Page 21 of Running from the Orc

---

“Believe it or not, Varkaan,I noticedyour orcness.”

“And ye still…I mean…”

“Oh, for the love of God,” she muttered, and slapped my hand away from her waist so she could twist to glare up at me. “Aye. I am no stranger to a man’s touch, and I know what I like. And what we shared last night? I very much liked that.”

Gods below.

Gods below.

MyKteercrowed, demanding I show her all the other ways I could bring pleasure to a willing woman. But I hesitated.

Roxanna wasn’t mine, no matter what I’d said last night.

Drakolt hadn’t planned on her or her cousin when we’d planned the raid. I didn’t know my chief’s plan for the females, I’d merely volunteered to escort her to the village.

I definitely hadn’t planned to hunt her, to find such pleasure with her.

But my brother almost certainly had plans for her, right? Plans that didn’t involve me. Mayhap she was to be given back to her father—unharmed. In which case, I could not touch her again.

Ye fool.

I could hear the words as clearly as if myKteerhad howled them derisively.

And my body…my body didn’t like the decision either. My skin itched, my claws tried to extend, as if we were in the presence of an enemy.

And Roxanna sucked in a breath.

“What?” I barked, yet again.

I should’ve known my firebrand wouldn’t back down. “Your eyes…last night, and now, they are glowing. Green.”

I scowled and lifted my gaze to the path ahead, since I couldn’t hide the telltale sign from her. “’Tis an orc thing. When we are in the grip of some emotion.”

“Which emotion? Guilt?”

She dared to mock me? Torvor’s Hammer, I needed to reach the village and be rid of this temptation.

“Anger,” I snapped. “Rage, lust.”Fear, uncertainty.

And, myKteerreminded me, a Mating thrall.

Aye, of course I wanted to fook Lady Roxanna Tarbert. After what we’d shared last night? After the way I felt her come on my face? Tasted her spend on my tongue?

And that’s why I wouldn’t. Because I had to wait formy brother’s decision.

Cursing myself under my breath, I kicked the horse’s sides, urging it faster.

Soon I’d be home. I could leave Roxanna with my grandmother and go off to hunt.

And I would be settled once more.

Gods below, I prayed desperately, hating the unbalance I felt.Let it be so.

Chapter 7

Roxanna

He left me.

---