11. Claire

CHAPTER 11

CLAIRE

" Y ou savage brute! What were you thinking?! You could have killed me! Opening a shuttle door like that?! What the hell!"

I blurt out every thought that comes to mind as I rage and rage. We're back in Gromnyr's quarters, and the orc is sitting in a lounge chair and sipping on a strong drink as I pace through the room, gesturing wildly as I unload all my thoughts and emotions on him.

"Seriously, that is the most dangerous stunt I've ever seen, and I grew up with two older brothers."

"Are you done?" Gromnyr asks.

"Not by a long shot!"

"Oh, I think you are."

He says the words calmly. The orc puts down his drink and stands up. Gromnyr is so tall he towers over me easily, and he closes the distance between us with a single step.

I suck in a breath and look up at him. He's hard to read — is he angry?

"You have a lot of thoughts about safety for someone who let loose a bunch of rogue killer-AI's on my vessel, Claire."

"Ah," I say. "You, uh, know about that?"

"I do. I know everything, Claire. I know you snuck around for an hour, plotting your little escape. I know you found the battle-droids and I know you cracked their encryption. Good work, by the way. I know you started those fires. I watched it all happen."

Heat rises to my cheeks. Here I thought I was being sneaky, and it turns out this green bastard was watching me the whole time?

"Then why'd you let it all happen?!"

"I wanted to see how far you would get. Quite far, but you made several fatal mistakes."

"Like what?"

"You underestimated me, first of all. You think I'm nothing but a dumb, savage brute."

Gromnyr takes another step towards me. I step back until my back is pressed against a cold metal door. I suck in a breath as I realize what's behind this very door.

His playroom.

"That's not true," I stammer.

"Don't lie to me, Claire."

I notice he's started using my name instead of calling me his pet. For some reason, I liked it more when I was his pet. When he says my name, it feels like I'm in trouble.

"Maybe a little. I had to try, right?"

"Yes, and you got far… but then you put all of your trust into a rickety escape pod. Without checking the air filters, without checking the thrusters, without checking the life-support and com-systems. That's a strange oversight for someone so obviously intelligent and meticulous."

"There was no time," I say. "I had only a small window."

"Perhaps. But it would've meant your end, Claire. That thing was a death trap. I saved your life. You ought to be grateful. In fact, you should be on your knees right now, thanking me."

"Fat chance," I shoot back, looking up at him and meeting his intense gaze head-on.

In the back of my mind, I know he's right. That dingy shuttle was barely fit for space, but it was all I had. Now I'm back in Gromnyr's lair, and I feel…

Excited.

I shouldn't be. I should be angry, or afraid, or possibly terrified, but that look in Gromnyr's eyes, that simmering look… it makes my heart race, my palms sweat and my stomach flutter.

It makes me act like a total brat .

The pirate smirks. "I have been patient with you so far, Claire. I have given you plenty of opportunity to be well-behaved, but instead, you've chosen to make this difficult. Very well. I think it's time for your well-earned punishment."

My heart races. Is this the moment I've been waiting for all my life? I glance at the door behind me. His wicked playroom is right there.

The doorway to hell.

The doorway to heaven .

Gromnyr takes another step towards me, his strong, broad chest bumping into mine as he towers over me.

"I smell your need, my pet," he growls into my ear. I feel his warm breath and my knees buckle. I shouldn't like those words, but I do. I like them very much. "You want this punishment, don't you?"

"No," I stammer. "No way."

"Admit it."

He places his strong hand on the front of my beige uniform and slowly, tantalizingly slowly he starts to pull the zipper down. I suck in a breath and watch as the uniform parts and my naked skin becomes visible.

Underneath my uniform, I'm only wearing a bra and panties. And not the sexy kind either. In fact, I've never owned the sexy kind. Never had the need to. Plus, if my brothers or father would've found it they would've probably freaked out, and I didn't need that in my life.

That life seems so far behind me now. I'm no longer the caretaker, the maid, the one who has to do all the work for a spoiled, ungrateful bunch of man-children.

Instead, all I am right now is the pirate king's pet.

And I kinda like the sound of that.

Gromnyr unzips me all the way down to my navel. The beige uniform falls down around me, and I stand before the orc in just my bra. My eyes are shut tight as I feel embarrassed.

"Beautiful," the orc grunts.

I open one eye. "What?" I say, surprised.

"Beautiful," Gromnyr repeats. His gaze meets mine, and I see his red, dominant eyes are filled with desire.

This man, this powerful, incredible man desires me . Me! I can't help but bite my bottom lip as I feel a strange sense of pride. No man's ever looked at me like that before.

"You're lying, I'm not beautifu?—"

"Never say that again," the orc growls so suddenly and so powerful I nearly jump out of my skin. To prove his point he grabs my unzipped uniform and yanks it down to my ankles in one go. Just like that, I'm standing before him in my boring black panties and bra, but the look on his face is one of pure adoration.

"Never say you're not beautiful, my pet," he growls again.

