Page 42 of The Orc's Innocent Plaything

I might have expected to tear up at the knowledge that our mother’s name would live on. But sadness didn’t fill me. Instead, ‘twas a deep sense ofrightness.

Avaleen and Ella were right where they belonged.

And mayhap…so was I.

So I was smiling when I opened my eyes and waggled the sausage roll at him.

“You might just be right, oh great teacher.”

Was it my imagination, or was that regret that flashed in his eyes before he looked away?

Whether ‘twas or not, his good humor was back as he crossed his bare feet at the ankles, propped up his shoulders, and began to update me on what I’d missed during my nap. When he described Mkaalad’s ineptitude while giving my niece a bath for the first time, I found myself snorting with laughter. The fact that Vartok used a sausage roll as a demonstration device didn’t help.

But soon enough, the meal was through, and I was deliciously comfortable and warm. I didn’twantto leave his bed, but for certes there wassomethingI could be doing. Still, when I went to swing my legs off the mattress, he stopped me.

“Where do ye think ye’re going, lass? Did ye no’ hear me? I’m under my grandmother’s orders to keep ye here until sundown.”

I found myself blushing. “Surely she didn’t mean to keep me in your bed!”

He just shrugged, his hold on my wrist changing until he was caressing the inside of my arm with his thumb.

“Nan kens all sorts of things. She likely suspects the truth.”

Oh Lord, the woman I respected most in the world would think the worst of me!

Would she? She loves Vartok, and knows that you do as well?—

Wait.

I didnotlove Vartok.

For months, I’dhatedhim. He angered me. He frustrated me.

He pleasures you.

Aye, well, he was only doing that because I’d asked him, because I’d made a bargain to become his student. Aye?

“Myra?” His voice was low, sultry. “What has ye chewing on that lower lip of yers?”

“I—What does Nan expect us todofor the next four hours?”

That green spark in his eyes suddenly flared, became brighter, as his grin turned wicked.

“I can think of a few things.”

Well, it should be no surprise that I forgot how to breathe at thepromisehinted in his heated look.

With the meal cleared out of the way, Vartok tugged on my wrist and I fell toward him. I might have resisted, had I wished to. But I didn’t wish to. And when he held my gaze and placed my hand on his belt buckle, I knew what he wanted.

My fingers barely shook as I loosened his belt and helped him shrug from his kilt. He wanted to join me under the quilt, but I stopped him.

‘Twas my first time not just being able tofeelhim but seehim as well.

“Can I?—?”

Luckily, he knew what I was asking, because he smiled a little ruefully and leaned back against the pillows.

“Learn anything ye want, pet.”

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