CHAPTER THREE
Reed slept fitfully, haunted by a troubling dream. He was in an eerily dark forest, trying to catch Jolene. The girl laughed herself silly and teased Reed, asking him to chase her. He tried, but he couldn't shake the unsettling feeling that something was wrong and that he shouldn't be doing it.
Every time he got closer to Jolene, she would magically disappear behind a tree, only to reappear a few feet in front of him. The worst part was the feeling of powerlessness: no matter how hard he pushed himself to run faster, he moved as if he were underwater. Jolene's laughter changed, growing more sinister with each attempt Reed made to catch her.
This vicious cycle became even more exhausting when Reed began to see Katuri in his dream. She stood among the trees, reaching for him each time he passed her, looking disappointed and sad when he didn’t respond. He wanted to stop chasing Jolene, but he had no control over his body. It was unbearable.
Finally, his own faint groan woke him up. Reed sat up abruptly, panting heavily. For a moment, he had trouble figuring out where he was, as it was completely dark around him. But the touch of the furs soothed him and helped him distance himself from the disturbing dream.
He knew he had a severe fever, but his full bladder was bothering him even more, so he pushed the furs aside and moved out from under the mantel. But as soon as he swung his legs over the edge, his feet touched… something unexpected that shouldn’t have been there. It was smooth and warm.
At that moment, he heard Katuri say, "What's wrong?"
"Ah!" he yelped, a little startled when he realized he had touched her body. She must have been sleeping on the floor next to the stove. It shocked him.
Reed sensed more than saw Katuri standing up beside him, as it was pitch dark in the house. He felt her hand on his shoulder.
"Are you alright? What happened?" Worry filled her voice as she touched his cheek. "Damn, you're burning up like a furnace."
"Nothing… I just woke up and needed to pee," he answered weakly, feeling a bit dizzy. His temples were throbbing.
"Wait, I'll get the lamp," Katuri said as she moved, and Reed heard her rustling with something.
Soon, the dim light of a small olive lamp illuminated the room, and Reed blinked a few times, temporarily blinded. When his eyes readjusted, he could barely keep from gasping for air.
Katuri… was almost naked. She wore the same breast band he had seen earlier when she was chopping wood. Over her hips, she wore only a skimpy loincloth. Her feminine curves, large breasts, and shapely legs were exposed, as well as her muscular arms and stomach.
The orcess approached the bewildered Reed, who was still sitting on the edge of the fireplace. She noticed that he covered his crotch with his hands and looked at her in confusion. Then she walked across the room and retrieved something from the chest. Reed recognized them as two blankets.
"Here, cover yourself; it's chilly at night," she said, handing him one. She wrapped the second one around herself like a cloak.
Reed stood up and draped the blanket around his shoulders, noticing that Katuri averted her gaze to give him privacy. He would probably appreciate it more if he didn't feel so exhausted.
Katuri reached for the lamp and held Reed by the elbow with her other hand. She stood right next to him, and for the first time, he noticed that she was a bit taller than him. She had about two inches on his six-foot-two, which put her at maybe six-foot-four. But her height didn’t surprise him; besides, it made perfect sense to his foggy mind at that moment.
"You can lean on my arm, Reed," she said calmly.
"Thank you," he replied quietly, gripping her warm forearm. Normally, he would have been uncomfortable needing help with such a simple task, but at that moment, he felt too weak to care. Besides, touching Katuri's arm was a pleasant and interesting experience for him. Her skin was smooth, but the most surprising thing was that Katuri's arm didn't even budge under his weight. It was as solid as a stone.
She helped him to the latrine and waited outside. Then she led him back to the bed, tossing her blanket onto the chair as they returned.
"Get back to sleep, Reed, right now! You're burning up!" Katuri said firmly but with a concerned tone as they stood next to the inglenook.
"Wait!" Reed interrupted her, suddenly feeling the need to address something. "Katuri, have you been sleeping on the floor all this time?"
"Well, I don't have a guest bedroom, as you can see," Katuri replied with a sarcastic smile. "Now hop in, Reed," she added impatiently, frowning.
"No! I can't agree to that. It shouldn't be like this. You've helped me so much, and I'm sorry, but I can't let you sleep on the floor. It's unacceptable. I should be the one sleeping there," Reed babbled frantically, shaking all over. In his fevered mind, it seemed like the right thing to say.
"No way, Reed! You're talking nonsense! Go to bed; this isn't the time for discussions!"
