Page 47 of The Widow and the Orcs

Wait, that wasn’t what he was doing — was it?Surelyit wasn’t, andLouisahad told him she was finished with this, with him, for good.Andshe couldn’t think, not through the fullness and the ache, the thrilling stretching tautness of that stone now driving inside her…

“Youstill,” she gasped, even as it pressed deeper, “don’t — want me.Takinghim.Fromyou.”

Therewas another instant’s silence, punctuated by the abrupt, visceral sensation of the stone slipping out, releasing from her body’s slick grip with a mortifying sound. “No,”Killiksaid coolly, as that slippery head trailed up and down her crease, teasing, taunting. “Ido not.IamWolf’soldest, most faithful friend.Iam the one who stayed with him, amidst all his darkness.Andno matter what you might think, woman,Iam the one whosavedhim.Iam the only one who has stood beside the shamedWolfof theSkai, for all these years!”

Hisvoice had deepened, gone hard and vicious — andLouisa’sswirling, scattering thoughts flashed with memories of that afternoon, of everythingHalthorrhad told her.HowUlfarrhad lost his pack, and he would never get it back.Andwhat had he done to deserve that?Howbad had it been?Whyhad he neededKillik’ssaving…

Butthen the thought twisted, splintered, asKillik’sstone pushed back in, stretched her around it again, harder this time. “Andthus,” he added flatly, as it kept shoving deeper, deeper, “Ido not wish for you to prance onto my stage, and start playing the part of my wolf’s mate, before all our watching kin!Mostof all whenIknow— better than any other — that this is only play-acting, for our ten nights!Formycoin!”

Play-acting.Forhis coin.Forthe ten nights, for the deal.AndLouisastill couldn’t think, couldn’t wield her wheeling thoughts toward it, could only gasp and choke as that huge driving stone kept pressing.Plungingitself deeper, deeper, it was everywhere, everything, stretching her, baring her, stripping her down into raw, shivering shame…

“Butwhat if it — isn’t play-acting,” she gasped, helpless, quivering, as the stone kept pressing, demanding, flooding her from the inside out. “WhatifIjust —likeUlfarr.Andyour camp.Andy?—”

Andyou, she was about to say, damn her to hell and back — but it broke it off just in time, as the stone rammed even deeper.Deepenough that she could suddenly feelKillik’shand, curving warm and alive against her, his sharp claws gently prodding into her taut, too-sensitive skin.Holdingthere, silently shouting of command and power and control, because he’d buried the stone all the way inside her.He’ddone that, he’d done this, he’d wanted to do this, he’d wanted her fucked and opened and shaking upon his wolf’s prick while he watched…

“Thenshow me,” came his voice, harsh and hot above her. “Provethis to me, woman.”

Itfired throughLouisalike a blast from a furnace, because it was — a command.Apromise.Showhim.Provethis.

Herawareness was flickering, her breaths dragging, her entire body rigid and shaking and needing, needing, needing.Sostrong, screaming with such single-minded fervour, that she could only nod, and arch, and flail her trembling, tingling hands downwards.Downto press overKillik’sfingers, to grind him harder, closer, digging those claws in, burying the stone even deeper.Plungingher full of orc, of him, taking him all the way, just as he’d asked, just like he wanted, please, oh,please—

Theflash and the maelstrom burned through her in a bright trammelling charge, crushing and consuming her in its wake.Convulsingher uponKillik, aroundKillik, her inflamed open body spasming against his firm pressing hand.Andno, no, that even felt like liquid, streaking and streaming out onto him, this wasn’t happening, not while he watched, not while he witnessed her utter undoing in such cool collected silence…

Whenit finally finished,Louisafelt raw and trembly all over, her face burning with shock and shame.Gods, what had she just done, just betrayed, and what must he think of her, what if he laughed, what if he left…

