CHAPTER9
ROSA
My body moved despite itself. The orc king prowled toward me, his deep-set eyes tracking mine. His protruding tusks glinted in the moonlight, and at this distance the texture and scars of his rough green skin stood out in stark relief.
I could have fled. Supposedly. But even if I escaped the palace, where would I go? I was in a village full of orcs, and if this one didn't have his way with me, one of the others would. It was inevitable.
Instead, I made myself stand my ground. Waited for him to make his move.
And make his move he did. The bed creaked and groaned under his weight, and I had nowhere left to turn. My heart thundered in my chest, but something else, deep inside me, thrummed to life at the same time.
Agonak's face grew closer and closer still until he was mere inches away. He brushed his nose up to the crook of my neck and breathed in deeply. "You smell..." He groaned. "Incredible."
And as much as I didn't want to admit it, he did as well. What was happening to me? Orcs were filthy, barbaric beasts that only cared about killing. Humans had nearly been wiped out by their wars -- that's why we'd made the treaty in the first place! That's why we stayed far away, cloistered in our homes and eking out a living one day at a time.
To be with one of...them like this was treason of the highest order. It had to be. But my traitorous body didn't seem to care.
"Wait!" I yelped out, throwing my hands up in front of him. I held on to one last sliver of rationality by a thread. "We don't have to do this. We can talk. I'll tell you anything you want to know!"
My voice felt hollow to my own ears.
He laughed again. It was a dark, terrible sound that left me cold and shaking. "That won't be necessary. Not when you're going to be screaming my name before the night is through."
And there it was, out in the open. The Orc King was going to have his way with me, and there was nothing I could do about it. I should have screamed. I should have resisted.
Hell, I shouldn't have even been here in the first place.
So why did my body react so strongly in his presence, and why did I find myself unable to pull away from him?
His breath ruffled my hair. His teeth nipped at my earlobe, sending shivers down my spine. "Don't worry, my sweet human...I'll be gentle." A low, throaty chuckle. "At first."
I didn't respond. Instead, I closed my eyes and tried to breathe. I knew what was coming next. I'd heard about it in hushed whispers from the girls in the village. I just never thought I would lay with anorc.
And then there was no more time for thought. Agonak's mouth clamped over mine, his tongue invading my mouth. He tasted of musk and man, and I moaned into his mouth as he explored me.
His tongue was surprisingly gentle for his stature, warm and probing. His tusks rested against either side of my lips, a constant, teasing reminder that he was no human. Were they sharp? Would they cut into my skin, my face if I weren't careful?
The thought made me tremble, but Agonak wasn't done yet. He pulled back, dragging his mouth across my cheek to my ear. His breath was hot and heavy, and I shivered again.
And when I finally opened my eyes, I found myself staring into those dark orbs once more. They were hot and hungry, and all too human.
That shocked me most of all. As monstrous as he was, his eyes held a hint of something familiar. A gentle reminder, far back in the recesses of my mind, that I would be okay. That he would take care of me.
The King's hand came up and cupped my cheek, his thumb rubbing over my bottom lip. "Your lips are so soft," he muttered. "So pink."
My lips tingled from his kiss. My chest tightened. And I couldn't help but wonder what it would feel like to have his large, calloused hands running over my skin. To feel his mouth on every inch of my body.
I shuddered, unable to stop myself.
"What are you thinking?" His voice melted next to my ear. "Tell me."
I didn't know what to say. The words just wouldn't come. "You're..." I sputtered, my previous bravery nowhere to be found. "An orc."
He chuckled at that. "How very perceptive of you. And what else am I?" The orc king ran one hand through my hair and the gentle touches on my scalp sent a ripple of pleasure down my spine.
"A monster," I whispered.
"Oh?" Agonak mused. He dipped lower, his tusks scraping against the soft skin of my neck. "Is that what you want me to be?"