10. Evelyn
Evelyn
The imposingly tall orc looks right at me. His golden-flecked eyes are focused on me and me alone. His muscular, tattooed chest heaves with heavy breaths.
I must have misheard.
Because he did not just tell me ‘ we will mate .’
“I’m sorry?” I say when I find my voice again.
He cocks his head to the side as if he’s studying me. His eyes travel up and down my body, and I feel a shiver run down my spine.
No man has ever looked at me like that before. With pure hunger in his eyes. This orc, this brutal warlord, this savage, alien beast…
He wants me.
And, for some strange reason, I feel drawn to him. Seeing a man like him trapped in a cell feels like an affront to nature, an insult to all that is right. A man like him should be free to roam the jungle, to fell beasts.
To impregnate his mate until her belly swells with his spawn.
“We will mate,” Varkul repeats. “Make human-orc babies.”
“No,” I say resolutely, fighting my base instincts. “That’s not happening. Not with me, at least.”
He frowns. “No?”
“No. I don’t know what gave you that idea, but no. I am here to do research. Tests. That is how we will determine if there is a match or not.”
“You are a human woman, are you not?”
“Correct, but?—”
“Are you not fertile?”
My face feels like it’s on fire. Why is this alien male grilling me about my uterus in front of my new boss? And why is Dr. Kelly not intervening?
I glance at my boss over my shoulder, but I just see a shit-eating grin on his face. Figures. He’s not going to help me out of this pickle.
“That’s not the point,” I say fiercely. “I’m not your damn baby-maker!”
I storm out of the room. Dr. Kelly follows, as the high-security door is locked behind us.
“Varkul responded well to you!” Dr. Kelly gushes. “That is the most he’s spoken to anyone since he checked in! In fact, that might be the longest conversation anyone’s ever had with an orc!”
I whirl around and prod my finger into Dr. Kelly’s chest.
“What the hell was that?” I say, my face still flushed. “Why does he think he can put a baby in me ?!”
Dr. Kelly’s smile makes a cold shiver run down my spine.
“Dr. Carter,” he says smoothly. “I don’t think I have to explain to you how babies are made?”
“I’m aware of the concept, yes, but that’s not why I’m here!”
As I say those words, my blood turns to ice.
Is that not why I’m here?
I’m a woman. Not the youngest, but everything down there still works. My mind flashes back to that strange job interview.
The suits at the Department of Interstellar Affairs barely asked about my credentials or work history. They were only interested in my dating history. My sexual history. My blood tests.
Oh god.
That is why I’m here.
I signed up to be a concubine for an orc.