Page 20 of Orc's Possession
I walk away from Sojek and the cart without smiling or acknowledging him, treating him as I would any of my warriors. He needs to earn my respect and that of my men. Coddling him will achieve neither goal. Even before the fighting broke out on Orcos, Gerell had been too soft with Sojek and his youngest son Duvik. Moxxels are temperamental and insulting, but Sojek needs this opportunity to prove himself, even if he never becomes a warrior.
“The female will ride on my gorja with me. Where I can control her better. Verig will scout ahead.”
“Atox,” Verig calls to me. “I thought this would be a good time to speak, before we reach home.” He returned earlier than expected, with a big fat sumaz tied to the back of his gorja.
Outside my siblings, Verig is the only orc permitted to use my personal name. It is a courtesy I extended to him after he saved my life on Orcos.
“We can speak. She will not repeat anything you say.”
“I will speak in our tongue, to be sure.”
I level a hard look at him and realize he is right to be cautious. We cannot trust my female. She’s already shown her cunning and desire to escape. This is why she will ride with me.
“Where are the others going?” my female asks when Sojek, Bazok, and Telin peel away.
Can you at least use my name? It’s Paloma.
Even her name sounds so alien. My people need to accept her and the idea that our progeny will not be fully orcan.
“Pen’Kesh,” I reply. She did not understand our conversation. Her not having a language chip works to my benefit as she will be even more dependent on me when we reach our territory.
Sojek turns the cart in a wide circle and heads east toward Pen’Kesh. He’s a reminder that not all orcs are strong. My mate stands here shivering as the evening air cools. She and her people are nothing like us physically, but the cendagi assured us that we will be able to produce younglings together. Younglings my people will raise, with our ways, our culture, even if they are not as strong. We’ll make up for any physical failings with our increased numbers in time.
“Come, female,” I say, lifting her and setting her on my gorja. Caju snorts and whips his head when he scents her. My mount settles quickly, accepting my female as easily as I did. Because neither of us has a choice.
I hoist myself up behind my female and pull her against my chest as I grip the reins. The moment I touch her, her back straightens and she leans forward to keep from touching me.With those short legs of hers, she won’t be able to hook her feet against the notches on Caju’s sides. She’ll need to secure herself by leaning against me, but I can already see she’d rather fall and risk breaking her neck than touch me.
With pressure from my knees, my gorja lurches forward and my female, unprepared for the jolt, grabs hold of my thighs to keep from falling. Instantly, my cock hardens.
Her hands leave my thighs and her back stiffens as she regains her balance. Though she’s not used to the undular motion of a gorja, she refuses to lean against me.
The wind shifts and her scent, even more delectable after her time in the lake, fills my nostrils and imprints on my brain. No doubt remains; she is mine. I’ve waited a vekking long time for a female and a chance to have younglings. She needs to accept her fate with me, since I will not give her up.
“Your name, female. What does it mean?”
“Do you really care, Grak? Even if I tell you, I’ll still be your slave, won’t I?”
Krike, this female is difficult. “Must you challenge me on everything? It was a simple question. I do not know much about humans?—”
“Clearly.”
I grab what I can of her hair and pull her head back against me. “I will not be interrupted by you or any other.”
She yanks out of my hold. “Respect is earned. Not ordered. Or negotiated.”
Her tongue is as sharp as her wit, and I do not understand why she harbors such wrath toward me. I offer her shelter, food, protection, and if she can bear my younglings, the honor of becoming my graka. It is more than her people would give her.
“Orcs do not sell their own,” I say, striking to the heart of the matter.
Her shoulders sag.
“Giving up already, female? I thought you’d last at least until tonight.”
“W-what do you mean?”
“When I fall asleep after taking you, it will be the perfect opportunity for you to slit my throat.”
She turns so swiftly, that she loses her balance and nearly topples off my gorja. With one arm, I snag her waist and pull her tightly against me. This time, I keep my arm around her, enjoying her soft flesh against my hard muscles. In time, she will learn that her survival, her very life, depends on me.
