Page 63 of Bound to the Orc Renegade

Taylor slips the straps of her bra over her arms and fastens it in front between her breasts.

I watch with rapt attention, first to enjoy her nudity and also to know how to remove the purple contraption later.

She pulls on her underwear and shirt, but makes a small moue of distaste when she feels the dampness of her pants.

“Wait.” I hold my clean shirt out to her. “You can wear this as a skirt, and we’ll hang your pants from a saddlebag so they can dry as we ride.”

“Good idea.” And it is. The neck hole is only slightly larger than her waist, and she pulls the sleeves up and ties them around her like a belt. The bottom hem falls to her ankles. She kicks out a leg, having plenty of room to move in the belling width of the improvised skirt. My moon bound smiles up at me. “I may look ridiculous, but I love it. Super comfy.”

“You’re beautiful in anything,” I say, pulling her to me, “but most especially in nothing.”

“Comeon!” Storm bellows from outside, his voice echoing off the canyon walls until it multiplies a thousand times.

Taylor spins away from me with a laugh, and I follow the sweet sound out into the morning light.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

Taylor

It feels so similar and yet completely different to ride in Krivoth’s arms today. The natural beauty of the woods is the same as the past few days yet always amazing. A brightly colored bird or a bunch of buttercups glowing a rich gold in a patch of sunlight will catch my attention for several moments.

Then Krivoth’s fingers will flex against my stomach or his deep voice will rumble from behind me, and I’ll flash back to last night and all the unspeakable pleasure we shared. I can’t pretend it was Faerie Fruit this time or that it was just a fling.

I gave myself over to Krivoth’s command completely, and he rewarded that trust with the most amazing sex I’ve ever had. Yet it was more than that. It’s impossible for me to be that open and vulnerable with someone and not catch feelings. All hisattentions were exactly what I wanted, and he madeallthe effort to take care of me in every way, including holding me after. He cares. This isn’t just some “a goddess made me do it” thing with him.

My marriage might actually be based on care and respect and, hopefully, love.

And I’m already falling in love with him. The way he holds me, the way heseesme like no one ever has. To him, I’m beautiful and powerful. Here in Alarria with him, I’m the best version of me I’ve ever been.

It’s effing amazing!

The way we were married is still really weird. But isn’t it also incredibly special that a goddess brought us together? I mean, a goddess portaled me all the way from Earth and summoned Krivoth to come and meet me. That’sepic!

Here, in this magical world full of goddess-blessed bonds, marriage might not have to be a scary thing at all.

Evening’s just beginning as we gallop out of a stand of mountain rowan, their leaves a pretty purple instead of green like the ones on Earth. A magpie takes to the air, its black and white body soaring out into the meadow in front of us with a raucous call.

The sun beats down, warm after the shade of the forest, and I shift in my seat. My core twinges with the pleasant ache of being well satisfied, my thigh muscles still feeling a little weak. The soft linen of Krivoth’s shirt brushes over my legs. My jeans dried by lunchtime, but I kept his shirt on, liking the thought of wearing his clothes too much to want to change.

Krivoth presses a kiss to the top of my head, his tusks scraping a little and making me shiver. “Brace yourself. I see the flutter of wings.”

Sprites lift from a patch of white flowers and dart across the meadow, their butterfly wings catching the sunlight in brightflashes of iridescent color. “Almost Elf!” “We found you!” “Wemissedyou!”

That last comes out as a high-pitched wail as the flock descends on us, pulling Storm to a halt with a grumbled, “I suppose I could eat.”

“Yes, dinnertime,” Mist agrees, then snaps her teeth at a passing sprite, sending the entire flock shrieking up into the sky.

“Mist,” I say, my tone scolding.

“I’m only having a little fun.” She grins her huge Cheshire-Cat smile. “After all, they’re less than a mouthful. Barely worth the effort.”

“They’re sentient!”

“And there’s that.” But her green eyes laugh at me as she agrees.

“The cat sith toys with you.” Krivoth dismounts and reaches up to lift me down. “Fae don’t eat each other in Alarria.”

“Tell that to the kelpies.” Mist’s tail whips back and forth.

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