OLIVIA AND THE ORC

A SCIFI ALIEN ROMANCE (ALIEN ABDUCTION BOOK 15)

HONEY PHILLIPS

CONTENTS

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Epilogue

Author’s Note

Other Titles

About the Author

Copyright © 2022 by Honey Phillips

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author.

Disclaimer

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or people, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Cover by Maria Spada Book Cover Design

Edited by Lindsay York at LY Publishing Services

Created with Vellum

CHAPTER ONE

The heat penetrated Olivia’s sleep, and she smiled. It was the first time since they’d come on this trip to celebrate her friend Panda’s birthday that she’d felt warm. Why her friend would have chosen a cabin in the mountains over a weekend at the beach in Mexico, she couldn’t understand. But at least someone—probably Panda—had finally managed to figure out how to turn up the heat in the cabin.

She tried to open her eyes, but they felt unusually heavy and reluctant to obey. They hadn’t drunk that much last night, had they? After the treacherous drive through the mountains, unloading the pile of supplies, and then the struggle to heat the beautiful but extremely chilly cabin, they had decided to have some hot chocolate and an early night.

Her body felt strange as well, numb except where her hands and feet were beginning to tingle. What had happened?

When she finally managed to pry her eyes open, she was looking up at a white ceiling. Maybe I’m in a hospital, she thought, relieved that there might be an explanation for why she felt so strange. But then the ceiling rippled and she realized it was made of fabric. Not a hospital—a tent.

Think, she ordered herself. What’s the last thing I remember?

Panda had been in the open kitchen of the rental cabin, hand-whipping cream for their spiked hot chocolate. Olivia had just finished painting her fingernails bright turquoise and had offered to paint Quinn’s as well.

“That sounds nice,” Quinn murmured from where she was standing at the window looking out at the snow.

Her thin shoulders were drooping, and Olivia gave Panda a concerned look. Once again, the man of Quinn’s dreams had turned out to be a frog—a married frog.

Of course as soon as Quinn found out, she’d ditched him, but it had been the third or possibly even fourth time it happened to her. She and Panda needed to have a serious talk about how to protect their friend. It wasn’t that Quinn went looking for trouble, but she was blonde and pretty and delicate, with an air of vulnerability about her that tended to attract big, powerful men. Unfortunately, those men always seemed to have a sophisticated trophy wife tucked away in the background.

“Do you have pink?” Quinn asked, moving away from the window.

Olivia rolled her eyes. “Of course I have pink. You never want any other color.”

“I like pink.”

“As if no one could tell,” Panda teased as she placed three mugs of hot chocolate on the coffee table. They could have come from a magazine—each of them had a cinnamon stick and a perfectly swirled dollop of whipped cream topped with shaved chocolate.

Quinn looked down at herself and smiled. She was wearing pale pink silk pajamas with a very old and very fuzzy pink cardigan. Oliva was wearing lime green sweatpants and a purple sweatshirt that said We’re going probing. Panda, of course, was sensibly dressed in plaid flannel, the cheerful color a nice contrast to her pale skin. With her white skin, red lips, and black hair, her friend had always reminded her of a curvy version of Snow White.

A brilliant white light suddenly illuminated the room, leaving afterimages dancing in her eyes.

“Was that lightning?” Panda asked. “It’s not often you see lightning during a snow—”

“I don’t think it was lightning,” she whispered.

As the flashes started to diminish, she saw a tall grey figure standing next to the fireplace. The bulbous head and big dark eyes could have come from any of a thousand movies she’d seen.

An alien.

“What do you mean it wasn’t lightning?” Panda asked, frowning. Then her mouth dropped open as she followed Olivia’s shocked gaze.

Quinn had her back to the fire and gave them a confused look.

“What on earth is wrong with you two?”

For a moment, Olivia was too stunned to move, but then the alien took two steps towards them and started to bend down over Quinn.

“Leave her alone, you bastard,” she yelled, grabbing the only weapon she had at hand—the hot cocoa.

She threw the mug at him then dove across the coffee table, trying to pull Quinn away from the menacing figure. Unfortunately, she misjudged the distance and ended up cracking her knee on the table before landing on top of Quinn, who gave a startled oof. The alien made a high-pitched noise as the mug broke on his shoulder, and she saw the ever practical Panda darting for a fireplace poker, but it was too late. There was another flash of light. Two. Three. Then a blinding rush of pain swept through her body. The cabin started to spin, and everything disappeared into a black void.

Now, the memory of the alien spurred her to action—or at least it would have if she’d been able to move. Her whole body was tingling painfully now, but her limbs were still unresponsive. She started to open her mouth to shout for her friends, but for once her sense of caution overrode her usual impulsiveness and she decided to keep quiet. There was no point in alerting her captors that she was awake.

After several painful minutes, she managed to roll over—and promptly fell face-down on the sandy ground. Fortunately, she hadn’t far to fall. She’d been stretched out on what looked like a pile of rough, handwoven rugs. Rustic baskets were neatly stacked along one side of the tent, but the tent itself was supported by a thin, hi-tech metal framework. She couldn’t see anything that looked like a weapon.

I’ll reconnoiter first, she decided, using the stack of rugs to help her stand. She managed to stagger the short distance to a door flap that was lifting slightly in the breeze, but she couldn’t see anything through the small opening except more sand. She bent down to try and open the flap a little more, but her newly awakened body gave out on her. Her knees collapsed and she fell through the opening, landing at the feet of the biggest person she had ever seen.

Not a person. An alien—or maybe not. He looked more like one of the orcs she remembered from her gaming days. Pale green skin covered more muscles than she thought it was possible for one being to have. All of which were on display since he wasn’t wearing anything except a leather weapons harness, a wide belt also bristling with weapons, and a leather loincloth with a ridiculously large bulge. She quickly tore her eyes away from his loincloth and looked up, up, up to his face. Dark hair tied back in a thick braid. A short dark beard that framed two enormous tusks—and a surprisingly sensual mouth. Pointed ears adorned with gold rings.

Yep, definitely an orc. Had she fallen through a portal into some fantasy world? He stared down at her, his eyes dark and intense, studying her thoroughly. Even though she was still wearing her sweatshirt and sweatpants, she suddenly felt as if she were naked. Not a trace of emotion crossed that stern face, and she tried to scramble away from him but her body still wasn’t responding properly. He barked a few words at her.

A command? A question? She had absolutely no idea, and she shook her head.

“I have no idea what you’re saying. All I want to know is where my friends are and how do we get the hell out of here? Where’s the door to the portal or—”

Her torrent of words came to an abrupt halt when he reached down and plucked her up off the ground as easily as if she weighed no more than a sheet of paper. He lifted her up to his face, and she started to panic.

Oh my God, is he going to eat me?

But all he did was take two deep sniffs, then frown.

“Why are you making that face? I’m perfectly clean. Maybe you don’t smell so good yourself!”

She gave an exaggerated sniff in return, but damn, he did smell good. Like leather and exotic spices. In spite of that, she did her best to give him a disdainful look.

“No, I can’t say I care too much for the way orcs smell.”

It was difficult to tell from that forbidding face, but she thought he actually looked amused. Could he understand her?

“You can put me down now,” she said, pointing emphatically at the ground. The ground that seemed a very long way away.

He looked even more amused, but before he could either respond or obey, there was a shout from behind him. He whirled around so quickly that she got dizzy.

Desert surrounded them, big rolling hills of deep orange sand beneath a sky that was not quite the right shade of blue. More tents were arranged in a neat semi-circle, but she was more interested in what was very clearly a crashed spaceship. It was aliens after all. There was no portal, no door home that they simply had to find, and despair washed over her.

A line of lizard-like aliens was moving back and forth between the ship and the camp, clearly salvaging things from the wreck. They were much smaller than her orc, probably about her size, with patterned scales in shades of red and gold, and large, wide-set eyes. Another shout came from far from the end of the line next to the ship where four of the lizardmen were struggling to pull a coffin-like object free from the ship.

No! Was that one of her friends? She started squirming in the orc’s hold, trying to free herself, but it did absolutely no good.

He barked a few words, which she was pretty sure meant stop that, then threw her over his shoulder. Leaving her there, he set off towards the ship, and she subsided with a disgruntled sniff. At least he was taking her where she wanted to go.

He patted her bottom with one big hand, obviously pleased that she wasn’t fighting him, and she snarled, tempted to try and kick him in his big orc balls. Unfortunately, her feet only reached as far as his belt, and from the hardness of his body beneath hers, she suspected that trying to kick him in the stomach would only result in her breaking a toe.

“You know, at some point you have to let me down, and I may be small but I’m sneaky. You’re going to pay for this,” she informed him, trying to sound as menacing as possible.

The only result was another pat, followed by a little squeeze—which felt disturbingly pleasant.

Dammit. Maybe it would be best to just keep quiet for now. What was it that Panda said sometimes? The best revenge is a cold dinner? No, she didn’t think that was exactly right, but she was pretty sure she understood the principle. He was going to pay.

CHAPTER TWO

As Baldric jogged across the desert to where the Sleestiks were emptying out the crashed ship, he kept being distracted by the presence of the small female across his shoulder. When they had first pulled her pod from the wreckage, he’d thought she was a child, but the soft curves beneath her bulky covering were definitely not childlike, and although her face was youthful it was also not that of a child.

After a brief argument with Zargan, the chief of this trading clan, they had left her to recover from stasis in one of the storage tents, and he had posted himself outside to keep watch. Not that he thought the Sleestik represented any particular danger to her—they would enter out of curiosity, nothing more—but he thought it would be better to let her regain consciousness on her own.

One of the reasons he tolerated working for Sleestiks was because their primary interest was business. He never had to spend his nights breaking up drunken brawls or worrying that they would steal any female they encountered. The unfortunate consequence of their focus on business was that they had immediately recognized that an unknown female could be highly profitable.

He’d been debating the best way to handle the situation when she’d fallen out of the tent at his feet—and immediately started babbling in an unknown language. Fek. She hadn’t been implanted with a translator. That was going to make communication rather difficult.

But when she looked up at him, defiant despite her fear, he decided it really didn’t matter. He would find a way to communicate. He’d never seen someone quite like her before—with the fiery hair of the goddess and eyes the deep gold of a mountain argal. Her skin was also tinted a pale gold, highlighted by small golden specks. Concerned that she would try to flee into the desert, he reached down to pick her up, her body soft and tempting in his hands.

He was not an impulsive male, but he couldn’t resist bringing her closer and breathing in her scent. As sweet and spicy as a jimon berry. Would she taste as delicious?

She made a protesting noise, and he realized that he had unconsciously started to knead the soft curve of her ass with his hand at the memory. He immediately stopped, but he didn’t go as far as removing it. After all, he wouldn’t want her to fall.

They reached the ship just as the four males who were trying to carry the pod dropped it. Feking morons. Why hadn’t they just waited for him? He knew why, of course. Under Sleestik trade rules, the first to discover a cache could proclaim himself the owner. No doubt the four of them thought that if they wrestled the pod back to camp, they could claim the female.

Chief Zargan trotted up to join him, and immediately disabused them of that conclusion.

“What do you sons of a darjan’s ass think you’re doing? If you damage my merchandise, I will take it out of your blood.”

They exchanged a nervous look, but Makira, the bravest—or the stupidest—mumbled a protest.

“Your merchandise, honored chief?”

“I spotted the crash, did I not?”

Actually, Baldric had spotted the wreckage during his pre-dawn patrol and brought it to Zargan’s attention, but it didn’t seem worth arguing about.

Makira looked as if he wanted to protest, but in the end he just dipped his head.

“Yes, honored chief.”

