Page 35 of The Widow and the Orcs

Butan evening had never passed so slowly, andLouisanearly tripped at the sudden sound of a tap at the window behind her.Andwhen she whipped around toward it, she found —Killik.Killikhovering his head in the window, and — predictably — rolling his eyes toward her.

“Whatis it?”Louisahissed at him, once she’d thrust the sash open. “Issomething wrong?”

Morealarm flared in her chest, because what ifUlfarrcouldn’t come after all — butKillikrolled his eyes again, and shook his head. “Naughtis amiss,” he said. “Wolfawaits you in the stable, this time.”

Inthe stable?Louisawrinkled her nose, while visions of cramped stalls and scratchy hay swarmed behind her eyes. “Really?” she said doubtfully. “Andwhat aboutJoan?”

Joanoften worked late,Louisawell knew, but againKillikshook his head, his eyes wryly amused this time. “Sheis busy with your other sister,” he replied. “Offeringher comfort,Iken, afterIbrought such terror upon her today.”

Oh.Louisablinked at him, because he didn’t mean — or wait, surely, he did.Andthough she’d occasionally wondered about such a connection betweenJoanandElise, it was also none of her business, especially when she was here setting up clandestine meetings with an orc.Withtwo orcs.Inastable.

“Sonone shall witness this,”Killiksaid firmly, “and we have readied it for you, also.Nowcome.”

Withthat, he spun around, and dropped from the window entirely.AndwhenLouisablinked downwards in the faint moonlight, he was already on the ground, striding off toward the stable with smooth, rolling steps.

SoLouisatook a deep breath, and then grasped her lamp before heading downstairs.Steppingas quietly as she could on the stairs, and pausing on the ground level, straining to hear towardElise’sroom — and yes, that was the sound of a murmur, and then a bright, breathless laugh.

Itwas good to hearElisehappy, at least, andLouisaheaded out into the night’s cool darkness with genuine relief, and a rising, hitching eagerness.Ulfarrwas here.Waitingfor her.AndnowKillikwas going to teach him to please her…

Herheart thundered as she stepped into the stable, and foundKillikwaiting by the ladder to the hayloft. “Up,” he said, as he stalked over, and snatched the lamp from her hand. “Carefully.”

Louisanodded and began climbing, her face already burning, her feet foolishly tripping on her skirts.She’dended up wearing her cleanest, neatest day dress, after far too much consideration earlier in the evening — but it suddenly felt woefully inadequate, and now all her doubts from the night before were rushing back, too.DidUlfarrstill really want this, what if he decided to leave again after all —

ButthenLouisahalted, blinking over the top of the ladder into the hayloft, because yes,Ulfarrwas here.Here, sitting stiffly on a small carpet of soft-looking furs, with several square haybales scattered about.Whilebehind her,Killikleapt up into the hayloft, and then went to sprawl on one of the haybales, his dagger already in his hand.

“Sit,” he toldLouisa, jabbing his dagger towardUlfarr. “Settleyourselves together, and speak.”

Louisaswallowed, but nodded and obeyed, aiming a shaky smile atUlfarras she sat down across from him on the fur. “Hello,” she said, her voice thick. “How— how are you?”

Ulfarr’smouth twisted, and his big shoulder shrugged, his eyes shifting with obvious unease.WhileLouisa’sheartbeat pounded louder, her breaths already coming fast and shallow.Whatwas she supposed to say next, what did she do now, this had been a bad idea, the worst idea…

“Skai-kesh save us,”Killikmuttered, snapping bothLouisaandUlfarr’sheads toward him — and he loudly sighed, and irritably circled his dagger between them. “Undress.Bothof you.”

What?Louisajolted all over, andUlfarrmight have flinched, too.ButKillikonly raised his brows, and again circled the dagger between them. “Youhad your chance,” he snapped. “Nowyou shall do asIsay, or you shall leave.AndIsaid,undress.”

AcrossfromLouisa,Ulfarrgrimaced and nodded, and after an apologetic glance toward her, he bent forward, and began pulling off his boots.WhileLouisa’sheart just kept pounding faster, because this meant… she was going to be fully naked with an orc.Withtwo orcs.Andthey hadn’t come anywhere close to that the night before, and…

“Whatis amiss, woman?”Killiksaid, frowning toward her, asUlfarrpulled off his tunic, and began shuffling out of his trousers beside her. “Youcannot now be longing to leave?”

Hisvoice sounded incredulous, his eyes increasingly impatient — and maybe confused, too.Becausehe had to know how muchLouisawanted this, and she hauled in more breath, and searched for her courage, for an answer.Truth, woman, he’d told her the night before.Heshould far rather hear you.

AndLouisawanted to keep trying.Tobe honest.Tomove pastLordScall, to forgetLordScall.LordScallwas dead…

“No,I—Iwant to stay,” she managed, attempting a wavering smile towardUlfarr’sface. “I’mjust — a little nervous.It’sbeen a long time sinceI’vebeen fully — undressed with anyone.”

Thewords hovered there between them, bare and appallingly shameful, whileUlfarr’shead tilted, his brows drawing together — and thenLouisaflinched at the feel ofKillik’ssoft boot, nudging at her knee. “Thereis naught to benervousabout,” he said firmly, as he jabbed his dagger towardUlfarrbeside her. “LookatWolf.Oughthe to feelnervousthus, when he is bared here with you?”

Louisaexhaled and glanced back towardUlfarr, who was now indeed fully undressed, his head still tilted, his eyes searching hers.Watchingher, waiting for her answer, andLouisafought to consider the question, glancing up and down his seated body on the fur.Catchingon his rugged, lined, handsome face, his neat silver-streaked braid, his broad powerful shoulders, his scarred chest, his softer belly.Andeven his slack, scarred cock, bulging out small and chubby beneath the wholly inadequate concealment of his veined, muscled forearm.

“Ach?”Killikdemanded. “Isthere shame in this?Speakthis.”

Louisatook a breath, choked a hoarse little laugh. “Of— of course not,” she gulped. “He’s— stunning.Gorgeous.Butit’s — different, with him, and —”

“No, woman,”Killikbroke in, with an aggravated wave of his dagger. “Howis this different?Thisis just the same!Theonly difference is that you long forWolf, and he longs foryou!AndIken he has been dreaming of you undressed since the first moment he saw you, so why should you deny us this!”

Hesounded truly irate, his eyes flashing, as his impossible words twisted and tangled inLouisa’schest.Whyshould you deny us this.

Us, he’d said.Us.

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