Chapter 9

PALOMA

This horrendous and horribly long day has drained me. As the rhythm of the orc-horse’s trot lulls me, I finally give in to this recently bathed orc behind me and his intoxicating scent and sink against him.

My, oh my, he is incredibly warm. Heat radiates through my soaked top, warming my flesh. For a brief moment, I wonder what it would be like to press against him, naked flesh to naked flesh.

My eyes jolt open. These thoughts will condemn me to a life as a breeder. I have to keep a clear head and find a way to Pen’Kesh. Before this orc touches me.

But I’m so fucking tired. If I want to sleep, that means trusting Grak.

Despite my determination, my eyelids keep closing. Opening them gets harder and harder as I soak in the heat coming from this massive orc.

With the gentle breeze and quiet surrounding me, my thoughts drift to my family. If my father had wanted to keep me from this horrid fate, he would have found a way. That council seat is more important to him than me. My needs, hell, my welfare, never seemed to be a priority growing up or even after arriving on Kovos. Though Camila, Marta, and Renata never had any issues with him.

When my family came to Kovos, we left behind a beautiful home overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The home had been in my mom’s family long before the Coalition took control of Earth. As far back as I can remember, Dad never worked. He called himself a stay-at-home dad and told everyone he took care of the four of us while Mom worked long hours as a surgeon. Except he spent his time hanging with friends and smoking whatever drug he could get his hands on.

That’s when I learned to cook, clean, and do the wash at such a young age. I mean, someone had to do that stuff, right? Mom got sick before I had a chance to move out. Then the aliens invaded Earth, forever changing our lives.

The Coalition set up their warlord who bit-by-bit tore our world apart. There was no escaping. Except for select families. The cendagi, one of the species that make up the Coalition, offered us a choice to remain or settle on another planet. My parents believed the sales pitch, that the medicine on Kovos would cure Mom.

No one told us there would be other species here. Ones with strange customs and even stranger appearances. Monsters so uncivilized that they smelled from poor or no hygiene.

But Grak doesn’t smell anymore. The water washed off the dirt and grime, leaving an enticing scent. And his customs, while different, do not appear chaotic or barbaric.

He jumped into the water to save me, protected me from my father, and punished the young orc who touched me, sending a message to all the warriors present that I’m not to be touched. He’s been straightforward with me, unlike my own people.

So much of this male is beyond what I expected.

As we whisk by the dark woods, our path twisting and turning, taking me deeper into orc territory, I realize I may never find my way to Pen’Kesh, even if I manage to escape.

When I drift to sleep, strange dreams assail me. All dark and terrifying. Then one dream turns erotic where Grak’s hand caresses my ribs with a feather-light touch.

I rouse slightly, but with the movement of the six-legged beast beneath me and a warm body behind me, I’m not ready to wake. I want to return to my dream, the one where I’m being touched in a way that warms my core and lightens my heart with hope.

Electricity moves through me as the rough pads of thick fingers trace my nipple, drawing out the sensitive peak. I arch, semi-aware that I’m not fully asleep.

“You are mine, Paloma,” a deep voice whispers in my ear. “Mine to enjoy. Mine to take. Mine to fill with younglings.”

My eyes snap open, thrusting me back into reality. Grak.

Under my blouse, his hand cups my breast. I try to pull away, but his other arm tightens around my waist, locking me to him.

Two fingers pinch my nipple, harder and harder until I teeter on the edge of pain and pleasure. When he releases the bud, the blood rushes to my core, filling me with a euphoria I didn’t know was possible.

His hand skims over my abdomen to the top of my pants. With one finger, he pops the snap open and drags my zipper down, making my lady parts pulse with a need I should not have. Not with him. I shouldn’t let him touch me, but confusion and the need to be wanted by someone, even an orc, overshadows my good senses.

I lean back, my head supported by his throat. The angle isn’t sufficient for him to peel back my tight, wet pants. He growls, making his displeasure known when he can only slide one finger into my panties. The vibrations from that growl travel to my pussy, making me eager for his touch. He isn’t the only one who’s frustrated.

That thick finger brushes over my mound, then dips into my folds. Kill me now… I’m not wet for this male; I’m soaked.

His inhales deeply. Can he… No, he can’t smell my arousal. Can he?

“What are you doing to me, female?” His finger slides up and down, and that groan returns. Deep and filled with desire.

“I think you have that backwards, orc. You’re the one touching me.” And I can’t make myself push him away.

“Because you’ve put me under a spell, female.”

With his powerful thighs, he guides my legs forward until they’re stretched out and balanced on the neck of the beast we’re riding. Grak tilts me back, supporting my weight. I’m not sure what he’s doing until he slides his finger lower.

“You can’t—” I begin to protest but I stop short as his finger enters me and my hips begin to rock.

“You like my touch.”

Fuck him, I do. “I don’t want to be used. I don’t want to be… forced.”

“You think we use our females and then discard them because this is what human males do?”

I want to say they don’t, but many do.

“You know so little of my people, but you will learn.” His thumb presses against my clit as his finger moves in me, making me think of his cock, that massive part of him he shoved in front of my face by the lake. I run my tongue over my lower lip, eager to do more than lay back while he explores my body.

What is wrong with me? I should not be enjoying this.

Grak’s lips trace the shell of my ear. “I will feast on this cunt, female, then suck on you until you explode on my tongue. Then, and only then, will I drive my cock deep inside you and let you experience all that I am. Your body will meld to mine as we become one. As I give you my seed, you will know what it is to be my female.”

His words should frighten me, but they don’t. This is wrong, but damn it feels so right.

My body is already climbing higher and higher toward a climax as his breath warms my neck and his finger plays my clit like an instrument.

“Atox!” A voice calls out from the darkness ahead.

Grak pulls his hand from my pants, grabs the reins he secured under his thigh, and spurs his gorja into a gallop. I position my legs over the sides of the beast and lean back, gripping Grak’s thighs.

He draws alongside the other orc, the one who left the lake with us.

Their language flies by quickly, agitation and anger clear in both of their faces. Without warning, Grak lifts me from his mount and sets me on the other beast, in front of the male.

A powerful arm locks around my middle, securing me against him. Fear slams into me like a wall of ice.

“What are you doing?” I hate the tremor in my voice. These orcs respect only one thing. Strength.

“You will listen to Verig as you would me.” Grak leans over, grips my chin in his hand, the hand that made me feel sexy and wanted moments ago. His power and authority travel through his grip, placing me on edge. He has my full attention. “You will not cause trouble, female. If I learn from Verig that you disobeyed or disrespected him, you will know my wrath.”

“I will not let anyone touch her,” the male with his chest pressed against my back says in English.

I turn to face Verig. “Promise Grak you won’t touch me inappropriately.”

Verig’s eyes drill into me, the look of pure hatred and disgust on his face. He leans in close, his mouth practically touching my ear, and whispers, “I won’t let you destroy my people with your weakness, human.”

A threat. And no promise to Grak that he won’t touch me.

Before I can call out to Grak, the orc speeds off, leaving me alone with Verig, the orc who’d rather see me dead than sully the genes of his people.