His little prisoner started struggling again now that he’d come to a halt. He would have no difficulty restraining her, but perhaps the pod contained someone familiar to her. Although… what if the occupant turned out to be a male companion? He did not like that idea at all.

In ancient times, Baldric would simply have challenged any rival—and then presented her with his head on a platter. The bloodthirsty thought surprised him. The last time he’d faced a rival for a female, he’d simply shrugged and walked away. But he did not like the thought of walking away from his fiery little captive.

The chief frowned at the female on his shoulder.

“Why did you move the merchandise?”

“I did not. She recovered enough to stumble out of the tent. I decided to bring her along and keep her secure. She may know the person in the pod, or if there are more of them.”

Zargan’s eyes lit up with avaricious greed, and he nodded.

“Excellent thinking. Put her down so I can question her.”

He found himself surprisingly reluctant to let her go, but it was a logical request. He let her slip down the front of his body, enjoying the feel of her soft curves as she slid down across his chest. As soon as her feet hit the ground, she tried to back away, but he kept his hand on her elbow until he was certain she could stand.

“Who is in the pod?” Zargan demanded. “Are there more of you?”

His female ignored the chief, racing over to throw herself at the pod. He followed as she started beating her hands on the plas steel covering.

“No! Panda! Please wake up.”

Zargan frowned at him. “Why this unseemly display?”

“I do not believe she understands that it is a stasis pod. And she does not appear to have a translator so I cannot explain.”

Unable to bear the sight of her distress any longer, he bent down and released the catch on the stasis pod. It opened with a faint hiss, the cold air immediately dissipating in the dry heat of the desert.

He could see the female within more clearly now. She was taller than his female and had the kind of curves that would fetch a premium price in the marketplace. Her skin was much paler than his female’s, almost white, while her lips were as red as jimon berries and her hair as dark as a shuvu’s wing. It was an attractive combination, but he found it far less appealing than the vibrant little female now reaching into the pod to grab the other’s hand.

“Panda. Pandora!” she sobbed. “Talk to me.”

Chief Zargan sighed. “Please remove her before she damages the second product. The weeping seems most unnecessary.”

He didn’t find it unnecessary, especially if his female was unfamiliar with the pods, but he did not want her to make herself ill. He lifted her back up on her feet again, securing her against his side when she immediately tried to return to her previous position.

“Hush,” he told her.

He pointed to her and then to the pod and made an arc in the sky, then pointed at the new female and repeated the gesture. After his second repetition, her face lit up.

“You mean I was in one of them too? And she just needs time?”

He wasn’t sure what she had asked him, but at least she had calmed down.

“Ask her if there are more,” Zargan demanded in a peremptory tone.

He was almost tempted to refuse, but if there was anyone else on the ship, they would not benefit from being left behind. He pointed at his female and then raised a finger. One. He pointed at the pod and raised a second finger. Two. Then he spread his hands questioningly. She caught on immediately, nodding vehemently and lifting three fingers.

“Three. Yes, there were three of us.”

Zargan also nodded, yelling to his males to keep looking.

“It is most unusual. It appears that the two, or hopefully three, females were separated throughout the ship. Perhaps they were intended for different destinations.” The chief rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Or perhaps it is merely a clever sales technique. One female would be rare and therefore precious and expensive. Then again, a grouping of them would arouse much interest and perhaps result in more competitive bidding. I shall have to consider this.”

Baldric was familiar enough with the Sleestik way of thinking not to be surprised. But then he looked down at his little female, watching the workers disappearing into the wreck with anxious eyes, and at the other female, still sleeping, and sighed.

Slavery was permitted within the Kaisarian Empire, under specific conditions and as long as all of the Imperial rules and regulations were followed. But three females from an unknown race? It seemed entirely likely that they had been stolen from their home planet—and that was not permitted.

Fek. He had the uneasy feeling that he was going to have to contact the Royal Fleet. His history with them had been problematic at best, but he didn’t see another alternative. That also meant that he would be losing a profitable client—he couldn’t imagine that Chief Zargan was going to take kindly to having his unexpected bounty taken away from him.

Baldric also had no doubt that word would spread. And if the Sleestiks wouldn’t hire him, he would be forced into taking guard jobs with much less savory groups.

Or I could go home.

The thought flitted through his mind, but he immediately dismissed it. That bridge had been burned, and he’d scattered the ashes.

Perhaps it was time to consider leaving the planet. Again.

CHAPTER THREE

Baldric’s thoughts were interrupted by another shout from within the ship. Zargan rubbed his hands together gleefully, practically purring with satisfaction.

“A third pod. Excellent. This will be our most successful venture ever.”

Baldric considered reminding Zargan that selling three females of unknown origin was undoubtedly illegal, but immediately dismissed the idea. He was well aware that many of the trade goods that Zargan carried were of somewhat dubious origin. Zargan might not have dealt in slaves before, but Baldric suspected it was more due to lack of opportunity than any moral considerations.

Makira appeared at the crumpled entrance to the ship. After Zargan’s proclamation that all of the goods of the ship belonged to him, he had reluctantly returned to the wreck and resumed scavenging.

“The pod is wedged in place. We are having a hard time freeing it.”

“Try harder,” Zargan ordered, and Makira sighed and disappeared back into the ship.

Zargan gave Baldric a speculative look. “I realize that our contract does not require you to provide assistance in transporting our goods, but if you could assist, I would be prepared to give you a percentage of the profits. A small percentage, perhaps two percent,” he added hastily.

Since Baldric had no intention of letting the females be sold, it was not a persuasive argument, but then he looked over at his little female. When the cry had come from the ship, she’d returned to the pod, clinging to the other female’s hand as she anxiously watched the activity. When Makira had reentered the ship, Baldric saw the tension in her body. He suspected that if they didn’t emerge with the third pod soon, she would try and go after it herself, and a wrecked ship was not a safe environment for a delicate female. He sighed.

“All right. I will assist.” He looked over at his female, all but quivering with impatience. “Stay,” he ordered.

She gave him a defiant look, and he briefly considered having Zargan put a guard on her, but he hated the thought of one of the Sleestiks touching her. Since she was still clasping the hand of the female in the pod, he thought her concern for the other female would keep her from running. But if she did choose to pursue such a foolish course, he would simply go after her. She wouldn’t escape him.

He made his way to the hole ripped in the side of the ship, wondering what had caused that type of damage. A glancing blow from an asteroid, perhaps.

As soon as he was on board, he regretted his decision. The crumpled walls pressed in on him, and the smell of smoke and destruction brought back far too many memories. He did his best to push them aside and concentrate on his job. The Sleestiks were still swarming through the carcass of the ship looking for items to sell, and he grabbed one who had come from the front of the ship.

“The pilot?”

“Dead.”

He wasn’t surprised since the bridge was in the most damaged part of the ship.

“Could you tell who it was? What species?”

The Sleestik shook his head, obviously impatient to carry his armful of scavenged goods off the wreck.

“Not one I’ve seen in Almadin. Thin, grey. May have been tall.” He smirked. “Not tall anymore.”

Fek. He glanced at the back of the ship, but started working his way forward instead. The stasis pod would keep for a few more minutes, but if he was going to report the incident to the Imperial government, he needed more information. The sweet stench of death in the increasingly narrow space made him grit his teeth, but he forced himself to keep going until he could see into the bridge.

He immediately realized what the Sleestik had meant. The front of the ship must have been the initial point of impact, and the ceiling of the bridge had collapsed. He doubted that even one of the Sleestik could have wormed his way into the remaining space. The pilot’s head had been crushed into little more than a grey blob, but enough of his body remained that Baldric could recognize the species. An Alnuk.

They were also traders of a kind, but they usually worked alone to fulfill specific requests. They had a reputation of being fast, efficient, and ruthless. If someone had sent an Alnuk after these females, that meant it was unlikely to be a random stroke of luck. Something more nefarious was at work.

He swore again as he left the shattered remains of the bridge. If the Alnuk were involved in procuring females from an unregistered planet, it definitely meant he would have to get the Royal Fleet involved.

As he passed back by the hole in the ship, he paused to take a breath of the dry desert air and check on his female. To his relief, she was still next to the pod. The female inside had regained consciousness enough that she was sitting up looking pale and shaken. Excellent. He was glad she was beginning to recover, but she would still be too weak to run and he didn’t believe that his female would abandon her.

The back of the ship was not quite as damaged as the front, but the walls were crumpled enough to turn the narrow corridor into an even more confined space. As the walls brushed against his shoulders on either side, he could feel his pulse racing, but he refused to give in to his fears.

Fortunately, Makira and another Sleestik were only a short distance ahead, trying to pry the metal away from a compartment in the wall.

“Move aside,” he ordered as he stooped down to get a better look. The pod was wedged into the small space, and he realized that under normal circumstances no one would ever have known it was there. A smuggling compartment.

“Did you find the last one like this as well? Concealed in the walls?”

“Yes, Baldric, but the entire wall had disintegrated and it was easy to free the pod. This is more intact.”

His female had been in the hold, but the other two had been concealed. Perhaps she had been intended as a decoy if the ship were boarded, or perhaps there were only two concealed compartments. He returned to the problem at hand. If he’d had room to open the pod, he would have released the occupant and carried her out, but there wasn’t enough room. He was simply going to have to pry the entire pod free.

He started working it through the existing gap, wincing as the torn metal scraped across the sides of the pod. But the pods were designed to protect their occupants, and they had certainly proven their capabilities during the crash. The torn metal around the opening began to flex as he pulled, and with a last scrape the pod fell free, slipping onto the floor before he could catch it. Not exactly what he had in mind, but at least it was out of the wall. The two males cheered as he frowned at the damaged compartment. Under normal circumstances, it would have been invisible. The occupant was lucky not to have been left to sleep her days away in the abandoned ship.

“Do you need assistance with the pod, Baldric?” Makira asked.

“No need.”

Once again, he considered opening the pod, but given the amount of damage he’d encountered, he decided it would be better to keep the occupant in its protection until they were off the ship. He glanced down at the transparent plas steel covering. Another female, a fragile-looking one with pale hair. Zargan would be thrilled.

As he dragged the pod back the way he had come, he wondered if the females were all of the same species. Their coloring was so different. All of the Sleestiks appeared very similar, with only the pattern of their scales to distinguish them. Even amongst his own people, there were only subtle variations in their skin and hair.

Once the corridor widened, he picked up the pod and carried it out of the ship, placing it on the sand next to the other pod. His female gave an excited cry and rushed to his side, pointing at it impatiently.

“What are you waiting for? Open it up!”

She clearly expected him to release the occupant, and with a mental shrug, he obeyed. The third female no longer needed the physical protection of the pod, and it would not save her from Zargan’s plans. It would be up to him to do that for all three females.

“Quinn, Quinn. Are you all right?”

His female bent over the unconscious female as the other one looked on anxiously. He saw her try and push herself out of her own pod, but her body was still too weak to respond.

“Perhaps it would have been wiser to have left them in the pods,” Zargan said. “Now we will have to feed them.”

“Even though the pods appear to have survived intact, they may still have sustained damage,” he said calmly. “You wouldn’t wish any harm to come to the females, would you?”

“An excellent point.” Zargan rubbed his chin. “Do you think we should bind them?”

No.

He forced himself to keep his tone calm, despite his instinctive revulsion. “I don’t believe it is necessary. Where are they going to go? I doubt they have any experience with the desert.”

Zargan nodded. “I suppose you are correct. But they are now the property of this caravan and it is your duty to make sure that they remain so.”

The underlying threat was quite clear, but Baldric simply nodded. “Of course. I will protect them.”