Hershaking fingers were still clutched over his hand, still holding him there, damn it — and when she snatched her hand away, his stayed for a moment, slick and warm and far too powerful against her.Andthen — oh — it gave a light, gentle slap against her before easing away.Allowingthe stone to push out after it,Louisa’sstill-convulsing body pressing it into his hand, as if they were still doing this, as if…

Shegasped as the stone finally slipped free, out intoKillik’sfingers.Andthen, it began trailing its way back up over her again.Itswet blunt tip dragging against her belly, her heaving chest, up to her neck, her chin…

“Better,” cameKillik’slow, taunting voice, as that still-slick tip brushed against — her lips.Asif yes, they were still doing this, and she was still proving this.Showinghim.

SoLouisa’smouth… opened.Welcomedthe soft kissing press of the stone, its demand, its hard threat against her teeth.Andits tangy taste against her tongue, the taste ofher, becauseKillikhad buried it all the way inside her, and now he wanted this.Thisstatement, again, of his power, his command, his control.

Andas bizarre as it was, as exposed and bared and humiliating,Louisasuddenly again — understood.Killikneeded that command.Thatcontrol.OverUlfarr, and maybe — over her.Andmaybe that was what the other bedpartners were about, too, or maybe — maybe even the ten nights in the first place.Notjust a means of gaining pleasure, but a way to wield that control.Away of maybe finding his own peace, amidst all this.

Pleasurealways calms him,Ulfarrhad said,and grants him peace and ease…

Shecould feelKillik’sexhale, the stone slightly trembling as he finally drew it away — but thenLouisaclutched for it.Forhis hand.Feltit stop, taut beneath her fingers, warm against her cheek.Waiting, obliging, as she turned her face, and…

Shekissedhim.Kissedthat smooth, rich-scented skin of his fingers, his knuckles.Lettingher tongue slip out, shuddering an exhale at the taste of him…

ButKillikdidn’t resist.Didn’tpull away.Justlet her do it, let her prostrate herself like this, licking him, tasting herself upon him.Offeringup that power, that control.

AndKillikdidn’t even need to speak, or ask, as his long finger slipped smoothly between her lips.Allowingher to suck him, to clean him of her juices, to risk her tongue against his viciously sharp claw.Andthen the next finger, and the next, she was sucking an orc’s fingers and he wanted it, she wanted it, the longing again pooling in her belly, oh please…

“Enough,” cameKillik’svoice, firm but surprisingly mild, as his hand slipped away, and gave a brief pat to her cheek. “Now, shall you come speak your truth to my wolf, woman?Andface your next lesson?”

Louisa’sbreath shuddered out, shivering into yet more longing, and maybe even a nod.Yes, she wanted to seeUlfarragain.Yes, she wanted another lesson fromKillik.Andshe wanted that warmth inKillik’svoice, suggesting that maybe — maybe he truly wanted it, too.Wantedthe power, the pleasure, the… peace.Withhis wolf, and maybe… maybe… with her?

“Good,”Killiksaid, the single word flaring more hunger, more warmth, deep intoLouisa’sbelly. “Nowrise, and dress, and come.”

24

TheyfoundUlfarrstill at the camp, in the underground common-room.

Theroom felt even cozier this time, with a large fire now crackling in the grate, and multiple now-familiar faces turning towardLouisaat the entrance.TherewasHalthorr, sharpening a knife by the fire, and raising his hand in an easy wave.TherewasGalmrand a smilingFlora, sitting together at a table, playing what appeared to be a dice game.Andthere, not even slightly hidden by the half-closed curtain, the dark-haired woman namedPollywas sprawled on one of the beds with her orc mateIgull, and giggling as he palmed her breast, and nibbled his sharp teeth at her throat.

ButLouisascarcely spared them a glance, because her eyes had caught on the bed beside them, half-hidden by the curtain.Onthe bed with — the orc.Theorc curled up on his side, his huge body huddled into something strangely small, his dark head bent low into his chest.

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