Page 58 of The Orc's Captive Bride
“No.” She opened her eyes, pulling back enough to see his face. “You’re a person. A good person who’s been forced into an impossible situation. There’s a difference.”
“Is there?”
“Yes.” She reached up, touching his scarred face. “You protect people. You care. You feel. Tools don’t do that.”
“Tools don’t defy their masters either.” His jaw clenched. “But I wanted to. When he raised his hand to you, I wanted to tear him apart.”
“I know. I saw.”
“You stopped me.”
“Because I couldn’t bear to lose you.” The admission came out quiet but fierce. “I know that’s selfish. I know you don’t belong to me. But I couldn’t—I can’t?—”
He kissed her.
Not gently but hard and desperate. She kissed him back with equal desperation, her hands fisting in his tunic and pulling him closer.
All the things that made life bearable were there in his kiss. In the way he held her like she was precious. Breakable. Worth protecting.
When they finally broke apart, both breathing hard, he rested his forehead against hers.
“I won’t let him hurt you,” he whispered. “Whatever it costs. I won’t let him hurt you.”
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”
“I’m not.” His eyes met hers, filled with determination. “This is the one promise I’ll keep. Even if it kills me.”
“Khorrek—”
“You should rest. You have work to do. Three days isn’t much time.”
He was right. She knew he was right.
But the thought of being alone—of facing the fear and the impossible deadline without his presence—made her want to scream.
“Stay,” she whispered. “Just for a little while. Please.”
He hesitated, conflict written across every line of his face, then he nodded.
“A little while.”
He sat down next to her and tucked her against his side. She closed her eyes, focusing on the steady sound of his heartbeat beneath her ear.
“Do you ever wish—” She stopped and reconsidered. “Never mind. I was going to ask a stupid question.”
“It wasn’t stupid.” His arm tightened around her. “I wish for things I have no right to wish for. All the time.”
“Like what?”
“Like a life that belongs to me.”
“That’s not too much to wish for. Everybody deserves that. Freedom. Choice. Love.”
Love.
The word settled between them like a living thing.
“I don’t know how to love,” he said quietly. “I was never taught.”
