Chapter 10

Effie

You are my Mate .

My breathing slowed as my eyes widened.

And I am yours.

My hand rose to press my fingers against his chest, the way he had touched mine.

There is a certainty.

Suddenly, I sucked in a breath. Aye . Aye, there was a certainty. It was not one I would have recognized either, had Korvak not explained it, but aye .

That was what I felt when I was with him.

"Mate," I whispered, and I felt something shift inside of me. Saw something shift in his gaze. That green glow flickered briefly.

"Effie." His voice was low, serious. "Just because I feel this, doesnae mean I expect ye to—"

"I feel it," I breathed in awe. "I feel it, Korvak."

His expression eased and his shoulders slumped. "Oh, thank the goddess. I've been terrified—" He broke off with a shake of his head. "Effie, I cannae expect ye to understand the imperative, the need —"

"Explain it, then." My heart felt suddenly so light, I had to move. I jumped from his lap, grabbing his hand. "Make me understand."

His lips twitched, but he refused to allow me to pull him upright, which meant I ended up standing between his spread legs.

"Love, ye—"

"You called me that before," I gasped. " Love ." Love. That is…that is what I felt for him, was it not? The awe in my chest began to bubble out, the sheer joy invading all my senses. "You love me?"

His nod, however, was slow and somewhat pained. "I…I do love ye. But love isnae a strong enough word. I love my brothers, and they are pains in my arse. I love my grandmother but am also frustrated by her. What I feel for ye…"

When he winced and shook his head, I grabbed both of his hands and did my best to hold them. " Korvak, you are the best male I know. You are kind and gentle and generous. If you do not love me—"

"I do , but…" He took a deep breath, his chest expanding as he tipped his head back against the wood of the cottage to hold my gaze. "To be Mated is to… ken yer Mate, nae matter where they are. To be able to sense them, to understand their hearts and minds. To gladly devote the rest of yer life— my life, to making ye happy." He shook his head again. "That is more than mere love, Effie. I will do whatever ye need to find safety and happiness, and if that means returning to Tarbert land—"

How could he think that?

"Nay!" I blurted, then dropped his hands to reach and grab his cheeks. "I love you, Korvak. I want to stay here with you. Or in the village with you, if that is where you want to live. I want to spend the rest of my life trying to make you happy."

His eyes closed on a muttered curse. "Oh, thank the goddess." He took a deep breath, then reached for my hips, pulling me against him, and opened his eyes. "Ye will want for naught, my Mate. I will ensure it."

I could feel his erection pressing against my thighs. Standing as I was, I was too tall to feel it throb against where I most wanted that pressure, but I still parted my legs just far enough to capture his kilt-covered cock .

The joy that had threatened to bubble out of me did so in a little laugh. Still holding his cheeks, I leaned down and I kissed him.

Korvak stiffened under my touch, then slowly relaxed.

For the first time, I felt as if I was the teacher. I showed him how to explore my mouth by exploring his. I nipped, I teased, and when I slid my tongue along the seam of his lips, they parted and tugged me inside.

Which made me smile.

Nay, Korvak made me smile.

I licked one of his tusks, and he reared back, surprise and delight in his expression.

"What is this?"

"I am kissing you." Where did this bold Effie come from? I licked his other tusk, and he growled, his hold on my hips tightening. "'Tis something humans do."

"Why?"

I laughed, and it felt delightful .

"I suppose because ‘tis showing affection." I dropped a kiss on his lips. "Orcs do not do it?"

His lips slowly curled. "I will ask Varkaan. I believe he's had his share of human lovers, when he crossed through the stones for trading."

This time he was the one to draw me down for a kiss, and I giggled against his mouth as I rubbed my thighs along his erection.

"Mate," he rumbled, but I couldn't tell if ‘twas a warning or a celebration.

"If we are Mated, Korvak," I mused, pulling back long enough run my fingertips along his scar, "then why have you not claimed me? Made me yours ? Do not mistake me—I have enjoyed what we have shared immensely, but—"

"Effie," he growled, cutting me off. He pulled my hand away from his face and drew it down his body, before pressing it, palm first, around his pulsing cock. "Does that feel like I dinnae want to claim ye?"

