Chapter Eight
Chapter Eight
He stalks toward me, a smirk on his face as he tucks a strand of hair behind my ear.
“Thanks,” I whisper, scared to ruin the moment. This whole situation is surreal. Why has he been dreaming of me, and why do I feel like I know him on a soul level? This world isn’t supposed to be real, but here we are, fighting for our lives.
Ganesh tilts his head to the side, analyzing me before nodding once. “We need to move. There are nasty things that go bump in the Devilwood at night. Things even I can’t fight back against.”
He gestures toward the path leading out of camp, and at the mention of monsters, I get moving. “Where are we going?”
”Far from here,” Ganesh replies, keeping his voice low and his eyes scan the trees around us. “I’ll get you to the village. It’s the least I can do for someone who came to rescue me.”
I snort. “Fat lot of good it did. Innkeeper, huh?”
As we move through the woods, I glance back at him, the firelight flickering behind him casts his face in a weird shadow. My heart is racing, and not with fear this time, but with an odd sense of exhilaration.
For the first time since waking up in this strange place, I feel a strange sense of belonging. Maybe I don’t need to go back to the real world…
He chuckles. “I’m an Innkeeper now. That’s all that matters.”
“Those bandits seemed really excited to have captured the Almighty Orc.” I prod, tripping over a rock hidden on the forest floor.
His strong hands wrap around my waist, steadying me, and I freeze. “Let’s just say my previous employer isn’t super thrilled I’ve escaped. Haven was supposed to be a place far from his reach, but they seem to have found me.”
The grumble in his voice leaves me with more questions than answers but I follow him through the dense forest, silently. Lost in my own little world, the thoughts in my head no longer feel like my own. I barely catch the few muttered words he utters under his breath as we make our way closer to town.
Every move he makes is with purpose, the kind of purpose that comes from years of running, hiding, and surviving. He’s been doing this for a long time.
As we emerge from the forest, the small town of Haven’s Edge comes into view. A cluster of weathered buildings nestles between hills, the faint glow of lanterns flickering in the dim evening light. From a distance, the town seems peaceful. Quaint even, but I can feel an undercurrent of tension in the air.
Ganesh leads me toward a modest building at the far end of town, and we don’t see a single person. The town looks lived in, but it’s like no one is home. There is just an eerie stillness that doesn’t sit right with me. But he doesn’t waste any time, pushing open the door with a quiet creak. He gathers clothes and trinkets, food, and potions, tossing it all into a large satchel with practiced efficiency.
“We need to move,” his voice is strained, eyes refusing to look at me. His broad hands work quickly to pack everything neatly into bags. “They’ve found me before, they’ll find me again. And now they’ve seen you.”
Ganesh pauses, looking up at me. His eyes hold a startling seriousness. “You won’t be safe in the city village any longer. With my absence, they’ve all scattered. They will return when they know it to be safe, but that could take weeks.”
My body is tense in the doorway. The weight of his words is almost suffocating. The bandits from the forest, with their hungry touches, and malicious leering… they could come after me. Or at least, others like them could. I know that much, but what I don’t understand is why my soul physically yearns to be near him. I know he can keep me safe, and I don’t want to go anywhere else. But that means leaving the real world behind…
My gaze drifts back to the door, out toward the darkening town, then back to Ganesh and his frantic packing. The sounds of his hurried movements seem amplified in the small, quiet space. And a sense of dread creeps over me.
”Where would we go?” I ask, voice shaking slightly.
He pauses in his movements, watching me with a seriousness that sends a chill down my spine. “Far away. Anywhere they won’t find us. I’m used to living in hiding, but it’s not just me I need to worry about anymore. They’ll come for you too.”
Ganesh continues packing as if it’s a done deal. “There’s a settlement through the forest, up into the mountains. It should be safe.”
I blink as my mind races, the weight of his words settling into my chest as truth. I hadn’t even thought about the fact that he’d be putting himself at risk. He’s a stranger for God’s sake, someone I’d just met by chance, and yet he’s already decided to help me, to take me with him.
“Why me?” I croak out, needing to know the answer. His kindness feels like a burden, but it also feels like something I desperately need.
He stands slowly, stalking toward me as if I am a frightened animal. He pulls me further into the room, shutting the door behind me. His hands grab mine softly, settling them on his large chest.