"But it's not right. We should switch. It's your house, and I'm not going to bed unless we switch!" Reed insisted.
Finally, Katuri snorted with laughter. With an amused smile, she shook her head. "Aren't you as stubborn as you are cute? Here's what we'll do: neither of us is going to sleep on the floor. We'll both fit in there." She grinned and pointed her chin toward the inglenook.
"Oh, yeah, okay…" he agreed before he could even think about it, then laughed a little awkwardly and added, "If you think that's better."
"You tell me," Katuri answered, grinning. "Get in; I'll put out the lamp."
Reed took the blanket off his shoulders and tossed it onto the chair, as did Katuri. Then he quickly crawled onto the bedding, sliding under the furs, and moved aside to make room for the orcess.
During that brief moment when Katuri was standing by the table, Reed was lost in frantic thought as he realized that, for the first time in his life, he was going to sleep with a woman. Of course, he knew they'd literally be sleeping next to each other, but he was naked, Katuri was also barely clothed, and they would be in a very tight space.
I s she going to initiate something with me? he wondered with a mix of excitement and nervousness. He wanted this so badly, but he was afraid he’d fail because of his lack of experience. Maybe Katuri would go easy on me? She knows I'm still sick. Or maybe I'm just delusional. Maybe she doesn’t even want this. Maybe I’m just hallucinating everything, and she's not even real.
But he knew he wasn’t imagining it when he soon felt a gentle tapping on his leg as Katuri tried to feel her way in the darkness.
"Oh, there you are," she whispered, crawling behind his back as he lay on his side, facing the stove wall. "I hope you don't mind cuddling with a hideous orc. I'm afraid I'm too big for you to have a comfortable spot." She chuckled softly.
"Of course not. And don't say you're hideous, it's not true at all. It's the very opposite of that," Reed muttered, feeling twice as inflamed as he was before.
"Oh, that's so nice of you, Reed," Katuri answered, seemingly amused, but Reed sensed that she wasn't so indifferent to his words.
He could barely suppress a moan as he felt Katuri's breasts pressing against his back and her thighs touching his buttocks and the backs of his legs. Reed thought he could almost make out where Katuri's nipples touched his skin. His heart was pounding, and he had trouble breathing. His cock throbbed impatiently, and Reed could only hope that Katuri wouldn't discover his erection. Or that she would. Both possibilities were exciting in a way.
Katuri slid her right arm under his head, and with her left, she covered them both with furs. Next, she hugged Reed, her hand moving from his chest to his stomach.
And then... her fingers accidentally skimmed his rock-hard cock.
The orcess gasped in surprise, and for a split second, she reached for the tip of Reed's cock, as if to make sure she was touching what she thought she was touching. He moaned in surprise.
"Whoa! Sorry, Reed! Um... I wasn't expecting that," she breathed out into the back of his head, then giggled softly. Her voice was amused, but also contained a hint of surprise.
"It's okay. I'm sorry that I—" Reed didn't finish. He felt as if his ears were so hot that they would probably glow in the dark. But otherwise, he was full of excitement.
"That you like to cuddle with me? Aww, don't apologize for that, Reed. It's so nice to see... hard proof of it!" Katuri giggled again.
For a moment, there was silence between them, broken only by their breathing. Katuri stroked and massaged Reed's upper body, but avoided going lower. Her touch triggered a variety of feelings in him. It was soothing, calming, exciting, and titillating at the same time. He felt safe in her embrace and a little wary, but in a good way. He was exhausted from the fever, but too excited to fall asleep.
"Hey, Reed," Katuri whispered in a lowered voice. A pleasant shiver ran down his spine. "I was just wondering, do you by any chance have some orcish blood in you?"
"I don't think so. Why?" he asked in consternation.
She giggled a bit hoarsely at first, then said sensually, "Um, it's just an observation that some of your body parts look... much larger than I'd expect from a human. And one of them definitely has orcish proportions. You know what I mean, right?"
"No, I'm not sure I do," he answered a bit jokingly, but he was pretty sure what she meant. He had always known that he was significantly bigger down there than the other boys in the village—he had seen their endowments when they were at the lake. But he had never paid much attention to that fact, other than to take note of it. He knew that he was taller than them, so he didn't consider it unusual. Katuri's comment, however, made him feel great about it for the first time. He was aware that she had complimented an important part of his manliness in a way.
"Liar, liar!" Katuri laughed softly into the back of his head. For a brief moment, she hugged him even tighter. "Hah, but I can't tell if you're just teasing me or if you're really that innocent. Either way, I like it."