I sucked in a breath at the contact, and now my fingers instinctively curled around him. I had been so bold a moment ago, but this move—him cupping my hand around his cock—made liquid heat pool in my core.

My hand seemed to have a mind of its own, stroking him through the wool of his kilt as I watched his face. His jaw went slack with desire and his lids fluttered.

"Then why have you not?" I asked simply .

"Because." His voice was rough, and I watched him swallow. "I need to claim ye, but I have nae right to such a thing. Ye have been claimed by men in the past—"

"You are not John," I said, still stroking him, feeling powerful. That power was an aphrodisiac I had never imagined. "You are not my mother, who taught me to sell myself to a man for protection."

"I am no'," he agreed in a pained voice. "But for many days, ye thought me yer master. I didnae want ye to think this was something ye had to do. I wouldnae cause ye more pain or fear, Effie."

Oh .

Oh, my heart.

He'd been wanting me as much as I wanted him, but restrained himself?

Smiling softly, I stepped away from him and reached for the ties of my gown. Holding his gaze, I boldly stripped it away, tossing it on the bench beside him once I stood in only my chemise.

"Korvak, I love you. I want you to claim me. My Mate. "

The way his hands fumbled with his belt was almost funny.

I pulled my chemise over my head and stood naked in front of him by the time he— his kilt now pooled on the bench around him—reached for me. As he stroked himself with one hand, he gently turned me around until I was facing the distant mountain and the horses running in the meadow.

When he pulled me back so my arse pressed against his cock, I realized what he intended.

The Backwards Donkey . The position from last night.

Except this time, his cock would push into me, stretching me the way his fingers had.

I would straddle him, I would ride him…and I would not be able to touch him.

"Nay," I blurted, and he froze.

This allowed me to straighten, to take my weight on my feet, and to climb off him. "I want you, Korvak," I explained as I turned. " You ."

He was eyeing me hungrily. "Aye, lass, and ye can have as much of me as ye can take."

Since he was stroking his cock as he made that announcement, I felt a thrill of lust shoot through me and settle in my already-wet cunny. My nipples pebbled and when he saw that, his tongue flicked out to touch one tusk.

But I leaned closer, my hands on his shoulders. "I want you , Korvak." I kissed his scar. "I want to watch you as I ride you. I do not want you to hide from me."

I watched his eyes widen as he understood my meaning, and my chest ached for him.

This beautiful soul had spent his life thinking he needed to hide from others because of his appearance. I kissed his scar again, then his lips. "You are beautiful, my Mate."

With a growl, he pulled me against him and my thighs instinctively spread to straddle him as I rested my weight on my knees on the bench.

The head of his thick cock probed my entrance and I clasped my hands on either side of his face, my fingers stroking his cheeks as I slowly lowered myself.

The Harlot's Guide called this The Wetnurse's Assistant.

My cunny was wet, aye, but the stretch was surprising, stinging. I went slowly, and beneath me, Korvak was as still as a statue, letting me lead.

Each inch I took in was a victory, and each ridge teased my inner walls, hinting at what was to come. Korvak had stretched me yesterday with his fingers, and John had not been a small man either…but this cock was the biggest thing I had ever had inside me .

And I loved it.

At long last, my cunny swallowed the final inch of him and I was fully seated atop his glorious manhood.

"Effie," he breathed as his fingers found one of my nipples.

‘Twas as if that was all my body had needed, because between one heartbeat and the next, pleasure burst over me and I gasped, arching my back, the spasms causing me to jerk against him.

As I came, I felt each ridge inside me, pulsing in time.

I remembered what he had said about this being part of orc natures, this ability to make their Mates climax upon entering her, and again I allowed my joy to bubble from my mouth in astonished laughter.

To my surprise, I heard him laughing with me as he began to move.

The way he flexed his hips was subtle at first, each movement minute. I realized that when he said my immediate climax would help soothe the way, he meant I was very well lubricated now, and I appreciated it.

Each ridge teased me, the way the ridges on his tongue offered stimulation. I loved this, too.

