Page 28 of The Widow and the Orcs

No, no, it didn’t even make sense, it was as though he wasn’t even seeing her, his eyes wild and glazed, the whites of them visible all around. “Please,” he gulped. “Please,Iam sorry,I—”

ButLouisacouldn’t bear another moment of it, no — and she shook her head as she lurched back toward him, and grasped his hand tightly in hers.

“N-no need, sweetheart,” she rasped, before she could stop it. “Nothingto worry about at all.Iwas just a little — overwhelmed.Notused to having such a lovely, handsome orc in my bed, is all.”

Ulfarrblinked back at her, as vivid disbelief flared through his wide panicked eyes — and fuck, maybeLouisawas still lying, maybe he could scent it, and she squeezed his big hand tighter, brought it to her lips. “Thiswas wonderful,” she choked, and she meant it. “Youwere wonderful.Thesweetest, most stunning loverI’veever had in my life.”

Thedisbelief kept shifting inUlfarr’sstaring eyes, but with it was something new, something with less panic in it, soLouisakissed his hand again, and fought to draw up a true, genuine smile. “You’rebeautiful, sweetheart,” she whispered. “Absolutelybeautiful.I’mso glad you came back here tonight.”

Ulfarrkept blinking at her, unmoving, now looking almost stunned, or confused — andLouisasmiled again, kissed his hand again. “Now, how do you like to relax afterwards,” she managed. “Areyou one of those men — er, orcs — who needs a pipe?Asnack?Araid in the kitchen?”

ButUlfarrjust kept blinking at her, churning up more frantic, anxious unease in her belly — was he overwhelmed, unhappy, unwell?AndLouisacouldn’t stop her half-pleading, half-accusing glance up atKillik— fuckingKillik— who was now just standing there like a useless slug, and staring at her, too.Withhis trousers still sagging around his arse, and his own slack, scarred grey cock hanging brazenly out the front, still wet fromUlfarr’smouth.

Butthen he twitched all over, and yanked up his trousers with a jerky hand.Andhe shotLouisaa look she couldn’t at all read as he sank down to sit on the bed besideUlfarr, and his hand — now with its claws somehow drawn in — reached to spread againstUlfarr’sheaving bare chest, and gently stroked down it.

“Helikes best to be petted, ach,Wolf?”Killiksaid, his voice clipped. “Tobe cared for, and tended to, with sweet words and touches.”

Louisablinked, her eyes darting back toUlfarr’sface, to where he still looked stunned, dazed, and maybe — maybe even ashamed.Asif an orc wasn’t supposed to want to be petted, or to need care or comforting, even as his big body — which was still sitting up — visibly tilted intoKillik’stouch.

“Howfortunate, sweetheart,”Louisamanaged, with another smile toward him. “Becausethat’s just whatI’dlove to do to you next.Ifyou’re willing, that is.”

Butoh,Ulfarrwas already nodding, jerking his head with surprising intensity, even as his eyes stayed dazed and disbelieving on hers.AndKillik’sother hand slid to his shoulder, guiding him downward, until he was lying on his back on the bed between them, his eyes darting fromLouisa, toKillik, and back again.

“Good, sweetheart,”Louisamurmured, and her hand joinedKillik’son his heaving, sweaty chest, caressing him with as much steadiness as she could muster. “Doesthis feel all right?”

Ulfarr’snod was again rapid and fervent, his gaze flicking faster between them, andKillikmade a low shushing sound, and slipped up his hand to patUlfarr’scheek. “Good,Wolf,” he said. “Thiswas all so good, ach?Youhave brought this woman much joy, this night.”

Louisanodded, smiling, still strokingUlfarr’shot chest, feeling the thud of his heartbeat beneath it. “Somuch joy,” she breathed. “Sogood.Sosweet.”

Ulfarr’seyes looked so dazed now, like he was lost in a dream, but the tension in his mouth had softened, his expression gone almost reverent, or even worshipful.AndLouisacould have wept with her relief, and she swallowed, and bent down to press a brief, careful kiss to his hard cheek. “Solovely, sweetheart,” she whispered. “Andyou’ll come back again soon, won’t you?”