”I told you in the forest, Warrior.” He chuckles, “I’ve dreamt of you for years. There was a day that your soul felt like it was fracturing. It gave me the strength to run from my old life, with the hope that I’d one day be strong enough to put the pieces back together. I came to Haven’s Edge, to wait for you.”
My fingers dance absentmindedly across the wide expanse of his chest, while his larger ones encompass my waist, holding me so tightly it will probably be bruised in the morning. My heart flutters in my chest at our nearness, urging me to be even closer, and before I can talk myself out of it, I jump into his arms knowing he will catch me.
With my legs wrapped around his waist, he has no choice but to hold me closer. My lips slam down onto his. Tentatively at first, waiting for him to give me some sort of sign. Shit. Did I misread everything?
Before I can pull away, his mouth opens, tongue probing against my closed lips. I let him in, needing to taste him. A deep growl, filled with need pours out of him as he pushes my back against a nearby wall. Trinkets and charms lining the walls all rattle and chime at the invasion. His thick hands find the front of my shirt, ripping it in half before he begrudgingly pulls away.
“I want this, Little Warrior. But I haven’t always been a nice guy. I could hurt you.” His voice is filled with worry, which warms my heart. But there is not a single part of me that thinks he will willingly hurt me.
”I’m not worried, Keeper. My soul knows you, and my body yearns for your touch. You’re not going to scare me away.” My hands cup his cheeks, as I stare into his eyes, making sure he understands.
I rotate my hips against him, urging him to move. His groans turn animalistic as he pushes back against me. Our lips crash together in a sensual dance that leaves me aching for more. His hands are everywhere, making quick work of my clothes as he rips pieces off of me. But I can’t bring myself to care.
I grind down onto him, an embarrassingly loud moan ripping itself from my core.
He carries me over to the carpet, laying me out like a buffet in front of the fireplace. The rug underneath is soft against my skin, ramping up the pleasure. His fingers travel down my chest, flicking against tight nipples as he kicks his way out of his own clothing.
I sit up and watch in fascination as his body is revealed. He is even more magnificent than I’d imagined during our hike. A massive, olive-colored chest lightly covered with hair dares my fingers to reach out and touch. He is so warm and a groan escapes from him as my fingers find his nipples. I don’t stop there, though. How could I? The expanse of skin and muscle deserves to be discovered.
I trail my fingers down his chest, following the hair to the exact thing that will make us both happy. His cock, like the rest of him, is massive, and, for a moment, I hesitate. I mean, I know vaginas can stretch, but … damn… My hands can’t wrap all the way around it. Dark veins run up and down the length of it and I trail my fingers along them to the bulbous tip. I must have hit a nerve or something because he grabs my hands and brings them to his lips.
“Not just yet, Little Warrior. I will be done before we start if you keep that up.” He smiles as he kisses my fingers and moves my hands to my sides. “You just keep those there for now, all right?”
I smile at him tentatively. He is being so gentle. It’s completely unexpected. He lays me back against the soft rug and my senses scream for more. My legs fall open in invitation and I rub against the rug. I want him to cover me, but he is just running his fingers along my sides.
“You know, you can touch me harder than that. I am not going to break.” I smile up at him encouragingly. He stops and sits back, looking at me seriously.
“I’ve not been a good male. I have done things… Awful things… I have hurt people.”
“A bit of pain never hurts,” I smirk at him.
“Not that kind of hurt, Little Warrior. It would break something in me if I ever hurt you,” he vows.
“You could never do that. I know that in my heart. Now, come here,” I urge, wrapping my hands around his neck and pulling him in for a kiss. He hesitates for just a moment and then sweeps in, lips pressing against mine bruisingly.
Our hands tangle trying to touch each other. He grabs mine and forces them above my head, pressing his hips in me, grinding against me the way I have been wanting. I moan deeply against his lips, our tongues enmeshed, as I try to break his hold. I want to touch him, damn it!
Something in my Rogue senses fires up and I turn the tables on him. I am now astride him, rubbing my cunt against his cock. I can feel the wetness slide out of me as I glide along his length. I rub my tits against his chest and break the kiss. I am more than ready for him, for his massive cock to be buried deep inside me. He grabs my hips and stops my attempts to get him in.
“Wait,” he says, breathing heavily. “Let me make sure you’re ready for me.”
“I am so ready for you. I need you inside me, deep inside me. Now!”
