5. Claire

CHAPTER 5

CLAIRE

T he orc ship is every bit as crude as I thought it would be.

Exposed wires, pipes and beams litter the ceiling, and random pieces of scrap metal are welded against the walls to protect weak points.

Large, industrial lights hang overhead. Many flicker, and some are broken. The air is thick with the scent of oil and sweat. In the distance I hear the labored groans of the ship's engine. Steam hisses and gears grind.

My engineering heart wants to take a look at that poor, tortured engine. She's struggling, and about to break down. Also, the cable-management going in on the ceiling is beyond amateur. This ship desperately needs someone like me around.

I don't know why I'm day-dreaming about fixing this bucket of rust. Probably to distract my mind from what is coming — hot sweaty orc sex .

"What kind of engine do you have?"

"Does it matter?" Gromnyr says.

"It does to me."

"We're running a reworked Titanforge."

"Whoah," I say. "That's pretty cool."

"Nicked it off a Federation cruiser."

If Gromnyr is powerful enough to steal the engine off a state-of-the-art Federation cruiser, then all hope is truly lost.

"She sounds a little overworked, though. I could take a look."

"No need."

"I mean it. I can make myself useful. I'm a great engineer."

Gromnyr's big paw squeezes my behind. "Yes. You will make yourself very useful, pet."

My heart skips a beat. At that moment, we pass by the packed mess hall. Long metal tables and benches fill this large space. It's a chaotic, rowdy mess, with countless orcs eating, and a few brawling.

Countless red eyes turn to me. I've never seen so many orcs in one room. Their hides are green and leathery, their brows heavy.

The chaotic mess hall suddenly falls silent as more and more eyes turn to me. I see raw, primal hunger in their eyes and I find myself pressing myself closer against Gromnyr, grateful for his tight grip on me.

"Human female?" One orc growls, his voice guttural. "Share?"

"Share?" Another one pipes in.

"Yeah, share-share?"

Within seconds the entire mess hall is chanting share-share, pounding their fists on the metal tables, cackling with laughter.

My blood runs cold. If these wild, savage creatures get their way with me… I won't survive it. They will tear me limb-from-limb.

"No," Gromnyr thunders loudly. His voice is deep and powerful and silences the entire room in a single moment. "No share. This one is mine . Touch her and die."

My heart hammers in my throat. This is the first good news I've had all day. If I have to belong to an orc… then I could do a lot worse than their strong and powerful leader.

Gromnyr carries me along as we continue our path through the orc vessel. The walls in this part of the ship are covered with orcish symbols, battle cries, and crude drawings.

Everything about this place feels like it's barely holding together. Chaos bubbles just underneath the surface.

I need to get out of here, one way or another.

"Don't worry," Gromnyr says. "My clan will not touch you. You are mine and mine alone."

He opens a door and we enter his bedroom. His domain.

I expected his personal space to be as rough, chaotic and brutal as the rest of this horrible ship, but his domain is surprisingly luxurious.

The walls are made of smooth, polished metal, and they're thick enough that you don't hear the rumble of the engine or the guttural laughter of the orc crew anymore. The floor is covered with a thick, plush, woven rug, and it even smells better in here. Like leather and wood.

A large bed stands in the center of this space, with a bed frame made of polished oak. Gromnyr closes the door behind him, and the world is silent. All I hear is my own racing heart and the orc's heavy breathing.

"This is your new home," Gromnyr says as he lowers me down onto the floor.

I instantly want to run, but where do I go? He's in front of the door. There are two more doors on the far end of the room, but where do they even go?

As if sensing my thoughts, Gromnyr chuckles. His dark eyes glow with amusement.

"Don't worry, you will find out what's in there soon enough, my pet."

I take a moment to take a good, proper look at the man who dares to call me his pet. His face is chiseled, and I must admit, handsome. His brow is strong, his ears long and pointy. Heavy tusks protrude upwards from his lips.

A heavy beard frames his face, a long scar running from his left temple all the way down to his chin.

This green-skinned warrior is fearsome and intimidating, but I sense another side to him as well. If he wanted to hurt me, he would have already.

I've avoided men my entire life. Taking care of my father and two brothers was more than enough men for me. I prefer the company of machines to humans. Taking them apart, fixing them, putting them back together and watching them run smoothly.

Machines make sense.

Men? Not so much.

But as I look at the massive and imposing orc in front of me, having to crane my neck up just to look into his deep, piercing and intelligent eyes, my mind starts working.

It's very clear what this beast wants.

Me.

Preferably bent over with my beige uniform around my ankles and my panties pulled to the side.

Heat thumps in my core.

Secretly, I always wondered what it would be like to belong to a dominant orc captain. Sailing across the astral sea, pillaging, having no obligations except pleasing my green, tusked owner…

"What are you going to do to me?" I ask, my voice barely a whisper.

"Many, many things," Gromnyr growls. His voice is powerful and authoritative, and it sends a strong shiver down my spine.

"Are you going to… you know…"

"Fuck you?"

"Yes," I whisper as my cheeks blush.

"Not until you beg for it," Gromnyr says as he takes a step towards me. I feel his hot breath on my face as I'm face-to-face with a mountain of green muscle. He's so big and strong. He could snap me in half if he wanted to.

"I'll never do that," I say, trying to sound strong, but my voice is squeaky.

Gromnyr chuckles. "Oh, yes, yes you will, my little human. You will beg for my cock soon enough. You will kneel before me, naked and willing, and offer yourself to me. That is a promise. I smell your heat, pet. Don't look so surprised. I could give you what you need right now."

The orc places his strong hand on my cheek and my knees tremble. My eyes flutter as his thumb glides across my bottom lip.

Part of me wants to knee him between the legs and hightail it out of here. Another very vocal and needy part of me wants this brutal orc captain to rip this ugly beige uniform off my body and take my virginity, right here and now.

My nipples tighten up as my tongue wets my lips, brushing against his thumb.

The orc captain tightens his grip on me for a moment… and takes a step back, releasing me.

"But where's the fun in that?" He says.

Disappointment flashes across my face for a second before I manage to compose myself. What a bastard!

"See, you are already quivering with need."

"Am not," I fire back.

"Whatever you say, pet," Gromnyr laughs. "We will continue this discussion later. Stay here and don't touch anything, or your punishment will be… severe."