Page 12 of The Orc's Bride

Or not lies. He supposed she was telling the truth in the strictest sense. But she was omitting something. He had asked her who she was, and she was all those things, but she was also something else. Something more. She wasn’t telling him the most important part.

He would find out all her secrets. It was just a matter of time.

Urgan growled at Brrthak, commanding him to come closer. He whistled, a short signal for others to get ready. They would set out.

Without a warning, he caught Una’s waist and picked her up. She squealed softly in surprise. Urgan raised her so her face was level with his. So close their noses were almost touching. So close he could bite her… or kiss her.

Her eyes were wide with shock even as her mouth parted, revealing the pink flesh inside and a hint of white teeth.

“I’ll make you mine,” he said, so low only she could hear him.

The musk of her arousal, now familiar, wafted to his nose. Urgan chuckled, inhaling her scent, making it a part of him. Then, before she could protest, he put her in Brrthak’s saddle.

She gripped his mount’s mane, looking at the ground below her. When she saw how far down it was, she closed her eyes tightly. Urgan stepped in the stirrup and swung his leg over the saddle, settling himself behind her.

She was so tiny she barely took up any space on the enormous beast’s back.

Urgan clucked at Brrthak, instructing him to go slowly. He put his hand over Una’s fists that were holding Brrthak’s shaggy mane in a grip of death.

“Do you want me to hold you?” he asked her, his voice low. “I’ll make sure you don’t fall.”

Una’s body became even more rigid, even harder. She was all tense. That wouldn’t help her stay in the saddle.

“No, thank you,” she said, her voice polite.

Urgan chuckled. Her fear was almost choking her, but she still managed to sound calm. Bored, even. Very impressive.

“Then you need to relax,” he said, his large hand still on top of her tiny fists. “While we ride, Brrthak will move. There is a certain rhythm to it. If you don’t allow your body to follow the rhythm, you will fall. To your death. So either relax or I’ll hold you. I want you to live, Una.”

She took a deep breath and nodded. Slowly, carefully, she let go of some of the stiffness. But still, she was keeping her muscles in check. Urgan realized she was trying to keep her body from touching his.

“Are you afraid of touching an orc?” he asked her, mocking now.

Una hissed like an angry cat.

“I not afraid of you!”

“Aren’t you? All I’m smelling is fear. I told you clearly I would court you, Una. If you find the idea hateful, if you’d rather not be courted by an orc, I’ll let you down. You can go back to your village. But you must tell me now. When we set out, I won’t let you go until we reach the capital.”

“Why?” she asked, turning slightly so she could see him from the corner of her eye.

“Because if I leave you alone out there, in the wilderness, you will die.”

Una gasped softly.

“We go… through the Wilds?”

“It’s the fastest way,” Urgan said, shrugging. “So? What’s your decision?”

Una let out a huge breath. Suddenly, she fell against him, her body pliant and soft. Her back rested against his abdomen, her head leaning against his sternum. She nestled into him with another, much gentler, sigh. “I come with you.”

Urgan froze. Lust, arousal, desire – those were familiar. Feelings and urges he had felt since he was a youngster. He could handle those. But what was this new feeling? Where had it come from?

This alien tenderness?

He lowered his head slowly to sniff Una’s hair. It smelled of sun and herbs. Her body was warm against him, warm and so absurdly fragile. A hot, heavy feeling gripped his chest.

He would protect her. This woman, so small and so very brave, was his and his only. He would be the only one who touched her. The only one who looked at her unguarded face. He would watch over her sleep, fight her enemies, and always keep her close.

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