From everyone, including you.

“Is there more to salvage?” he asked, changing the subject.

“Yes,” Zargan said immediately. “Of lesser value, but one should never turn one’s back on a gift from the gods.”

He doubted the females would consider themselves gifts, but he simply nodded. “Then I will settle the females and return to assist.”

CHAPTER FOUR

“What do you think they’re going to do with us?” Olivia whispered to Panda.

They were sitting under an open canopy, one on each side of Quinn, who had yet to regain consciousness. Her orc had led them there and pantomimed they should remain, accompanied by yet another barked order. It looks like “stay” will be the first word of his language I’m going to learn, she thought resentfully as he strode back to the ship. But she wasn’t about to leave her friends, even if there had been somewhere else to go.

Panda had continued to recover, and now the two of them sat there, watching the lizardmen. They were still bustling around retrieving items from the crashed ship but their pace had slowed and she suspected they were running out of portable items.

“I rather think they intend to sell us,” Panda said slowly, and Olivia’s heart sank. She’d been trying to convince herself that her suspicions were unfounded.

“Maybe they’re just going to take us to the nearest town.”

“Maybe. But they’re obviously traders. They’re carrying far too many things for personal use.” Panda tapped her chin thoughtfully. “And why did the other alien take us unless he intended to sell us?”

“I don’t know. I mean, I never expected to get kidnapped by aliens in the first place. It doesn’t seem real, does it? Maybe it’s all a dream.”

But she knew it wasn’t. The sun beating down on the canopy, the fine grit that was already starting to coat her skin, even the faint exotic scent in the air—it was all too real.

“Not unless we’re having the same one,” Panda said. “I just wish I knew where we were. Or how long we’ve been gone.”

Her heart skipped a beat as the impact of her friend’s words hit her. They had no idea how long they’d been unconscious. It could have been days, weeks, even months.

“At least I don’t have to worry about missing work,” she muttered.

Panda gave her a reproachful look. “Oh, Olivia. Not again.”

“My boss didn’t want to let me have the weekend off, even though I requested it a month ago. He was just being a dick. So I quit.”

Her friend didn’t say anything, but Olivia knew what she was thinking. Of the three of them, she was the only one not to have settled on some type of career after college. Panda had known she wanted to be a librarian since she was a little girl. Quinn was an artist, but she also worked as a graphic designer for a marketing company. And Olivia had just quit her tenth job in six years.

“Don’t worry about it, Panda. It’s not like it was my life goal to manage a coffee shop. Of course, I’m not sure that being sold by alien slavers was what I had in mind either,” she added. “Maybe we should make a run for it while they’re not paying attention to us. We could pull Quinn along on that rug.”

“I’m pretty sure that would leave a trail,” Panda said dryly. “And I don’t know how to survive in the desert. Do you?”

“We could figure it out.” She did her best to sound confident, but when Panda raised an eyebrow, she sighed. “Or maybe not.”

“I think we’d be better off staying with them until we reach some kind of civilization. Do you think they have books here?”

The activity around the ship finally came to a halt, and all of the lizardmen returned to the camp. They began taking down the tents with astonishing speed, collapsing them into remarkably compact bundles, and packing them onto what looked like large sleds.

“I guess we’re getting ready to move,” she said as her pulse started to speed up. Not that she wanted to stay in the middle of the desert forever, but at least they were together and no one was bothering them.

Panda studied the activity. “It looks like they’re in a hurry all of a sudden. I suspect that encountering the ship and stopping to salvage the contents put them behind schedule.”

“You think they have a schedule?”

“It would seem logical. If they are traders, they have to have some place to trade. Given the amount of goods they’re carrying, I assume they have a definite route and a destination. I wonder if it’s a seasonal thing?”

“You mean like a harvest fair? Only we’re the harvest?”

Panda gave her a serious look. “I’m afraid so.”

Quinn stirred on her rug, whimpering quietly, and Olivia squeezed her hand.

“It’s all right, Quinn. We’re here. You’re safe.”

She ignored Panda’s raised eyebrow as Quinn seemed to settle down again.

“Why do you think it’s taking her so long to come out of it?” she asked. “I know she’s small, but she’s not that much smaller than us.”

“You’re right.” Panda rubbed her chin again. “I’m worried she’s having a reaction to whatever drug it was that the first alien used on us.”

Damn. Why hadn’t she managed to knock the bastard out?

“You think if they were going to bother taking us captive, they’d at least have someone around to take care of us,” she muttered.

As if in response to her words, tall, green, and handsome strode over to join them. For the first time, she noticed the intricate tattoo covering one massive shoulder. The dark swirls accentuated his muscles, and the thought of following those lines with her tongue popped into her head before she could prevent it. But then he frowned down at Quinn’s unconscious body, and barked a question at her.

Why did he have to be so bossy? And why did her traitorous body react every time? She crossed her arms and glared up at him.

“I sure as hell don’t know why she’s still asleep.” Please let her just be asleep.

He dipped his head in what looked almost like an apology, then asked another question, pointing from her to Panda to Quinn.

“What do you think he’s asking?” she asked Panda.

“I don’t know. Unless maybe he’s asking if we’re the same species? Since we all look so different.”

That made sense. All of the lizardmen certainly looked alike. She repeated his gesture, pointing at each of them in turn, then enclosing three fingers in her other hand and giving a firm nod.

“Family. We’re family.” She saw Panda start to open her mouth. “This isn’t scientific, Panda. This is emotional. You know we’re family.”

Panda gave her a shaky smile. “I know we are.”

The orc stared at them thoughtfully for a moment, then turned and walked away. She couldn’t help admiring the view—broad shoulders, muscular back, and a very nice ass. If he weren’t a ridiculously bossy alien, he’d be damn hot.

“You find him attractive?” Panda asked, and Olivia jumped.

“Me? What are you talking about? Of course I don’t find him…” Her words petered out under Panda’s knowing gaze. “Okay, fine. He’s just so big and muscular and…”

“Green?” Panda suggested.

“Ha ha. You don’t think he’s kind of hot?”

“He has a very impressive physique,” Panda admitted, and for some reason Olivia found that admission rather annoying. Then her friend shrugged. “But you know that has never really interested me.”

“I know, I know. You’re only interested in a man’s mind.”

“I’ve always found it more important.”

Olivia managed to refrain from commenting. She’d never been particularly impressed by Jeremy, Panda’s on-again, off-again boyfriend. While his tall, skinny frame didn’t appeal to her at all, she was more disturbed by the fact that he didn’t treat Panda as if she was important to him.

But then again, who was she to judge? She’d gone through almost as many boyfriends as she had jobs, and they’d all been equally disappointing.

“Your friend is returning,” Panda said, interrupting her thoughts.

The orc was coming back towards them pulling a heavily packed sled with remarkable ease, his muscles flexing beneath the gleaming green skin. Definitely hot.

“Look!” Her friend grabbed her arm. “It’s a hover sled—which means they do have access to advanced technology on this planet.”

Olivia pulled her eyes away from all those rippling muscles long enough to notice that the sled was floating about a foot above the sand.

“That’s weird. If they can make the sled float, why wouldn’t they just go ahead and add an engine to it instead of pulling it along?” Although she certainly appreciated the display of strength.

Panda shrugged. “It could be a different type of technology. But the ability to make it float has to come from somewhere. Given how primitive everything else seems to be, maybe even somewhere off this planet.”

“Maybe. They don’t seem particularly shocked by the spaceship.”

“If they have spaceships, there must be a spaceport somewhere. If we could find it, then maybe we could find a way home.”

Olivia could almost see Panda’s brain working. “Do you really think so?”

“I don’t know. Even if my assumption is correct, we would have to find that spaceport, find a ship, and find someone who’d be willing to return us to Earth.” Panda looked at the lizardmen finishing their packing and shook her head. “I don’t think any of that will be easy.”

“But not impossible,” Olivia said firmly as the orc brought the sled to a halt in front of them. Before she had a chance to realize what he intended, he bent over and picked up Quinn and the rug on which she was lying.

“Hey! Wait a minute.”

She and Panda both protested, but he ignored them, returning to the sled and carefully placing Quinn on top of a flat row of baskets. She scowled at him, even though he handled her friend gently. Or maybe because of it, a little voice whispered. Even though she knew it was ridiculous, she really didn’t like seeing him carrying someone else.

Next, he adjusted the other contents of the sled and added two piles of rugs, one on either side of Quinn, then pointed from her and Panda to the makeshift seats. Without waiting for them to obey, he took down the small canopy that had been covering them and fastened it to the back panel of the sled to provide shade.

He turned back and frowned when he saw that neither one of them had moved. He pointed again and barked another command.

“I suspect that’s some version of your chariot awaits,” Panda said dryly as she moved towards the sled.

Olivia didn’t really object to riding on the sled, but she wasn’t happy about the way he was ordering them around. She crossed her arms and frowned at him.

“What if I’d rather walk?” she asked defiantly.

The stern look vanished, replaced by amusement. He didn’t bother to repeat the command again. Instead, he simply picked her up and deposited her on the piles of rugs before she had a chance to protest. As he put her down, his arms tightened around her in what felt almost like a hug, and then he was gone.

When she looked over and saw Panda staring at her, she knew she was blushing.

“What?” she demanded.

Panda held up her hands. “I didn’t say anything. But I guess we’re riding.”

Olivia briefly considered jumping back off the sled, but then it began to move. This time, her orc wasn’t pulling it. Instead, three of the lizardmen had arranged the straps into a harness-like arrangement fastened between them. They talked cheerfully to each other as they set off, shooting the women speculative looks. Their interest appeared more avaricious than lustful, which seemed to confirm Panda’s theory.

As the other sleds fell into line, she sighed and settled back.

CHAPTER FIVE

In spite of her protests, Olivia enjoyed the ride at first. There was enough breeze to combat the heat of the sun beating down on the canopy, and she looked around curiously. But the unchanging vista of rolling orange sand dunes soon became monotonous, and she grew increasingly worried about Quinn’s failure to wake up. She knew Panda was just as concerned, but neither one of them could think of a solution.

After what must have been several hours of travel, they came to a stop, the sleds circling a scraggly patch of vegetation. It was the first time they had seen anything other than sand, and she decided it was some kind of oasis. Sure enough, her orc appeared a few minutes later bearing a shallow metal bowl filled with liquid and offered it to her. Her mouth was parched, but she gave it a suspicious look.

“How do we know it’s not drugged?”

“Why would they bother—” Panda started to say, but her orc was looking amused again.

He lifted the bowl to his mouth and took a small sip, then raised an eyebrow at her.

“Fine,” she said. “I suppose that’ll do.”

She took a cautious sip. Water. A little too warm and brackish but it felt wonderful sliding down her throat. She took another sip, this one larger, then passed the bowl over to Panda. She drank as well, and then they both looked at Quinn.

“Do you think we should try and give her a drink?” Olivia asked, and Panda nodded.

“I don’t know, but I think we should try. Let’s see if we can lift her head.”

Their positions made it awkward, and they were still trying to lift her when a huge muscular arm reached across Olivia and raised Quinn’s head and shoulders. Panda gave the orc a grateful look and raised the bowl to Quinn’s lips.

Olivia was too startled to react. She was wedged between that massive arm and the back of the sled. He was so close that his upper arm pressed against her breasts and her nipples beaded at the contact. His scent surrounded her, making her head swim, and when she turned her head to look at him, his face was only inches away from hers.

Her usual ability to speak deserted her, and she licked suddenly dry lips. That dark gaze heated as he followed the movement. How do you kiss someone with tusks? The question popped into her head before she could stop it. It was ridiculous to even speculate about such a thing, but she found her own gaze dropping to that unexpectedly sensual mouth.