I loved him .

We moved together, an ancient dance, and I delighted in the freedom to touch him. I stroked, I kissed, I offered sweet words of praise as I rode him. The Wetnurse's Assistant was my favorite, I decided. I could look into his eyes, I could press my sensitive nipples against his broad chest, I could hold his shoulders and marvel at their strength.

"Effie," he murmured, and I heard the wonder in his voice. " Mate ."

I surged forward, pulling almost entirely off him in order to wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him. His strong forearms closed around me, holding me in place, and he kissed me back.

Then, with a grunt, Korvak stood.

He stood, still holding me, and I wrapped my legs around his waist, which only served to spear me down atop his cock again, wrenching a gasp from me.

I could no longer kiss him from this position, but I heard his small huff of laughter.

" The Soldier and the Crucible . I told ye yer orc Mate will have nae trouble fooking ye up against the wall, love."

Before I could think of a reply—he remembered the name of the positions we had read from the Guide?—Korvak turned, and I felt the strong oak of the doorframe at my back .

"See, little human?" he murmured, spreading his feet to distribute our weight. One of his hands was under my arse, the other braced against the wall.

And then I was holding on for the ride.

‘Twas better than riding bareback with him!

Korvak's position allowed the movement, the penetration , I could not manage before. His cock was probing so deep inside me, I thought I might be able to taste it. The ridiculous notion had me smiling as I buried my face against his chest and closed my mouth around his nipple.

"Gods below," he groaned, panting as he plunged upward into me. "Effie, I need …"

"I know what you need." I rocked my hips to capture his thrusts as deeply as possible. "I need…Oh God, Korvak, I need you!"

I could feel my inner muscles squeezing around him, desperate to feel that glorious release again, and mayhap he could as well. He lifted me, shifting me against the wall so I was taller—and could reach his shoulders to hang on—and pinned me there.

"Are ye ready, Effie?" he asked breathlessly.

"Aye." I was beyond ready. "Please, Korvak. Claim me. Make me your Mate."

That was all I needed to say. With a wordless roar, he threw back his head and plunged into my dripping cunny twice, thrice…then spilled hot seed against my womb.

I felt him. I felt his cock pulsing inside me, and the knowledge of what that meant sent me over the edge. Gasping, I tightened my hold on his waist as my second climax burst over me, and I moaned in ecstasy.

Korvak didn't stop moving in me, and I didn't want him too. Each twitch, each breath, milked another spasm from me, until my bliss was so overwhelming I thought I might faint. ‘Twould be worth it, though, to die like this.

In the arms of the male who loved me, who thought me worthy of such pleasure.

"Mate," he whispered, kissing the top of my head when, at long last, I collapsed, spent, against him.

Mate . ‘Twas almost a reverent word, and as soon as I could draw breath I would tell him so.

Korvak carried me into the house, and ‘twas only then I realized I had tupped him out in nature, in front of God and anyone who might pass by. The thought had me smiling sleepily, moments before he deposited me on the bed. I reached for him, but he left and returned a moment later with a wet cloth to clean me.

His movements were slow, deliberate. Gentle , just like him.

Here was a male who could fight, could exhibit strength I could only imagine. But he used that strength to protect, to cherish. He had saved me from John's greed and Moltar's rage.

And I knew he would continue to protect me. For the rest of our lives.

"I love you," I whispered, reaching for him, drawing him down to the bed beside me. I knew he allowed me to do so, and I loved that he was smiling as he stretched out beside me.

"Thank you."

"For what?" His voice was a rumble as his palm stroked the bare skin of my arm and chest. "Yer pleasure?"

I grinned, reaching up to cup his cheek. The pad of my thumb caressed his scar. "For choosing me. For loving me. For treating me as someone worth your love."

The green of his eyes was slowly fading to black as he shook his head. "Ye have that backwards, Mate. Ye are more than worthy of love, and I only wish I could be a better male for ye."

I scoffed. "You are the best of males, Korvak." I tugged him closer. " Mate ."

"Mate," he agreed as he lowered his mouth to mine.

And my heart soared.