Reed went silent, unable to think of a witty reply. Obviously, he wasn't experienced in talking about sexual topics. He was thinking of what he could answer when Katuri suddenly said, in a different, much more careful tone, "I hope you know I'm just messing with you a bit? You're not mad at me for joking around like that, are you?"
"Of course, I'm not, Katuri. I think I like these kinds of jokes," he replied, putting his hand on hers to confirm his words.
"I just want you to know that it's so wonderful to cuddle with you, Reed. I've never felt like this before. I... I didn't realize I could miss so much being close to someone," Katuri whispered somewhat timidly.
She was silent for a while, but then snorted amusingly and said, "Damn, I guess I really am too soft to be an orc."
Reed pondered her words and her sudden change in mood, as if she were trying to distance herself from the softer, more tender side of her through joking.
"Maybe you're just you, Katuri. You're not only an orc after all."
"But I look more like an orc," she said quietly, evidently uneasy.
Reed knew that this posed a problem for Katuri. Because of the duality of her nature, she felt insecure about her orcish appearance. She understood that she wouldn't fit in well with either the orcs or the humans.
"To me, you look unique first and foremost. Like a beautiful, strong woman with an interesting complexion," Reed replied, choosing his words carefully. "I believe that you have taken the best of both races."
"You only say that because—"
"Only because it's the truth, Katuri," he interrupted her with conviction. Then he pressed her hand to his chest, just above his heart. "I really think so."
"Thank you, Reed, that's very kind of you." Katuri used nearly the same words as she had before, but this time her voice lacked any trace of sarcasm.
"It's me who should be thanking you all this time, Katuri. You're my saving angel."
Katuri let out a surprised gasp and hugged him tighter. She kissed the back of his head and whispered, "Sleep well, Reed."
"You too, Katuri," Reed replied, then he pulled her palm to his lips and kissed it.
And just like that, he fell asleep, immersed in the feeling of safety.
***
The next day, Reed woke up, but Katuri wasn't lying next to him. He sat up carefully, only to realize that he felt significantly better. He felt almost well; the fever was gone, and he could breathe much easier. The difference in his condition was striking, but he didn't want to get too confident, as just the day before, he had been burning up like a frying pan.
He stood up and noticed his clothes neatly folded next to the edge of the inglenook. His shoes and coin pouch were there as well. He had almost forgotten about the latter. It seemed to be a relic from another life.
Since Katuri wasn't in the house, he dressed and went outside. The weather was beautiful, and for the first time, he saw the whole clearing where Katuri's house was. It was a picturesque place.
Slowly, being careful not to exert himself too much, he walked around the house and spotted Katuri kneeling beside a small vegetable patch. The girl didn't notice him, as she was busy weeding. He approached her slowly, and then his heart began to pound very hard. But he knew it wasn't because of his health. Somehow he knew it was a reaction to seeing Katuri.
"Do you really think this is a good idea?" asked Katuri, raising her head. She must have heard his footsteps. She smiled, though her violet eyes were filled with concern.
“Yeah, I thought that I would chop some wood to help you,” he joked, and chuckled, but his laugh turned into a cough.
"Sure, I'll show you which part of the forest to chop down first." Katuri laughed, then stood up and said, "But seriously, you should still be in bed, Reed. I know you don't have a fever today, but don't be too cocky."
"I know. I promise to be careful. I just wanted to get some fresh air and… see where you were." Reed scratched his head awkwardly as he felt the blush creep up his cheeks.
"Okay, you have my permission to take a little walk, but then you will rest, understand?" said Katuri in a seemingly stern voice, but she smirked, and her eyes had quizzical sparks. "I'll make us some breakfast, come back in, okay?"
"Sure!" Reed saluted jokingly, adding, "I'll just take a little walk and be right back."
Katuri nodded, picked up some carrots and parsley she had just harvested, then walked away. Reed watched her for a moment and could not help but glance at her round butt.
When she had disappeared into the house, he walked slowly around the clearing, looking at everything curiously. He was very impressed with what Katuri was able to accomplish here. Starting with her small vegetable patch: there was fertile, dark soil in it. Reed was sure that Katuri must have brought it from some other place, perhaps from the forest because in the clearing, the soil seemed to be rather clayey. That showed him Katuri's knowledge about farming and experience in that field.
Reed looked closely at the house construction itself, a small woodshed, and even the outhouse, and felt more and more respect for Katuri that she was able to build it all by herself. She must have been a good student of her father’s craft. It was an extraordinary achievement for just one person.
