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Swat.Hot needles prickle my skin as the second slap explodes on top of the first.
“Or you will what? You act like a child; I treat you like a child.” He grunts, the knot of tension in my belly coiling tighter. “Your body knows what your mind fights.” He turns his head toward me, taking a long inhale. “Your scent tells me what I need to know.”
I’m getting my head wrapped around that last bit when he scoops his hand around my waist, lowering me to the ground facing him.
His muscles ripple under his ravaged flesh and I see decades of anger written in his eyes. I let my head fall back looking up, taking in the monolithic size of him. Yet, I’m not scared. He’s no threat to me, I know it, Ifeelit. Even so, being scooped up by an orc and carried back to his camp has me a bit on edge. The tapping of my quickened heartbeat reminds me of something else I’m feeling.
The sculpted abs at my eye level and a chest so broad I could curl up and sleep are…yes, I’ll just say it.
Sexy.
Drop. Dead. Orc. Sexy.
He’s staring at me as the other orcs move away and I swallow hard, unsure of what’s next. The urge to run does battle with another urge, which is to hurl myself at him.
His tusks dig into his upper lip as he rumbles under each breath. His eyes roam up and down my body, my mouth dry, wondering what he’s waiting for.
“You do not trust me. But, you will. Since you will not tell me your name, I will name you. You areSelthe. This means fierce bird in my native language. It fits you.”
Heat rages over my skin. “Yes, it does fit me,” I manage as his red eyes soften.
“You will be here now.” He runs a hand over his head. His deep brown hair in the traditional orc twisted dreadlocks, secured at the base of his neck with a red and silver leather band which I know means he’s some sort of leader here.
Glancing around, male orcs eye me with suspicion, but Mol growls, shooting glares to the surrounding crowd that clearly say get the fuck back or else. The camp is well thought out. Firepits burn at the center of surrounding structures. A wooden water tower rises against the night sky which means, they may have running water.
“Thank you for helping me. Earlier.” I decide to on a different approach. Maybe softening him up will lower his guard and I can make a break for it. “I’m sorry if I was…ungrateful. But, my bus is my home, my business, and I have friends at the festival.”
“You do not worry anymore. I am Mol, I am here to protect, to make sure you are safe. And…happy.”
He says the last word like it’s new to him. His jaw flexes, and the greenish glow coming from under his kilt draws my eye. He sees me looking and does nothing to explain or turn away. Instead, there’s a pulse under the leather, a movement.
What in the level ten crazy is going on under there?
Still, even with all the unknowns right now, all these years on my own, I have a sixth sense about danger and right now, against all logic, I feel safe.
Safer than I have in a long, long time. I’ll stay here for now. But, once I get a chance, I’ll be gone. I’ll get back to the bus and head west. I take a deep breath, and Mol looks like he’s in pain. There’s a darkness in his eyes like he’s been wounded one too many times and there’s no more healing left to do.
Having a plan makes me feel better, but the tension from the other orcs around vibrates in the air as I force my eyes from the orc warrior’s body and focus on the fire, remembering what he said about me being his mate. About my scent...
Mol sidesteps around me as my adrenaline starts to finally dissipate and the flickers of the flames get blurry. His enormous body is closer and it speeds my pulse, thinking of his hand on my ass, how I pounded my fists into his butt, ran my palms down the thick ripples of his back.
“What are you going to do with me?” I ask. “I don’t belong here.” There’s a flutter in my vision. “I think I need something to eat…” The flames are hypnotizing as they turn dark around the edges. I know what’s about to happen and I reach out, trying to grab onto anything before the ground rushes up and everything goes silent.
* * *
“Drink.”A deep, rumbling voice rushes through me.
Cool liquid drips from my lips, over my chest, into the crease of my cleavage.
The delicious water soothes my dry throat as I swallow as I open my eyes. Mol is frowning, his face right above me, close enough his breath warms me as I come back to reality with his thick arms surrounding me as we sit by the fire.
“Whoa there, buddy.” I push at his solid chest, but there is no moving his muscled arms.
“You will drink the water, then I am feeding you.Stop squirming, Selthe, you are safe here but I will not hesitate to spank the other side of that round ass if you do not eat and drink.”
His brow is cinched, the thick ridge across his nose furrowed. His chest rises and falls over and over as heat from his body wraps around me.
He holds the wooden mug to my lips and I take another long swallow, feeling my strength returning. The scent of something wonderful drifts around as an older orc female approaches holding a platter of steaming meat.
