I’ve given them everything. My life. My blood. I led them on the battlefield while my wife died in our bed, praying to the Twelve Gods that I’d make it back before she was gone. A prayer that went unanswered. All those years, and I failed her when she needed me most. And it wasn’t the first time I’d failed her. It was just thelasttime.
I shake the thoughts out of my head. Those aren’t the only ones I need to rattle loose. I’ve got to stop thinking about Clover, too. Stop thinking about her hand on me. Her lips tasting me. Her smile when I walk into the library, like I’m not the monster from all the old books she’s read.
I can put her somewhere else. One of the empty wings. A real bed. A locked door, if that’s what it takes. Distance would solve this. Distance would make me myself again.
But I can’t do that yet. I said I was going to taste her. There may not be much of me left, but I’m still an orc of my word.
It’s a good thing it’s never too early for grog.
CHAPTER 18
Clover
I can tell King Lix’tuk is in an exceptionally foul mood when he walks into the library.
He was wearing some formal armor this morning because he had a meeting with one of the Lords. Now, he’s wearing a tunic and a loincloth. I’ve never seen him take off his armor except when it’s time for bed. He’s also drinking. There’s a bottle of grog in his hand, and his stagger tells me it’s not the first bottle he’s had.
“Time for dinner?” I ask hesitantly.
“Yes, go make it,” he replies gruffly, stopping to sip his grog. “And put a few bottles of grog on the table.”
“Okay,” I say, standing up. “I’ll have it in the dining hall shortly.”
He barely glances at me as I walk past him. After last night, I picked a nice dress to wear today. One that accentuates my bodylike the one I wore the night I was auctioned. He didn’t seem to notice this morning, and he doesn’t seem to notice now.
I’m not sure why I care, but I do. I’m his gift. I want him to bepleasedwith me. That would at least make me feel a little safer. Or maybe something is growing inside me that I don’t want to acknowledge. Do I want him to…want me?
I hope I didn’t upset him by touching him in the dark. He didn’t seem any grumpier than usual, and heallowedme to touch him. He could have thrown me across the room as easily as he let me continue. He also moved the blanket to give me better access. It seemed to me hewantedme to do…that.
Or maybe he’s upset because I tasted what splattered on my nightgown. I didn’t realize I needed to ask permission. Truthfully, I’m not even sure why I did it. Troona Clover would have never tasted a man’s release. She wouldn’t have gotten anywherenearsomething that vulgar. Zrogmul Clover licks orc seed off her fingers. And she likes it. If he lets me touch him tonight, I might even do it again.
But first, dinner. Maybe a drink. Something to calm my nerves before I get another spanking. I’m not even worried about that. Surely, it won’t be actual punishment. Especially if he plans totasteme after he’s done. I’m just not sure if he’s going to lick my wetness off his fingers or… if I’ll find out what an orc tongue feels like.
I’ve spent most of my day thinking about that. I’ve barely even read the book in front of me. I’ve been too restless and aroused, unable to focus on anything else.
Right now, I have to focus. Luckily, making dinner isn’t complicated with the Reviver. I walk into the kitchen, fix themeals, and carry them to the table. King Lix’tuk is staring at an empty bottle, so I grab it and hurry back to the kitchen. Two trips later, we have cutlery and he’s got plenty of grog. I hope.
He opens the grog and starts eating without saying a word. He seems more frustrated than normal. Not necessarily angrier, just… unhappy. Though he is usually grouchy, there are times I know he’s actually happy. Right now, his dark stare is distant, and I don’t think it’s just because of the grog.
“Did the meeting not go well?” I ask apprehensively.
“Nothing for you to concern yourself with. Just politics and nonsense,” he sighs, downing more grog.
“If it was a really bad day, we can forget about later,” I offer. “Or I could just help you out again, like last night.”
“That wouldn’t be very fair, now, would it?” he asks, sighing and raising an eyebrow.
“I mean, I’m okay. I went weeks without even touching myself when I lived in Troona,” I reply.
“Yeah? And how many days did you go without touching yourself after eating orc jizz?” his voice is a sarcasticpurr. A purr!
“Um.” I blush, look down, and swallow hard. “I might have… just a little in the library.”
“That’s your fault. You put it in your mouth without asking if it was even safe,” he says, chuckling just enough for me to hear his amusement. “You’re lucky you didn’t get a mouthful. Then you would have been suffering all day, instead of just walking around with wet panties.”
I blush even redder, if that’s possible. “You mean… that’s why… oh my goodness!”
“Maybe little human girls shouldn’t go around licking everything in sight, hmm?” he asks dryly, sipping more grog. “I decided to let you suffer a little today as part of your punishment. The rest you’ll get when I spank your ass after dinner.”