Ulfarr’snod was slower this time, his eyes shining on hers, andKillik’shand slid up into his silver-streaked hair, his fingers threading slowly through it.Doingit again and again, gentle and deliberate, untilUlfarr’seyes had begun to flutter closed, and his hand groped up to grasp toKillik’sother wrist.AndKillikgrasped back, his other hand still caressing, asLouisakept stroking his broad chest, feeling his breaths steadily deepening, his heartbeat thudding slower, slower.

Ulfarr’seyes finally fluttered closed, his breath drawing in — and then exhaling in a faint, telltale snore.AndLouisacould almost feelKillik’ssudden, sinking relief, his shoulders sagging, his hand dropping fromUlfarr’shair.

“Heshall be himself again when he awakens,” he said, quiet and curt. “Ishould be grateful if you could then seek to set him at ease, and send him home.”

Hedidn’t wait forLouisa’sanswer, and instead lurched to his feet, and stalked toward the window.Asif — as if he was going to leave, just like that.Andtoo late,Louisaleapt up after him, scrambling overUlfarr, who still — thank the gods — seemed to be fast asleep.

“Wait!” she hissed atKillik. “Youcan’t just — leave!Notwithout —”

Shebroke off there, clamping her mouth shut, because what the hell did she even want from him?Butcurse it,Killikhad already spun around to face her, his lip curling, his hand still clutching her knife. “What, mustInow petyouto sleep also?” he snarled. “MustIoffer you both my wolf,andmy pride?”

Louisarecoiled, blinking wide-eyed toward him — and then she whipped her head back and forth, her hands tightening at her sides. “Youwere the one who wanted this, you prick!” she shot back. “Andyou could have damn well told me about —”

Hervoice caught, her eyes darting towardUlfarr’ssleeping body in the bed, and before her,Killikgave a low, dangerous growl. “Itold you all you needed to know, woman,” he hissed. “Itold you he is oft not himself.Itold you he has faced deep darkness, and is oft empty and fearful and alone.AndItold you,just yesterday” — his lip curled higher — “thatIfeared for him.Andthat women hold much power for him!Whatmore do you wish from me!”

Louisa’smouth opened and closed, her heart kicking erratically in her chest, tangling with a strange, hurtling misery. “Well,” she gulped, “maybe you could have told me that you had no intention whatsoever of keeping your promise not to touch him!Andthat you’d be sure to jump in at the most pivotal moment, and remind us all who’s really in charge!Andwho your wolfreallywants!”

Hervoice shamefully hitched, catching on something much like a sob, and for an instant,Killikstared at her, his eyes blazing — and then he barked a dark, furious laugh, jabbing her sharpened knife toward her. “Ifyou ken,” he hissed, low and deadly, “he did not want you, you are far greater a fool thanIthought!Ihave never scented him thus, in all my days, andIken this has mayhapruinedhim for allImight offer him!”

Louisastared at him, and then jerked a wild shake of her head. “Ohfuck off, you snake,” she snarled. “Hesure as hell wanted you, too.Hewanted you sitting there watching him, and touching him, and telling him what to do!Hewasnothinglike this yesterday, without you!”

Andwait, why was she even givingKillikthis, giving him this damned power over her, that flash of bitter satisfaction in his eyes. “Ach, you speak this, woman,” he drawled, “but here you yet seek to forbid me from touching him!Youwish to deny him this!”

Andto denyKillikthis, was his clear meaning, andLouisascoffed, too loud and mocking. “I’mnot denying him anything,” she shot back. “You’rethe one who’s still running around welcoming all and sundry into your bed!Andwhether you like it or not,I’mallowed to have a boundary thatIdon’t want them all inmine!AndItold you that from the beginning, and yetyoustill wanted to proceed, so how the hell is thatmyfault?”

Killik’sgrowl had kept rising as she’d spoken, his lean body almost vibrating with rage. “Eight— more — nights, woman,” he rasped, punctuating each word with a jab of the knife, dangerously close toLouisa’sface. “Foreight more nights,Ishall honour this, and denyWolfmy touch and my comfort and my seed.Butafter this” — he bared his teeth — “Ishall be gladly free of you for the rest of my days, and shall never set eyes upon youagain!”

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