Page 22 of The Orc's Bride

My hands stilled. I wasn’t freezing anymore because the exertion had warmed me up some… But at that moment, I shivered.

From fear? Or from impatience? I pushed the thought away and focused on Urgan’s knees, running sand over them. Soon, I was done, and Urgan shifted, leaning back on his forearms, his eyes now open but hooded.

“Wash my thighs.”

I was breathing too fast, getting dizzy. My hands trembling, I scooped up more sand and started at his thigh right above his knee, eyeing the hem of his shirt. I would have to roll it further up to reach higher.

I kept working, my desire for Urgan battling with my reason. My arms were hurting from holding them up.

“May I stand?” I asked and closed my eyes in mortification at the sound of my voice. Squeaky and breathy. It gave away too much.

“No.”

I looked up at him, and a gasp escaped me. His features were relaxed, his eyes filled with an intense silver sheen, and his shirt… was tented. Enormously so. His member was standing to attention, only the thin fabric preventing me from seeing it.

I swallowed hard, my hands motionless against Urgan’s thigh.

I had done it. It was my first thought, and it came with a surge of power. I had caused this hard warrior to not only relax but also swell with arousal.

Slowly, I resumed massaging his thigh, reaching further up. Closer to his groin.

While my hands were working his hard muscles, passing over his green skin, almost black in the dark, I couldn’t stop wondering. What else could I do to him?

Could I… make him groan in passion? Could I draw curses of pleasure out of him? Could I make him lose control over himself?

That last thought made me shiver as I moved the shirt another inch higher up. What would Urgan be like when he lost control?

My underthings were already soaked through, my sex throbbing with painful need. I wanted him. I wanted him feral and uncontrollable.

I looked up into his face, my breathing fast, and remembered in time what he had told me. That I had to ask. At this point, I was willing to do just that, my self-respect be damned.

But Urgan’s eyes were wide open and alert, focused on the forest behind me. He snarled suddenly, and there was a startled rustling sound in the undergrowth. Something had been there, and he scared it into running.

“Get up,” Urgan said. “I smelled a ragghit. We must be on our way.”

I stood up shakily, leaning against his leg. I was getting far too comfortable touching Urgan, I thought. His hand landed on my waist and he steadied me. Soon, we were out of the water, Urgan dressing fast.

He picked me up and almost ran, the frown on his forehead deeper than normal. When we reached the others, he put me in Brrthak’s saddle and we set out at once, riding as fast as the flickering light of the torches allowed.

“You have cleaned your name,” Urgan said, his arms a safe cage around me. “Your honor is intact.”

And now, why was I having an urge to stain my honor again only to repeat what we had just done?

I shook my head, trying to dislodge the lunatic thought. I wasn’t supposed to want Urgan. It wasn’t the plan.

I was only using him to get to the capital. And any feelings I had for him were just… stupid bodily urges. Nothing more.

And I was stronger than my body, I told myself firmly. I would resist, and soon, I would be free of Urgan forever. Yes.

Content with my conclusion, I snuggled closer to the warm body behind me. I was shamelessly leeching Urgan’s body heat. The night had gotten chilly, and my linen dress was damp. Urgan hadn’t given me a chance to grab a cloak when he snatched me away, so I reasoned it fell to him to make me warm now.

I shouldn’t be touching him willingly, I reminded myself. But I was so tired. So tired and tense, in fact, that I had revealed a dangerous piece of information. I owed it to myself – and to my plans – to rest.

And what harm could it really do? As soon as we reached the capital, I would ditch Urgan. We would part ways and I would never see him again, end of story.

So… why not enjoy him while I still could?

I turned my face into him, pressing my ear to his chest, tangling my hands in the loose cape he had put on earlier. Just for tonight, I promised myself. Just for one night, I could let go.

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