Chapter 13

Thirteen

"Woman, you must tell me why you refuse to enter."

Miranda shivered at the mouth of the cavern Govek had revealed behind a curtain of vines. The sun was slowly setting, casting this world into an eerie twilight. Deep shadows pitched the cave into darkness and concealed the opposite end.

The entry was a sliver. Barely big enough for Govek to squeeze through sideways.

Miranda's heels dug into the dirt, refusing to move.

It was not a bank vault. She was in a forest. It was okay. She could get past this. Overcome it. Push it to the back of her mind where the suffocating squeeze of metal couldn't?—

Govek's warm hand gripped her shoulder. His opposite hand balanced a spear-like branch with five fish.

He'd caught them on the way, just a few hours ago. His muscles had been outlined in the sunlight, his green skin had been glistening and damp.

Miranda fought for reason, to focus on Govek. He was a brilliant distraction. The best. And they would need to cook those fish soon or they might go bad. But her mind lurched its way back to the cave. No matter of logic could convince her to enter.

He leaned in to meet her eyes. "Miranda, speak or I cannot provide a remedy."

She licked her lips. Govek's hot flesh on her chilly nape anchored her to the forest. Miranda sidled a little closer to him, soaking up every drop of comfort he offered and locked all her trauma behind a crumbling wall in her mind.

"Miranda," Govek demanded again. "Speak, woman."

"It's too small," she managed. The skepticism on his face would have made her laugh under any other circumstances. "The door. I mean, the opening."

This time, his bafflement made her chuckle. She was being stupid, but the idea of going inside this cave with only a tiny crack to escape made her skin prickle and her legs itched to bolt, no matter what pleasures this orc promised her within.

He propped the spear of fish against a nearby rock and turned to examine the rock wall for a moment, brow furrowed. Then went back to her.

"Can I pick you up, Miranda?"

"Oh, uh. Yeah. Okay." He swooped her off her feet almost before she finished speaking. He carried her to a rock ten or more feet away, plunked her down on top, and tucked her cloak around her. His fingers briefly grazed her scalp before darting away.

He was so careful when he touched her. It made her chest ache.

"Stay here," he demanded, before stalking back over to the cave. He placed a hand on the massive, moss-covered boulder to the left of the opening. It was fatter than he was tall, and partially buried in the soft, leaf covered ground.

"What are you doing?" She sounded a bit alarmed as he reached up to throw a few of the smaller rocks on top of the boulder off to the side. It caused a cascade of dust and rubble to fall onto his shoulders. "Be careful!"

All he did was shoot her an amused look and cover his head with the hood of his cloak. Then he leveraged his weight against the boulder and heaved.

The dang thing moved. Actually rolled.

Miranda squirmed as Govek's muscles bulged in his arms. His expression was tight and focused. He growled—the sound spiked heat right through her bones—and gave a tremendous shove before bolting out of the way. Rocks rained down where he'd been, and Miranda yelped with surprise.

Govek gave an appraising look at his work and brushed off his hands as if he'd just casually bucked a bale of hay. "There. Will that do?"

She'd been so concerned about his safety, she hadn't noticed what he'd done. Which was substantially open up the mouth of the cave. Five feet of space now spanned the passageway.

"My god, Govek," she breathed, waving him over to her while she examined the boulder he'd moved. It had left a hole in the ground the size of a bathtub. "Just how much weight can you lift?"

He snorted, stopping in front of her. "I could not lift that boulder, Miranda. I only pushed it."

"Semantics," she muttered, reaching to brush the rubble from his cloak and take off his hood. "Are you okay?"

He quirked a brow. "Yes. Will you enter now?"

She took a deep breath and nodded, but even as he helped her down and walked her over, she found herself asking, "We won't get trapped in there, will we?"

"No, Miranda," Govek assured her without hesitation, as he placed his massive hand on her lower back and pressed her into the cave. "I will not allow us to become trapped," he arranged the vines so they covered the larger entryway.

"I guess you could just push down that whole side and get us free," Miranda said, gesturing to the front wall, only half joking.

Govek turned and flashed her a smile. An actual smile. Miranda's heart thundered right off the rock face and smacked the ground as hard as the boulder had. Dang! He looked flipping fine when he was smiling.

