Chapter Five

EVIE

I felt pretty useless at setting up camp, though I gathered some loose branches for the fire. Breac advised me to stay close to the area and only gather dead wood nearby and along the sides of the stream under his careful watch. His comment about being snatched and mated to another male scared me enough to ensure I stayed close by him, even when I bathed in the icy creek. Breac was the perfect gentleman, or gentle orc, I suppose. He stayed in the bushes, his back to me, within hearing distance, but never once turned and looked at me. I know he ventured a short distance away to find dinner, but I tried not to think about what that entailed. A frontier woman I was not. I prefer food from a grocery store, packaged and prepared for me. Too bad I hadn't seen any stores on our journey.

Part of me was relieved by his distance, but another side was hurt. I had spent the whole day pressed against his firm body, his broad hand anchoring me to him and the saddle. I felt his erection press against my butt, smelled his earthy scent, cloaked in the warmth of his body. He was clearly attracted to me, which made me feel better, since I had felt the low burn of arousal all day, something I was not accustomed to at all. My breasts, above where his broad hand anchored me, throbbed and were heavy, almost begging for him to touch them. And lower, where I was stretched over the saddle, my core was embarrassingly wet. I rocked against the leather, hoping for a firmer touch to send me into an orgasm, but he held me too tightly. It was the worst form of sexual torture, edging me constantly, on the verge of pain all day. If I hadn't felt that iron bar against my lower back, I would think Breac was unaffected.

I had feigned sleep for most of the ride, needing to sort through my feelings, but my body clamored to press closer to him, to have his hand stroke over my skin, lower to where I ached to feel him fill me. I had been with other men before; I wasn't a virgin. But I had never responded so quickly or been so attracted to another male like Breac. There was no comparison between Breac and the men, boys really, that I had dated before. I felt almost drugged on him, needing to be with him, hating any separation.

I quickly washed in the icy stream and dried off with the furs Breac left for me, but the cold water did nothing to dampen my arousal. I slipped on the tunic that Breac had left for me while my clothes dried, stopping about mid-thigh. I wouldn't be able to wear them much longer. My blouse and casual pants from the leadership retreat were not intended for trekking through the forest. His tunic was a stopgap measure at best, the linen not being warm enough for long-term wear, though it offered teasing glimpses of my legs and potentially easy access. I draped the second fur around me and headed back to the fire to warm up and dry my hair.

Breac wordlessly escorted me back to the fire where a skinned rabbit was cooking on a spit, though his eyes heated as they roved over my body in his tunic, zeroing in on my bare legs. He felt this connection as much as I did. Now what did I want to do about it? He was an orc, a much bigger orc, from a different world. I was going home as soon as I could. This would be the vacation fling to end all flings. The ultimate fling. I had never been much for casual sex and this bond I felt for him went beyond a one-night stand. Or maybe it was Stockholm syndrome, where kidnapped victims bonded with their kidnappers? Though Breac saved me. He didn't kidnap me. He was helping me. And he was sexy as fuck, sexier than any man I had ever known.

The scent of cooked rabbit wafted over to me and my stomach rumbled, despite my thoughts of Thumper and Bambi. Life had to go on, right? And I was starving. I sat on a log and let my hair hang down so it could air dry. We didn't say much as darkness fell. A cool wind wafted through the air and I shivered, pulling the fur around me tighter. Breac grunted and poked the fire, adding another log.

"Does your family live nearby? Is that why you know this area so well?"

He glanced at me, pain reflected in his eyes, then turned his gaze back to the fire. "No, I've travelled the realm for many years. I am familiar with most of the land."

Well, that was enlightening. "You work for the king, right? For how long? What do you do?"

He eyed me suspiciously. "I'm in service to the king, aye. Ten years now. I've been his right arm."

My eyes widened. "Wow, that's impressive. Your family must be so proud."

He grimaced, still staring at the dancing flames. "I don't think proud is the right word."

Something wasn't right, but I didn't know what it was. I sensed so much pain inside of Breac, so much bottled up tight. I understood that feeling. I had stuffed so much down for years, too. "Then what is the right word?"

"My father was a great warrior, respected and feared by all who knew him," Breac said, his voice thick with emotion. "He taught me everything I know, instilling in me the values of honor and loyalty that have defined my life."

He paused for so long that I wasn't sure he would continue. The sound of insects and animals of the forest surrounded us when he finally spoke.

"But one day, when I was nearing my majority, King Gnarlug took the throne. Our rightful king was supposedly killed in a coup attempt and King Gnarlug, his brother, was too late to save the king. He assumed the throne after defeating the rebels. Then he went about solidifying his reign. My father, like many nobles, questioned the king, and our home was attacked. King Gnarlug's men stormed our castle, slaughtering everyone in their path. My father fought bravely, but in the end, he was executed for treason. They killed him before my very eyes, leaving only my mother, my brother, and me."

His voice trembled, the pain of that memory still raw even after all these years. I reached out and placed a comforting hand on his arm, silently urging him to continue. His muscles were tense under my fingers.

"From that day on, I vowed to do whatever it took to protect my family," Breac whispered, his eyes haunted by the ghosts of his past. "I became an enforcer for the king, carrying out his orders in exchange for the safety of those I love."

As he spoke, I could see the torment etched across his face, and I wanted to help him. In that moment, I understood just how much Breac had sacrificed for the sake of his family… and how much he was willing to risk for mine.

"Your king sounds like a tyrant. Is there any way you can stop working for him?"

