Page 5 of Orc's Claim
I nod without thinking.
“Enough to touch me?” he asks, his face serious, but I swear a slight chuckle rides his words.
I bite my lip, because that’s safer than nodding. It’s not that I fear him, not really, but I’m not exactly sure I trust myself at this moment. If I let my impulsiveness rule, I may not be able to handle the consequences.
“Hesitation is a mark of weakness,” he says with a slight growl to his voice. He walks parallel to the shoreline, away from me.
“I won’t be manipulated,” I spit out, causing him to halt.
“Not weak after all.” He stops and faces me, those hard eyes narrowing. “Yes, there is strength in you, but it’s wrapped in foolishness.”
“You don’t know anything about me,” I sputter, realizing how easily provoked I am. Why do I fucking care what he thinks, anyway?
His eyes travel over me. “You’ve wandered out here without a human male escorting you. As I said, foolish.”
“I’m not foolish,” I snap back. I curse myself for speaking without thinking. When he started to walk away, instead of running in the opposite direction I engaged him in conversation. I have no sense of self-preservation. I should be thinking strategically, but something’s keeping me here.
Curiosity.
That has to be it. Stupid curiosity. And I know what it did to the cat.
His lower lip pulls back slightly, revealing those three-inch tusks. Long, thick, shiny white, and… rather intriguing, if I’m being honest.
With three easy strides, he’s directly in front of me. “A warrior never hides or cowers. He takes.”
Thatmakes me take a step back.
“I am not your enemy, female.”
“I have no way of knowing that.”
“You are learning. Trust no one on Kovos.”
“Except you?” The words fly from my mouth, raw and unfiltered as my mind assesses him on a deeper level than I do most people. I know why I’m still talking with him, but why is he bothering with me?
“You shouldn’t trust me,” he replies. Straight forward.Honest.
No, this orc isn’t trying to manipulate me into doing anything except think about my safety. As if he gives a shit. That’s more than I get from the men of my colony who use intimidation and fear to control us.
“What else should I know out here?” I step forward, eliminating the gap I created. I’m close enough to run my fingertips over his impressive muscles, but I don’t dare. This is a man, full of power and confidence. Not someone I should tease, even with an innocent touch.
And yet I give in to the impulse.
I brush a single finger across his abdomen, over taut muscles, down warm, velvety skin. Going lower, lower.
I don’t pull away, as I should. Touching him isaddictive.
I’m a fool, more than he realizes.
He sucks in a sharp breath and closes his eyes, precisely what he warned me not to do. Then again, I’m not a danger to him.
A slight moan escapes his lips. Damn it! I shouldn’t be touching him, and yet I can’t stop.
“Do you carry a knife?” he asks.
It’s a strange question given the situation, but I answer. “My knives are at my workbench. I use them to cut leather.”
“You can use them to cut an opponent too. Next time, bring them with you. For protection.”