“Thank goodness. I managed to get her to drink a little.”

Panda’s voice interrupted the moment, and Olivia would have jumped if she hadn’t been pressed so tightly against her orc. Saved by the bell. She most definitely had not been thinking of leaning closer to find out what kissing an orc would be like.

He gave a low grumble, as if he was annoyed by the interruption, but immediately turned his attention to her friend.

Panda gave them both a relieved smile. “If she could manage to swallow, I don’t think she’s in a coma. Maybe it really is just taking her longer to wake up.”

Her orc asked something in his deep voice and Panda shook her head.

“I don’t know what you’re saying. But you can put her back down now.”

Panda took the bowl away from Quinn’s mouth, and the orc returned Quinn to her previous position. He withdrew his arm, dragging it with what seemed like excruciating slowness across Olivia’s aching breasts and making her nipples throb with excitement. She bit her tongue to keep from moaning, and Panda gave her an odd look. Olivia knew that she was blushing, but she finally found her tongue.

“You need to drink instead of staring at me.”

Panda’s lips quirked, but she took another drink, then handed the bowl back to Olivia to finish.

Gritting her teeth, she turned to hand the empty bowl back to her orc. She had expected to find him looking amused at the way she had reacted to him, but instead he looked even more forbidding than normal.

After staring at her for what felt like an eternity, he pointed to his chest.

“Baldric.”

“I’m pretty sure he’s introducing himself,” Panda said softly.

“Yeah, I figured that out,” she muttered, staring back at him.

“Well aren’t you going to tell him your name?”

She really didn’t want to, but it seemed silly to refuse. She tapped her own chest reluctantly.

“Olivia.”

“Olivia,” he growled in that harsh voice, and it seemed to reverberate throughout her body. She liked him saying her name a little too much.

Panda cleared her throat, and Olivia jumped, realizing that she and Baldric were still staring at each other.

“I’m Pandora. And this is Quinn.”

Baldric repeated their names and nodded, then with one last look at Olivia, he strode away.

“I think someone likes you,” Panda said teasingly.

“Oh, please. He’s an orc! I mean, an alien.”

“A hot orc alien.”

Olivia’s gaze snapped to her friend’s face. “I thought he wasn’t your type.”

“He isn’t.” Panda rolled her eyes. “But you already said you thought he was hot.”

“I didn’t exactly say that.”

Her protests were interrupted by a soft moan from Quinn, and both of them focused on their friend as her eyes fluttered open.

“Where… where am I?”

“We were kidnapped by an alien, but then the spaceship crashed on a desert planet, and now we think the lizardmen who found us are going to sell us.”

“What?” Quinn looked even more dazed, and Panda glared at Olivia.

“Don’t pay any attention to her, Quinn. I’m sure everything is going to be fine.”

“It’s the truth,” she protested. “She has to know.”

“You could have put it a little more gently.”

Olivia rolled her eyes. Trying to sugarcoat the truth wouldn’t change the reality of their situation. And in spite of Quinn’s fragile appearance, Olivia knew there was a core of steel in her friend. She had survived everything that life had thrown at her so far.

“I want to see,” Quinn whispered, struggling to sit up.

As they helped her up, the lizardmen returned and put their harnesses back into place. Quinn stared at them as the sled began to move.

“Aliens?”

“Aliens. And Olivia has an orc,” Panda added.

Quinn shook her head. “An orc?” Then her eyes widened as Baldric suddenly appeared next to the sled. “Oh my.”

Olivia felt a momentary flash of irritation at her friend’s obvious admiration, then immediately pushed it out of her mind. Baldric looked at the three of them, then turned and strode off again.

“I wonder if he would let me paint him,” Quinn murmured, then winced. “I guess that’s not going to happen, is it? You said they were going to sell us?”

“We don’t know for sure,” Panda said soothingly, then sighed. “But it seems logical.”

She explained her trading theory. As Olivia expected, Quinn didn’t panic. She didn’t even look particularly surprised.

Baldric reappeared a moment later, with another bowl of water, only half-full this time. They both urged Quinn to drink, but after a few sips, she insisted that they share the remainder. In spite of her slow recovery, she looked as beautiful as ever as she handed the bowl back to Baldric with her pretty smile. “Thank you.”

“You don’t need to thank him,” Olivia snapped, unexpectedly annoyed. “He’s just taking care of the merchandise.”

She turned to glare up at him, expecting him to be giving Quinn the admiring look that most males gave her friend, but instead he was looking at her. He raised an eyebrow and turned away again.

“Definitely Olivia’s orc,” Quinn said softly, and Panda laughed.

“I don’t know what you two are talking about.” She crossed her arms defiantly, ignoring a small spark of pleasure at the words.

Quinn had more questions, but they had very few answers. As the day wore on and the heat increased, they drifted into silence, each of them lost in their own thoughts.

Sometime after noon they stopped again. There was no oasis this time, but the sleds pulled into a circle and the lizardmen harnessed to their sled disappeared again. Baldric showed up with another bowl of water and a bowl of dark pellets. She gave them a suspicious look, but he seemed to have anticipated her and popped one in his mouth.

“It has to be food, right?” she asked Panda as she picked up one of the unappetizing-looking balls.

“I suppose.”

Panda looked equally unenthusiastic, but Quinn shook her head at them.

“When there’s food available, you eat,” she said and placed one in her mouth. She chewed thoughtfully, then smiled. “Not bad. It’s kind of like a fruity jerky.”

Olivia and Panda exchanged doubtful looks, but they both reached for a pellet. Quinn was right. It did taste rather like a combination of dried fruit and meat, and it was surprisingly tasty.

Once he was sure they were eating, Baldric nodded and walked away again. When he returned to collect the empty bowls a short time later, Olivia expected they would be moving on. Instead, he motioned for her to get down from the sled, and she suddenly panicked.

“Why do you want me to get down? If you think you’re leaving me here, you’ve got another think—”

Once again, he ignored her protests and simply lifted her down.

“Dammit! Stop manhandling me.” No matter that there was something oddly arousing about being swung around as if she weighed no more than a feather.

He ignored her and quickly rearranged her side of the sled, spreading out the rugs on which she’d been sitting.

“I think he’s making beds for us,” Panda said. “Looks like it’s siesta time.”

Olivia followed her friend’s gaze and saw that the lizardmen had all settled down in whatever shade they could find.

“You mean he thinks it’s nap time,” she muttered as he picked her up and put her back on the sled.

He barked the stay command at her before moving to Panda’s side of the sled. Her friend hopped down readily enough as he fashioned a bed for her as well. Once they were all arranged, he nodded. His eyes lingered on Olivia for just a moment before he strode off again.

“He really is the most aggravating male.”

“Really? Because he brings us food and water? And arranges a place for us to sleep?” Panda asked dryly.

“Because he’s bossy.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “He didn’t even ask.”

“It’s okay to let someone take care of you,” Quinn said, her eyes sympathetic.

No, it isn’t. Relying on other people just made it that much harder when they left. Rather than argue, she turned on her side and closed her eyes, pretending to sleep. Her friends settled down as well and silence descended over the camp, the only sound the soft sigh of the breeze.

But sleep didn’t come for her. Her mind kept circling around the events of the day. How could she take care of her friends if they were going to be sold and, God forbid, separated? She had to get them away from the caravan. But Panda was right, she didn’t know how to survive in the desert.

Unlike Baldric.

The forbidding face of her orc popped up in her mind. Alone with her thoughts, she could admit that there was something immensely compelling about that dark gaze, not to mention that insanely hot body. But how could she be attracted to him? Even though he seemed to be looking out for them, he was still part of this group of slavers.

Just taking care of the merchandise, she thought bitterly, remembering her remark to Quinn.

Resolutely pushing all thoughts of her hot orc aside, she concentrated on the bigger problem. How were they going to get away from the slavers? And when? Maybe if she had some idea of how much longer they were going to be in the desert, she could form a plan. Or Panda could. Long-term planning was not one of Olivia’s strengths.

They were camped in a low area formed by several towering dunes. Maybe if she climbed one of the dunes, she could see if there was anything else around. Inspired by the idea, she slipped down from the sled. No one stirred as she made her way quietly to the far side of the sled, then started climbing the nearest dune.

The climb was harder than she expected, the sand shifting constantly beneath her feet. At least her fuzzy socks were thick enough to protect her feet from the burning sand. She hadn’t realized until then how much difference the canopy had made. The sun beat down on her head, and her sweatshirt felt like a blanket, but she pushed on.

When she finally reached the top, she was panting too hard to look around at first. Her mouth felt as dry as the surrounding desert, but it was worth it when she finally looked up and saw the line of huge snow-capped mountains ahead of them. Yes! She was almost positive they were heading in that direction. Not only would it be easier to hide amongst the trees that blanketed the lower slopes, but she also thought they could manage to survive in a forest environment.

A soft huff was the first indication that she wasn’t alone. She whirled around to find Baldric looming over her. Oh, shit. She drew back instinctively, and her foot slipped. For a horrifying moment she teetered, on the verge of falling back down the dune, but he snatched her into his arms before she could fall.

She clung to him in relief, not caring that she was plastered against that big, hard body, and he patted her back soothingly with one huge hand. God, that felt good. He felt wonderful too, all hard and strong, and he still smelled absolutely amazing. She actually snuggled a little closer before she came to her senses and tried to step back.

For a fraction of a second, he refused to let go of her, but before she could panic, he swung her away from the edge of the dune. He kept his hands on her arms as he stared down at her, then shook his head and muttered something. She had a strong suspicion it was something along the lines of, What am I going to do with you? It wouldn’t be the first time someone had said it to her.

“I was just taking a walk,” she said defensively. “You don’t have to worry. I’m not leaving my friends.”

He ignored her words, looking down at her flushed face. He frowned, then gestured at her top, obviously suggesting she remove it. He had a point—the sweatshirt was not designed for desert wear—but she shook her head vehemently.

“Not going to happen. I don’t have anything on under here.”

He gestured again, and when she still refused to take it off, he grunted and grabbed the hem. As he did, his huge hands brushed against her skin and she froze. His hands were so big that they spanned her waist, and for the first time in her life she felt almost… dainty. But then his fingers brushed slowly across her skin and she panicked.

Ignoring the surprising pleasure from his touch, she smacked his hand.

“No! I’m not taking it off.”

A look of shock crossed his face, then he sighed and pulled a knife from his belt. Sunlight glinted off the long blade and she gave it a terrified look, suddenly afraid that she’d misread him. What was he going to do with the knife?

He grabbed her shirt again, by the neck this time, and she was too shocked to do anything but close her eyes and pray.

A sharp ripping noise was followed by two more, and then he released her. She opened one eye and peeked down. Huh. He had cut a slit down the front of her top, not obscenely low, but far enough that she could feel the air against her throat. He’d removed her sleeves as well, and she could already tell it was an improvement. Then he squatted down in front of her.

He was so big that even crouched on the ground his head was level with her breasts. She could see a few silvery strands in the dark hair he’d pulled back into a thick braid.

I wonder how old he is.

The random question disappeared as he took hold of the leg of her sweatpants and raised the knife. She closed her eyes and held perfectly still as the blade moved again, rapidly transforming her pants into shorts. Those thick fingers fleetingly touched her skin again as he removed the excess fabric, and a shiver went down her spine.

His nostrils flared, and he looked up at her, an expression she couldn’t read on his face. But then he rose to his feet and stepped back, taking the fabric scraps with him.

“Wait a minute. Can I have those?”

