Page 86 of The Orc Chief's Baker
Stretching slightly, Trinia mused on the last time she’d woken up without being in pain. After sleeping on flour sacks in her dusty bakery for nearly a full season, she’d forgotten just how wonderful being in a bed was.
Even if two-thirds of that bed was taken up by a huge,nakedorc.
He looked even more like a puppy when he was sleeping, with his shaggy hair covering his eyes and his face relaxed. The powerful, pleasure wrecked male who’d rutted her into oblivion was gone and a docile, sleepy pup remained. She resisted the urge to rustle his hair, knowing it would wake him.
He didn’t snore, which she found a bit surprising. In fact, she almost couldn’t hear him breathing. She could feel it though, because his arm was draped heavily over her hip and his warm stomach was so close she could feel it expanding against her with each breath.
The rhythm made her cheeks heat. Fades! They still needed to go another round before she was pregnant. She filled her lungs and resisted the urge to squirm.
Brovdir sucked in his breath then and was instantly awake. He went from completely asleep to alert so fast Trinia jolted backward.
Off the bed.
She didn’t even have time to yip before a hand gripped her around the middle and saved her from the fall. She was flush back up against Brovdir again. He adjusted, flipping onto his back and taking her with him.
She ended up half on top of him, resting in the crook of his arm. His hot skin felt so good against her bare legs. Her thighs were widely parted around his stomach and her breasts were tucked right up against his chest.
Brovdir wrapped an arm around her middle. Not tight enough to hold her captive, but he made it clear he didn’t want her to go.
She gave up refusing. He was too warm, felt too good.
His eyes were still closed. He had little creases around them that told her he smiled often. He had scarseverywhere—forehead, eyebrows, one right next to his jaw, on his lips... across his neck.
There was no denying his neck scar was the worst. She reached out to gently touch it. He tensed and sucked in a breath as his eyes cracked open.
“Sorry.” She pulled her hand back. “Does it hurt?”
“Not on the outside.” His voice was sleep drenched, but clearer than she’d heard it before.
“How did it happen? Were you in battle?” she asked. “You don’t have to tell me if it’s uncomfortable.”
His brows pinched for a moment, and his fingers drummed at the small of her back before he sucked in a hard breath. “I... have a habit of taking unwilling conquests.”
She jolted. “What?”
He quickly amended. “Not in that way, I swear. Out there, many are desperate. They trade women for boons whether she consents or not.”
Trinia’s stomach twisted up. “That’s horrible.”
Brovdir nodded. “I take them. I do not touch. Then I return them with the boons promised.”
Her chest warmed. “Goodness. That’s so decent of you, but why would you give them the boons if they didn’t hold up their end of the bargain?”
He rose a brow as if confused by her question. “Most are desperate. Starving. Have starving children. Or an abusive man who forced their hand. No boons means she will suffer more than the terror she already endured.”
She melted for the male even as she flinched with shame. “You’re right... I didn’t think about that.”
He reached up to touch her cheek. His warm skin was gentle as he stroked the edge of her jaw. “Glad you didn’t.”
She blinked rapidly. “You’re glad I was an insensitive ass?”
He snorted with amusement. “You’re not. Andyes.You did not consider it because you have never endured it. I’m glad for that.”
She wondered just how much hardship this kind male had suffered outside the Rove Woods.
Her eyes went back to the scar. She tapped it with her fingertips. “So then... one of them gave you this? Did she not realize you were trying to help?”
He shook his head. “Was walking her home. Her brothers came to her aid. Twins. Smelled like just one when it was two. Caught me by surprise and... Karthoc found me in time.”