Heat thumps between my legs.

The orc grabs hold of my hips, his calloused palms feeling rough against my soft skin as he pulls me into him. His touch makes me wet in an instant, and the bulge I can't help but notice growing in his leather pants makes my heart hammer in my throat.

My entire body trembles as the orc leans in and kisses me.

My very first kiss is with an orc pirate… and it's not a gentle one.

Gromnyr's lips are on mine, his cool tusks pressing against my cheeks as his tongue enters my mouth. The taste of him is strong and intoxicating, and I find myself melting.

My body reacts instinctively, kissing him back, and the orc lets out an approving, rumbling growl. One hand grabs a handful of my hair as he kisses me deeply and passionately.

When Gromnyr finally pulls back I am left panting and needy, and much of my earlier bratty bravado has faded. Right now, I just want this green brute to kiss me everywhere .

"Don't move, my pet."

He commands me, and I obey. It's not something I'm used to, but it feels good. I feel right.

I just stand there, panting, as the orc studies my body like it's a fine work of art. He runs his calloused hand down my cheek, and then cups the back of my neck. His grip is so powerful, so strong. I let out a little pleasurable groan. My lips are still wet from his kiss, and my inner thighs are also wet from his kiss.

His hand travels further down my body. I flinch as he brushes against my hard, sensitive nipples.

"Take it off," Gromnyr commands.

I'm breathless, panting, and more aroused than ever as I reach behind my back and undo my bra. The thin fabric falls down, and the orc's eyes widen.

"Perfect," he murmurs.

His big hands grab hold of my breasts. The orc's touch is strong, his grip tight. My entire body is his to command, and he knows it. My nipples harden even further in his hands, and he grins.

"So eager," he says. "So needy."

Gromnyr leans in and kisses the nape of my neck. His tusks brush against my delicate skin, and his hot breath tickles me. The ache in my loins grows by the second.

"Your punishment will be both pleasure and pain, pet. Do you understand?"

"Yes," I murmur.

"I don't think you do, but you will, my pet. You will."

The orc suddenly tugs my soaked panties down to my ankles. I yelp as my legs spread automatically, as a deep, instinctual desire to please and obey him fills me whole.

The orc growls in satisfaction as he drinks in the sight of me.

"You are mine now, my pet," he says, as he runs his finger across my glistening slit. I tremble and sniffle a moan. "This, this is mine. Say it."

"This is yours," I say, breathlessly.

"Good girl. You're a fast learner."

"Well, I expected harsher punishment from a feared orc pirate, if I'm honest," I blurt out.

I don't know what on earth possessed me to say that, but Gromnyr's eyes flash as his grin widens.

"So you want to learn the hard way?" He growls as one hand grabs my hair. I meet his gaze, a cheeky smirk on my face. "Do you think you can take it?"

"Only one way to find out," I answer him.

As we keep eye contact Gromnyr slides his hand between my legs. One finger enters me and I gasp, my walls stretching around his thick digit. "You are not ready for an orc, my pet."

He lewdly pumps his fingers into me a few times as we keep eye-contact.

"Try me, I might surprise you," I fire back.

I don't know where this fire inside of me to push back against the most feared pirate captain of al timel has come from, but I like it.

I suck in a breath as Gromnyr takes a step back. The orc's dark eyes fall to my trembling thighs.

"Bend over, hands on the door, pet. Your true punishment will begin."

I do exactly as he says. My heart hammers in my throat as I lean forward and press my hands against the cool metal door. I've never been so exposed before in all my life.

"Like this?"

"Exactly like that."

Without warning his open palm comes down hard on my ass. I let out a yelp of surprise as his rough hand makes contact with my soft, supple cheeks.

Smack!

I arch my back instinctively as the sting lingers.

Smack!

He slaps the other cheek, even harder this time.

Smack!

Over and over he rains down his punishment on my behind. The sharp sting of his touch hurts so good, and before long I find myself letting out soft little moans.

With every slap of his big, strong hand, the ache inside of me grows and grows.

It starts with a small tingle, but it becomes more pronounced by the second. The pressure builds and builds until I want nothing more than for the orc to enter me.

To claim me.

To fill me with his potent seed.

Smack!

This time, Gromnyr spanks me right between my legs. My pussy throbs as I let out a needy and desperate cry.

The orc chuckles. He must be able to feel the sticky wetness that coats his hand now. My desire is completely obvious to him.

He presses his hand against my wet folds. My entire body is on fire, and every one of my senses is heightened. It feels like the entire galaxy exists between my legs, and only Gromnyr has the power to quench that need.

My knees tremble and give way, and the orc grabs me just in time, pressing his rock-hard body against mine. It makes me feel small, protected, and desired.

I need more of it.

The orc pushes a finger into me, and I buck my hips to greet him. He slides in deeply into my silky, tight canal.

The orc lets out a deep, guttural groan, and it tells me all I need to know. He wants this as much as I do.

I need him inside of me.

Right here and right now.