Page 40 of Romancing the Orc

The anger crumples from her face, leaving her eyes haunted and her lips trembling.

“What is this?” I hate that she’s so sad, so doubting. I tip up her chin until she looks at me. “What brought this on?”

“I read Caroline’s story over and over when I was a teen, but I didn’t fully understand High Fae back then, so I made up all these amazing happy endings for her and her fae lover.” She sucks in a shaky breath. “At some point, the stories weren’t about her anymore. They were about me. Those were the first books I ever wrote. I identified with Caroline completely, and reading what really happened to her, that she spent her wholelife longing for this fae who loved her and left her…” Her voice drops to a whisper. “And then that asshole today said you only want me for money.” She swallows, the ghost of old pain clouding her lovely eyes. “It all got to be too much. I’m scared. I don’t want family history to repeat itself. I don’t want to be another Caroline.”

“You won’t be. That willneverhappen.” I wrap my arms around her and pull her close. “I give you my vow as an orc warrior that I will remain with you for as long as you want me. We could live in a tiny shack, and as long as you’re by my side, I will be the happiest of men.” But I don’t want that. I don’t want to be a financial burden on her, yet this isn’t the time to admit to such a worry—this is about taking care of her.

“Thank you.” She takes a step back. “I know I’m being too sensitive, too emotional.”

“No, you’ve been through a great deal over the last couple of days. I’d be more worried if youdidn’thave a strong reaction.” I pull her back to me. “Who’s made you think such unkind things about yourself?”

“Guys I’ve dated in the past.”

A growl rumbles through me, and my lips pull back from my tusks. “As soon as we get back to New York, you will introduce me to these ‘guys,’ and I will introduce them to my fist.”

A suppressed chuckle huffs from her nose. Then she bursts out laughing, falling against my chest, shoulders shaking with the intensity of it. “If you eventouchedRandy with your pinkie, he’d start screaming bloody murder.” She pounds on my chest with her little fist as she hiccups out the words.

I love that I’ve made her laugh. My mate deserves all the joy in the world, and I will try to ensure she has such for all her days.

When she finally regains control, she wipes the tears from her cheeks. “Oh, god. You must really think I’m such a hot mess, angry and sad and laughing, all in the space of a few minutes.”

“I think you feel things very deeply, and I love that about you. Orcs are the same.” I grin at her. “Our arguments will spark hot, and the make-up sex will be even hotter.”

“Arguments?” She raises an eyebrow.

“All couples have them. We almost did just now.” I shrug. “It’s normal as long as you work through the problem. And didn’t it make you feel better?”

“It did.” She smiles up at me. Then her expression turns sly, and she walks her fingers up my chest. “There’s only one thing… where’s my make-up sex?”

My cock leaps at her words, and I stifle a groan. “Dinner first, minx. I must feed you.”

“Oh, you’re gonna feed me all right.” She wiggles against my erection. “You’re gonna feed me this monster cock, fill me right up.”

Food forgotten, I pick her up and sling her over my shoulder, giving her ass a solid swat as I move us away from the fire.

She shrieks and squirms, the heady scent of her arousal perfuming the air.

“Liked that, did you?” I give her another smack as my magic pulses outward, gathering smooth palm fronds to make a bed. I set her down on her hands and knees. “I thought you wanted to be my good girl, but you’re being so bad.”

“So bad,” she echoes in a moan.

“Such a naughty girl.” I slide her zipper down her back.

“The naughtiest.” She sits up on her knees and pushes her ass toward me as she strips the catsuit from her arms.

Once that’s done, I flick her long ponytail off her back and press her down onto hands and knees. Then I peel the sequined fabric off her hips and ass, leaving it bunched up around her knees, constraining her legs. Her panties soon join it, leaving her pussy bare to me.

“Such a pretty little ass,” I croon, stroking a hand over it. “So pale and soft.” I give it a hard smack that makes her jolt and suck in a shocked breath. Then I lean over her to growl in her ear. “It’s going to look even prettier, all spanked and pink.”

“Oh, god. Oh, god.”

“Would you like that?” I let my fingers trail over her heated cheek. “Would that make you my good girl again?”

“Yes,” she hisses and nods, the movement jerky and fast. “Oh, yes.”

I slide my hand down the center of her sex, finding her pussy slick and wet. “Goddess, Lara,” I groan. “You’re already dripping for me.”

My cock jumps, straining against the confines of my pants. It sees no reason to play, to draw things out. It wants only to bury itself in her, to claim the female I fought for. It’s a primal instinct, one I’ll indulge soon.

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