Page 12 of One Night with Her Untamed Orc (Toothsome Monster Romance #6)

Emma

T arik runs past me yelling. Or, hops past me. There’s something wrong with one foot, besides his flailing it around. “Off! Off!” I finally make out the words.

“Tarik, let me help,” I say, trying to catch him, stumbling on the rocks. He keeps hopping until he’s on a boulder. He stills for a second, I take a breath. Then he shakes his foot, trying to get the crab to fly off.

I try again, using a lower, deeper voice as I walk slowly toward him. His long legs took him far up the slope. “Tarik. Stop. Let me help you.”

That stops him. He looks at me, and there’s pleading in his eyes. “Stay there,” I command.

A few steps closer and I can see it. A crab.

Smaller than my fist. “It’s small; a young Stone Moon Crab.

It isn’t trying to hurt you.” I can feel the smile on my face; I can’t help it.

This tiny little crab is probably just as freaked out (is ‘freaked out’ something crabs feel?

I don’t know) by being on Tarik’s foot instead of a rock as Tarik is of it.

I reach the mud and slog through. Disgusting, but worth it.

Tarik’s foot is still hovering off the ground, trembling.

Speaking to the crab, I pick it up and hold it in my palm.

“Hi there, little guy. You made a wrong landing. Let’s get you back to the sea, okay?

” Standing, I hold it up for Tarik, who leans back from me like I’ve offered to feed it to him. “It’s okay. He’s little.”

“This is why I don’t like the sea. Too much…stuff. Too alive.”

“Your garden soil isn’t alive? There aren’t all sorts of creepy crawlies in your garden?” I ask, still smiling, eyebrow raised. I’m enjoying this too much. Enjoying his vulnerability, and the opportunity to admire his glistening chest muscles...thanks, sea.

“That’s different. I know them all.”

“It’s the same here. Knowing them all. I’m going to put this guy back in the water.

” And with that, I slowly poke my way through the heavy mud and the stones back to the water.

The crab scuttles away as soon as it’s in the water.

I take a moment to wash the mud off my legs and out from between my toes.

I left my rain gear on a branch to minimize my muddiness by putting it back on.

Tarik is right behind me at the water’s edge.

I hear him grumble as the water hits his toes.

“Look,” I say, pointing to the sky. There’s a small break in the clouds, and a piece of rainbow shines out at us.

It feels like the sky is smiling down at us, on this moment.

Turning to look at Tarik, I’m not surprised he’s still frowning as he studies the rainbow.

“It’s just light refracted through water in the air,” he says, slightly dismissively.

“Science is beautiful, Tiger,” is my only response. Sighing, I turn back, wading out of the water to grab my gear.

“I am not a tiger,” he says in that low, grumbly voice.

“It was just an expression. Like a nickname.” He makes a humph sound. We stand there, me admiring the rainbow. Him…I don’t know, but I like his sturdy presence.

“Climb on my back,” he says, surprising me yet again as I struggle to get my wet legs into the wet rain pants.

“What?”

“I’ll carry you up to the cabin. It will be faster. You will be cleaner.”

“No, I’ll walk myself. Thanks.” I straighten my spine, determined not to let this hulk of an orc spoil me or hurt himself trying.

“Emma. You’ve proven that you are strong and independent. But you’re freezing in your underwear. Let me help. I promise to leave you alone in the bath.”

“Promise me you won’t, and I’ ll climb your back, Tiger.” I wink.

His dark eyes flicker with desire. My stomach flip-flops at my overtness. “Promise,” he says with a growl, sealing my fate.

I hand him my rain gear. Tarik squats down.

I take a second to admire the wide expanse of his back and ass, nothing but solid muscle.

I wrap my arms over his shoulders and around his neck (loosely), then hitch one leg up at his waist. His hand catches my calf and holds me steady.

I hitch the other leg up. Again, he grabs me.

“I think the nickname is growing on me,” he admits.