“Little Warrior,” he says as his fingers go where I need his cock to be. “Listen to me. Give me just …a … moment…” He groans as I clamp onto his fingers tightly. Suddenly, he lifts me up and against the wall. My feet are dangling and I wrap my legs around his waist. With a growl, he bites my neck, breaking the skin with his tusks. I gasp. Not in pain, but a sudden feeling of ecstasy envelopes me. I cum. I can’t help it. There is something in that bite that brings me over the edge and I scream. He licks his way around to the other side of my neck and bites me again. I grab his hair, bucking my hips against him as I cum again.
“Oh God, ohgod, ohgodohgodohgodohgod…” I try to speak, but gibberish escapes.
His fingers leave my throbbing pussy and I cry out. I need him there. Doesn’t he understand that? The venom of his tusks is making me a needy mess and he can’t leave me. I wail, grabbing him, trying to get closer.
Finally, he rests the head of his cock against me. He’s not moving fast enough, so I bite him on his pec. I can taste blood, his blood. With a roar, he slams that massive cock inside me. The size of it bites, but I welcome the pain. For once, I feel alive. I look up and capture his gaze. He looks stricken like he is afraid he’s hurt me. I just smile at him.
“That all ya got, Big Guy?” Something in him snaps, reassured by my sass. He moves. Pistoning inside me like there is no tomorrow. I cum again, slammed against the wall, knocking pictures down. I grab wherever I can on him, scratching, pulling, biting. I can’t get enough.
“Once more,” he growls against my neck. He licks the wound there and more venom enters my bloodstream. Howling, I arch my back, squeezing him between my thighs, and push him back. As my orgasm ends, he finally lets go and his cock grows even larger inside me. I can feel his warmth spurt deep within me.
His thrusts slow as our bodies begin to come down. He is still too large to pull out easily, but that is quite all right with me. I love the warmth and closeness I feel with him inside me. He moves us away from the wall, walking us backward into the sitting room. The fire has died down to embers while we were occupied. Sitting gingerly, we sprawl over the chair. He grabs my braids, pulling on them gently, tickling along my sides. If he’s not careful, he will get me started again.
My body is draped over his, our breathing coming in ragged pants. I take a small amount of pride that fighting may not wind him, but I can. It feels surreal, how entwined our souls are having just met. But my heart knows his and even contemplating finding a way home makes me physically ill.
It’s crazy how far I’ve come in the day I’ve been here. This world felt like a never-ending nightmare, and in some ways it still is. I may not be able to survive the craziness hunting us. But a quaint little village in the mountains, with my Innkeeper Orc, sounds like the perfect adventure. One I’d be silly to run from.
The life I once knew, one no one would blame me for escaping to its mundane safety, was fading with each passing moment. The ability to play mindless video games in my PJs, work a minimum-wage job, and complain about every day being the same… It’s still out there somewhere, but who would miss me there? Tim? I snort out a laugh.
”I can never go back, can I?” I whisper, afraid to make too much noise in the momentary peace we’ve found.
Ganesh’s hand stops tracing patterns along my back, his shoulders tensing. He stares down at me, eyes searching for the answers within my own. His face is etched with the weight of unspoken words. “If you want to go home, I will do everything in my power to get us there. But I can’t guarantee it ever happens. All I know for certain is, we can’t stay here.”
My heart warms at the thought that he would find a way to go with me. I exhale shakily, knowing he’s right. I don’t belong in this world yet. But with everything that’s happened, and everything I’ve learned, I don’t belong in mine anymore either.
And even if there’s danger, maybe this adventure is exactly what I needed. The life I had before feels empty compared to the rush of what’s happening now. That fear of losing myself completely, of being consumed by this world is scary, but I know Ganesh will keep me safe.
”You’re right,” My voice is firmer, even if my heart still pounds wildly. I look up into his eyes. “Let’s do it.”
He gives me a small nod, the faintest trace of approval shining in his eyes. “Then we leave tonight.”
It takes Ganesh no time to get us up and ready to move, dropping a large and warm cape over my shoulders and packing up a small horse for him to walk next to. I don’t know what awaits me out there, but I know one thing for sure, staying here, staying in the quiet boring life I had before, would never be enough. Not anymore. Not when I have the chance to find something bigger. Adventure.
And so as night falls, I follow my Orc into the unknown. Into a world of danger and adventure. Sealing my fate to his.