I gape at my husband’s handsome face. “What?”
I’ve climaxed twice, and he came inside me, and I feel how full I am of his seed, but he wants to keep going?
“This is the way orcs are, little bird,” he murmurs. He brushes his fingers up my arm, to my neck, and cups the back of my head with his large palm. He leans in for a teasing kiss, then whispers against my lips, “I could fuck you all night. And once you’ve gotten used to me, once you’re no longer sore, we’ll spend every night locked together. You’ll fall asleep with my knot still plugging you, and when you wake up, I’ll fuck you again. Or you’ll sleep just like this, on top of me, and you’ll be able to take your pleasure from me whenever you want.”
My inner muscles clench all on their own as his words register. I didn’t think it was possible to still feel so needy after already experiencing so much pleasure, but perhaps I have no clue of my true capacity for lovemaking.
Marut groans softly. “I wish I could describe to you how good this feels. To have my mate on my knot, your scent all over me.” He runs the tip of his nose over my temple, then licks my sweaty cheek. “You’re exquisite, Violet.”
Then he wraps one arm firmly around my back and grabs my ass with his other hand and stands. The movement strains at the connection between us, and I cry out at the sensation that borders on pain but dissolves into pure amazement when Marut readjusts his grip on me and carries me to the bathtub.
“You’ll enjoy this.” He climbs over the lip and slowly sinks into the still-warm water.
We care for each other, taking turns to lather up our hands and wash every limb, every finger. Marut lets me unbraid his long, beautiful hair, and when he dips his head back and wets it, it falls down his back like a slick black waterfall. He looks younger without the severe braids. We kiss and touch, and Marut shows me how sensitive my nipples are by pinching and tweaking them until I’m panting in his lap, rolling my hips. We climax together, but this time, the release is a gentler wave, with some of the urgency gone.
The water cools around us, but I don’t want to leave the tub, because I’m too tired to move. Then Marut’s knot slips from my pussy, finally releasing. I gasp as he pulls his cock free, shifting me gently off him. My cheeks heat when I glance between us and notice the white cum sliding from my pussy into the water.
Marut stares at it, too, and scowls. “You need to get out of the bath, Violet.”
I blink at his rough tone. “What’s the matter?”
“I want all that cum inside you. But I know I can’t give you more tonight. You’re still unused to me, and I’d hurt you if I fucked you again. So get out and put on your nightgown, then get in bed.”
I giggle but obey, knowing I’ve teased my husband enough for one night. Still, I blush when the rest of his release slides down my damp thighs, and I press the bath sheet between my legs to wipe myself. Marut growls, lunging for me, and I shriek in delight, dancing away from him. I hastily throw on a nightgown and dive under the covers, bringing the blanket up to my chin. Then I allow myself to study Marut as he runs his bathing sheet over his long, muscular limbs.
“Do you like what you see?” he asks, his voice huskier now.
I let my gaze roam from his strong legs to his cock, still half-hard, to his broad chest, and finally, his face. “Yes,” I answer honestly. “Very much.”
To my delight, his cheeks turn a deeper shade of green at that. Then he strides to the lantern and blows out the flame. The room sinks into darkness, so complete I can’t even see the tip of my nose. Then the soft sound of footsteps and the dip of the bed announces Marut’s arrival. I scoot to the other side of the bed—but lift the blanket to let him in. Marut doesn’t seem to care for each one of us having our own side of the bed, though. His warm hand lands on my hip, and he pulls me toward him until my back is pressed to his front.
“Oh!” I gasp at the realization that he’s still as naked as when he got out of the bath. “Marut?”
“From tomorrow onward,” he rumbles, his breath caressing the back of my neck, “you won’t wear anything to bed. Is that clear?”
I allow my muscles to relax against him, though my face is flaming. Now I’m warm all over, though, and I love it. “Yes,” I whisper, smiling into my pillow. “Very clear.”
His contented sigh settles something deep inside me, and a sense of peace descends unlike any I’ve known before.
I envisioned a slow, lazy morning for our first day at the Hill. I wanted to spend most of the day in bed, then maybe explore the settlement, visit the hot baths, and meet the rest of the clan. But a loud knocking at the door shakes us from sleep, and when Marut shuffles over to see who it is, Ozork stands on the threshold, frowning at us.
To my surprise, he looks past Marut toward me, where I’m still sitting in bed, the blanket clutched to my chest.
“Your brother is here.” His deep voice is calm as ever, but the deep furrow between his eyebrows tells me he’s not happy about this. “You better come with me. Both of you.”
My breath stalls in my chest. Huck is here? How did he manage to follow us this quickly? The answer presents itself immediately—a lone rider would be much faster on the road than a full caravan of wagons. I was so certain that I was rid of him when we entered the orc lands, but he found me anyway.
Ozork waits outside while Marut and I dress hastily. He eyes me, gaze wary, but doesn’t say anything. Halfway through pulling on my dress, I remember that I should put on my stays—I stare at the bundle still buried at the bottom of my travel bag, because I didn’t even think to unpack it last night. I’ve gone without them for several days now, and I’ve been…comfortable. As far as I could tell last night, none of the women in the clan wear them either, and I know for certain Ritta didn’t, because we chatted about it on the road.
Now, a strange sense of shame descends on me when I think of going out there without them. It’s as if the mention of my brother sent me back to when I was a fearful little thing, willing to swallow so much just to keep the peace.
But I don’t owe my brother respect anymore. And I hate that I’ve spent more than a week worrying over him following me. He stole from me, had been stealing from me for years. The worst part of it all is that I might have given him my dowry freely if only he told me he needed the money. If he got himself in trouble, I would have helped him. But he went behind my back, and if Marut hadn’t shown up when he had with his offer of marriage, I might have been left with nothing at all.
So I push the travel bag away with the tip of my boot and lace up my dress, then kiss my husband on the lips—just because I can. This is the life I chose, and even though I’d been unsure of my decision at the start, I know now that I would pick the same path once more if given a chance to do it over again. Marut hooks his arm around my waist and pulls me to him, and when we finally separate, we’re both breathing hard, and my hastily done braid is a mess once more.
“I dislike your brother on principle,” Marut says softly as we step out of the room and follow Ozork down the hall, “because of how he betrayed you. I dislike him even more now that his arrival has ruined our first morning alone together. But I will try to be civil.”
I take his hand and squeeze it. “Thank you. I want to hear what he wants.”
Marut presses his lips together as if he wants to comment on it but doesn’t say anything. We hurry down the many passageways and round corner after corner. We end up in the largest cavern I’ve seen so far, where rows of long tables and benches tell me this must be their dining hall—a suspicion which is confirmed by the delicious scents of breakfast wafting through the room.
My stomach rumbles, and I realize I haven’t had anything to eat since yesterday’s lunch. Marut and I skipped dinner because we were too eager to be alone, but after all that, my body demands food. Marut stops in his tracks, his expression horrified.
“Wait,” he barks at Ozork, then rushes to one of the tables and returns with a tin plate piled with food. He presses a soft yeasted swirl into my hand. “Here. I’m sorry. I should have made sure you ate something last night.”
I sniff at it and take a bite—it’s sweet and spiced with cinnamon—and smile up at him. “I forgot, too,” I whisper. “I was quite distracted.”
Marut crowds closer to me and steals a kiss from my lips. “Mm.” His rumbling growl reverberates through me. “You taste even sweeter now.”
“Violet!”
At a sharp call, I jerk my head up and turn on my heels. And there, standing at a doorway on the far end of the great hall, is my brother, frowning fiercely at me.
