Page 18 of The Orc's Innocent Plaything

I exhaled in relief and stepped back, allowing her space as she edged toward the door, still watching me.

“Tomorrow night,” I said, trying not to make it a question. I had to maintain the control.

Another nod. I swallowed down my whoop of joy.

Then her hand found the latch of my door, and she was leaving.

Leaving my home, leaving my life.

But tomorrow? Tomorrow I had more to teach her. So much more.

CHAPTER FOUR

Myra

How I managedto make it back to Avaleen’s cottage without melting into a puddle of shame was beyond me. Her Matedidlook at me strangely the next morning, and I wondered if he’d smelled what I’d done last night.

Was it possible Mkaalad knew who’s home I’d visited? I hoped to God not.

Before he could ask, I made excuses about working with Nan and slipped away.

Nan was human, like me. Many decades age, she’d been kidnapped by her Mate, an honorable orc male who had been unable to stop the Mating Heat. She was happy to share stories of her years in Bloodfire Village, and I knew they were happy ones. Theymustbe, considering how many of the inhabitants were descended from her.

Mkaalad and his twin brother Torvolk were her grandsons, as were Vartok and his twin brother, our chief Kragorn. When a human woman birthed an orc’s son, the lad grew up with orcish features, so two generations later, there was no discerning Vartok from a full-blooded orc male.

In fact, Nan had confided in me her theory that orc bloodrequiredhuman women to keep it strong, and that if they ceased Mating with humans, the orcs would eventually die out.

An intriguing idea, but I hoped it never happened. In the last six months, I had come to care for the Bloodfire Clan far more than the humans who had shunned me.

All of this was to say: Nan wasn’t an orc and thus couldn’t make any guesses about my evening—or any new changes in me—based on how I smelled. Or didn’t smell. I don’t know how it worked exactly.

What I knew was Ihadchanged, in some way. Not just being slightly inebriated, but beingfree.

Last night, by knocking on Vartok’s door, by giving him control, by following his commands and bringing myself to orgasm with my fingerswhile he watched…I’d felt a freedom I hadn’t expected. ‘Twas as if…as if, by allowing myself to follow his commands, by trusting him to teach me what I needed, I was…I wassafe.

It had been a strange realization, and ‘twas the reason, as much as the wholefinger fooking while he watchedthing, which had sent me running into the night with hardly athankyeon my tongue.

It had feltgoodto give up control, and that was a little scary.

I was used to being the older sister, the one who cared for Avaleen, the one who took on the responsibility. But coming to Bloodfire Village and seeing how these people all cared for and supported one another…I was a little lost.

Did I have to be strong all the time, if there were others nearby who could help me?

Did I have to be in control all the time, if there was someone I trusted to make the right decisions for me?

And…didI trust Vartok?

I did last night, although I hadn’t expected to.

He’d always treated me differently, but last night…

I swallowed and glanced down at the clean rag I was folding. Last night, Vartokhadtreated me differently, and I still wasn’t sure if I liked it…or if I was terrified by it.

He’d told me to come to him again tonight, and I’d been fighting with myself all day. I wanted more of what he could teach me, but…was it safe? Not for my body—apparently I trusted him with that. But safe for myheart?

“Are you feeling aright?” Avaleen asked as she pushed herself to her feet with a slight groan. “You hardly spoke at all during supper.”

I offered her a quick smile. “I was just thinking about my day with Nan. And I should be askingyouhow you feel. Is the bairn giving you trouble?”

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