He hesitated, then held them out. She took the two arm pieces and tied them together. Then she turned her back on him and slid the strip of fabric up under the shirt, tying it together again between her breasts to form a makeshift bra. It wasn’t much, but it was better than nothing. Her confidence restored, she turned back to him.

“Well? Are we going back to camp or not?”

CHAPTER SIX

Baldric hid a smile as he followed his little female back down the dune. She certainly kept life interesting. He had been watching over the camp when he’d seen her slip away from her sled. Not that he expected any danger—the threat of raiders was slim in the open desert—but it was his job to keep watch. A job he could do just as well from the top of one of the dunes, he decided as she began to climb, and he set out after her.

He didn’t really think she was trying to escape; the bond between her and the other two females was quite clear, and he didn’t think that she would leave them. And if she had been trying to escape, it would have made more sense to go around the dune. So why was she climbing?

It wasn’t until he saw her face as she looked across the mountains that he realized her intentions, and he almost laughed aloud. He was quite sure his fiery little female was plotting an escape. He did regret startling her—his normally calm heart actually skipped a beat when it looked as though she might fall—but he didn’t regret the way she had burrowed into his arms afterwards.

Despite her small statue, she felt perfect tucked against him, and his body had inevitably responded. He knew that she had responded as well—he’d felt the stiff points of her nipples and caught the sweet tang of her arousal before she’d jumped away from him—but he could not pursue their attraction while they were part of the caravan. Zargan was no fool. He was already suspicious of the fact that Baldric was watching over the females so closely. Although he had accepted Baldric’s statement that it was important to take care of the females so as not to reduce their sale value, his eyes had been wary.

Baldric had decided to keep their interactions to a minimum, so even though they were alone right now, he let her go. As he did, she swayed dizzily. This time, it was not due to her footing. When he looked at her flushed face, he realized that she was overheated. Hardly surprising when her clothing was so unsuited for this environment. And he was even less surprised when she refused to remove the heavy garments.

He was willing to bow to her modesty, but not at the expense of her health. He regretted the fear he’d seen in her face when he pulled out his knife, but by the time he kneeled in front of her to shorten her pants, her fear seemed to have disappeared. He was quite sure that the scent of her arousal had increased. His hands had wanted to linger on the soft skin of her legs, but he forced himself back to his feet, then watched in amusement as she bound her breasts beneath her garment. The females of his tribe usually only bothered to bind their breasts when nursing or fighting, but he knew that other species were more modest.

He found the idea surprisingly tantalizing and hoped that she would remove the top garment so he could view the binding, but she kept it in place. She gave him a triumphant look and set off back down the dune.

Yes, she was definitely going to make his life interesting.

He saw her safely back to her sled, even letting her climb aboard on her own. This time, he remained next to the sled until he was sure that she was sleeping. To hell with Zargan.

An hour later, Zargan called an end to the rest period and they set off again. Some of the Sleestik males grumbled—they were used to longer rests—but Baldric knew that Zargan was more concerned about reaching the market in Almadin than he was about the complaints of his males. The fall market was the largest one of the year, everyone gathering to trade the fruits of the harvest and pick up supplies for the long winter months ahead. There would be feasts and parades, and famous gladiators would hold matches. Interstellar traders would be present as well, and the Fleet would be keeping an eye on everyone in case of trouble.

I’m going to have to contact them, he thought again, no matter how reluctant he was to reopen that wound. He wondered if Commander Trogar was still in charge of the sector. He was a decent male for a Kaisarian officer, and Baldric trusted him to investigate the crashed ship. But what about the females? Unless they had been taken from a planet that was already part of the Kaisarian Empire, they would not be returning home. If the investigating officer acted according to protocol, they would be offered sanctuary on the planet of their choice. Perhaps that would solve his own doubts about his future—he could accompany them, for their protection of course, and see where the attraction between him and Olivia might lead.

Pleased with the thought, he continued to keep watch over the caravan throughout the long afternoon. Zargan did not call another halt until the shadows of the sleds stretched out across the dunes and the low rays of the setting sun. The sleds were fueled by solar power, and while they could travel a short distance at night, the batteries would be rapidly depleted once the sun went down.

“We made good time today,” he said to Zargan as he joined the chief.

The older male frowned as he watched his males pull out the portable stoves and begin preparing the evening meal.

“Not good enough.”

“We are no more than a half-day behind schedule.”

“A half-day we have to make up, otherwise we will not be there on the opening day. You know that it is always the most profitable day.”

He gave a noncommittal shrug.

“It would be better if I arrive a day earlier,” Zargan continued as he glanced over at the sled containing the females. “I need to determine the most profitable market for the females.”

Baldric bit back an automatic protest. There was no point in having this argument now.

“It might be difficult. There has never been much of a market for slaves on Maskah,” he said calmly.

It was true. His people had never been in the habit of taking slaves. The Sleestiks had a version of slavery, but it was only for a contracted period and usually the result of a debt. And as for the Guulli, the third race on Maskah, their religion did not permit them to take slaves.

“Yes, it would undoubtedly be more profitable to sell them to an offworlder. But how? A private auction? Or as part of the market?”

Zargan frowned thoughtfully as Baldric clenched his fists and remained silent. He would never allow his female to be sent away from Maskah without him.

As soon as the meal had been prepared, he gathered portions for the females and returned to their sled. They were huddled together, laughing at something his female had said, and he wished he could have participated in their conversation. He wanted to understand all of the words that flowed so quickly out of her mouth.

The one called Quinn smiled up at him, obviously thanking him, as he placed the food in front of them.

She too was an attractive female but very fragile-looking—as if she would break when a male touched her. Unlike my little female, he thought, remembering her soft curves pressed against his chest earlier that day.

He looked over to find her scowling at him again, although he wasn’t sure why she was offended this time. Based on her expressions, she seemed to find almost everything he did offensive, but he suspected that wasn’t entirely accurate. He had felt—and scented—her response to him, both on the sled and up on top of the dune. His cock jerked at the reminder, and he would have moved away except that all of the females were giving the platter an uncertain look.

He sighed and showed them how to remove the cooking leaves from around the small bundles of spiced meat and grain, and how to use the camp bread to scoop up the juices. They followed his lead readily enough, even Olivia. He found it surprisingly satisfying to provide for her. In his tribe, a hunter’s job was to provide for his female and for his family, and although he had left that behind him many years ago, apparently the instinct still remained.

He had brought them water when they first stopped, and now he brought them a flask of the strong desert wine as well. His female took it eagerly, taking a sip before he could show her how to water it down, and immediately choked. She glared at him as if he had tried to poison her.

“You did that on purpose,” she muttered as he showed them how to mix the water and the wine.

“You should not be so impulsive,” he told her.

He suspected she understood the meaning if not the words as her scowl only darkened. He almost laughed, tempted to lift her into his arms and kiss away the frown, but once again he reminded himself this was not the place or the time.

Several of the Sleestiks wandered past, speculating on which female would fetch the highest price. Even though he knew the females couldn’t understand their conversation, he sent them on their way with a warning look.

No one lingered by the stoves after the evening meal, returning to their sleds or choosing a sheltered patch of ground for their bedroll. Only a few had bothered to put up a tent since Zargan had made it clear that they would be leaving early in the morning. He considered erecting one for the females, but they seemed comfortable enough on the sled and he decided it wasn’t necessary.

Once he was sure they were resting, he made another patrol as the camp settled down. Then, after a moment’s deliberation, he chose a post next to the females’ sled. They were the most valuable cargo, after all, and he would explain as much to Zargan if the trader questioned him. The fact that his personal interests and his duties coincided was only a happy chance

The night passed quickly and quietly with no undue disturbances. And as Zargan had promised, they were on their way as soon as the sky lightened. They had reached the edge of the desert by the time the sun came up, the ground turning from sand to rocks. Hardy shrubs appeared next, wedged into the cracks of the rocks. The plants gradually increased in size until he was surrounded by the forest of his youth. In spite of everything, the cool shade beneath the trees and the familiar scents of the air felt like coming home.

Up ahead, he could hear the roar of the Nahra. The wide, fast-moving river separated the desert lands of the Sleestiks and the mountains of his people, the Daichin. They would cross the river and take the trail that skirted the base of the mountains until they reached Almadin.

Remembering the look on Olivia’s face as she gazed at the mountains, he decided to walk next to their sled now that they were amongst the trees. He was watching her whisper something to her friends when Zargan approached, swearing furiously.

“Son of a darjan’s ass. The bridge has been rendered impassible.”

“Are you sure? It was fine when I traveled across it this spring.”

“It’s not fine now.”

As Baldric sighed and turned to follow Zargan, he saw Olivia slide down off the sled in what she undoubtedly thought was a surreptitious manner. Fek. The moment he was out of sight, she was going to make a run for it.

“Just a minute,” he told Zargan. Striding over to Olivia, he caught her hand just as she raised it to beckon to her friends.

“I don’t think so. You’re coming with me. This is for your own good,” he added.

Ignoring her outraged protests, he tugged her back along with him to where Zargan was waiting, taking care not to damage her delicate flesh with his grip.

“Why are you bringing the female?”

“Because I do not trust her not to flee,” he said honestly.

“I knew we should have bound them.”

He frowned forbiddingly at Zargan and despite the older male’s arrogance, he flinched.

“I said I would take care of it, and I have,” Baldric said coldly. “Now, do you want me to take a look at the bridge?”

The chief swiftly regained his composure. “Yes, of course.”

As soon as Baldric saw the structure, he realized the problem. The base of the bridge was formed by three slender metal beams. Those beams were still intact, but the wooden cross pieces on top of them had been damaged, making the footing unstable. At first glance, the damage appeared to be weather-related, but something about it looked off to him, almost as if it had been done deliberately.

“This looks a lot more primitive than I’d hoped.” Olivia’s friend Pandora spoke from behind him.

Somehow, he was not surprised to find that both she and Quinn had followed them.

From the way Pandora was surveying the bridge, he suspected she could see the same flaws that he could. Olivia only looked impatient.

“I don’t see the problem. It’s a few missing boards. We just have to avoid them.”

“What do you think?” Zargan demanded. “Is it safe to cross?”

Somewhat against his better judgment, he let go of Olivia.

“Stay,” he ordered, then walked cautiously out onto the bridge to investigate. The damage was not as bad as he had first feared. They would be able to cross, he decided, as long as they were careful.

He returned to Zargan, noticing with satisfaction that Olivia and her friends were still waiting there as well.

“I think it’s possible. I’ll go across first and mark out the safest passage. Then we’ll send one sled across at a time, making sure that the team pulling it follows that path—”

“Olivia, don’t!”

The protest interrupted him, and he turned in time to see Olivia dart out onto the bridge, waving to her friends to follow.

“Come on. If we can get across while they’re still arguing, we can get away from them.”

Even though he didn’t understand the words, her excited gesture was all too clear. Fek. She was going to hurt herself. He strode out after her, more concerned about reaching her than where he was placing his feet. She squeaked when she saw him coming and turned to run. As she did, the board she was standing on gave way, and he watched in horror as her small body tumbled down into the raging river.

No!

He didn’t even stop to think. He dove in after her.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Olivia was too shocked by the fall to cry out, but she couldn’t help gasping as the icy water closed over her head. Water rushed into her mouth, and she choked, kicking her legs frantically as she tried to get back to the surface. The swirling current made it difficult to keep track of what was up and what was down as the river swept her downstream. By some miracle, she managed to get her head above water long enough to take a breath before she was swept under again. Fuck!