I rub my hand along his shoulder, just enjoying the feel of him as he adjusts me.

Then, as if he were carrying a backpack full of goose down, he stands and strides effortlessly up the hill through the wet forest to his cabin. I’m in awe of his strength. Even as my legs stretch wide across this back.

The man is enormous, bigger than I realized.

I wiggle my toes, trying to distract myself from my thoughts of him and how big his cock is. Will he fit inside me? Is this how I want my work research trip to be remembered?

Success in my eel research, success in the sheets with this orc; yes, I think this is the perfect way to remember my work research trip.

As for the first question, I don’t know the answer, but I want to find out. After all, a good scientist has to collect her data, right? And willing to do the experiments necessary to find the answers…in the name of science.

Inside his cabin, which is dry and warm, my skin instantly relaxes, all the goosebumps I thought were permanent fade away.

Sliding down his still wet back shouldn’t be more of a turn-on, but it totally is, and before he turns to look at me, I can feel the heat in my cheeks.

Shower. No time for a bath, my body screams at me. I agree.

But then, Tarik unceremoniously drops my sopping wet gear on the floor and turns to face me. His expression is unreadable. Stoic, serious, and wanting. Something about his gaze makes me swallow. Hard.

“I can smell you.”

Oh. Damnit. “Sorry, I’ll go shower real quick.” His hand is on my wrist before I can even step around him. His calloused hand is rough against my slick skin, but it feels good, satisfying.

“That’s not what I meant.” Now it’s my turn to frown and furrow my brow at him. “I can smell your arousal. ”

Oh gods. Now the heat in my cheeks is a torrential flood through my entire body.

“You can?” my voice comes out as a squeak.

He takes a step closer to me, landing in my personal bubble.

Mere inches between his naked torso and my almost naked body.

Sandwiched between the wood-planked wall behind me and Tarik’s hulking body in front of me.

Heat radiates from him. My nipples harden to points, like they’re trying to reach out and touch him.

“Tarik, I—” he puts a finger on my lips to stop me from trying to explain myself.

His other hand grasps my hip, slides around to my back, and pulls me into him.

His skin is hot against me. I can imagine the sizzle and steam as the rain on my skin evaporates upon contact with him.

His thick cock is rock solid and pressed against my lower abdomen.

The urge to climb him this way, to find friction here, is almost too much.

He makes a sound, deep and rumbling; I feel it in my chest.

“I want to make you feel good again. And warm.” It’s the sexiest and sweetest thing a man has ever said to me. He licks his lips. The sight of his tongue makes me clench my thighs together. Yes, please, I think.

Tarik tugs at my hair with his other hand, pulling my head back, not hurting me. The sensation seems to be directly connected to my clit, and as he tugs my hair, my clit throbs. “Scenting your arousal isn’t enough. I want to taste your arousal. But I need you to say you want this, too.”

I fish mouth again, just like when I first saw him in the woods, until the words finally form coherent thoughts in my head. “I consent. I consented in the bath. I consent now. All of it. Yes. Now.” The words come out rapid-fire, giving away my desperation.

“Good. Now I’ll kiss you.” You might think that announcing his actions like that would take away the delight of surprise or lessen the pleasure, but you’d be as wrong as an eel walking around on land.

His lips are soft, which surprises me. His arms engulf me, wrapping tight around me and lifting me to his height.

I yield to his kiss, welcoming him into my mouth, searching out his tongue.

He pulls away from me and stares at me. Oh, I’ve done something wrong already.

“I’ve never been kissed like this before.” It’s a simple statement, and it leaves me full of questions and musing.

“Do you want me to stop?” Please say no. Please say no.

“No. I just—don’t know what to do.”

“Ah,” I smile, loving the way he’s opening up to me. “Just follow my lead. We’re doing what feels good.” I can see him thinking over that sentence. He’s still holding me off the floor; it feels silly when we aren’t kissing, but I don’t say anything. Finally, he nods.

“I’m going to kiss you again.”

“Good.”