27. Sarod

27

SAROD

T he bliss between us doesn't disappear, thankfully. We lay in bed, naked and quiet for the most part. Occasionally, she groans out as she adjusts her position, which I can only imagine is because of her injuries.

I trail my fingers along Josie's bruised skin, feeling the warmth beneath my touch. Her body's a map of what she's endured, but I can't help but marvel at her strength. She's here, alive, safe in my arms. The relief I feel is almost overwhelming. My heart swells with intense protectiveness, reminding myself that I'm never going to lose her again.

"Thank you," Josie whispers, her voice soft and sincere. "For caring for me." Her eyes meet mine, and I see a vulnerability there that makes my chest tighten. The raw emotion in her gaze is almost too much to bear, but I can't look away.

I hum, a low rumble in my chest. "I'd do anything for you." My fingers continue their gentle exploration, tracing the contours of her skin as if memorizing every inch. I'm careful to avoid the worst of her bruises, my touch feather-light. The warmth of her body seeps into my fingertips, reminding me how close I came to losing her. "You know that, right?" I add, my voice gruff with emotion. "Anything at all."

The words slip out before I can stop them, and I'm struck by how true they are. It's somewhat terrifying, this depth of feeling. I've never felt this way about anyone before, let alone a human. The realization hits me like a punch to the gut, leaving me breathless. I find myself wanting to shield her from any future harm, to keep her close and protected. It's a foreign sensation, this fierce desire to put someone else's needs before my own.

Josie shifts, nestling closer to me. Her scent fills my nostrils, sweat and musk and hints of her distinctive floral smell. I tighten my arm around her, careful not to aggravate her injuries. The warmth of her body against mine is both comforting and electrifying, a reminder of how close I came to losing her.

"I thought..." I start, then stop. The fear that had gripped me when I realized she was missing threatens to overwhelm me again. My heart races, and I have to take a deep breath to steady myself. "I thought I might lose you."

Josie looks up at me, her eyes searching mine. There's a softness in her gaze that I've never seen before, and it makes my chest tighten. "But you didn't. You found me."

I nod, unable to speak past the lump in my throat. The joy of having her here, safe, battles with the lingering fear. What if I hadn't been quick enough? What if Grokus had… The possibilities are too horrific to contemplate, and I feel my muscles tensing at the thought.

Gritting my teeth, I try not to imagine that. It would piss me off too easily, and Josie doesn't deserve that side of me right now. She needs my strength, not my rage. I force myself to relax, focusing on the feel of her in my arms, alive and whole. It's a miracle I never want to take for granted again.

I take a deep breath, steeling myself for what I'm about to say. It's not easy for me to be vulnerable, but Josie deserves to know how I feel. My heart hammers in my chest, and I can feel a thin sheen of sweat on my palms. This isn't like facing down an opponent on the zyrphix field. This is scarier, more raw.

"When I realized Grokus had taken you, I..." My voice trails off, and I clear my throat, the words sticking like thorns. "I've never been so scared in my life. The thought of losing you... it was unbearable." I clench my fists, remembering the gut-wrenching fear that had gripped me.

Josie's eyes widen, her lips parting in surprise. A faint blush creeps across her cheeks, and I can see her pulse quicken at the base of her throat. I push on, determined to get it all out, to lay my heart bare for her.

"I've always been focused on zyrphix, on being the best. But when you were in danger, none of that mattered. All I could think about was getting you back safe." I swallow hard, my gaze never leaving hers. "It made me realize something, Josie. Something I should've known all along. You're more important to me than any game, any victory. You're... everything."

I swallow hard as I admit this, both to Josie and to myself. It's a revelation, really. I've never put anyone above my ambitions before.

"You mean everything to me, Josie. I know our start wasn't great, but I can't imagine my life without you now."