She knew how to swim, but all of her experience had been in a nice calm lake, not this type of raging torrent. Fighting her way back to the surface, she gasped in another breath, but any attempt to control her direction was useless. Even though she knew she should try and reach the bank of the river, she could barely keep her head above water. She slammed against a boulder, knocking the breath out of her, and went under again. This time, she lost all track of direction.

Her vision started to dim, but she kept kicking, trying to make her way back to the surface. There was no way she was going to give in to this fucking river. Quinn and Panda needed her. She kicked again, but she was rapidly losing strength. Despair started to override her determination, and then a strong arm wrapped around her waist and dragged her to the surface.

Baldric!

She’d never been so glad to see anybody in her entire life. The current tugged at her, trying to snatch her away from him, but he had no intention of letting her go. He locked her against him with one arm, using his body to shield her as the river grew narrower, racing through a rocky gorge. She clung to him as desperately as her half-frozen arms would allow.

Somehow he managed to keep her head mostly above water, and she could tell he was trying to aim for the river bank. It was a painfully slow process, but she finally managed to recover enough strength to kick her legs, trying to help guide them in that direction. Even in the icy water, she could feel the warmth of his body against hers, but it wasn’t enough to fight off the cold and she could feel her limbs going numb.

Just as she was beginning to wonder if they were ever going to make it out, they slammed into a massive boulder sticking out into the river. Somehow, he managed to grab hold of it and pull the two of them free of the main current, gradually working them around the edge and into the lee of the rock. The pull of the current diminished enough that he was able to haul them both out of the water and up onto the shore. She collapsed on the ground, still dazed and shivering, and he crouched over her, growling her name.

“Olivia. Olivia!” he repeated, his hand skimming over her body to check for injuries, and the warmth of that big hand finally penetrated her frozen state.

“I-I’m o-okay.”

He bent over her, his face only a few inches away, and for once she had no difficulty reading his expression. She could see the fear on his face and knew it was for her, not for himself. He’d come after her. He hadn’t left her alone to die.

“Thank you,” she whispered, and for the first time, he smiled.

Her heart skipped a beat at the softened look, and she gave in to another impulse, throwing her arms around his neck and pulling him down for a kiss. The big tusks almost made her hesitate, but her mouth fit between them and her lips pressed against his. His entire body stiffened, and for a moment, she wondered if she had done something wrong. His lips parted as if he was about to speak, but before he could, she slipped her tongue into the heated depths of his mouth.

Hot and wet and delicious. She hummed approvingly and brushed her tongue across his. A noise that sounded distinctly like a growl reverberated through her mouth, and then he took over. He forced her lips apart, exploring her even more thoroughly than she had done to him, and sweeping her away in a tide of relief and passion. A massive hand closed over her ass, hauling her up against his body, and she went eagerly, seeking the warmth and security of that big, hot body. Her nipples had already hardened due to the icy water, but they throbbed now for an entirely different reason. She tried to rub them against his chest as he pulled her even closer.

The massive ridge of his cock notched between her legs as he adjusted his position, shockingly huge and hard against her swollen clit. God, yes. She ground herself against him, desperate for the reassurance that she was alive and safe. He growled again, helping her move back and forth against his cock. Something pressed directly against her clit, and her climax swept over her with a sudden overwhelming intensity. He held her tightly as her body quivered, and she buried her face in his neck, waves of pleasure washing over her until she finally went limp. He made what was quite clearly an approving noise, and she looked up to find him smiling at her again, a purely masculine expression of satisfaction on his face.

Oh, God, what did I do? The impact of her behavior finally hit her, and she shoved him away—or at least she tried. She had no hope of making him release her unless he chose to do so. His expression stiffened, but he let her go and she scrambled quickly away from him.

What the hell was she going to do now? She was wet and freezing, she’d lost her friends, and she’d just let an alien orc give her one of the best climaxes of her life. And now they were alone together.

“Olivia.”

The sound of her name in that deep voice sent a thrill of remembered pleasure down her spine, but she refused to look at him. She heard him sigh, but he didn’t say anything else. Only a few faint rustling noises followed, and eventually curiosity drove her into looking around. The boulder that had allowed them to escape the current continued onto the shore, forming a small natural clearing. He’d cleared a circle of dirt in front of the rock, and he’d also gathered a small pile of wood. He bent down over it, obviously intending to build a fire, and her irritation overcame her embarrassment.

“Why are you doing that? We don’t have time. We need to get back to the bridge.”

She tried to see back up the river, but it curved out of sight behind a rocky cliff. How far had they come? It seemed like they had been in the water for a long time, but maybe it was just the shock and confusion of the accident. She also couldn’t help but notice the thick woods and rocky terrain along the banks of the river. They might make travel difficult—but she’d made it across the desert and by God, she was going to make it back to her friends.

She focused on Baldric again, turning around in time to see him strike a spark on a small metal rod next to a neatly arranged pile of sticks. From her one brief summer at Girl Scouts camp, she remembered starting a fire was a lot harder than it seemed. She smirked and crossed her arms, waiting to see how long it would take him to get the fire started.

Of course the damn thing lit immediately, and he had a small blaze burning in no time. Damn. Was there anything he wasn’t good at? The question triggered the memory of their encounter, and she suddenly found herself wondering what it would be like to actually have sex with him.

No. She was not going there. It had been a temporary aberration caused by the shock of nearly drowning. What was important was getting back to her friends.

Now that he was finished with the fire, he stood and stretched, his muscles flexing, and turned in time to catch her staring at him. To her relief, he didn’t react. Instead, he gestured at her to remove her clothes.

What? Absolutely not.

He made a wringing gesture with his hands, and she realized he wanted her to get out of her wet clothes. Still a hell no. She might be drenched and freezing, but damn if she was getting naked in front of him. She didn’t care how shamelessly she’d behaved—the clothes were staying on.

He certainly didn’t have the same concerns. He pulled off his weapons harness and his belt before casually removing his loincloth.

Holy shit. Given his size, she’d assumed his cock would be proportional. She’d even felt how thick it was between her legs, but it wasn’t the same as seeing it. He was much, much bigger than she’d anticipated. His cock hung halfway down his thigh, and even flaccid, it looked as thick as her wrist. And to top it all off, he was pierced. A row of silver studs ran down the front and back of the thick shaft, and she realized that one of them must have pressed against her clit and triggered her orgasm.

His cock jerked as she studied it, and she quickly snatched her gaze away, her cheeks burning. She caught a quick glimpse of his amused expression, and that only made her embarrassment worse.

Dammit. It was only natural that she’d look, wasn’t it? Defiantly, she snatched off her wet top, leaving her clad only in her makeshift bra. Her nipples tented the wet material, and his eyes immediately focused there, all amusement wiped from his face.

Okay, maybe not the brightest idea she ever had. Alone in the woods with a huge naked orc and she’d voluntarily removed her top? She perched on the balls of her feet, prepared to run, as he stalked towards her, but all he did was pick up her abandoned shirt. He wrung it out, then placed it and his loincloth on some branches he had arranged over the fire.

Oh. He wasn’t trying to get her naked so he could ravage her—he was drying their clothes. She stripped off her socks and handed them to him. A cool breeze swept down through the trees, and she shivered as her wet shorts clung to her legs. After a moment’s hesitation, she took them off as well and added them to the drying clothes, trying to convince herself that her hot pink panties covered as much as a bathing suit.

When she turned to look at him, his eyes focused on the big white X over her mound. She’d thought it was funny when she’d bought the panties, but with his dark, intense gaze focused between her legs, amusement was the furthest thing from her mind. She wanted to slap her hand over the spot—or spread her legs wider and let him look. But neither action would achieve her goal.

Ignoring the pulse of excitement from her clit, she cleared her throat and waited for him to look up at her face.

“Listen, Baldric. We don’t have time to make camp here. We—” she pointed emphatically to him and then herself “—need to get back up the river.” She pointed upstream. “Back to my friends. To Panda and Quinn.”

He looked at her, and she was quite sure he understood what she was saying. His expression was more than normally forbidding—but it was the sympathetic look in his eyes that worried her as he slowly shook his head.

“No? What do you mean no? We have to get going.”

He frowned at her, then reached over and started brushing the leaves away from another patch of ground.

“Don’t ignore me,” she demanded, before she noticed he was beckoning her to join him.

She approached him cautiously, not quite sure what he had in mind. He took one of the branches that he had gathered for the fire and started drawing on the dirt. First he drew two long wavy lines, then pointed to the river. Okay, that was clear enough.

“I get it. That’s the river.”

“River,” he repeated with a nod.

Then he drew three thin lines across one end of the river symbol, and she decided it was intended to represent the bridge. He pointed to both of them, then ran his fingers down the river to the end and patted the dirt.

“Yeah, I get that too. We fell in the river, and this is where we are now. But now we need to get back to here.” She tapped firmly on the bridge.

The sympathetic look was back, and she braced herself. He pointed to the sky and made an arc, and she remembered that gesture from before. She knew it represented time passing, and from the depth of the arc she was uneasily afraid that it meant an entire day passing, but she nodded.

“A day? Do you mean it will take us a day to get back?”

She repeated the gesture, pointing to their end of the river and then the bridge symbol. He nodded, but then he used his fingers to walk a step next to the river and repeated the arc. He did it again, and again, and again, only moving a fraction of the distance each day. Her heart was beating so hard that she lost track, but he had to have repeated the gesture more than a dozen times before he finally stopped. Her knees gave out, and she collapsed down on the dirt and stared at him.

“Weeks? Are you saying it’s going to take us two weeks to get back?”

Was that even possible? She looked over at the river rushing downstream. Could they really have come that far? And if it would take them that long to get back, how would she ever find her friends? She had no illusions that the Sleestiks would wait for them.

Tears stung her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. Instead, she glared at him.

“I don’t care how long it takes. I have to get back to them. They need me.”

She was the one who took care of the other two—the one who made Panda relax and the one who protected Quinn. She knew Panda would do her best to look out for Quinn, but she was far too naïve. Olivia had a lot more experience when it came to dealing with assholes.

Baldric put his big, warm hand on her shoulder, and for a moment, she was actually tempted to lean into him. But she’d learned a long time ago not to rely on comfort from anyone else. She could only rely on herself. Her eyes burned, but she impatiently shook off his hand and looked away.

She heard him sigh, but then he rose to his feet and started getting dressed. A moment later, he said something, but she refused to look over at him.

“Olivia.”

The sound of her name on his lips actually shocked her into looking up at him. He gestured to her mouth and his mouth, then patted his knife. It took her a moment, but she finally decided he was intending to go look for food. Whatever. The last thing on her mind was eating, but she nodded and gave him a wave.

“Fine. Go be the mighty hunter.”

He pointed at her and then the fire and issued a stern command that sounded annoyingly familiar.

She narrowed her eyes at him. “I know you didn’t just order me to stay, did you?”

The amused look reappeared as he repeated the two gestures and gave a firm nod before turning and vanishing into the woods. Damn. For someone of his size, he had disappeared almost soundlessly. The small clearing suddenly seemed very empty. Something chittered high up in a tree, and she jumped. What the hell was that?

I’m sure it’s just an alien squirrel, she told herself, edging a little closer to the fire.

She could make out more sounds now—gentle rustling in the undergrowth and more of the chittering noises—but as she grew accustomed to them, she decided they didn’t really sound threatening. She looked back down at the picture he’d drawn. Twelve days. Twelve days to get back to her friends.

She looked up at the sky and decided it was probably not even much past noon yet. If she started now, by the time night fell it would be eleven and a half days.

If Baldric wasn’t willing to take her, then she would take herself. It’s not like I can get lost, she thought as she started pulling her still damp clothing back on. All I have to do is follow the river. When she got to the bridge, she could follow the trail.