He stepped further in and lowered his pack to the ground, murmuring, "I would turn this whole hillside to rubble if you willed it, Miranda. Though that would defeat the purpose of having a safe place to be alone."

She approached him, and his smile faded into blinking shock. She pulled him down so she could kiss his cheek, his warm skin soft under her lips, the husky scent of him deeply comforting. "My hero."

Her tone was a little more reverent than she intended, and Govek's jaw dropped, revealing many sharp teeth. Teeth she craved to trace with her tongue.

Oh, frick, she was a goner. If Govek knew, he'd probably already have her bent over that boulder he'd pushed aside. Or at least she hoped he would.

He sucked in a breath and offered her the water before going about the task of building a fire in one of the stone circles.

The space was quite roomy, actually. At least thirty feet in diameter with rough stone walls and a semi-smooth floor. It wasn't a natural cave, rather it had been carved out of the hillside by hand to create an ovular structure. The entry had been built with stones and boulders stacked to look natural, but upon closer inspection, Miranda saw they couldn't have been. It was too perfect to be done by nature alone.

There were a few circular fire pits made from old rocks, which were the only indication that anyone had ever spent time here before.

"Whose cave is this?" she asked.

"Goblins."

Her spine straightened. "Aren't they the guys who poisoned you?"

"Yes, but they did not poison me. Humans did. Using goblin poison." He continued gathering debris to use as firewood. "Goblins abandoned this cave long ago. They no longer come to the surface."

"Are... they friendly?" She wrung her hands, still wrapping her brain around orcs.

He shrugged. "The three sentinel races are at peace with one another. We cannot afford war among each other as well as the Waking Order."

She nodded as he struck up the fire with wet twigs. "How did you know this place was here?"

"I stayed here once, with a party of other orcs." He said this so casually, but it had Miranda reeling.

What did he mean by a party of other orcs? Who were his family? Where was his clan? What was his upbringing like?

"Miranda."

She looked up to find Govek had finished arranging the fish to roast and was now staring at her. His eyes reflected the firelight. She lost every question she'd planned to ask as her gut heated deliciously.

Miranda pulled her cloak off and laid it out by the fire before sitting down on top of it.

"Wanna sit by me?" she offered, scooching over to make room for him on the cloak. Though it wasn't much room.

He turned around, still watching her, looking like he might pounce. Her stomach flipped and fluttered, and she chewed her lips.

He kneeled near her, though not on the cloak, his gaze on her hair. He reached out but stopped short of touching her.

"It's kinda wavy, huh?" she said breathlessly. "It's nice, actually. I can usually just brush it and let it do what it wants, and it looks good." She'd taken advantage of that many, many times when she pulled a daycare shift before work started at the bank.

"You are the loveliest thing I have ever seen, Miranda."

All traces of humor died out in her chest at the husky way his voice rumbled over her. She broke the eye contact, feeling overwhelmed. "That's a really sweet thing to say to someone who just survived the apocalypse."

Govek's brows rose, and for one staggering moment, Miranda thought he might ask. That she might finally get into this.

She wasn't ready, though. She wasn't sure she would ever be ready to relive what had happened to her on Earth. The emotional tide rose in the back of her throat and it was all she could do to keep it locked away. Out of sight.

"Miranda."

Govek's voice brought her back, and she blinked rapidly at him. "S-sorry, were you saying something? I swear I'm not so spacey on a normal day. I can multitask like none other. You have to, to take care of a group of toddlers all by yourself." Her throat closed, and she choked on the words. Frick! She was trying not to think about this, and now it was all she could do.

Her babies were all she could see.

"Hmm." A gentle brush through her hair brought her back to the present. Govek ran his gloved fingers slowly across her temple and back behind her ear. The leather pushed through the strands and felt cool on her cheek.

He wrapped a hand around the base of her skull and pulled her forward into his chest. The swift scent of pine and the heat of his skin soothed her like something out of her best daydreams. The lull of his heart thrummed a quiet rhythm into her muscles. His breath, against the top of her head, tickled her hair and forced her eyes to flutter.

She took a deep breath, soaking up the sensation of being surrounded by him. Just like when he'd caught her in the sand.

