Page 25 of Wagered to the Orc
I knew ‘twas nonsense, but ‘twas nonsense I needed to hear in that moment.
To hear that what I was doing wasright. Wasacceptable.
I was allowed to have pleasure. I was allowed tobepleasured.
And Korvak had taught me that.
When I finally collapsed, exhausted, spent, and more than a little dazed, he was there to gather me up.
Chapter 7
Korvak
The moment I’d tasted her, I’d known.
The truth had slammed into me, and I’d breathed in her essence,knowingmy life had just changed in a way I hadn’t imagined possible.
After Effie exploded in my arms, she spent a hundred heartbeats pressed against me, her breathing slowly returning to normal. I know, because I counted.
And when she slowly stiffened, I could feel her pulling away from me.
I loosened my hold reluctantly, and, for certes, she was blushing when she rolled to her knees and clambered to her feet. Was she embarrassed by what we just shared? It had been the single mostremarkable thing to happen to me in my life, and she was embarrassed?
Mayhap she thinks she had to do it? Because she feels she owes ye? Does she still think ye her master?
I watched her thoughtfully as she scooped up her wet chemise and hurried to the croft, then threw myself back in the cold water to try to rid myself of my throbbing cockstand.
It didn’t work.
There is a kenning. A deep understanding, and ye’ll be at peace.
That’s how Gelma—our clan’s wise woman, and my grandmother—had described it to me as a lad. Finding his fated Mate was every orc’s dream, but with my face, I’d long ago given up on it.
‘Twas one of the reasons I preferred to live alone, so I wouldn’t be tempted by jealousy. Och, in the winters when I moved into the village, ‘twas bad enough to see all the blissfully happy Mated pairs; I preferred to spend the warmer months alone, training my horses as necessary.
But the impossible had happened.
I’d found my Mate.
I lay there in the stream, eyes wide open, staring up at the blue sky as the cold water swept around my head and along my body, marveling at this miracle.
One taste of Effie’s sweet cunny, and thatknowinghad coursed through me. These last few days, I’d known something was wrong with myKteer, something wasoff. But I hadn’t imagined it could be this.
I’d found my Mate, and she was a tiny human who had no cause to like me, much less want to spend the rest of her life with me.
Or mayhap I was wrong…
With a sigh, I sat up, determined to do what was necessary to convince Effie this was real. Of course, I would let her go if that’s what my chief decided, but I would spend the next sennight before the new moon and our return to the village trying to convince her of my suit.
If she’d have an ugly monster like myself.
Mayhap…
I propped my elbows on my knees, ignoring the river rocks digging into my arse, and studied the cottage. Was there something I could do to woo her?
Not flowers. Not gifts.
But what she deserved?