As she cast a last glance around the clearing, she noticed the metal bar Baldric had used to strike a spark was neatly placed on a rock next to the fire. After a moment’s hesitation, she picked it up. He was obviously skilled at starting fires so he’d be fine without it, she assured her uneasy conscience, whereas she needed all the help she could get. She looked around again, but there was nothing else to take.

“Eleven and a half days,” she murmured to herself, then set off back along the river.

CHAPTER EIGHT

As soon as the undergrowth concealed him, Baldric turned to look back at the clearing. He half-expected Olivia to take off the moment he left, but she remained crouched by the fire. The dejection in her small body made his chest ache. He would have stayed and comforted her if she had been willing to accept his comfort, but she’d made it quite clear that she would not.

He had hoped that after their encounter on the river bank, she would regard him with less suspicion. But even though she had responded so deliciously to his touch—so deliciously that his cock threatened to harden again at the memory—her body had barely stopped quivering before she pushed him away. Courting his fiery little female was definitely going to be a challenge, he realized, his lips curving. He’d always loved a challenge.

Reassured that she intended to remain by the fire, he resumed his hunt. As he checked for signs of game, he considered their options. He knew Olivia’s priority was to return to her friends, and he had seen the skepticism on her face when he told her how long it would take to return to the bridge. True, the physical distance was not that great. He could have made the journey in a third of the time, but the terrain was difficult—thick forest and sheer rock cliffs—and he doubted she had the strength or the experience to move quickly under those conditions.

And, of course, Zargan’s caravan would be long gone. Given the trader’s urgency to reach the fall market, he would not wait for them. He had probably already written them both off as dead, counting himself as fortunate to have the other two females—which presented Baldric with an entirely different problem. Even aside from Olivia’s desire to rejoin her friends, he hated the idea of two innocent females being sold. If they reached them in time, he could take them under his protection, but he still needed to notify the Royal Fleet about the crashed ship and the dead slaver.

Fek. They were going to have to take the pass through the mountains. The travel would be easier for Olivia, and the pass emerged close to Almadin. They still wouldn’t arrive before the fall market began, but hopefully they would arrive before it was over. There was only one little problem: the pass also led straight through the lands of his tribe, a place he had successfully managed to avoid for more than seven years. Unfortunately, he couldn’t see any alternative.

He sighed and decided to concentrate on his hunt. Once his female was fed and her clothes were dry, they could set off. With any luck, they would be deep in the foothills before nightfall.

His old skills had not deserted him, and it wasn’t long before he headed back to the camp, a brace of field-dressed shuvus hanging from his belt. He found himself whistling as he walked, satisfied with the successful hunt and the prospect of providing for his female. Would she reward him, he wondered. Perhaps press her lips against his in that strangely erotic gesture. Because of their tusks, his kind did not mate with their mouths, but exploring her sweet little mouth had been most enjoyable.

His pace increased, anxious to return to her side, but his hurry was in vain. The campsite was empty.

He almost laughed. Of course, she was gone. He should have realized that no matter what he said, she would take off after her friends, especially since their limited communication options hadn’t allowed for a full explanation. Leaving the shuvus to smoke on his drying rack, he set off after her. He had no doubt that he would catch up with her shortly—and then he intended to make it very clear that she needed to listen to him rather than her own reckless impulses.

He was still more amused than worried—until he spotted the huge paw prints of a quatal. Fek! The big predators didn’t usually come this far down out of the mountains. Although it was still early in the season, it must have been hunting in preparation for the winter hibernation. And Olivia was a very tasty morsel.

He ran.

OLIVIA FROZE, staring at the huge animal emerging from the undergrowth. Fuck! Why didn’t I stay by the fire?

The walk had been harder than she expected. The land had started to climb almost as soon as she left their camp, and it was difficult to make her way through the dense forest without getting too far from the river. Her still damp clothes rapidly grew cold and uncomfortable. She fell twice, scraping her knees on the increasingly rocky ground. She was actually beginning to consider turning around and returning when she noticed that the woods had grown silent. All of the small noises she’d become accustomed to had suddenly ceased.

A chill ran down her spine, and she was sure someone was watching her. Don’t be ridiculous, she told herself, but she couldn’t make herself keep walking. She came to a halt, took a deep breath, and spun around. See? There’s nothing there.

And then one of the bushes moved. Not a bush. A huge animal with the stocky build of a bear, but a coat striped like a tiger. The coat had blended in with the bushes until the animal raised its head, clearly sniffing the air.

Please let it think I smell bad, she prayed as she spotted the long fangs and the even longer claws on the big paws. When she’d been in college she’d spent a summer working in a national park, and she tried desperately to remember the advice when confronted by a bear. Was it better to remain still and play dead, or should she try yelling at it to try and scare it away?

It prowled a step closer.

Her scent obviously hadn’t deterred the creature, and she already knew she had no hope of outrunning it. She’d have to try scaring it off.

“No,” she said, as loudly and firmly as possible, smacking her hands together.

Its ears pricked, and it snarled.

Shit. Maybe she needed to be louder.

“No,” she yelled, hearing the panic in her voice as it kept coming. “Help! Baldric!”

His name emerged without conscious thought. She didn’t expect him to come—she didn’t expect anyone to come—but suddenly he was there, launching himself at the animal. His knife flashed and the animal roared, rearing up on its hindlegs, but Baldric had a firm grip around its neck. The knife rose again, and then the animal crashed forward, hitting the ground with a resounding thud. Dead.

She stood there shaking, staring at the dead animal. A choked noise escaped her throat, and then Baldric was there, running his hands frantically up and down her body as he checked to make sure she wasn’t injured. He hissed at the scraped patches on her knees and then again at a bruise on her arm she hadn’t even noticed.

She didn’t even realize that she was crying until he grunted and pulled her into his arms. God, he felt good. Big and warm and strong. His comforting scent surrounded her, and she relaxed against him as an enormous hand gently stroked her back. She couldn’t even remember why she’d run away from him.

When her tears finally stopped, he sighed and took a step back, regarding her with a frown on his face. Then he started to lecture her. Of course she couldn’t understand a word he said, but the meaning was quite clear. She had been an idiot to set out on her own.

Despite the fact that she’d reached the same conclusion, she’d never liked being lectured. Her guilt was replaced by annoyance, and she put her hands on her hips and glared at him.

“It was your fault for not listening to me. I told you I wanted to get back to my friends.”

His expression grew even more forbidding. Before she realized what was happening, he seated himself on a rock and pulled her over his knee. She kicked wildly, but he simply locked her legs in place with one of his as the first spank descended.

“Oww!” she hollered, trying desperately to free herself.

It did absolutely no good, and she finally stopped fighting as he continued to spank her, resuming his lecture at the same time. Each smack resulted in a fiery sting, but she was quite, quite sure that he was only using a fraction of his strength. He spanked her exactly ten times, then stopped, his big hand still covering her ass. He rubbed gently, and the lingering sting transformed into a surprisingly erotic heat.

Arousal rushed over her just as she realized she was pressed against a massive erection. Once again, she tried to scramble free, and this time he let her go. She backed away from him, rubbing her butt resentfully as she gave him a wary look.

He rose to his feet, adjusting his loincloth around his erect shaft without any sign of self-consciousness. She gulped and looked away.

“Camp,” he said, shocking her enough that she turned back.

“What?”

“Camp.”

He pointed to her and then himself, and then back the way she had come.

“No, dammit. I don’t want to go that way. I want to go back to where my friends are.” She glared at him, resisting the urge to stomp her foot.

He grunted, then crossed the clearing to her side. Had he changed his mind?

Apparently not.

Instead of accompanying her, he bent down and threw her over his shoulder before proceeding back down the river.

“No!”

She pounded her fists on his back—to absolutely no effect—and his hand tightened on her ass where he was holding her in place. His thumb came dangerously close to her pussy, and for once she decided that silence might be the better part of valor. She stopped fighting and did her best to ignore the humiliating position, the lingering warmth from the spanking, and the knowledge that if his thumb moved a fraction closer he would discover the effect he was having on her traitorous body.

CHAPTER NINE

Baldric stomped back towards the camp, Olivia perched comfortably over his shoulder—well, comfortably for him. He doubted she was enjoying the journey quite as much. But then again, the sweet scent of her arousal had not diminished, which in turn meant that his cock still pressed painfully against his loincloth.

Although it was far from uncommon amongst his tribe, he had never spanked a female before. It had been intended as a warning, an attempt to make her think before she tried such reckless behavior again—he hadn’t expected to enjoy it quite as much as he had. But as soon as he had her over his knee, her lush ass raised for his hand, his body reacted. And once he realized that she too was aroused, despite her protests, he’d had no hope of controlling his unruly cock.

But as much as he’d enjoyed it, he couldn’t spank her every time she disobeyed him and put herself in danger. He certainly didn’t trust her not to run away again as soon as his back was turned. Since he was quite sure of her intelligence, he had to find some way of making her understand that they could not simply return to the bridge.

He tried to think of how to convey the information given their inability to communicate, but her body was definitely proving to be a distraction—especially when he adjusted his grip and his thumb brushed across the junction of her thighs. Even through the fabric of her garment, he could feel the damp heat of her sweet little cunt.

He felt her tense, but to his surprise, she didn’t start fighting again. And she didn’t move away. He suspected she was trying to pretend she wasn’t aroused, and he grinned. If his little female wanted to pretend, he would accommodate her. He deliberately left his thumb in place, knowing that it would rub against her with every step. The thin fabric covering her grew steadily wetter. By the time he reached the campsite and put her down, her face was flushed and her nipples like ripe berries beneath her shirt.

She almost swayed against him, but then she straightened and an adorable scowl covered her face. She really was the most enchanting creature.

But despite his attraction to her, he had to make her understand. He took her hand and led her back over to the picture he’d drawn earlier. Her scowl only deepened.

“I know. It’s going to take a long time. But that just means we should get started.”

Although he couldn’t understand the words, he was pretty sure he understood her protest. He crouched down next to the diagram and started drawing. First he added rolling dunes on the far side of the river and sketched a rather pitiful representation of the crashed ship.

She looked at it thoughtfully, then nodded.

“This is the spaceship? And the way we came?”

“Spaceship,” he repeated. The sooner he learned her language, the better.

Next he added the mountains on their side of the river and the path that ran from the bridge around the base of the mountains to Almadin.

“Almadin,” he said, adding blocks to represent the city.

“Almadin,” she repeated thoughtfully. “I think I heard the lizardmen talking about it. Is it a city? Is that where we were going?”

“Almadin. Pandora. Quinn.”

“You mean that’s where they’re taking them? Then let’s go!”

Her body practically quivered with eagerness, and he put a restraining hand on her arm, afraid she would take off again. She shook it off impatiently.

“You don’t understand. I have to find them. They’re all I have.”

Once again, he wanted to comfort her and erase the despair from her face, but perhaps it would be easier once she understood his plan. He repeated walking his fingers up the river, and she scowled.

“I get that it’s going to take a while, but we don’t have a choice.”

He continued the movement along the trail around the base of the mountains, and she paled.

“Another two weeks for that part? We won’t reach them for a month?”

Making sure she was watching, he added a curved line from their position to Almadin, then counted the days on his fingers.

“Twelve? That’s less than two weeks. Do you mean it’s faster to go through the mountains?”

She traced the route up the river and around the mountains, then used her hands to count out twenty-four. Her finger trailed along the line representing the pass, and she counted out twelve.

