Page 36 of The Orc's Bride

“It’s good we conquered Tokoma. They were giving our race a disgusting reputation back there. If they were all Una knew of orcs…” He sighed, testing the edge with his thumb. “It still doesn’t excuse her. But at least it’s easier to understand.”

Grikh was silent for a moment, and only the rhythmic metallic scraping of stone against blade could be heard.

“What will you do?” Grikh asked after a long moment.

“Court Urzulah,” Urgan said, shrugging. “I’ll make sure it takes a long time… Long enough for me to plan a coup. It may be more difficult this way. If my soldiers see I’m courting her, they will be less likely to believe my plans to overthrow the Imperator.”

Grikh grunted in assent.

“But what else is there?” asked Urgan, frowning at his axe. “If I refuse to court Urzulah, the Imperator will take it as an insult. He’s arrogant enough to have me executed.”

He cast a glance over his shoulder at the sleeping form of Una.

“The worst thing is I liked her. More than liked her. She is attractive, bold, good at facing her fears. A delicious female. Good for politics, too. And to think that instead of her, I might get Urzulah… It disgusts me.”

There was nothing left to say after this. Urgan and Grikh ended their watch soon, and Urgan went over to Una to lie down by her side. He missed the feel of her pliant body pressed against him like a sweet promise of pleasures to come.

But there were no pleasures in his future. And he wasn’t courting her any longer.

He lied down an arm’s length away from her. He was so tired now he couldn’t hold his emotions in check properly.

The sky was becoming gray with the oncoming dawn, and birds were waking, trilling sleepily in their nests.

Una turned to face him. Her eyes were open and bloodshot.

“You weren’t sleeping,” Urgan said.

“I hear you talk about someone with name Urzulah,” she said. “Guess you angry I hear?”

“Not angry, no.”

It wasn’t really Una’s fault that he’d just assumed she was sleeping. And, hell, he was actually glad she’d heard.

Una blinked up at him. She was too far away for him to feel her breath, but close enough that he could smell her. She was starting to smell a bit too strong, actually. She needed a bath. He did, too.

And instantly, his mind filled with visions of Una naked, bathing in the large tub he had in his general’s quarters in the palace. Her body lathered with soap, her wet hair plastered down her breasts.

And he with her. Soaping her up. Standing behind her, gripping her both slim wrists in his one hand so she couldn’t get away. Spreading her legs apart with his knee.

Sliding into her tight heat, the water steaming around them.

Urgan gnashed his teeth, trying to shake off the too tempting vision. It would never happen. It couldn’t.

But he was too tired and under too much strain. His self-control was slipping. He was in a dangerous territory, and Una right there with him.

“So…” Una started, biting her lower lip. Urgan tried not to focus too much on that lip. How lush it was. How it dented under the edge of her teeth. How it had tasted when he kissed her.

“You must court someone you not like?” she asked hesitantly.

Urgan focused on her question, forcing the lewd thoughts out of his mind. His body had already responded, though, his cock growing hard.

“Urzulah,” he said. Yes, he would talk about Urzulah. That would kill his desire instantly. “She is the Imperator’s daughter. I received news that upon our return, the Imperator will offer her to me as my future bride.”

Una frowned, looking unconvinced.

“But… Imperator’s daughter is like orc princess, no? Why you not want to court her?”

Urgan called up the image of Urzulah’s dull, arrogant face and let it fill his mind’s eye. His erection deflated.

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