It was so easy to forget everything when Govek wrapped her up like this. And she wanted to forget. It hurt too much.

Why had she survived when everyone else was gone?

Why couldn't she save them?

"Hush," Govek whispered into her hair and her body relaxed even as her mind took a few more minutes to calm.

"Sorry," she whispered against his chest, cuddling into his warmth. "I know I'm a mess."

"You are not a mess, Miranda," Govek said vehemently, and she sat back to look at him. His expression was an odd mixture, furrowed brow with soft eyes and a grim set mouth.

He continued slowly. "Many injuries cannot be seen, only felt and experienced. That does not mean you are unworthy of care or owe apologies."

"You've had to do so much for me," she insisted, lowering her eyes to the cave floor. Fixing them to the spot where the soft cloak he'd given her met the harsh stone. "And I know I'm never going to be able to pay you back."

"Stop this," he snarled, snapping her back to attention. His expression tightened, and he quickly adjusted her so she was sitting between his legs with her back to his chest.

Much the same way she had been when he'd touched her in the spring. Her thighs clenched.

"I do not want you to pay me back. It is my responsibility to offer boons. And in exchange, you allow me to enjoy your company. It is simple." His hands went back to her hair but were a little tighter now. The mild sting felt wonderful. Secure.

"You make this sound so transactional."

"Transactional?"

She tried to turn to face him, but he gripped her shoulders and pressed her firmly into his chest. "Yeah, you know. I give you companionship and you give me stuff in return, but that's not really how relationships work." She paused. "Well, that's not how I want my relationships to work. Not that we're in a relationship. I just mean, in general, I want to be on equal footing with my partner."

"What are you trying to say, Miranda?"

She let out a little huff, organizing her thoughts. "It feels... dirty to have you giving me physical things in exchange for my company." Especially where sex was concerned. "I don't want you to offer me boons, as you say, expecting I'll spend more time with you."

There was a long pause. Miranda could feel how tense Govek was becoming against her back, but she bit her tongue, determined not to talk over him.

"Then . . . how do I win you?"

Miranda pushed at him until he finally let her turn around. His brows were furrowed, his eyes showed confusion. His jaw was set tight around his upper teeth.

She moved her hands to his jaw, working at the muscles, getting him to lower it back into the right spot. "You've been doing an excellent job of winning me over so far."

His eyes narrowed in obvious confusion, and she almost laughed.

"I like you too, Govek. I would never have begged you to take me with you if I didn't like you."

"I was your only option," he muttered, making her snort.

"Arrogant much?" she teased, ruffling his hair and making him blink rapidly. "I figured it out on Earth. I would have figured it out here, too."

"That I believe," he said, the gruff tone turning low and sweet. She smoothed his hair away from his face.

"Your strength is a vision, Miranda. You are a wonder for showing such optimism in the face of your sorrow." Govek leaned close enough to her ear that she could feel the heat of his breath. "Your laugh is like light from the Fades themselves. Your joy reflects in me so strongly it is bliss."

She shuddered out a deep breath, aching and needy.

His lips brushed her ear and his fingertips dragged from her forehead to her nape. "You are breathtaking, Miranda, and all I want in this world is to be allowed the pleasure of continuing to bask in you."

Miranda tripped right over herself, eyes prickling with tears. The depth of his words pulled her into emotions she didn't have a name for.

She forced his hands off her shoulders so she could lean back enough to see his face. Slant her mouth over his.

The sensation of his soft lips contrasting with the harsh touch of his tusks on her cheeks was intoxicating. She craved to make those fangs dig deeper. Get him to open his mouth so she could have a better taste. Use the sting of his sharp teeth to distract her away from the horrors lurking at the corners of her mind.

Govek's growl of pleasure caught her attention, eased her out of her darker urges and back into his warmth and comfort. His hands were so gentle as he threaded his fingers through her hair, like she was so fragile she might snap under his touch. She parted her lips tentatively, wanting to show him she needed more than his gentleness, but unsure how to get it.

He pulled away and the satisfaction in his expression made her realize he had no idea she'd been trying to deepen the kiss.

"Have you made out with someone else before?" Miranda asked, to quell the embarrassing snap of rejection.

