Maria’s body froze in place, her dazed eyes blinking down at the feel of that hand, the heat of it, the barely restrained strength coiling behind those massive fingers. And gods, thesightof it, those vicious black claws gently caressing the delicate skin on the inside of her wrist, while that rich, rugged scent slowly unfurled through the air…
Maria’s body had leaned in toward him, almost as if instinctively seeking more of that scent, this heady solid strength — and finding it, here, so close. In the intensity beneath those still-gripping fingers, the rich sweetness now filling her breath, the harsh heat of his exhale against her cheek. In the restless nearness of his huge brawny body, almost close enough to touch —
And then — somethingdidtouch. Something unfamiliar, and entirely new, nudging with power and purpose against Maria’s belly. Something that was swelling fuller behind the front of Simon’strousers, something long and thick and hot, and deeply, thoroughly shocking…
But more shocking still was how Maria reacted to it. How she didn’t evenattemptto yank herself away, or defend her dignity, as any proper duchess should. How instead, she blinked down at the sight, drew in a shaky, desperate breath — and then watched as her very own appalling, audacious hand slipped down, andstrokedhim.
It had only been a light touch, soft and careful — but the hard bulk behind those trousers leapt with immediate, astonishing force, shuddering deep into her fingers. Almost as if itwantedto be held, wanted her full attention, wantedher…
Maria’s fingers curled closer, curving against its thick pulsing heft — and discovering, ohhell, that she’d barely gripped halfway around it. That this orc had truly grown amonsterin his trousers, one that had already begun streaking actualdampnessagainst the tight fabric, against Maria’s actualskin. And suddenly, there was the unreal,unspeakableurge to reach inside, to draw him out, to see what such a thing mightlooklike in the light…
Maria choked out a low gasp, her lips parting, her eyes finally darting up toward his face — and her fingers instantly stilled, her whole body bolted in place. Because Simon wasgrowlingat her, his lips curling up to show all those sharp white teeth, his black eyes flashing bright and intent with something that surely had to be rage.
Oh,hell. Maria leapt backwards, away,fartoo late — but then reeled toward him again, because her wrist was still gripped tight in his huge clawed fingers. And he seemed to realize it at the same time she had, because he swiftly released her, freeing her to stagger back into the lamplit room, her hands rubbing desperately against her face.
But that smell was here again,everywhere, musky and rich, emanating from Maria’s very ownfingers— and wait,wait, did that mean the smell was from…that?! And as she thrust her treacherous, trembling hands back down again, she realized that she’d just groped an orc in a publiccorridor, inOrc Mountain, and heloathedher, and surely he hadn’t even slightlywantedthat —
“G-goodgods, I’m sosorry,” Maria stammered at him, scarcely able to meet his eyes. “I — I haven’t touched anyone inyears, clearly I’m far more deprived than I thought, I’ll just —”
She jabbed her finger at the opposite end of the table, and then immediately spun and propelled herself toward it. As far away as possible from this appalling orc, his appalling eyes, his appalling —
There was the distinct sound of a snort behind her, and when Maria whirled back around to stare, she found that the appalling orc was now —smirkingat her. And worse,farworse, was how his huge clawed hand had dropped down to slowly, casually adjust himself in his trousers, his fingers’ easy grip clearly showing the length and width of the monstrosity lurking beneath…
“Still wish to play gamenow, woman?” he purred, his voice low, taunting, dragging deep in Maria’s belly. “Or now go back to piddling littlehusband?”
It was pure derision, of course, it was his clear statement that surely now Maria would run away screaming — but instead, she only kept staring, her cheeks burning, her heart threatening to charge out of her chest. While Simon’s brazen hand purposefully gripped tighter, and then slowly, deliberatelyslid up.