He went back to the house, thinking that Katuri was much more capable than any woman in his village and most of the men. They were far less resourceful. Katuri could build houses, she was an expert hunter, she knew herbs and could cook, and she even had some knowledge of agriculture.
She’s more than perfect wife material, he thought with amusement, then realized it was actually true. Katuri was really something special—a smart, competent, and strong woman.
He went into the house and saw Katuri's back, cooking beside the stove. He realized that soon, Petyr would have Jolene cooking for him every day. Reed expected to be upset at that vision, but to his surprise, he felt nothing whatsoever. Perhaps except a certain joy at seeing Katuri. He became aware that he didn't care for Jolene that much anymore, and that was somehow cathartic.
The orcess turned to him with a smile and asked him to sit on the chair. Then she put a bowl of scrambled bird eggs on the table and a plate with roasted vegetables and some sausages. Since she didn't have a second chair, she just pushed the chest toward the table and sat on it.
"Sorry, I don't have more plates, but I have two spoons, so we'll have to eat from this bowl together. Is that okay with you?" She smiled.
"Of course, Katuri!" Reed felt strange that she even mentioned that. She cared for him in so many ways and yet was so humble. He wanted to show her his appreciation, and he asked in a cheerful tone, "Scrambled eggs in the middle of the forest? And sausages? Are you a sorceress, Katuri?"
"Hah! No, the eggs are from the pheasants. I simply know where their nests are. But these sausages I made myself, from a deer I killed a few weeks ago. I have a small smokehouse behind the house," Katuri explained as they ate.
"I'm so amazed by you, Katuri," Reed blurted out, then realizing how ambiguous that sounded, he continued, "I mean, you know so many things and are so resourceful and skillful for a twenty-year-old girl! Did you really build this house and everything else all by yourself?"
"Yup! But it took me a lot of time. And some things could be done better," Katuri replied, shrugging her shoulders as if a bit embarrassed that Reed was praising her.
He shook his head in disbelief that she was so modest, but he only respected her even more because of it.
"Oh, by the way, I’m not twenty yet—I’ll be in three months!” she added with a mischievous smile.
“I will be twenty in six months, but I can’t say I built an entire house by myself being at that age,” he said with a serious tone.
Katuri didn't respond.
They finished the meal and talked about many topics, such as the differences between orcish and human house-building techniques, agriculture, and ways of improving soil conditions, and so on. They ended up talking about families again, and this time Reed told Katuri that he could barely remember his father because he had been drafted into the king's army and never returned; Reed was just a toddler then. One day, the king's officials came and took all the big and healthy men. Reed’s father was the tallest in Stagmoor, so he was chosen first. Reed's mother waited for him for years, but he never came back; nobody knew what happened. If not for her father, she would have lost the farm. But it also didn't last. Reed's grandfather died ten years later, and despite being only thirteen years old, Reed had to work hard on the farm, taking on all duties, strenuous even for an adult man. Then he also told Katuri about his mother's death one year ago and how he was left on the farm all by himself.
Katuri listened to him attentively without interrupting, and when he had finished, she nodded thoughtfully. "Now I understand why you were so… desperate for this Jolene or whatever her name was."
Reed silently pondered her words, and Katuri probably felt that she had said too much. "I'm sorry if it's too personal of an observation."
"No, not at all. I think you're right. I kept losing loved ones one after another and felt helpless, unable to do anything. It added to my desperate chase after Jolene. I had this naive idea that this time I could do something; she didn't disappear like they did. There was still a chance. It definitely clouded my judgment," Reed said, shaking his head in abashment. Sarcastically, he added, "But oh well, I should have known better. The orphan would always lose the game against the son of the wealthiest man in the village—before he even stepped in."
"I don't see it that way," Katuri stated, then changed the subject, "It keeps surprising me how much I can relate to what you felt. I guess I'm an expert on loneliness!" She chuckled, but then looked pensively out the window.
"And yet, you chose to live here in the woods. Why didn't you move somewhere else? Travel to a bigger city or something like that?" Reed inquired.
"It doesn't work that way, Reed. I think you know that, too." Katuri gazed at him with melancholic eyes. "You can be around a lot of people and still be lonely as hell. But please don't think I live like a total outsider. Every now and then I go to Larrant to sell furs or meat and get supplies, tools, and so on. Sometimes I even drown my sorrows in a mug of ale at the tavern." She laughed mirthlessly. "But that still doesn't change the way I feel."