"Made out?"

"Kissed." She would have elaborated, but a shake of his head stopped her dead. "What? You've never kissed anyone else?"

He scowled. "No."

Oh, shit. That shouldn't have made her as giddy as it did. "Are you... I mean, have you um..." He narrowed his eyes, waiting. "Are you a virgin, too?"

He snapped to attention. "I am not. You are?"

Miranda recoiled. Her face was so hot she was certain it could rival the fire. He'd been with another woman? When? What was she like? What did they do together?

"Miranda," he pressed, when she didn't immediately respond.

"What? Oh, yeah. I mean, technically. I haven't had sex with anyone before. You... have?"

If he noticed her displeasure, he didn't let on. "Yes. I have. What do you mean by ‘technically'?"

She pushed her negative emotions aside and mumbled. "I've gone out on dates and stuff. Made out with a few people."

Govek's deep growl made her shiver.

"You have not had a male between your legs?" he asked, clearly unaffected by the intimate question, even as it threatened to make Miranda disintegrate.

"You had your fingers there."

He rumbled. "That does not count."

She squirmed, heated by his voice. "Will how I answer change things?"

He paused, considering. She held her breath. "No. I will take you regardless. It would only change the ferocity with which I rut you."

She quivered. "Oh, god. Govek you can rut me as ferociously as you want." Hot damn, that's exactly what she wanted from him.

His eyes bulged before he dragged a hand over his face. "Do not tempt me, woman. I could cause you great pain from this act."

Miranda became acutely aware of their difference in size. Of the thick lines of muscles in his thighs. Of that massive bulge in his tight underwear. Her thighs clenched, aching.

"I do not wish to harm you, Miranda," he said earnestly before leaning away from her. "And my control is slipping by the moment. You must give me space?—"

She raked a hand up his thigh before clasping it around the swell of his cock with no preamble. Miranda was absolutely not going to be giving him space. Her lack of experience made her clumsy, but she gave into her urges, anyway.

She'd never touched a real cock before and she hadn't expected it to be any different from her toys, but Govek was so much hotter, harder. She traced the length to the rim of the head, wishing she was brave enough to get his underwear off and touch him without the barrier.

Govek's breath left him in a brutal hiss that puffed her hair out of her face. He grabbed her wrist so hard it stung, but didn't push her away like she thought he might.

"You aren't that big. I've taken bigger," she said and his once clenched shut eyes burst open, making her realize how insulting that was. "Oh god. Sorry, that's really not what I—you're plenty big. Perfect, actually. Big has always been my preference and?—"

"Stop," he begged, moving his hand to clench her fingers. She'd been stroking him and hadn't noticed. He was shaking, and she gulped at the thought that she might have accidentally hurt him. "Just... stop. Please."

This was the first time he'd ever told her to be quiet, and she bit the inside of her cheek, searching his face as he yanked his hair.

His breaths were long and heavy before he managed, through the clench of his teeth, "You've taken bigger?"

She blinked, fidgeted against his grip. "Do people here not masturbate?"

His cock flexed under her hand and pleasure burst in her stomach.

Govek coughed. His grip tightened, but he still didn't pull her fingers away from his groin. "I... I don't fucking know. I've been with one female and she did not share her—fuck, Miranda, are you saying that... that..."

She was so hot she might as well throw herself into the fire at this point. "Oh, come on. It's not that shocking. I'm a twenty-four-year-old woman with a healthy sex drive. And Earth had lots of toys to play with."

"Toys?" he choked.

"You know, like... fake cocks and stuff. You can't blame a girl for messing around, can you?"

Govek's throat worked in a gulp, but his expression softened, and his eyes closed. A half chuckle, half groan left him, as if he might be trying to imagine it. The tension in her chest eased. "What you describe is considerably more than ‘messing around.'"

She giggled, still half embarrassed. "I guess so."

He opened his eyes and raked them down her body. His brow arched showing he was incredulous, but the slight quirk of his lips told her he was impressed.

"Turn around, Miranda."

"Why?" she asked, but he was already forcing her to turn, putting her back to his chest, caging her with his legs like he had in the water. "Why can't I face?—"

"Can I remove this?" He plucked at the shirt.

