.”

“Garoth, your hands...” She trails off, her eyes on my scarred knuckles. Trophies from a thousand fights. Her eyes flash with something. Admiration? Better not be pity. I fucking hate pity.

“Battle scars,” I say sharply, pulling back. Too late, I realize I’ve pinned her against the wall with my bulk.

For a second, we're locked together, her soft curves against my hard muscles. Her breath catches, chest rising against my arm. It’s hot in here, and it isn’t the broken thermal regulators.

Her dark hair has come loose, framing her face. For a second, I want to— “Sorry,” I growl. I pull back, but not before I catch something in her eyes that I swear is more than revulsion. Except I doubt a pretty thing like her would be interested in an orc, and I have better things to do.

“Nothing to apologize for,” she says lightly. But I can see her pulse racing in her throat.

We get back to work and the silence is thick enough to choke on. I tell myself it's just the damn cramped space, not this infuriating human. She moves with grace even here, adapting to my world like she was born to it. It pisses me off how easy she makes it look.

“Almost done,” she says, sounding proud of herself.

“Good.” I keep it short and gruff. Fancy words are for weaklings.

The control panels lit her up like some damn warrior goddess. A shadow of determination and... something else I don’t want to name. We’re hurtling through space, and I feel something I can’t shake. A connection.

Nah. No fucking way.

I crush the feeling. Bury it deep where it can't fuck with me. Orcs don't do soft shit. We don't roll over and show our bellies. Yet here I am, caught up in this human woman who doesn’t know when to quit.

“Let’s get this finished,” I say, focusing on the wires instead of how my skin tingles where she’s touched me.

“Right,” she says, and I can hear the smile in her words. It shouldn’t do things to me. But it does.

I keep my eyes on my work, but my mind wanders. To her lips. To the curves of her body. To how she’d feel in my arms while I plow into her soft pussy.

Instead, I clench my jaw and force myself to focus on the damn job.

An hour later, we’re more than halfway done, but it’s late, and I’m starving.

“Get cleaned up while I make us something to eat,” I grunt, pushing up to stand.

She nods her head and disappears into my room where the only bath and shower are while I clench my fists, heading to the mess hall.

* * *

Half an hour later, I’m hacking at the kara roots, their purple skins giving way under my blade. Lila walks into the galley, her footsteps echoing off the metal floors.

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