Page 41 of When the Merchant Met the Orc

Halvard’s mouth finds my ear. He nibbles the lobe, which sends waves of heat through me.

“We can simply kiss if that’s what you prefer.”

“You think I’m made wrong, don’t you? Because I’ve never been tempted enough to lie with a partner.”

He presses his head against mine, and when he turns his head this way and that to indicate no, his beard tickles my nose.

“There is not a single fault in you, Rychell. I promise you that.”

Giddiness fills me like a bubbling glass of northern cider. “I promise you you’re mistaken. I have loads of faults.”

“I won’t hear that kind of talk,” he says gruffly.

His erection presses against me, and my body thrums with desire. His tongue touches the top curve of my ear, and his tusk dusts over the sensitive skin there. I melt into his body. We fit neatly, as if we were designed for one another.

“If we’re going to do this, I want to do it all,” I say in a rushed whisper.

I feel his smile against my neck, where he is now focused on the hollow of my throat, his tongue darting out to give me more wonderful shivers.

“All right then.”

He pulls away, and I wonder what I’ve done wrong before I realize he’s removing his cloak. Setting it on the floor of the cave, he gestures for me to lie down. I do, my hands trembling. Is this a huge mistake?

On one knee, he eyes me. “One word, and I’ll see myself to the other side of the cave.”

“No. No, I want this. I want to try it. We have to diffuse this tension, or I’ll never be able to move forward.”

“Defuse it. Aye. Of course.” There’s a smile in his voice.

He lowers himself onto me, keeping some of his weight supported on an elbow. His mouth finds my collarbone, and hekisses me carefully like he wants to ease my pounding heart. Shots of fire travel down my torso, and my thighs tense as heat rises in my core. One of his massive arms loops around me and lifts, drawing me toward him. He glances up at me through his thick, coppery lashes, a question in the bronze depths of his eyes. His focus goes to my breasts, and then he looks at me again.

“Oh, yes,” I say, ridiculously breathless with the effort of speaking. I’m only feelings, no thoughts, and nothing matters beyond us right now.

With a hook and flick of a tusk, he has my corset untied. He nudges my dress down, then he licks the top of one breast, his hot tongue sending shooting blazes of pleasure down my flesh. He lowers me and leans in. I can’t breathe, but for some reason, it’s perfect. He slides my dress farther down and takes one nipple into his mouth. My head falls back, and I moan, lost to the sensation of warmth, tingling, and surging desire pulsing through me like I have become the storm outside.

His free hand takes my other breast and teases it with soft brushes of his large fingers, and the combination of kissing and touching is making my entire body shake with need.

“Is this some kind of orc magic?” I ask, the words nearly inaudible because it’s too difficult to speak.

He huffs a laugh against my chest as his hand smoothes its way down my body to take the hem of my skirts. “No, this is a strong attraction.”

“You’ve felt this intensely with others you’ve been attracted to?”

“No. Not like this.” His gaze spears me. “You are very special to me. I’ve never been so…” He shakes his head, then looks at me with fire in his eyes.

Leaning back, he lifts my foot and begins removing my boot and stocking. His gentle movements are enough to send more fire into my veins. With the stocking removed, he lifts my legand angles his head to set a kiss in the crease behind my knee. I shudder and grasp handfuls of the cloak beneath us.

“You like my knee?” I gasp out.

He nods and kisses the same spot once more. “Every part of you.”

No one has ever spoken to me like this. I didn’t think it was possible. Tales of courting are always so exaggerated, so foolish. But what if they’re not? What if everyone feels like this when they’re…

I almost thought the phrase “in love.”

I press my eyes shut and push away the worry.

Halvard removes my other boot and stocking. He draws his fingertips up my legs until I’m squirming with delight at the sensation.