Page 4 of Lonely Orcish Girl

Reed was lost deep in his thoughts, which were foggy and blurred because of the fever. He peered curiously at the orcess. The more he looked at her, the more attractive she seemed. He was pretty sure it wasn't just the effect of his feverish state. The mixture of hard and soft features on her face was new to him, but quite pleasant. He wouldn't say, however, that she was as pretty as his Jolene.

My Jolene… he noticed he hadn't thought about her in a long time and felt strange about that realization. Jolene was the reason for everything that had happened—why he had left Stagmoor, tried to reach Larrant, got lost, and nearly died. That acknowledgment caused an unpleasant shiver.She's not mine; she's marrying another man. Don't be stupid, Reed.

"You stare quite a lot," Katuri's voice snapped him out of his musings. "Never seen an orc before, or what?"

She was smirking softly, showing no signs of anger or outrage, but Reed felt caught red-handed, and a wave of unease washed over him.

"I'm sorry, didn't mean to. I've seen orcs before, but never an orcish woman," he replied. “I heard you are all mighty warriors,” he added quickly.

He had only known two orcs in his life. One was an old hunter who sometimes traded with men from Stagmoor when Reed was a child. He had never looked at him up close, though. The second was Gurak—a grumpy blacksmith from Larrant, although that man wasn't a full-blooded orc but a mix with a hobgoblin.

"I see. But I guess you’ve never seen a real orcess yet. I'm not a pureblood. My father is one of the pink-skinned kind like you," Katuri said with a smile that was hard to interpret.

"You're a half-orc?" asked Reed. Somehow, he wasn’t surprised. She definitely looked different from what he had heard and imagined about stereotypical orcish women.

"Yeah. That's why I don't have tusks like a wild boar. And maybe I have less here than typical orcish gals," she pointed to her ample bust, "or here," she briefly flexed her arm to show off her chiseled muscles, "but at least I have more here," she finished with a sly grin and pointed to her head.

Reed smiled a bit uncertainly, having trouble imagining that pure-blooded orc women could be taller, bustier, and more muscular than Katuri, who was already impressive in every way. Although he had a feeling that her kind was more savage-looking in appearance, she seemed balanced in proportions, with a harmonious, feminine shape to her body.

"That's very int—" Reed tried to answer, but suddenly coughed so hard that his throat hurt.

Katuri came closer and again placed her palm on his forehead. She glanced at Reed with a worried look.

"It was nice chatting with you, Reed, but I think you should rest. Try to get some sleep. The fever is coming back." She sat back on her heels, right next to Reed. "We'll talk more later, okay? If you need to pee, there's a latrine just outside. Call me if you need help."

"Thank you, Katuri. I will never be able to repay you," Reed murmured, shifting a little under the furs. His hand touched his thigh, and then he discovered that he was… completely naked. He tried to hide his surprise, but Katuri noticed anyway.

"What is it?" she asked, cocking her head.

Reed chuckled nervously, the feeling of shame overtaking him. "Um… nothing, I guess. I just noticed I don't have any clothes on. Did you undress me yesterday?"

Katuri frowned at first, but quickly her violet eyes widened, and her lips twisted into an impish grin. She leaned down and said in a lowered voice, "Oh yes, of course, I did. I had to check if you were fit to… repay my hospitality. Because, you know,among orcs, 'payment in nature' is very common. It's a tradition. But we'll come back to this matter later when you feel better."

"Oh…" Reed only managed to open his mouth because he was completely shocked by Katuri's words. He felt as if his cheeks were about to explode.

Is she serious? Does she want to have sex with me?!Frantic thoughts overwhelmed him.If it's tradition for her, then I cannot refuse. Not after what she has done for me. It would offend her! But… oh, gods! She'll find out I have never done this before! It will be embarrassing!

He swallowed hard and looked into her enchanting violet eyes. Then he cleared his throat and said solemnly, "If that is customary among your people, then I will respect that. It will be my honor to share the bed with you, Katuri."

The orcess looked at Reed with barely concealed amusement. When he finished his respectful statement, she abruptly burst out laughing. Reed was as surprised as he was confused.

"Oh, an honor? That was so sweet, Reed," she finally said, once she had caught her breath. "I was kidding! Did you really believe me? Mating as a form of payment? There's no such thing!"

She giggled and ran her hand through his hair in a playful gesture. Reed chuckled as well, partly because her laugh was infectious, partly due to his confusion.

"No, silly, I didn't undress you because I couldn't resist my lust." Katuri tilted her head and winked. "You were soaked to the bone. There wasn't a dry thread on you. Were you swimming in your clothes or what?" Katuri smiled again and patted him on the shoulder.

"Um… I fell into the river yesterday," Reed replied, feeling shame wash over him again.

"That sounds like an interesting story, but you'll tell me later. Try to sleep now," Katuri said to him, still grinning widely. She moved toward the edge of the bedding. "And sorry for the joke, but I couldn't help myself. Your face looked so flabbergasted! But you know what? At least you showed you weren't a coward. You were willing to lie with a big, scary, ugly orc? That's a brave attitude, haha!"

Katuri laughed again and dropped to the ground. She shook her head with a smile and was about to disappear from Reed's sight when he called out to her:

"Katuri?"

"Yeah?" she answered, looking at him intently.

"You're big, but not scary. And definitely not ugly. I think that… you are unique and very pretty," Reed murmured.

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