Breac gave me a bleak look. "I have one last mission. Assuming he keeps his word, I can free my mother and brother."

I snuggled next to him, wrapping an arm around his waist, offering comfort the way I knew how. "When was the last time you saw them?"

He thought for a moment. "It's been almost two years, I think. There's been great unrest in the realm and I've been busy serving the king. But I've had letters."

Letters? I wanted to say they could be forged, but I suspected he already knew that. I didn't want to add to his troubles. "What is your last mission?"

He avoided my gaze. "It doesn't matter. I'm not likely to succeed."

I frowned. "Don't think like that. We can figure this out. If I can help you, I will before I leave."

The flickering glow of the campfire cast a warm, golden light on our faces as we sat side by side, the shadows dancing and twisting as if they too were captivated by Breac's tale. The intimate atmosphere made it feel like we were the only two souls in this vast forest, united by the gravity of our shared experiences.

I listened intently, my eyes locked onto his stoic face, which softened with each word he spoke. I reached out to him, gently placing my hand on his arm, offering him comfort and support. As my fingers touched his coarse skin, I felt a shiver run through me, electric in its intensity. Breac exhaled deeply, seemingly appreciative of my gesture, and continued to speak.

"King Gnarlug's oppression grows worse with each passing day. I've been forced to make terrible decisions, ones that haunt me to this very moment," Breac confessed, his voice filled with a mix of sorrow and determination. "But I refuse to let those I love suffer. I will save them. And save you. Somehow."

My eyes widened in shock and empathy as the full weight of his burden settled upon me. This strong, fierce orc had risked everything for the sake of his family, and now he was prepared to do the same for me, a stranger from another world. A lump formed in my throat, and I fought back tears at the realization. It was both humbling and terrifying.

"Breac," I whispered, barely able to find my voice amidst the whirlwind of emotions. "I can't even comprehend what you've gone through, but please know that I'm grateful for your help. I promise you, I'll do whatever I can to help you."

He looked over at me, his eyes searching mine for a long moment. For a brief moment, I could see the faintest glimmer of hope in his gaze, and it made my heart swell with newfound courage.

"Thank you, Evie," he murmured, his voice barely audible over the crackling of the fire. "I hope you're right."

A shiver ran down my spine as a cool breeze swept through the clearing, and I couldn't help but notice Breac's steady gaze on me. He seemed to be silently assessing my strength, both physical and emotional.

"Breac," I said softly, reaching out to him. My hand found his cheek, the rough texture of his green skin contrasting with the warmth that radiated beneath. "You don't have to carry this burden alone. We'll face whatever challenges come our way together."

His eyes, filled with a mixture of surprise and gratitude, met mine. In that moment, the stoic orc warrior before me transformed into a vulnerable creature, yearning for connection and understanding. He leaned into my touch, allowing himself a brief respite from the pain that had haunted him for so long.

"Thank you, Evie," he whispered, his gruff voice betraying a hint of emotion. "And you? What about your family? You must be eager to get home to them."

I snorted. "Not exactly. My family is a little different from yours. My parents hate each other. They only married because my mom was pregnant with me. They fought all the time while I was growing up until they finally divorced when I was eight."

Breac frowned. "Divorced? What is that?"

I cocked my head at him, trying to find words that he might understand. "You don't have that here? Divorce is when two people dissolve their marriage. It's a legal term. It was a whole clusterfuck. I got passed around a lot after than, especially when they both remarried and had new families. Now, I don't even think they would notice if I was gone."

Breac wrapped an arm around me and pulled me to his side. "We don't have that here. When you mate, it's for life. My mother and father were soul bound, true mates. I expected my mother to die when my father was killed, but she held on for me and my brother. There is no breaking a bond. Parents who neglect a child should never have one in the first place."

I laughed, hearing the rawness in my voice. "That's true, but they're fine with their new family. They just didn't handle me or their relationship with each other very well."

"So why do you wish to return to people who don't want you? Do you have a lover or a mate waiting for you?"

His words struck too close to my heart. Why was I trying to go home? My family wouldn't even miss me. I had few friends, having drifted apart since college. And work colleagues were more likely to compete for a position rather than help each other. But I had one piece of unfinished business.

"My boss is a dirtbag. He tried to get me to have sex with him the night I came here. I'd like to make him pay for that."

Breac's expression turned thunderous. "He attacked you and forced you to have sex?"

I stroked his chest soothingly, trying not to get distracted by the warm, firm muscles. "Easy, big guy. I got away with a well-placed knee to the family jewels. But I'd like to expose him for the scumbag he is. I hate bullies and assholes. They need to be taken down a notch."

Breac gave a savage grin. "A worthy reason, lass. But you need to learn how to defend yourself against unworthy males. I will teach you before you go home."

I snuggled closer to him. "I'll take those lessons. Maybe I can use them against your king, too, if I ever meet him."

Breac stiffened, his arm tightening around me. "I hope you never meet him, lass."

On that ominous note, we settled down for the night, our bodies pressed close together for warmth. The flickering firelight cast a soft glow around us. Breac settled Mankala and did a quick turn in the forest while I struggled to stay awake. Finally, he settled behind me, his arm warm and heavy on my mid-section. I burrowed into his heat, sleep quickly tugging me under.

"Goodnight, Evie," Breac murmured, his breath warm against my ear.

"Goodnight, Breac," I replied, a small smile tugging at the corners of my lips. As sleep began to claim me, I allowed myself a fleeting thought. Perhaps, even in the midst of darkness and chaos, there was room for hope, love, and companionship. And that was worth fighting for.