Page 9 of The Orc's Stolen Shepherdess

I scrambled back to give him room as he pushed his way back up out of the crevasse with Midnight held tightly in his arms. I wanted to collapse from relief.

“Oh, Midnight!” I gushed as the orc put her down. She looked a bit disgruntled and was still chewing. “Thank goodness you’re all right. You naughty, naughty thing! I can’t believe you nearlydiedfor a blackberry vine!”

She paid me almost no mind and simply ambled off, climbing back down the rocks to where the rest of the flock was still grazing on clover. My relief was so palpable I couldn’t stay mad at her.

And then I turned to face her savior, and my stomach dropped right back down to my feet.

Fades, I’d been in such a panic I hadn’t really looked at him. He was absolutely nothing like the serene and slender orcs of Rove Wood Clan. This male was covered in hulking muscle, with enough scars to make one think his profession was wrestling saber cats. His legs looked thick enough to choke an elk. He wore no shirt and the rippling, perfect set of muscles that lined all the way down his stomach was incredible. They tapered off just above his tight leather pants, which were snug around his—

My cheeks went deadly hot, and I snapped my gaze right back up to his face. He crooked a brow at me, and suddenly, the memory of his horrified voice afterI’d told him to touch Midnight’s butt blasted right into my mind and. . . and. . .

I burst with laughter all over again. “I cannotbelieveyou thought I wanted you to pat her butthole!” My eyes were streaming as I held my stomach. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t laugh, I just—Fades, I’m just so glad all this is over. Thank yousomuch for your help.”

Fades, I was laughing right in the face of a huge, battle-scarred warrior! What was he going to—

Deep, rumbling chuckles met my ears, and I looked up to find he was also laughing.

The mirth transformed his face almost completely. Laugh lines appeared around his eyes and mouth. His cheeks had colored to a bright green. Even his jawline looked softer.

“I cannot believeyoutried to use a stick to prove you were a shepherdess.” His voice was tinged with jollity, and it made my stomach flip.

“I-Itismy crook though!” I lifted it up to his view again. “Look, this is where I hang my lantern and it’s all worn down where I hold it. What do you think I pat my sheep’s butts with?”

“Are you telling me you made me touch your sheep’s butt with my bare hand, but you touch it with a stick as long as you are tall?”

His smile widened, and any thought that he might be seriously offended was thrown right out. Fades, he was a sight. One could get used to looking at such a smile.

This whole situation was familiar. Not the sheep almost dying part, but the laughter. It had been almost two seasons since my father’s joints had flared up so badly, he couldn’t join me anymore.

I’d missed having company.

The orc’s smile softened. His deep green eyes looked so warm and inviting.

My cheeks went hot, and my heart began to hammer. “W-we should get down before any more insanity unfolds.”

Chapter Four

Caivid

Iwatched her movements closely as she climbed down the slippery rocks. I shouldn’t have been worried. She was more adept at it than I was.

Her smile was bright as she got to the bottom, and it flooded me with warmth. Much like our shared humor had. When was the last time I’d laughed like that? I couldn’t recall.

“Midnight, let me look at you,” she demanded the moment our feet were on solid ground. The sheep bleated at her with annoyance as she looked at the leg the animal had been hanging from. “It’s a little scraped and swollen, but you aren’t limping.”

The relief in her tone was almost palpable, and I leaned against one of the boulders to watch. The Fades must havebeen inspired when they’d rendered her. With her golden hair shimmering in the setting daylight and her blue eyes sparkling with relief. She was curvy and full in ways that made my fingers twitch with want to touch, and the sound of her laughter still echoed delightfully in my ears.

But she was also a stranger. A human woman from a village that wasn’t too keen on my presence here in these woods.

I should just leave. My purpose here was done.

But I couldn’t bring myself to do it.

“You’re such a naughty thing.” She threw her arms around the sheep’s neck. The animal bleated with irritation and struggled out of her grip. It trotted over to munch on clover with the rest of the flock. They were fine-looking animals. Round in the belly with shiny, clean coats. The one I’d saved was certainly the roundest. I watched her shove another ewe out of the way to get to some particularly nice-looking leaves.

“Here, a reward for all your help.”

My gaze snapped back to the woman as she walked over to my side. Was she teasing? She didn’t look like shewas teasing.

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