Page 11 of Running from the Orc
Chapter 4
Roxanna
He had no need to tie me to him after all. Because Varkaan slept on his side, wrapped around me. His huge leg was slung over both of mine and his heavy arm pinned me to the ground.
It should have been humiliating. Humiliating and angering.
So why had I slept so comfortably…safe and warm?
I refused to look at him as we broke our fast. He kicked the embers of the fire out and loaded the horse in a ridiculously good mood, judging from his smile. At one point he planted his hands in the small of his back and stretched to each side, letting out a pleased grunt, as if he had just been satiated.
Made me want to kick him.
Last night…
I swallowed and turned away.
Last night I had run from him as I said I would. I had run from him, and he had tracked me…as if he were a ruthless predator. But then he had returned my weapon and laughed, as if I meant naught to him.
That kiss meant something.
Aye.
My eyes fluttered closed. That kiss.
He had kissed me. He hadsniffedme,thenhe had kissed me, and I should be ashamed of the way I had pressed my thighs together, overwhelmed byneedbefore I kissed him back.
But I was not shamed, and that—more than anything else—was why I was angry this morning.
“What has ye scowling, firebrand?” Varkaan asked as he offered his hands as a step to hoist me into the saddle.
“Naught,” I snapped. “And do not call me that.”
“Why no’?” His tone was so casual as he settled behind me and clucked at the horse to begin our day’s journey. “’Tis what yeare. Sharp and hot and just waiting for the right whisper to turn ye into an inferno.”
The way he said it…I couldn’t determine if ‘twas a compliment or not. But the wordinfernomade me think of how last night, pinned between him and that tree, not certain of his intentions, every inch of my skin had prickled in awareness and heat.
I had been terrified, aye, but also breathless in anticipation.
I still was.
When Varkaan’s hand settled on my thigh, I slapped it away in irritation—mostly at myself. His chuckle wasnotwhat I needed to hear.
“Stop it,” I barked, which only made him chuckle again.
“Why are ye in such a sour mood, Roxanna?”
“Why areyouin such a good mood?”
I felt him shrug, the movement as graceful and easy as he was. “I slept well, have a full stomach, and am going home.”
“Well, I didnotsleep well, I amnotgoing home, and I stink.”
Oh fook. I should not have said that.
I could practicallyfeelVarkaan’s grin as he leaned forward, pressing that thick chest of his against myback, and sticking his nose in my hair to inhale again. I bit down on my shiver.
“Ye smell delicious to me.”
