Page 133 of The Widow and the Orcs

Shewas still smiling to herself as she headed upstairs, and settled into the hot, luxurious bath that was waiting for her in her bedroom.Andit did feel so lovely to clean off all the blood and dirt, and to wash her lingering wounds, too.Butmost of them had already begun to heal over, andLouisasent a silent thanks toSkai-kesh forRurik, and for allKillikandUlfarr’scare, too.Bothof them there for her, helping her, when she’d most needed them.Asthey’d so often done, all this time.

Andyes, even now, that was a faint noise at the window, the sash sliding up.AndLouisasmiled as she stood and stepped out of the bath, and strode over to meetKillikat the window.Notcaring if she was naked and dripping wet, or if he was only slightly less bloody than before, and trailing mud on her floor.Becauseit only mattered that her tall beautiful orc was here, looking her up and down with cool perusal, and then willingly bending down to meet her brief, hungry kiss.

“Thereyou are, handsome,”Louisamurmured, against his lips. “Howdid it all go?”

Shedrew back to study him, her heart pulsing faster in her chest, because what hadSunethought about the adoption idea?Whathad they decided?

Killikshot a wry grin back toward her, and gave a gentle slap to her bare arse. “Ach, well,” he said, with a shrug. “Ispoke toRosa, and she squealed and hopped up and down, and then ran off — whichIken must beKa-esh for pleasure, ach?AsforSune…”

Helet it hang there between them, andLouisagripped at his arms, rapidly searched his eyes. “Tellme,Killik,” she demanded. “Whatdid he say?Washe willing to consider it?”

Killik’sbrows rose, because damn him, he was dragging this out, taunting her, enjoying this. “Ach, he pondered this,” he replied blandly. “Andhe asked good questions.Andthen…”

Louisagroaned, clutched tighter at him, gave him an impatient little shake. “Thenwhat,” she insisted. “Tellme, you infuriatingtermite.”

Butoh, the wayKillik’seyes flashed, the smile wicked on his mouth. “Youwish to meet my termites, woman?” he drawled at her. “Wishto have them move in, and start making a mess?”

Louisa’sgroan was loud and disgusted, butKillikonly kept grinning as he gripped her hips with strong hands, and walked her backwards to the desk.Andthen spun her around, bent her down over it, and — she gasped — kicked her legs apart.Exposingher bare crease to the room, to him, to that familiar wonderful hardness, just prodding against her…

“Thisseems a good place to release my swarm,” he purred. “Readyyourself to be overrun, woman.”

Louisascoffed, glared back at him — but then he slammed inside, slicing deep in a single staggering stroke.Andthen again and again and again, already caught in his sharp furious rhythm, whileLouisashouted and scrabbled beneath him.Cursinghim, and blessing him, and begging him, while he merrily laughed, and slapped her arse.Andthen he reached over her toward the desk, and snapped a quill into her hand.

Hedidn’t even need to say it, andLouisaquivered beneath his onslaught as she yanked over a sheet of paper, and began to write, with a shaky hand.Addressingthe letter to her sweet belovedWolf, telling him of his lusty powerful pup, bending her over the desk, and mounting her with such vigour and zeal and ease.Howshe could only whimper and tremble and beg beneath his strength, and plead for more of his gifts and his favour.

Youhave chosen the realm’s fiercest, most generous orc as your mate, she wrote.Notonly does he stroke and tease and inflame me, but he has promised to swarm me, and overrun me.Tofill me with his abundance, and pour out his blessings upon me —

Shebroke off there, her hand skittering on the page, asKillikyanked her hips tight, and ground deep — and yes, yes, there it was, the hot teeming spurts of his seed, as his hand slipped around her, circling hard and perfect, until her own release sparked and flashed, caressing him, milking him, more, more, more…

UntilIam again thronged with him, she wrote.Iam consumed with him, lost with him, found with him.Heis the most wondrous giftIhave ever known, andIshall always, always cherish him, and the stunning, greatheartedWolfwho shares him with me.

Shelet the quill clatter aside, her body sinking down onto the desk.Andinto the shivery whispering fear that maybe it was still too much, maybeKillikwould still laugh, or mock her, or…

Orcarefully slide her hair away from her neck.Settlehis sharp teeth to her skin.Andthen sink them deep, as his low, rumbling moan vibrated into her, weaving into her lifeblood, into her heart.

Afterwardshe kissed the broken skin, cleaned it with surprising care, and it distantly occurred toLouisathat it was on the other side than last time, perhaps making another mark, staking another claim.Addinghis scars to the others she carried, but these ones speaking only of pleasure, of safety.Shewas whole.Skai.Home.

“Sunesaid he should be most glad of this,”Killikfinally murmured, close intoLouisa’sear. “Hesaid you are a kind and worthy woman, and you have doneWolfandImuch good.And” — his voice lowered — “he said he knows if you are part of this,Ishall stay.Becauseyou shall demand this of me, whilstWolfshall give me whateverIplease, even if this is leaving him.”

Hehuffed a laugh, though it sounded almost sad. “Idid not follow how muchSunesaw of my plan,” he added, quieter. “Orhow well he knows me, mayhap.Andyou ken” — another low, hollow laugh — “he caughthimselfin that curst trap, ach?Hewishedto draw you into this.Hewishedto bring you to the mountain, and keep you there.Hewished for your help forWolf, and for us.Forall of us.”

Louisa’sbreath stilled, her eyes staring unseeing at the desk, because — ofcourse.OfcourseSunehad done it on purpose.Hewas such a clever, agile, watchful boy, and of course he wouldn’t have trespassed by accident, let alone gotten caught in one ofRikard’sfool traps.Andeven the way he’d pushed her to take him to the mountain, when he’d knownKillikandUlfarrwouldn’t be there…

Andthe way he’d done it, even when he’d thoughtLouisawould try to replace him.Whenhe’d thought she would giveUlfarra new son.Abetter son, he’d said.

Louisa’seyes were prickling, and she swallowed hard, drew in a ragged breath. “Gods, he’s so much like you,Killik,” she whispered. “Ihope you thanked him.Andtold him how clever he is, and how much you love and appreciate him.Andhow you would never leave him, or replace him, either.”

Shecould hearKillik’sswallow too, could feel his heavy exhale on her ear. “Ach,Isought to,” he replied, low. “Icould already hear your shrill harpy voice raging at me, ifIdid not.Callingme a weasel, or a leech, or atermite.”

Louisaelbowed sharply up into his ribs, even as a shaky laugh escaped her mouth.AndKillikgave a gentle nip at her ear, a slap at her hip, before yanking himself out of her, and swiping her letter off the desk.

“Wolfshall enjoy this,” he said lightly, as he rolled it up, and gave a smug smile toward his mess now spilling downLouisa’sthighs. “Andyou shall enjoy cleaning my droppings.”

Louisagagged and made a face at him, to which he only grinned back, and gave another slap to her hip. “Meetyou downstairs,” he said. “Wishto hear whatRosahas to say next.”

Andwith that astonishing statement still ringing through the air, he spun around and strode toward the window.Noteven looking back as he slipped out of it, butLouisacouldn’t stop smiling after him, wiping at her damnably wet cheeks.Sunewanted her help.Sunewanted her to stay.Sunewanted her to…adopthim.

Itstill felt too impossible, too surreal, but onceLouisabathed — again — and then dressed and headed downstairs, she foundSunewaiting for her on the landing, withTimoandCecilyflanked behind him.Andat the sight ofLouisa,Sunesquared his shoulders, and drew in a breath.

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