23. Mia

Now that theimmediate danger is over, the orcs get back to celebrating like nothing happened. But I"m still on edge. My eyes dart around, scanning the crowd for more danger, and even small sounds coming from outside my sightline make me jumpy.

Renowlf seems to understand; it"s as if he"s tuned into the crackling static of my distress. His arm around my shoulders anchors me to his side as he leads me over to the pyramid of kegs. His body against mine feels like the most reassuring thing in the galaxy, the solid wall of muscle forming a protective buffer from the celebrating orcs.

"Here," he says, his voice deep and rumbling. He hands me a stein filled to the brim with something that looks like a rich, amber ale. "It is mead. It will calm your nerves."

Accepting the stein, I take a tentative sip, the potent liquid searing a path down my throat before blossoming into a comforting warmth. This shit"s strong and tasty, and I take a big gulp that allows the tendrils of my anxiety to finally loosen their grip on my nerves.

"Thanks," I say, nestling my head against his chest, feeling like a small bird seeking shelter from a very sturdy tree.

"Have you eaten?" he asks.

I shake my head and sip more of the potent mead which is doing strange things to my libido. And when I say strange, I mean naughty. Heat pulses between my thighs, and I have a strong urge to take Renowlf"s spiked cock for a test drive.

He guides me toward the buffet at an unhurried pace, his arm steady around me. With his one free arm, he fills a plate with a colorful assortment of succulent roast meats, vegetables swimming in aromatic sauces, and exotic alien delicacies that look nothing like the meals I"ve been served here so far.

I point to a small pastry that looks like a cross between a cream puff and a taco. "What"s that?"

"It is an ancient orc dish with a name that will not translate, so I will call it a meat pie." He picks one up and brings it to my lips.

I take a bite, and the burst of flavor on my tongue is sweet, savory, and a little spicy. "It"s delicious."

Renowlf grins, clearly pleased by my response, which does weird fluttery things to my heart. He feeds me the rest of the meat pie and continues loading the plate. When it"s heaped high, we find an empty table and sit down. One of the guards brings him some mead and we lose ourselves in the meal.

With every minute that passes, I find myself unwinding a little more, the fear and tension of my ordeal with Dorlok melting away under the comforting warmth of Renowlf"s presence, a full stomach, and an entire stein of the kick-ass mead.

When there"s nothing left on our shared plate except crumbs and leftover sauce, Renowlf takes my hand, pulling me to my feet, and leads me toward the dancing orcs.

He whispers something to one of his guards who scurries off to do his bidding. Moments later, the music changes, the upbeat tune morphing into a slow, sensual rhythm that vibrates over the ground, up my legs, and settles somewhere near my rapidly beating heart.

Renowlf holds me close as we begin to dance, our bodies swaying to the melody. I surrender to his lead, surprised by how well our bodies fit together, move together, especially considering our size differences.

"I didn"t picture you as a slow dancer," I tease, a small smile tugging at my lips.

"There is much you have to learn about me," Renowlf replies, his voice a warm whisper that sends shivers down my spine. "And much I wish to learn about you."

Being in his arms like this feels right, and I get lost in the music, the crowd around us fading away. Too soon, the slow song winds down and the tempo of the music picks up again, although Renowlf doesn"t let me go or change the pace of our swaying.

But I"ve had enough dancing…and enough dancing around what we both want.

"Is it too early for us to ditch the party?" My question hangs in the air between us, heavy with unsaid implications.

Renowlf"s eyes darken, a low growl of approval rumbling in his chest. "I believe it is the perfect time for us to take our leave."

The thrill of anticipation causes a flush to spread across my cheeks. I"m acutely aware of his fingers interlacing with mine as he leads me away from the lights, the noise, the crowd. The celebration fades into a distant echo as we step into the shadowy quiet of the night.

I don"t even care that Dolphus and the guards follow close behind.