Page 56 of Orc's Possession
“All good points. But the answer remains no. You will find out in an hour.”
He’ll be rid of me in an hour. That’s what my terrified brain gleans from his words.
“I’m trying to acclimate to your people. I have no one to ask questions of other than you and I don’t know your ways.” As much as I try to remove the tremor from my voice, to prove I’m not weak, I can’t. For nearly two weeks, I’ve wanted nothing more than to escape the orcs, and now I fear leaving them. Or rather, leaving Atox.
He keeps his word, and he’s loyal to his people. He’ll do anything for them. But does that include me? He said he’d protect me, but did he say that to gain my cooperation?
Like my father and Council? The people who promised to protect everyone in New Earth.
“Please give me a second chance, Atox.”
He growls. “Grak, female. My personal name may be used by those who’ve earned the right.”
A reminder that I am not his equal. And may never be.
An uneasiness settles in the pit of my stomach. As I twist to see his expression, the corners of his mouth lift into a rare smile. Sun bounces off his tusks, making them appear sharper than usual. I tap one.
“Don’t touch my tusks.”
I tap his tusk again, then remain utterly still, waiting to see what he’ll do.
“Hold your finger out,” he orders.
When I hesitate, he grabs my wrist and draws it to his mouth where his tongue circles the tip of my finger. I watch in total wonder as this massive guy makes love to my finger.
“You’re trying to give me ideas, aren’t you?” I ask as he sucks on me.
“Perhaps we will find a quiet spot in Pen’Kesh to see how you respond to my suggestion.”
I brush my thumb over where his mouth kicks up. “You’re smiling.”
“I don’t smile.”
“Then why are you showing me your tusks?”
“I’m pleased with you.”
I blink twice as I question if I heard wrong. “Does that mean I may call you Atox?”
“You already do.”
“But you haven’t given me permission. I’m not saying I think I need it, but it would be nice to have.” I need to know how far I can push him, to know that he truly will never hurt me. After all, I trusted my father, and I can’t forget how that ended.
“Forget it, I don’t know what I’m saying.” I want Atox to treat me as an equal, something I didn’t have in New Earth. I’m expecting too much from him. He rules over an entire settlement, after all.
“I will consider it,” he says unexpectedly.
I bite my bottom lip and face forward again while I try to focus on the motion of the gorja and push the image of Atox sucking on my finger out of my mind.
“Speak, female. I can see you have more to say.”
“I call you Atox because it’s a sign of being equal, not a sign of disrespect. I know you’re grak and I’m only a human to you, but I’d sooner live in the woods than be treated as a second-class citizen.”
“You prefer living in the woods where the yengas live?”
I shudder, but nod.
“I don’t understand all that you say, female, but I like when you speak your heart. It shows you are strong and worthy.”