Maria’s groan was audible, indefensible, her eyes shamefully locked to the sight — and good gods inheaven, he dropped his hand, and did itagain. Even slower this time, firmer, smoothing all the way up his truly massive length. Almost as if displaying himself,flauntinghimself, showing off for her greedy, starving eyes…
It felt nearly impossible to stop staring, but Maria desperately needed to see his face, see what the hell this was — and when she somehow found his eyes, they were still fixed to hers, stillknowingher. And still speaking, surely, of something thathadto be rage…
Or was it? And if Maria were to stride back across this rapidly warming room, and cup her hand close over his, would he mock her? Push her away? Or would he keep looking at her like this, let her lean into his solid strength, into that beautifulforgetting…
But then his big hand abruptly dropped from his trousers, clenching into a tight, flexing fist at his side. As if somehow, again, heknew. Knew that his ill-thought attempt at intimidation hadn’t worked in the slightest, because, clearly, he’d fully failed to consider the depth of Maria’s sheer, shameful desperation.
And itwasshameful, it bore the familiar rotten reek ofhysteria, and Maria hurled herself down to sit beside the table, yanking off her cap, dragging her shaky hands through her tangled curls. Ithadto be the exhaustion. The shock of this damned unexpected mountain, and this horrible confounding orc. It couldn’t truly be hysteria, itcouldn’t…
She was thankfully spared further conjecture by a rising clatter of noise, of rapidly approaching voices — and suddenly there were more people, spilling into the room. More huge, intimidating orcs, with their harsh faces and bare chests and ubiquitous black braids, and with their — wait — theirwomen?
But yes,impossibly, there werewomen. Multiple women, of varying ages and appearances, striding easy and undaunted alongside these orcs, and even casuallytouchingthem. All while sporting a variety of entirely inappropriate attire, from tight men’s trousers to a flimsy, fully transparentshawlthat showedeverythingunderneath.
Maria’s mouth had fallen open, her beleaguered brain frantically grappling with these brand-new shocks to the senses — but then, more shocking still, was the realization that these women were almost allpregnant. Their bellies heavy, visibly rounded, with whathadto be the orcs’ sons.
And as staggering as this truth was, the next one was worse —farworse. Because one of the women — the only one whodidn’tlook pregnant, in this moment — wascradlingsomething. Something she was cooing and smiling at, while the scarred orc beside her affectionately watched. Something small, squirming, with deep greyish-green skin…
It was ababy. A baby —orc.
And while Maria of course knew, intellectually, that producing a baby orc was a primary part of her purpose here, she suddenly couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t even look away from this shocking woman, and the shocking creature in her arms. At how the woman was cuddling it like it was somethingreal, something she actuallycaredabout, something she’d trulywanted. Just like how Maria had been wanting it for years and years andyears, oh gods oh gods ohgods—
The woman had smiled down toward Maria, saying something Maria couldn’t hear over the roaring in her ears, the panic screaming in her chest. And she needed to pull herself together, she needed to convince all these unnerving, completely horrifying people that she was genuine, she was here to give these orcs one of these —babies, and thenleaveit again — but she couldn’t look away she couldn’t move she was ruiningeverything—
“Maria,” cut in his voice,Simon’s voice, rumbling deep — and Maria jerked to look at him again, almost as if compelled. Realizing, first, that her fingernails were digging into the wooden table, and second, that cold sweat was trickling down her back. And third, that Simon was still standing over by the door with his arms crossed, and he hadn’t even been speaking to her. Instead, he was talking to the tall, narrow-eyed, rangy-looking orc beside him, who was frowning at her with equally visceral dislike.
“She say she is Maria,” Simon continued, his voice flat. “She seek to claim me. To bear me son. Forcoin. Forvengeance.”
Maria’s head was pounding, her stomach twisting, the cold sweat still uncomfortably prickling — but Simon was looking back at her, holding her in those steady, all-seeing eyes. And even if they were glinting with contempt, with that familiar furiousdisapproval, they were still solid and sure on hers, all hers, here,safe…
And somehow, it was enough. Enough that Maria could breathe again,thinkagain. Enough to make her square her shoulders, clear her throat, and face the mass of suddenly silent orcs — andwomen— before her.