Josie's hand comes up to cup my cheek, her touch gentle. The warmth of her palm against my skin sends a shiver down my spine. "Sarod, I..." Her voice trails off, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

I shake my head, needing to finish. My heart's pounding so hard I'm sure she can hear it. "I want to do better. So much better." I take a deep breath, steadying myself. "I've been an ass, I know that. I treated you like shit because I thought you were just another one of the same humans I'm used to. But you're not. You're so much more than that and it took me some time to realize that. You make me want to change, to be the kind of orc you deserve."

The words hang in the air between us, heavy with promise. I realize in this moment that I'm ready to embrace this new chapter of my life fully. Josie isn't just some human girl anymore - she's become the most important person in my world. The thought of losing her, of going back to the empty, promiscuous life I had before, it's unbearable.

I reach out, gently tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. "I'm not good with words, Josie. But I hope you can see how much you mean to me. How much I want this to work."

She smiles at me. And I swear, I can see the light of the stars in her eyes.

"From now on, you're my priority," I say, my voice firm with resolve. "Not zyrphix, not my reputation. You."

Josie's eyes glisten with unshed tears, and I pull her closer, careful of her injuries. As I hold her, I silently vow to myself that I'll do whatever it takes to make this work. Our relationship, unexpected as it is, has become the most precious thing in my life.

She trails her fingers along my chest, her touch sending shivers down my spine. "And what if Grokus comes back?" Her voice is tinged with worry, and I can see the concern in her eyes.

"He won't," I reply quickly, my tone leaving no room for doubt. "And that's for damn sure. He's going to die in that little shithole he's got for himself. It'll be all his fault." I clench my jaw, thinking about that bastard and what he tried to do to Josie.

My hand trails my chin as I think about potential obstacles to our relationship. The stubble there is rough against my calloused fingers. My mind settles on one name. One face. One fucking nuisance that has pestered me for a while now.

"I'd be more worried about Connie," I mutter, almost to myself.

Josie perks up slightly at the mention of her name, her body tensing against mine.

"She's a vindictive type, you know," I explain in a raspy voice. "Never likes seeing anyone else happy. Always has to stick her nose where it doesn't belong." I brush my hand through Josie's hair, savoring the silky feel of it between my fingers. "I don't know why I tolerated her shit for so long. Guess I was just too damn blind to see what was right in front of me."

"Would she try to kidnap me and torture me like Grokus did?" Josie quips, a hint of dark humor in her voice. "Because if not, I think I can handle her. I've dealt with worse, you know."

"I know you can, sweetheart, but she likes to get under your skin with her words. You know, acting like you're less than her. Stupid shit like that." I shake my head, remembering Connie's tactics with a grimace. "She's a real piece of work, that one. A bitch through and through, but she's been able to manipulate a lot of people with her ways. She's got a quick tongue, that's for damn sure."

"I'm not worried about her," Josie says, her voice soft but determined as she rests her chin on my chest. Her eyes meet mine, full of trust and something deeper. "As long as I'm with you, I'm safe. I know that now. You've proven it time and time again."

"Yeah?" I perk a brow, warmth flooding through me. My hand finds its way to the small of her back, pulling her closer. "I didn't think it would ever get to this point between us. Shit, I never thought I'd feel this way about anyone, let alone a human."

"I know. When you used to call me a thief all the time and treat me like shit, I thought I'd be better off dead," she reveals, tracing patterns into my skin. "I don't know what changed between us or when it happened, but... I started realizing I like being around you, despite everything. It was like a switch flipped, and suddenly, your presence became something I craved."

"And now look at us." I can't help but smirk, marveling at how far we've come.

"Mhm." Josie nods, a soft smile playing on her lips. "It's amazing, isn't it? Who would've thought we'd end up here, like this?"

Indeed. Despite all odds, I fell in love with a human. And I'm not pissed about that at all. In fact, it's the best damn thing that's ever happened to me. I pull her closer, breathing in her scent, savoring the warmth of her body against mine. It's a feeling I never want to lose, a connection I never thought I'd have, especially not with someone like her.