She nodded and focused her eyes on his hands. "Are you going to remove the gloves?"

"No," he almost snapped, and made quick work of the ties on the shirt.

"Why—" Her words cut off in a gasp as he stripped her, making her skin prickle. He tossed the shirt away and pulled her back into him.

He made a thoughtful noise as he traced the edge of the sports bra along the low neckline. Her skin broke out in goosebumps. "How do I remove this?"

It took her a second to realize what he meant. They didn't have stretch fabric on this planet. She pulled the neckline out away from her breasts to demonstrate.

"Fuck, woman," Govek snarled into the top of her head. He was tall enough to look over her shoulder and see everything. "The Fades must have taken their sweet time rendering you."

She laughed at the compliment, giddy.

Govek's hands moved down from her collarbone to the neckline and stretched it out himself. Taking another long look that made her stomach quiver. He gulped hard and pulled it more.

Embarrassment warred with pleasure and she teased him. "Yeah, I think it could stretch enough to fit you, too."

"That is not what I was thinking, woman."

She grinned at his irritation. "We both know you've been interested since we talked about you wearing a dress."

He half snarled, half laughed, and it broke delicious skitters of pleasure down her spine. "Let me show you what I'm really interested in." His hands dipped under the fabric and cupped both her breasts.

She whimpered, panting as he grazed his leather covered fingers over her nipples, strumming them until she was writhing and flush and had forgotten every teasing comment she could have made.

His hands left her abruptly, and he grabbed the bottom of the bra, stretching it out so he could yank it over her head. He tossed it onto the discarded shirt.

"Fuck, Miranda," he said, running his hands down her chest, over her breasts. Flicking and swirling and plucking until she was a trembling ball of need, until her nipples were tingling, and her clit was throbbing.

"Govek," she begged, and he finally released her, moving his hands past the flat of her stomach.

He stopped at her shuddering thighs. "I'm going to move you."

"Where?" she gasped, barely able to think as his hands snaked around her hips and cupped under her butt. He kneaded her ass for a second and all the air in her lungs left as tingling bloomed at the base of her spine.

"Here," he grated into her ear as he pulled her into his groin. His cock. She could feel it—thick and hot—but not nearly as intense as she wanted.

"It's not fair," she whined, squirming against him until he hissed harshly and dug his fingers into her thighs to stop her. "I want to see you."

"No."

"Why?"

"Because I need to prepare you."

"Wouldn't being able to see you make preparing me easier?"

"No."

"I think it would. And I have more experience with this than you do. It's my body. Believe me when I say I've figured out just what I like over the many years I've played around."

"Fuck, woman," he rumbled low, blasting delicious shivers over her flesh. "I am not one of your toys."

"Hmm." The thoughtful sound came out like a whimper as his cock twitched. "Maybe, but... I'm pretty sure I had a green one."

His breath caught.

"I'd need a good look before I can judge for size, though," she mustered through little gasps.

"Bold words for a fucking virgin," he was stripping her of her pants now. Roughly forcing her feet out of the wool and tossing the slacks to join the pile.

"I might be a virgin, but I know what I like," she gasped as he fingered the edge of her panties. "And that's you, Govek."

His breath left him, and his hands stilled.

She reached up to touch his cheek, turning her head to get a good look at his expression, but it was too much of a twist and his grip was too limiting to accomplish it.

So, she simply repeated her words. "I like you, Govek. I?—"

Before she could continue, Govek pushed her forward to her knees and yanked her panties off. She gasped as the cold air hit her damp pussy. For a scorching moment, she could feel his eyes on her, raking down her thighs. A thick curse left his lips, so low it made her core pulse. She shivered and craned her neck to see him.

He yanked her back before she could see his face, pulled her into a seated position again with her back tucked tight against his hot chest. She squirmed her hips against his groin and felt the fabric separating them.

Her brow furrowed in impatience. "You aren't going to take your underwear off?"

"Fuck," he breathed, pushing her away. She went back on her knees to give him room, looking over her shoulder so she could watch him strip. His hands were trembling as he reached for the fitted shorts, and in his haste, they tore. Her gut twisted at the repercussions of that even as her body flushed with pleasure that she'd gotten him so crazed.

