Page 33 of The Orc's Bonded Bride

“You don’t know that.” He caught her hands between his massive ones as she reached for him again. “My brothers… their mates are human, but they’re different. They’ve had years to learn control. I’ve been alone, fighting this.”

Her heart ached as she looked up at him, at the fear written across that scarred face. He’d endured so much pain, so much unhappiness—perhaps it wasn’t surprising that he was afraid.

“I wish you could trust yourself as much as I trust you.”

“I’m trying,” he said, his voice tortured.

“We’ve waited this long. I suppose we can wait a little longer.” The mixture of sorrow and relief on his face made her heart ache again, but she smiled up at him. “And I have an idea. Perhaps if we… practice a little more, you’ll realize you’re not going to hurt me.”

“Practice?”

She took his hand and drew it down to cover her breast. His eyes immediately darkened as his thumb found her nipple, sending a streak of pleasure down her spine. She arched into his touch. “You could touch me here. Or maybe… a kiss?”

She brushed her mouth lightly over his, and his lips parted hungrily under hers. As his tongue explored her mouth, she squirmed beneath him, the friction of his hot, hard cock against her thigh driving her wild. She could feel her body responding, growing slick with arousal once again, and she cried out as his thick length started to settle between her legs. But instead of pushing into her, he slid down her body once more, his mouth fastening hungrily over her clit, his hands on her thighs spreading her wider as he devoured her. His tongue circled and teased, drawing gasp after gasp from her throat until her hands were buried in his hair, her hips rocking against him.

When her climax hit, it was like a lightning strike, her body arching off the bed as she screamed his name.

He held her through the aftermath, his arms encircling her and drawing her against his broad chest. She could feel the steady pounding of his heartbeat, the rise and fall of his breathing as they lay together in the darkness.

“I like this practice,” he said softly.

She laughed, her fingers tracing idle patterns on his skin. “I do too. You’re welcome to practice as much as you’d like.”

His chuckle rumbled through her. “Careful what you’re asking for, little bee. My appetite for you is endless.”

She snuggled closer, her leg draping over his as she pillowed her head on his shoulder. “Good.”

As she drifted off to sleep, she realized she’d never felt so safe, so cherished, and she wondered how she’d ever lived without him.

CHAPTER 13

Egon lay on his side, one arm tucked beneath his head, watching the gentle rise and fall of Lyric’s chest as she slept. They’d spent a long time ‘practicing’ before she’d fallen asleep in his arms, and it had been the most exquisite torture—but he’d remained in control. Perhaps she was right. Perhaps he could trust himself.

He traced a finger along her collarbone, marveling at the softness of her skin, the delicate flush that colored her cheeks. He’d thought he was protecting her by bargaining for a new life for her, and perhaps he was, but he suspected that he’d been trying to protect himself as well. He’d been afraid of losing control, of hurting her, of becoming the monster he feared he was.

He stared at their intertwined fingers, her smaller hand nestled in his massive green palm. The contrast was stark—her sun-kissed skin against his battle-scarred hide. Yet she’d reached for him without hesitation, even after witnessing his Beast. Her breathing shifted and he looked up to find her watching him.

“You’re not afraid of me.” It wasn’t a question.

“Should I be?”

His thumb traced a small circle on the back of her hand. “Of course not. But there’s more I haven’t told you.”

“I suspected as much.” A hint of amusement colored her words.

He took a deep breath. “You saw what happened to me. We call it the Beast Curse. The orcs accepted it many years ago in order to protect the Five Kingdoms.”

She nodded slowly.

“I think I remember hearing about that.”

His jaw tightened. “I’m surprised. Lasseran has been doing everything possible to erase that knowledge, to paint us as little more than savage animals. But that’s not all. My brothers and I have reason to believe he’s building an army of Cursed warriors, but ones without choice or conscience.”

Lyric’s fingers tightened around his. “Beast warriors.”

“Yes. But corrupted versions. Twisted by dark magic and broken to his will.” He looked towards the forest, its shadows deepening with the night. “If what we suspect is true, he engineered meetings between orcs serving in his army and eligible females, then took the children to raise himself.”

“That’s why those men mentioned Beast warriors as a threat.”

---