Chapter 4
Chapter Four
I wake the next morning when Uram slides back under the covers with me.
Rolling to my back, I blink at him sleepily, noting the features of his face in the light coming through the cracks in the walls of the barn.
His tusks, which looked so dangerous last night, seem perfectly normal now, a part of his handsome face.
His straight, black eyebrows furrow as I lift my hand to his cheek, testing the stubble there.
But he allows me to explore him, and only the vein throbbing at the base of his throat bears witness to his growing excitement.
“Where did you go?” I whisper as I trace my fingertips over the pointed tip of his ear.
He shudders and closes his eyes. “To the village. I got you a cloak and good winter boots. Some food for the road, too.”
“For the road?” I ask, entranced by his soft, long hair.
“We are going to Bellhaven Hill,” he says. “My home.”
I’ve heard of the orc kingdom, of course, and the name of his clan. But that doesn’t mean I’d be welcome there. If I can’t even find a place for myself among humans, how would I fit into an orc clan?
I drop my hand to the straw between us. “I can’t come to your home with you.”
Uram opens his eyes and frowns at me. “Of course, you can. You are my mate.”
“They won’t accept me,” I mutter. “I’m not an orc.”
He lets out a short snort of laughter. “I know that, love. But you would not be the only human there.”
“No?”
I try not to let my hopes get up. He says he wants me to come with him, but maybe he’s just sweet-talking me because he wants under my skirt.
“A lot of humans live in the orc villages,” he says. “And some even live at the Hill. Our king’s mate is a human.”
That’s unusual. But… “How do you know I’m your mate?”
Uram puts his nose to my neck and takes a deep inhale.
“I knew it from the moment I caught your scent. You smell like the best apple pie and warm milk, and when you fell asleep in my arms last night, I knew I could never let you go.” He raises his head to look into my eyes.
“You feel it, too, don’t you? I smell how your body wants mine. ”
Heat rushes to my cheeks, and I curl into a ball, pressing my thighs together. But my traitorous nipples harden into painful points, and when I drag in a shocked breath, Uram’s delicious scent wraps around my senses, stealing my wits.
“Will you let me show you?” Uram rumbles.
“Show me what?”
He rubs his palm over my back in sensual circles. “How good it can be between us.”
It’s his certainty that has me nodding slowly. He seems completely convinced that we are well-matched, and I can’t help but be curious.
Uram lifts himself on one elbow and kisses me. It’s a slow caress, his lips firm against mine, but at my surprised exhale, he slicks his tongue into my mouth. I respond as best I know how—I’ve never been kissed like this, but Uram seems to like what I’m doing because he groans and deepens the kiss.
I put my hands on his naked chest, marveling at his warm skin and shifting muscles.
Squirming restlessly under him, I try to find relief from the pressure building inside me.
Uram trails kisses over my jaw, down my neck, then undoes the small buttons at the front of my shift until he exposes my breasts.
“I’m not—oh!” I gasp as his warm lips wrap around my nipple.
He sucks, gently at first, then harder, as if he knows exactly how good it makes me feel. His hot palm dips to my waist, then lower, drawing up the hem of my shift.
“Uram,” I pant, digging my fingers into his shoulders, suddenly unsure.
He lifts his head and presses another kiss to my lips. “Let me show you.”
He’s so serious, so intent on making this good for me, that I allow myself to extend my trust just a little.
At a tap of his fingers, I let my thighs fall open, making space for his hand.
He rumbles in approval and takes my mouth again, and at the same time, slips his fingers right between my legs.
I twitch under him, but he was right earlier—my body is responding to his in the most primal way.
Uram circles my little pearl with one finger, spreading my slickness around. “You smell so good, Rose. My cock aches, I want to be inside you so much.”
I gasp at the rough words, arching my hips for more contact.
Then he dips one thick, long finger inside my pussy, hooking it up to hit a spot that has me crying out in pleasure.
“You will take all of me,” he rasps against my ear. “And I will fill you up so well. You’ll take my knot, and we’ll fuck for hours, until you’re spent and limp in my arms.”
His words send me over the edge, into a climax so brilliant that I claw at his shoulders, needing to hold on to something solid so I don’t float off into space.
Uram is with me through it all, whispering filthy promises in my ear, then tucks me into his chest, where the hammering of his heart lets me know how much this affected him, too.
I want to make him feel good, too—and see that cock of his, including his knot, which is something I’d only ever heard stories about. But before I can so much as untie the laces of his pants, he jumps up and tugs the blanket away from me.
“We have a long day ahead of us,” he says, grinning down at me. “We’d better get going.”