Page 35 of Wagered to the Orc
When he winced and shook his head, I grabbed both of his hands and did my best to hold them. “Korvak, you are the best male I know. You are kind and gentle and generous. If you do not love me—”
“Ido, but…” He took a deep breath, his chest expanding as he tipped his head back against the wood of the cottage to hold my gaze. “To be Mated is to…kenyer Mate, nae matter where they are. To be able to sense them, to understand their hearts and minds. To gladly devote the rest of yer life—mylife, to making ye happy.” He shook his head again. “That is more than mere love, Effie. I will do whatever ye need to find safety and happiness, and if that means returning to Tarbert land—”
How could he think that?
“Nay!” I blurted, then dropped his hands to reach and grab his cheeks. “I love you, Korvak. I want to stay here with you. Or in the village with you, if that is where you want to live. I want to spend the rest of my life trying to makeyouhappy.”
His eyes closed on a muttered curse. “Oh, thank the goddess.” He took a deep breath, then reached for my hips, pulling me against him, and opened his eyes. “Ye will want for naught, my Mate. I will ensure it.”
I could feel his erection pressing against my thighs. Standing as I was, I was too tall to feel it throb against where I most wanted that pressure, but I still parted my legs just far enough to capture his kilt-covered cock.
The joy that had threatened to bubble out of me did so in a little laugh. Still holding his cheeks, I leaned down and I kissed him.
Korvak stiffened under my touch, then slowly relaxed.
For the first time, I felt as if I was the teacher. I showed him how to explore my mouth by exploring his. I nipped, I teased, and when I slid my tongue along the seam of his lips, they parted and tugged me inside.
Which made me smile.
Nay,Korvakmade me smile.
I licked one of his tusks, and he reared back, surprise and delight in his expression.
“What is this?”
“I am kissing you.” Where did this bold Effie come from? I licked his other tusk, and he growled, his hold on my hips tightening. “’Tis something humans do.”
“Why?”
I laughed, and it feltdelightful.
“I suppose because ‘tis showing affection.” I dropped a kiss on his lips. “Orcs do not do it?”
His lips slowly curled. “I will ask Varkaan. I believe he’s had his share ofhuman lovers, when he crossed through the stones for trading.”
This time he was the one to draw me down for a kiss, and I giggled against his mouth as I rubbed my thighs along his erection.
“Mate,” he rumbled, but I couldn’t tell if ‘twas a warning or a celebration.
“If we are Mated, Korvak,” I mused, pulling back long enough run my fingertips along his scar, “then why have you not claimed me? Made meyours? Do not mistake me—I have enjoyed what we have shared immensely, but—”
“Effie,” he growled, cutting me off. He pulled my hand away from his face and drew it down his body, before pressing it, palm first, around his pulsing cock. “Does that feel like I dinnaewantto claim ye?”
I sucked in a breath at the contact, and now my fingers instinctively curled around him. I had been so bold a moment ago, but this move—him cupping my hand around his cock—made liquid heat pool in my core.
My hand seemed to have a mind of its own, stroking him through the wool of his kilt as I watched his face. His jaw went slack with desire and his lids fluttered.
“Then why have you not?” I asked simply.
“Because.” His voice was rough, and I watched him swallow. “Ineedto claim ye, but I have nae right to such a thing. Ye have been claimed by men in the past—”
“You are not John,” I said, still stroking him, feeling powerful. That power was an aphrodisiac I had never imagined. “You are not my mother, who taught me to sell myself to a man for protection.”
“I am no’,” he agreed in a pained voice. “But for many days, ye thought me yer master. I didnae want ye to think this was something yehadto do. I wouldnae cause ye more pain or fear, Effie.”
Oh.
Oh, my heart.
