Page 22 of My Fated Orc Hero

My heart races as I nod. He brings one huge hand to my neck, touching me gently as he rubs at it softly.

"This needs attention," he murmurs, breath warm against my ear. "I have a special salve that might help if you’d like me to apply it. Sometimes I use it after a hard day hauling stone or timber."

I nod again, my pulse quickening as I watch Thokk retrieve it and return to sit beside me again.

"Just relax,” he says as he begins to rub it into my flesh.

Oh my god, I think I am going to melt.

This time his touch goes straight to my instantly hardened nipples as well as to my wide-awake lady parts.

“Is this helping?" he asks, gently kneading the sore muscles of my neck a little more deeply.

Oh my goodness but are they awake.

"Mmm, that's nice," I murmur, leaning into his touch. I can’t fight it. "Yes, ohh,” a gentle moan escapes my lips. “A little lower maybe?"

His hands move to my shoulders, working out knots I didn't even know I had. I bite back a louder moan. God, those hands. I bet they could ...

No, Zoe. Bad thoughts. Very bad thoughts. Keep it above the belt.

"I should have realized it was hurting you," Thokk murmurs, his voice closer to my ear than I expected. "But I will make it up to you. I promise."

I laugh softly. "That is very sweet of you Thokk, but it’s just a sore neck. I’ll live.”

“Of course you will survive,” he sounds a little taken aback.

“That was a joke,” I quickly add. “If I can handle being transported to a magical hidden village and paraded around as a prisoner, I can handle a little neck pain."

His hands still for a moment. “I was just trying to keep you safe."

I turn to face him, suddenly very aware of how close we are. "I know you were Thokk. And I appreciate it, believe it or not."

I am definitely losing the battle with my dirty thoughts.

"How does it feel now?" Thokk asks, his voice tender.

"Better. But maybe you could do a little more on my shoulders and back too if that’s alright? Playing prisoner is harder than it looks you know."

Truth is, I don’t want him to stop.

He chuckles softly, a sound that sends a fresh wave of tingles straight to my core. "Of course. Like this?” he asks as he begins to knead at my shoulders now.

“Yes, just like that,” I say, trying to keep my voice even, as his strong hands work on the stress in my shoulders and upper back. I can't help but arch into his touch.

“Oh,” I exclaim as he finds another knot. Somehow I manage not to moan.

I hear Thokk's sharp intake of breath.

"I'm sorry," he says quickly. "Too much?"

I shake my head. "No, no. It feels amazing, actually. You've got magic hands, big guy."

He chuckles, a low rumble that I swear I can feel in my bones. "No magic Zoe. Just strength."

I turn my head to look at him and find his face much closer than I expected. “It’s a figure of speech,” I murmur as our eyes meet, less than a foot apart.

“Right,” he murmurs back, just above a whisper.

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