Page 25 of His Orc Lady

Damn you for meddling, Poppy. I’m certain she thought she was helping me somehow, but sincethisis the result of her thoughtful intervention, I’m not too pleased with her right now.

“Those were Poppy and her mate, Steagor,” I tell Owen. “I met with them earlier today.”

He’s looking at me expectantly, then prompts, “So, were they right?Wereyou searching for me?”

I’ve never been much of a liar, but today, I’ve been tempted to tell so many untruths. When I set out, outraged, to demand that Owen should let Carrow’s new mate stay at the Hill, I didn’t think about how I’d explain it to him. That would entail tellinghim about fated mates, and he might compare my patterns of behavior to Carrow’s.

Then again, Carrow didn’t run from his soldier the way I did from mine. Ozork didn’t bolt away from Willow either, so I’m the only one acting this way.

“Mara?” He lowers his voice, stepping closer to me. “What is it?”

The scent of him is so strong, I close my eyes and draw in a deep inhale, unable to help myself. “Mm?”

He’s so close—he came tomydoor tonight. It’s been so difficult to hold back, to deny the instinct pushing me to claim him as mine.

I force my eyes open and find him staring at me, a flush across his cheeks. He’s so damnclose…

Without thinking, I reach out and put my hand on his chest, feeling the warmth of him through his linen tunic. Then, I focus on the steady but rapid beat of his heart, on his quickened breaths.

“I touched you once without permission,” he rasps, his gaze on my lips. “I won’t do it again, my lady.”

He’s not shifting away, nor pushing my hand off. He’s waiting for my next move, and I don’t know if I’m brave enough to do it.

I’m standing on the edge of a cliff, staring into the abyss, my feet inches from the precipice, with no idea if he’ll catch me once I tip over.

But I want him too much.

I close the gap between us. I’m so tall, I barely need to lift my chin to meet him halfway—because he’s already moving, reaching for me, pulling me close.

He cups the back of my neck with one warm, rough palm and slides his other arm around my waist, and then he’s kissing me, his lips crushing down on mine.

At first, we’re clumsy, his nose bumping into mine, my tusks getting in the way. But then he has me tilt my head by pressing lightly on my neck, and I give in to his request instantly. His tongue touches mine, and he groans, a deep sound that seems wrenched from the very heart of him.

Gods, he feels good—his lips, his hands, his hard body against mine. His short beard scratches at my skin, sending shivers of pleasure down my spine. I clench my fingers in his tunic, holding on, and put my other hand on his hip, trying to anchor him to me. He tips my head to the side to deepen the kiss, his movements assured and confident, and I know he’s done this before. But so have I, so I return his kisses one by one, then suck lightly on his lower lip.

Owen lets out another groan, then leans into me more fully, until my back hits the wall. This gives me leverage to roll my hips up, and I gasp as his cock nudges my belly.

“Mara.” He rasps my name, shifting his lips from my mouth to my ear, then kissing his way down my neck. “Gods, you taste good. I couldn’t stay away from you.”

I want to tell him it’s because he’s my mate, and I’m his, but he takes my mouth again, and I forget all about our issues. What do I care why he’s here? All that matters is that he’s with me. He feels too good, tooright, and I don’t ever want to let him go.

A noise down the corridor has my ears twitching, so I gasp, breaking the kiss.

“Someone’s coming,” I whisper, my lips inches from Owen’s.

He glances over his shoulder, frowning. Then he pushes me lightly so I step over the threshold, and closes the door, shutting us into the dark room.

“Is this all right?” he murmurs, his mouth at my ear.

I’m pressed against the door now, his body flush with mine.

“Aye.” I bury my fingers in his soft, long hair, and tug on the strands. “Can you see in the dark?”

He shakes his head. “Not much. I can scent you, though. Is it your perfume? It’s not soap, yours was scented with honey. I’ve never smelled anything like it.”He puts his nose to my neck and draws in a deep inhale. “Fuck. Strawberries and cream. My favorite dessert.”

I melt under his touch, my body softening for him. I’m growing wet, and if his potent scent is any indication, he might sense the change in me, too, even though he’s human.

This is finally happening, and my bed isright there. He’d only have to shuffle four or five steps to the right.

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