Page 25 of The Orc's Innocent Plaything

But he didn’t let me fall. And his gaze…’twas serious. Serious, with a spark of green in the middle of each of his eyes. Had that been there last week? Last month?

“Myra, I want to teach ye everything ye’ve ever wanted to ken. ‘Tis why ye came to me.”

I wasn’t sure what he was expecting, so my nod was jerky, uncertain.

His hands squeezed mine. “But only if ye’re comfortable with it, lass. I might tease ye, and I might demand ye relinquish control to me, but I want ye to ken I willnae do aught to make ye uncomfortable.”

Since he seemed so intense, and seemed to be waiting for me to respond, I swallowed pastmy dry throat.

“Aye,” I croaked.

Slowly, he stood, holding my gaze and my hands. “So I’m amending our agreement. Ye’ll seek pleasure only with me, and I’ll be the one to determine when and where ye experience it.”

Oh God, just the memory of the way he’d demanded I climax last night had me quivering. The thought of him doing that again?

“But there’s more, lass.” His voice was deep, intense. “Yewilltell me when ye’re uncomfortable. When I’ve put too many demands on ye. When ye’re not ready to continue. Do ye understand? Ye need to be comfortable telling menay, and ye need to trust me to stop.”

The power he was giving me…

I realized I’d stopped breathing somewhere aroundYe will tell me.

He was…

He was demanding I relinquish control to him, but still allowing me ultimate power in this—this—thistutoring.

“Myra,” he prompted, one corner of his lips twitching. “Breathe.”

I sucked in a breath so quickly I think I went light-headed, and his grin grew just slightly. I realized he wasn’t mocking me, but, instead, was pleased.

“Will ye tell me if ye dinnae like something I’m doing, lass? If there’s something ye dinnae want to do?”

He didn’t seem like he would accept less than verbalconsent, so I sucked in another deep breath and gave him the truth.

“Aye.” I couldn’t imagine any other male doing such a thing for me.

“And…” He lowered his chin just slightly, sending his beads clacking as he held my gaze. “Do ye trust me, lass?”

“Aye.” The word slipped out before I had a chance to consider it, but…I realized ‘twas the truth, and slowly, the band around my chest loosened. Ididtrust Vartok.

Mayhap not with my heart, but with my body? Aye. A thousand timesAye.

He must’ve sensed the unspoken words, because his smile bloomed.

“I’m going to kiss ye now, love. Remember our agreement.”

That I would tell him if I was uncomfortable with something, and trust him to stop.

Except…I wasn’t uncomfortable with this. Iwantedthis.

I wantedhim.

So I pulled my hands from his and threw them around his shoulders, surging up to meet his lips.

My first kiss?

‘Twas spectacular.

His tusks didn’t get in the way at all, despite my assumptions, and felt cool and smooth against my cheeks. His lips were thick and soft, and his tongue? His tongue! ‘Twas ribbed, and when he teased me with it, Iremembered the way he showed it to me last night and demanded I imagine it caressing my nipples.

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