Page 54 of His Noble Savior

They looked up when Lilian and Richard entered, the orc more slowly than Nathan as if he feared a sudden move might send Lilian running. He wasn’t wrong.

Lilian’s eyes connected with the orc’s, and his heart skipped a beat. His knees gave in, and he slumped against Richard, who caught him. At the sight of Lilian’s shakiness, the orc looked away. It gave Lilian a chance to calm down. Having an orc’s attention on him had always ended in pain, and only once the giant in front of him started studying the intricate patterns of the carpet, Lilian relaxed.

Richard guided him to a big chair kitty-corner to the divan. With Nathan and the orc curled up in an intimate position, it was natural for Richard and Lilian to follow suit. Richard sat, and Lilian folded onto his lap. Strong arms snaked around his shoulders and waist, and he sank against Richard, breathing inhis sandalwood scent while keeping an eye on the orc.

“Thank you for coming,” Richard said, his thumb drawing circles on Lilian’s waist. It worked miracles in distracting him.

“We’re pleased to meet you, Lilian,” Nathan said. “It’s wonderful that my brother has found someone he cares about as much as I care about Ogharod.” His voice was smooth and steady, and he nestled closer to the orc as if to demonstrate how comfortable he was. He and the orc painted a cozy picture, all snuggles and pink cheeks.

“I express my gratitude for your willingness to speak with us,” the orc rumbled, and Lilian flinched at his low timbre.

His heart fluttered against his chest, and his sweaty palms clung to Richard’s linen shirt. The orc had the good grace to keep gazing at the rug like it was the most fascinating thing he’d ever seen. It didn’t stop Lilian from shaking like a leaf. A deep orc voice directed at him had meant the worst not too long ago.

“It’s fine,” Richard whispered when Lilian whimpered. “I’ve got you. I’ll protect you. Ogharod won’t hurt you, I promise. He’s glad you’re giving him the chance to talk to you. That’s all. He doesn’t want to touch you. Also, he’s bonded to Nathan. See how close they are? Ogharod only wants to touch Nathan, and Nathan likes it.”

Oh, Nathan loved the orc’s hands on him. He all but purred when the orc stroked his back and squeezed his thigh. With the end of spring, temperatures were rising, and Nathan had rolled up the sleeves of his linen shirt and unlaced the front, leaving his chest and stomach uncovered. Did he do it because it was a warm day or because the orc preferred him half-naked? Orcs didn’t permit their mates to wear clothing. If lucky, one got a loincloth. Lilian had been kept naked for ease of access. The memory made him sick.

Nathan didn’t seem bothered by his state of undress. On the contrary, when his shirt slipped off his shoulder, he didn’thastily cover up like Lilian would’ve but shrugged the fabric lower. Nathan enjoyed lying in the orc’s arms, and Lilian didn’t want to think about what they’d do if he and Richard weren’t there. Nathan showed a lot of skin, and there wasn’t a single bruise on him. Lilian had been covered in them, receiving more each time the orcs forced themselves on him. Nathan’s skin was unblemished. Evidently, the orc wasn’t hurting him. He was stroking up and down Nathan’s back, causing him to lean into the touch. How strange to watch a man enjoy the very thing Lilian was afraid of.

“It-It’s good to meet you too,” Lilian forced out looking at Nathan, who gave him a languid smile.

“I’m sorry if my big fellow here frightened you,” Nathan said and petted the orc’s thigh like one would pat a horse. “He looks all tall and scary, but I promise he’s docile.”

“Docile,” the orc snorted.

“Behave,” Nathan said and buried a hand in the orc’s long, silver-blond mane. “You’re going to be good and do as I say, aren’t you?”

“As long as you’re good and do as I say later on,” the orc growled.

The pink on Nathan’s cheeks deepened. Lilian would’ve laughed if he hadn’t been so scared. The two of them behaved like any other couple he’d met. They were affectionate and playful, and while Lilian had the impression the orc was reining in his instinct to dominate his mate for Lilian’s benefit, he showed no violent tendencies toward Nathan. He cradled him in his arms, his touch careful as if he was afraid to hurt him.

“Can I ask…” Nathan started. “Did you have a bad encounter with an orc? Richard wouldn’t say anything, but the way you ran from Ogharod made me think that maybe you met an orc before, and it was…”

“It was hell,” Lilian said, unable to keep his tone even. “It wasthe most horrid experience you can imagine.”

“Please allow me to apologize for the abhorrent behavior of part of my species,” the orc said, eyes on the rug. “There are bad orcs, and I’m sorry that you suffered.”

“I was taken by orcs,” Lilian said, his voice thick. “They held me for months. I wouldn’t be alive if it weren’t for Richard.”

“I’m very sorry,” the orc said, deep furrows lining his brow. “I promise you not all orcs are like that. If an orc takes an unwilling mate, he must be brought to justice. That is our law. Claiming a mate against their will is a grave transgression that must be punished.”

“But isn’t that what orcs do?” Lilian asked, his temper flaring. “Don’t you go and raid villages, abducting any man you fancy? Don’t you seize them and drag them off to your camps? Isn’t that how you took Nathan?”

“It’s not like that,” Nathan said, his cheeks glowing red. “I wasn’t unwilling. Yes, Ogharod carried me off to his camp, but…”

“My kind has a keen sense of smell,” the orc said. “A man’s scent tells us whether a potential mate is willing or not. No sane orc would force himself on a man who’s emanating fear. It’s not right. But there are bad orcs. What they did to you is horrible, and it fills my heart with sorrow that my kind has treated you so badly. They should’ve never touched you. My species isn’t even compatible with yours. Humans and elves, as long as they aren’t bound to a partner they love, respond positively to our scent. It calms them. This isn’t true for fae. You probably think I stink horribly.”

Lilian didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “I’m afraid so.”

“Don’t worry,” Ogharod said. “Fae don’t smell nice to us either.”

“We don’t?”

“No.”

Lilian smiled, and a tear slid out of the corner of his eye. Hewiped it away with his sleeve.

“What those orcs did to you was wrong,” Ogharod said. “I’m so sorry.”

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