AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It’s nearly impossible to keep the strong emotions from bleeding through the bond.”
“But not impossible?”
“No.” He doesn’t offer anything else on the matter. “Tell me why you were sad.”
“I’m not sure how it works with ogres, but where I come from you can’t command me to tell you things, even if you do give good orgasms.” The last part was meant to be said inside my head.
His features smooth. “Ah. I understand now. You were sad because I’m not pleasing you.” He’s so serious it’s cute, if not a little frustrating, that he thinks all I’m thinking about is his dick. Did it cross my mind? Maybe. Am I going to admit that to him? Absolutely not.
“I have to pee,” I blurt out.
Sighing, he stands with me and I shoot him a look as I test my weight on my ankle. It’s not horrible, but it sure as shit isn’t pleasant. I take the first few steps and he follows.
I side-eye him. “I know the way.”
“You won’t be able to use the latrine without my help.”
Anxiety digs its talons into my chest. I’m not ready for bathroom sharing experiences just yet. “I’ll be fine. Seriously. I won’t be able to pee if you’re there. What if I have to poop?”
He makes a face and stops walking. “Call for me if you need help.”
“Of course.”Over my dead body.I can do this without help.
* * *
Fuck.I need help. I made it fine to the bathroom and even managed to squat long enough to pee in the hole in the ground. It’s like a natural Porta-Potty, and actually doesn’t smell nearly as bad as those. That’s probably due to cold air sweeping through the much smaller cave. The fire in the cast-iron sconce on the wall flickers as I clean my hands for the third time in the little bowl of fresh water.
My ankle is screaming at me. The walk here wasn’t so bad, but the squatting was horrible and pushed the injury too far. Orcus was right and that’s annoying. I should call for his help, but that means admitting that I was wrong and my pride isn’t ready to accept that fact because that means I won’t be able to leave on my own until my ankle is better.
Frustrated beyond belief, I scrub my hands over my face and then turn and stagger to the wall. I use it for support as I hobble toward the main corridor, hissing in pain on the fifth step. I need to elevate it. I need ice and ibuprofen. I can’t get any of that here on this stupid planet. My eyes burn but I refuse to cry.
Everything will be okay. It has to be.
“Little flower,” Orcus snarls when I limp out of the hall to the bathroom. His irritation crawls over my skin. Right. He’s probably pissed that I inconvenienced him after I said I could handle it.
I sniff and glare at him. “I’m fine.”
“Your pain is so strong I can feel it.”
The bond is a pain in the ass.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I turn and take a step, wincing as my legs begin to shake. I’m not going to make it. I’m not in the habit of pissing people off. I go out of my way to make people happy. Asking Orcus for his help when it so clearly annoys him goes against my every instinct.
But I don’t have to ask. One moment, my palm is trembling against the cool stone, and the next I’m whisked into his arms.
“Stubborn lady,” he grouses. “You don’t take care of yourself.”
I don’t have a biting response. The pressure is off my ankle and I’m too relieved to argue. Orcus settles me on the bed with more care than I expect. He pushes the bed against the wall. I grip the sheets to keep myself in place. What in the world is he doing? The ogre snatches two pillows and gives me a stern, almost fatherly look. I find myself lying back without needing to be told. Orcus grunts and crawls onto the bed. I squeak when I start to roll toward him and scoot to the side. He keeps coming. I keep scooting until I’m flush with the freezing cold wall.
Those navy irises burn into me as he hovers over me. I stare up at him, wide-eyed and a little confused. He gently lifts my leg, placing the pillows underneath and positioning my ankle so it rests against the cool stone.
“Oh,” I breathe. It’s no ice pack, but it’ll help.
He gives me another scathing look.Stay put.
I nod and press my lips together, watching as he climbs off the bed and heads to the bookshelf. His shoulders are tense. Great. Now not only am I the mate he never wanted, I’m a burden.
“We had so many plans… then we had you.”My mother’s voice cuts through my head, annoyed as per usual. She never enjoyed having me around.