"I understand," Reed replied, but then smiled at one of his thoughts and said, "Yes, you can be lonely in the biggest city in the world, but you can also get lost in the wilderness and find a friendly soul there."
"That would be a good summary of our conversation," Katuri grinned widely.
Next, she asked Reed to rest again, which he did, feeling a little tired despite having only taken a short walk and sat at the table. He was definitely not one hundred percent well yet.
He took a nap and spent the rest of the day in bed. Katuri went in and out, doing some chores around the house.
When evening came, the orcess added more wood to the furnace and then called it a day. Again, she stood up in front of Reed, dressed only in a breast band and a loincloth. Of course, her body took his breath away, but that wasn't even surprising anymore. It was hot in the house, and even hotter under the furs. He also took off his shirt.
"I think I feel healthy enough to sleep on the floor," Reed told her, daring to tease her a little. He just wanted to see how she would react.
"Maybe you are, but is that what you want?" Katuri raised an eyebrow with a grin.
"Not for the world," he answered seriously, and they both lay down on the bedding.
This time, Reed was on his back, and Katuri snuggled into his side, wrapping her right arm around his neck and resting her left on his chest. She put her leg over his thighs. Her large breasts were pressed against his shoulder and the side of his chest. He felt as if her body was enveloping him tightly, almost as if she were surrounding him. Her warm breath tickled his ear a little, but it felt wonderful.
And, of course, his cock hardened rapidly. There was no way Katuri couldn't feel it against her leg. His erection was so strong that it seemed to be able to lift her leg.
Reed felt her giggle on his cheek, and she said, "I can feel your body regaining strength, Reed. Well, one part in particular."
"I feel the biggest improvement when I'm around you," Reed joked back, immediately feeling his heart beat faster. "It appears that cuddling with you has healing potential."
"Okay, then, let's continue the treatment..." Katuri laughed, then added, obviously amused, "Kiss me goodnight, and we can doze off."
Reed felt a sudden wave of excitement. Kissing was something he could show off his skills at. And he couldn't wait to taste Katuri's plump lips.
He turned further toward Katuri and leaned forward, making out only a dim shadow of her face in the darkness. Their lips met and slowly pressed together. What surprised him was that Katuri moaned quietly with her mouth closed, as if shocked that Reed was going for a full kiss and not just a peck on the cheek, which she had seemingly expected.
But she quickly returned the kiss, tilting her head slightly to the side. Her lips parted, and Reed let his tongue slide between them. Her tongue welcomed him and intertwined with his in a slow, tender motion. They sank completely into the kiss.
Reed raised his hand and tenderly touched Katuri's face, caressing her cheek and jaw, then sliding it over her ear. As gently as curiously, he examined her pointed ear, so different in shape from human ears. Then his fingers dug into her thick hair, pulling her head toward him. Then he moved lower, stroking her neck.
Katuri's hand mimicked his movements, tenderly caressing his face and hair. For a moment, her fingers played with his earlobe, then moved lower to his chest. Despite the obvious physical strength Katuri possessed, her touch was delicate, almost tentative.
Reed felt giddy, his mind flooded with joy, pleasure, and gratitude. If anyone had told him he would ever kiss an orcish woman, he would not have believed it. Let alone that a woman from a race of fierce and violent people would kiss him in the most tender and sensual way.
As he kissed Katuri's soft lips, Reed had a sudden realization—that he was starting to develop feelings for her! It felt strange, almost rushed, even kind of wrong for some reason, but it was also true. He saw it clearly at that very moment. And he didn't feel the need to dig deeper into the subject or even to suppress it. He just embraced these feelings, immersing himself in them, diving into them.
Katuri moaned softly and backed out of the kiss. For a moment, she kept her forehead pressed to his as they both breathed heavily, dipped in sweet exhaustion.
"Wow! I asked for a goodnight kiss and got this... Not that I'm complaining, of course." She chuckled. "Tomorrow, I want to take you to the river if you'll feel well. There's a nice spot where I go to bathe. I thought you might want to wash the fever sweat off you."
"Oh! I thought I had already explored the river thoroughly... In and out, you might say," he tried to joke, and to his delight, Katuri laughed softly. "But I'd like to see this place, Katuri."
"Then shush and close your eyes now," Katuri murmured, kissing him briefly.
Then she pulled his head to her chest, and Reed fell asleep listening to her strong, steady heartbeat.