And then his cock sprang free, and she gasped.

Dear lord almighty, he was huge—long and thick, and wide at the head. He put every one of her toys to absolute shame.

Delicious thrills shot through her. Anticipation and nervousness. Her knees spread a little, as if trying to beckon him.

Govek was frozen, eyes spearing her ass, her wet pussy. He snarled low and covered his face with his hand, squeezing his eyes shut.

"Fucking Fades, woman. Sit up." He grabbed her shoulders and forced her back into a seated position.

Then he took up the place at her back again. His heat was so violent it seared up her spine.

"Get back here," he managed between the clench of his teeth. "Right here."

He gripped her ass again and pushed her into his cock. She could feel him between her cheeks, so long the tip was pressing into her lower back.

"Oh fuck," she breathed, squirming on him, unable to help herself. His cock pulsed against her with every movement.

"Stop," he hissed into her ear, which only made the burning pulse between her legs worse. "Stop or I'll lose my fucking mind, Miranda."

"Isn't that the point?"

He made a strangled sound that was alarmingly close to a whimper, and her body went still. "Govek?"

"Give me..." He growled into her ear again, and it only made the ache worse. She shifted her legs, forcing his cock to glide between her ass cheeks. He groaned.

She'd nearly turned so she could see his face, read his expression, when his grip snapped to her shoulders and stopped her. She fought, but he held firm.

"Govek? Why can't I face you?"

"Can't . . . ruin this."

"Ruin it how?" Frustration born from sheer desperation made her stomach clench. He didn't answer, and she tried to turn around again.

"Woman, be still," he threatened harshly, "or I will blindfold you."

Oh fuck.

He tensed at her quickened breath and pleading moan. "That was a threat, woman."

"Not a very good one." Her voice was so husky she almost didn't recognize it.

He huffed, breathing hard. Working for composure.

Miranda whispered. "Please, Govek?"

He shuddered behind her, his mouth grazing her ear as he rasped, "Fuck, woman. Don't tempt me. I can't. I cannot risk..."

"You can't risk what?"

He tensed. His hands on her shoulders were trembling. It dawned on her then.

He said he wasn't a virgin, but he'd never been kissed. He put on gloves before touching her and he'd rather blindfold her than risk her looking at him.

What the fuck had the woman he'd been with done to his self-esteem?

She brought her fingers to his gloved hand and stroked it.

"I know what you are, Govek."

His breathing was ragged, and she took his hand between both of hers. She pressed a kiss to his palm, tasting the leather and wishing it was his skin. "Wearing these won't make me forget you're an orc."

Govek jerked to pull away, and she held firm, stopping his retreat with another lingering kiss. "Even at my back, I can feel how strong you are." She moved to his wrist and nipped at his rapid pulse. "I can't see you, but I can sense you looming over me."

She eased the glove off, following it with her lips and tongue, enjoying the salty taste of him. The warm spicy scent. Govek shuddered. His cock twitched against her back.

"These gloves can't protect me from your claws, Govek. And I don't need them to feel safe with you." She trailed her lips up his fingers and he started huffing out harsh breaths against her ear, heating her tender flesh. "You saved me from the saber cat. Kept me fed. Gave me the clothes off your back. Held me until I was sane when I panicked. Never, not even once, have I ever been afraid of you, Govek."

He groaned and shivered, then buried his nose in her hair and breathed deep. Delicious skitters of pleasure shot down her spine.

Miranda sucked his index finger into her mouth and laved her tongue right over the nail where his claw was hidden away.

"Miranda," he snarled against her neck, his tusks nipped her tender skin right below her pulse. She sucked harder and moved on to the next finger, bathing him with her tongue. She kissed every inch and eased the other glove off while he trembled.

His raw groan burst heat in her stomach and made her core pound with need. She writhed. Bucked her hips back into his rock-hard cock and he choked.

"Fuck, woman." He removed his hand from her mouth with a pop, and for a second, she thought he would pull away. That she'd pushed him too far. But then he wrapped his hands around her thighs and ground into her.

Oh, shit. The hard length of him was so hot it made her pant.

He snarled, rumbling smooth, delicious vibration all the way from her toes to the top of her head. "I'm going to touch you now."