Page 9 of My Fated Orc Hero

"Fablewood?!” My jaw drops. “That’s the name of your town?” My hand flies to my chest in an attempt to still my beating heart. “Now you definitely have to show me,” I plead. "Come on, where's your sense of adventure?"

"Adventure?" He looks at me like I've grown a second head. "This isn't a game, Zoe. You don’t seem to comprehend. There are real dangers out there."

"If you say so," I snort skeptically before I catch myself.

What’s gotten into me? One minute I am on the verge of a panic attack– and who wouldn’t be? – And the next I want to go exploring like this is the newest ride at Disney!

Something about the big green guy just makes me feel safe. It’s odd, cause at first glance he looks anything but safe. (He’s an Orc,hello!)Yet, I get this inexplicable feeling not only that big guy over here won’t hurt me, but that he’d actually throw himself between me and any threat of danger that might befall me. Stupid? Maybe. Probably.

“I do say so,” he says, puffing up his chest, as if he needs to. I can’t help but wonder just what his chest looks like under the simple white linen tunic he wears.

Zoe. Fooocus.

"But this is the opportunity of a lifetime. A whole hidden world—for both of us.! We could learn from each other. I could tell you about my world too!"

For a moment, I see a flicker of something in his eyes – curiosity? Interest? But then it's gone, replaced by that stern mask.

"It's not going to happen," he says gruffly. "One way or another, you must go back."

I open my mouth to argue further, but he's already turning away, muttering to himself and searching the room. "There has to be something..."

As he pokes around, I take the opportunity to really study him. Despite his gruff demeanor, there's something undeniably sexy about this guy. Maybe it's the way his muscles ripple as he moves, just under the surface of the tunic. Or the intense focus in his eyes.Or maybe you’re just a total nutjob, Zoe.

A nutjob with her mind in the gutter.

Still, I can't deny the attraction I feel– a mix of fascination, stimulation, admiration, and... something else I can't quite name.

It’s called mental illness, Zoe.

"Find anything?" I try to keep my voice casual.

He grunts in frustration. "Nothing. Whatever vehicle brought you here, I see no trace of it."

"Well, then I guess It’s like I said, I'm stuck here for now." If I’m being honest, I’m more than a little surprised to find myself excited by the prospect. "Might as well make the best of it, right?"

Big, green, and handsome turns back to me, his expression torn. "You don't understand. If anyone sees you—"

The sound of voices approaching cuts him off mid-sentence. The orc's eyes widen in panic.

"Thokk? That you?" a deep voice calls out.

So that's his name. Suits him somehow.

Thokk glances from me to the doorway then back to me again, clearly conflicted.

"Thokk,” I whisper tentatively, trying out his name. "Is this bad?”

He seems to pay me no mind as his forehead wrinkles, clearly in thought. Then, as I watch, he pulls off a bracelet as well as his belt.

What the hell is he doing, undressing?

Before I know it, he’s fashioned what looks a hell of a lot like a collar and leash.

No way. He’s not—

Sure enough, before I can even protest, I feel his bracelet clamp around my neck.

"Hey!" I yelp. "What the hell?" Part of me is outraged by the fact he just leashed and collared me, while another part is enjoying the zing of erotic pleasure that shoots through me at the thought of being his pet.

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