Page 19 of The Orc's Innocent Plaything

My sister was easily distracted by talk of her wee one these days. Her grimace turned into a soft smile as she rubbedher bulging stomach. “Mkaalad agreed to go on a short walk with me.”

“A verra short one,” her Mate grumbled from across the cottage, where he was fetching her cloak. “Ye should no’ be taxing yerself.”

I exchanged an amused glance with Avaleen. “Moving about ishealthy. You still have a fortnight to go.”

“That is what I told him—” my sister began, but she was interrupted by a knock at the door.

I plopped my folded rag on the pile and picked up the next from the washing Avaleen had done, as Mkaalad pulled open the door to reveal?—

“Vartok!” he boomed. “Welcome, cousin! Ye’re smelling…” Mkaalad trailed into chuckles, his hairy eyebrows working overtime to match his smarmy grin.

Was it my imagination, or did Vartok’s cheeks flush as he met my eyes? I dropped my gaze in mortification, wondering if Mkaalad could guess.

I heard Vartok clear his throat as he was invited in.

“Nay, I’ll no’ stay. I—I came for Myra.”

Mkaalad chuckled again as my eyes snapped back up, suddenly terrified that Vartok was going to justannounceour relationship to everyone.

Wait, relationship? What we did last night wasn’t arelationship, was it?

He was just my tutor, and I was his student.

Mayhap he saw my panic, because the muscles of his jaw loosened and he gave me the barest of nods.

“I have—I have an injury, Myra. I have need of…yer services.”

An excuse, thank God! I dropped the cloth.

“I will fetch my bag,” I blurted too loudly. Too eagerly? I suppose Iwaseager to get away before my sister or her Mate could guess where I’d been last night.

As I hurried to the door—to escape, Avaleen’s suspicious looks, I told myself, not to be nearer to Vartok—my sister moved to her Mate’s side.

“Myra can see to your injury here,” she offered.

I saw Vartok open his mouth, and I had the horrible thought that he was going to explainI need her to come to my home so I can command her to undress and touch herself and she will because she is completely under my control.

So I forced an easy tone and called back, “You two are going for a walk. Vartok likely wants me to help him in public somewhere. Where naught untoward can happen. Right?” I demanded.

His easy smile was as much for them as me, as he held open the door.

“There’s a large fire in the Council Hall. Would that be acceptable, Mistress Midwife?”

With my head up, I swept past him.

We didn’t speak as we walked, but I was surprised when hedidlead me toward the open-sided hut we called the Council Hall, nodding his greetings to the few villagers who were still out and about on the cold night. I snuggled deeper into my cloak and dreaded being recognized.

So what if you are recognized? Everyone knows Vartok is a charmer but wants naught to do with you. So what if they think you have succumbed to his charms? So what if they think you actively hounded him into teaching you about pleasure?

I tried to tamp down on the little moan of humiliation that thought brought about, but from the way he glanced at me, he’d heard it.

We reached the Hall, and there was indeed a cozy fire burning in the center beneath the large opening in the roof. This was the village’s meeting place, where celebrations and ceremonies took place, and the roof kept us all dry.

It also made it feel a bit private.

Vartok took my hand as we stepped around the half-wall, leading me toward the bench nearest the fire. Did he truly care about light for his injury, or did he want to stay warm? Either way, I was pleased that there was no one around…but we were still not completely private, either.

‘Twill keep you from wrapping yourself around him and demanding he make you climax again.

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