He nodded, pleased that she understood. The travel times weren’t exact, of course, but the pass would be faster. Assuming that they didn’t have any issues with his tribe, of course. A cold breeze swept through the clearing, and he cast a thoughtful look at the sky. That was a problem he hadn’t considered. It was still early in the season, but the mountains weren’t always predictable.

He hated to quench the look of excitement on her face as she studied the diagram, but he decided he should try and warn her.

Tapping her shoulder to get her attention, he drew a small, crossed circle. He pointed at it and then at the sky.

“Snow.”

She only looked confused, so he dipped his finger in the water he’d collected earlier and flicked the drops at her.

“What the hell did you do that for?”

Hiding his smile at her indignation, he drew a closed circle and pointed to it, then to the sky, then to the water still trickling down her skin.

“Rain.”

“I think I get it. Does that mean rain?”

“Rain,” he repeated in her language.

She pointed at the other symbol and gave him an inquiring look. He took his damp finger and tapped it against her arm in a little flurry of pats, then gave an exaggerated shudder.

“Snow.”

“Do you mean snow?” she asked thoughtfully. “Snow?”

It took a few tries before he managed to say the word correctly in her language, but eventually she nodded and clapped her hands.

“That’s it.” Her small brows drew together. “But I don’t understand. What does snow have to do with us?”

He started drawing again, making more snow symbols, piling them on top of the mountains and along the pass. He saw the moment she realized what he was trying to tell her, her face paling.

“Do you mean it’s going to snow if we go that way?”

He shrugged, then drew a flat line and a globe for the sun high overhead.

“Summer. No snow.”

He drew another line, the winter sun close above it.

“Winter. Snow.”

“Winter,” she echoed, tapping the low sun. “Now?”

He shook his head, but held his hands a short distance apart.

“Not now, but soon?”

He shrugged again, and she sighed.

“I think I understand. The way through the mountains is faster, unless it snows.” She looked up at the sky, just as he had earlier, then mimicked his shrug. “It doesn’t even seem like fall yet. I think we should take the faster route.”

She tapped the mountain pass and gave him a triumphant look. He smiled back, and their eyes locked, heat simmering between them. His gaze dropped to those tempting pink lips. He wanted her to press her mouth against his again. Her tongue flicked out, dampening the soft flesh, and arousal roared through him so quickly he actually felt dizzy.

Her body started to sway towards him, but then she abruptly jumped up.

“What are we waiting for? Let’s get going.”

Despite his frustration, he wanted to laugh. She was always so quick to jump ahead. And he strongly suspected she was going to object to his plans. Although he had intended to begin their journey this afternoon, chasing her down and the fight with the quatal had already eliminated much of their travel time.

“First, we eat,” he said, pointing to the shuvus.

She licked her lips and nodded. Good, one argument averted.

“Then I’m going to butcher the quatal.”

Her small red brows drew together again.

“The quatal. Grr.” He did his best to imitate the sound, and she paled. Then he used his knife in a chopping motion.

As he suspected, she immediately protested. How could he explain to her that the animal would provide meat for their journey? They would travel faster if he didn’t have to hunt each day.

He sighed and pointed to the line of the pass on the diagram again, raising nine fingers this time instead of twelve. He was quite sure she understood, but she still scowled at him for a full minute before she reluctantly nodded. This time, he couldn’t stop himself from laughing. Obstinate little female.

“Your thoughts are as fiery as your hair,” he told her, running his finger along one of the silky curls.

Somewhat to his surprise, she didn’t object. He was tempted to pull her closer, to explore the mouth mating again, but his duty to provide for her came first. Removing the smoked shuvus from the fire, he handed her one and watched with satisfaction as she ate enthusiastically. He tried to offer her his as well, but she shook her head adamantly.

“You need to keep up your strength in case we run into any more quatals.”

His body reacted as her eyes drifted over his body, but he forced himself to focus on his food. It wasn’t until he stood that he realized he had a problem. Was Olivia going to take off as soon as he left? He shuddered at the idea of her attempting to make her way through the mountains alone.

“Are you going to stay here?” he asked her.

“Stay?” She repeated the word back to him, then smiled. It was the first time she had actually smiled at him, and it caused an odd sensation in his chest. He wanted more of her smiles.

“Thank you for asking. This time. But no, I’m not going to stay.”

He understood the negative, but before he could protest, she tapped her chest, then pointed to him, and walked her fingers back up the river. He raised an eyebrow questioningly.

“You wish to accompany me?”

When she nodded, he decided that it was an excellent idea. He liked the idea of keeping her close so he could keep an eye on her. Of course, butchering the kill would be a frightening sight for a delicate female. Resolving to shelter her from as much of it as possible, he rose and extended his hand to her.

To his great satisfaction, she took it.

CHAPTER TEN

Olivia finished cutting the last strip of quatal steak from the carcass and gave Baldric a triumphant smile. The six months she’d spent working behind a butcher counter had turned out to be useful after all. He shook his head, looking both amused and oddly proud.

When they’d arrived at the scene, he’d tried to get her to take a seat on a rock—the same rock he’d used when spanking her—and face away from him. She’d adamantly refused. First of all, she had no intention of getting near that rock again. And second, she wanted to watch.

The skinning process had actually made her feel a little queasy, but once he was down to the carcass, she was on familiar ground. Well, as familiar as it could be considering that this was a bear-cat rather than a cow. When she’d held out her hand for his knife, he’d looked almost horrified, but to his credit, he’d handed it to her.

She’d taken a great deal of satisfaction from his bemused look as she began work, and also from the fact that he quickly accepted her skill. He’d let her take over while he worked on the skin. He managed to convey that he wanted her to cut most of the meat into strips, and when he finished with the pelt, he strung the strips on thin branches. By the time the basket he’d assembled out of vines and branches was full, the woods were growing dark. He gathered up the basket and the skin, and they headed back to their original camp.

The way seemed much further in the growing darkness. Her body ached from the unaccustomed activity, her rush through the woods, and the rough trip down the river. Her feet grew slower with every step, but he never tried to hurry her, remaining patiently at her side until they reached their camp. The air had grown increasingly cold as night fell and she could have cried when she saw that the fire had gone out.

Baldric didn’t even blink, not even when he couldn’t find his firestarter. She realized that she must have dropped it at some point, but as she’d suspected, it only took him a few moments longer to get the fire started again.

Exhausted, she huddled next to the fire, staring absently into the flames, and was half-asleep when he came over to her. He asked her something, but she was too tired to try and guess what he wanted.

“Olivia,” he said softly, kneeling in front of her then rubbing his hands up and down his arms in a washing gesture.

“Sure. I’d love a hot shower,” she said, more bitterly than she’d intended. Butchering was a messy business.

He sighed, and before she had a chance to protest, he stripped her shirt off again. She thought about arguing, but she was too tired. Even without her shirt, the fire warded off the evening chill. When he kneeled down and reached for her shorts, she even raised her butt enough for him to slip them off. The warmth of his fingers against her skin felt good enough to penetrate her tired haze, but he didn’t linger. He disappeared into the night, returning a short time later with her clean, wet clothes.

He hung them up next to the fire since his drying rack was now being used to smoke the quatal meat, then brought her water in one of the collapsible metal bowls. She didn’t have the energy to reach for it. There was a ball of leaves floating in the water, and after studying her for a moment, he reached for it and began running it up and down her arm.

“Stop it. I know how to wash myself,” she said automatically, but even she could hear the lack of conviction in her voice.

He ignored her, stroking the wet ball down her arm. It had a pleasant herbal scent and left her skin feeling cleaner than she would have expected. When he finished the first arm, she automatically held out her other arm.

It wasn’t until she felt the warmth of his fingers following the cool leaves up her leg that she thought about objecting again.

“I can do that part,” she said firmly.

He looked at her, their heads on a level since he was crouched in front of her. Their eyes met, and the same spark of electricity she’d felt earlier ran through her again. Without stopping to think about it, she leaned forward and brushed her lips against his. Even that brief touch caused a quiver of arousal, but she really was too exhausted to do anything about it. She lingered for a moment longer, resisting the urge to lick the seam of his mouth, then pulled back.

The intensity in his eyes made her breath catch, but all he did was to lift a finger first to his lips, then hers, and raise an eyebrow.

“Kiss,” she whispered. “We call that a kiss.”

“Kiss,” he repeated in his deep voice.

She almost expected him to kiss her again, but he only handed her the ball of leaves and returned to the fire. The effort of washing her legs was almost too much and she found herself wishing she’d let him continue, let him stroke those big fingers to the top of her thighs, let him slip beneath her panties…

He returned carrying a skewer of meat he’d roasted directly over the fire. It smelled wonderful, but her wanton thoughts still lingered in her mind and she blushed and looked away from him.

“Olivia.”

She forced herself to look up at him, expecting him to look amused again. Instead, his gaze burned with a dark intensity, as if he knew exactly what she had been thinking. Their gazes locked again, but after an endless moment, he simply handed her the skewer and turned away.

After she finished eating, she found he’d had assembled a pile of leaves next to the rock face. Not exactly a feather mattress, but it looked wonderful to her tired eyes and she settled into it readily enough. Unfortunately, she quickly discovered that the leaves were much less comfortable than they appeared. Her exhaustion eventually overcame her discomfort and she was already half-asleep when Baldric lay down next to her and pulled her up onto his chest. Damn, he felt good. His body radiated heat to her chilled skin, and despite the firmness of his muscular body, it was still more comfortable than the leaf-covered ground.

I could get used to this, she thought, and immediately panicked. No. She had no intention of getting used to him. As soon as she did he would move on and she would be alone again. She tried to wiggle free. He mumbled something that she was pretty sure was an orc version of settle down. When she kept moving, he smacked her butt. Heat streaked through her system, and the fact that he kept his big hand on her ass only added to it. Her nipples tightened, and she hoped desperately that he wouldn’t notice.

She debated making a more emphatic attempt to get away, but she suspected he would only spank her again. Which sounds like fun, a traitorous little voice inside her whispered. She was still debating her options when his other hand came up to stroke her hair. The gentle touch scared her even more, but maybe, just this once, she could let down her defenses. She gave a tired sigh and let her body go limp. She was asleep within seconds.

OLIVIA WOKE up to find herself on her side. Her head was pillowed on Baldric’s massive bicep while his other arm was draped across her waist with his hand tucked between her breasts. His massive thighs cradled the back of her legs. She could tell the sky was beginning to lighten and knew that she should wake him up and insist that they get moving, but she was warm and comfortable in his arms. She’d never been a morning person, and she decided a few more minutes wouldn’t hurt.

As she snuggled back down, his cock slipped between her legs—his extremely large and extremely hard cock. She froze, but he didn’t move and the sound of his breathing didn’t change. The memory of their encounter on the riverbank sent a sudden surge of desire through her body.

How long had it been since she last had sex? Six months? No, closer to a year. That’s probably why I’m reacting to him like this, she told herself, but deep down she knew it was more.

His scent surrounded her, and she felt a slow pulse of desire between her legs. Moving as slowly as possible, she spread her legs, really just the tiniest amount, and his cock immediately surged into the vacant space, thrusting against her damp panties. Damn, that felt good. She slowly squeezed her thighs together again, trying to increase the pressure on her now throbbing clit.

He still didn’t react, and she repeated the movement. Once. Twice. Her body quivered on the edge of climax, but she couldn’t quite get there. She just needed a little bit more, and he was sleeping really soundly after all. She spread her legs further apart, trying to adjust her position so that she was directly over his cock. Oh, yes, that was much better. When she tightened her legs again, one of the metal studs lining his cock pressed against her clit, and to her horror, she heard herself whimper.

Baldric’s body suddenly tensed, and then she was on her back, looking up at a very awake and very aroused orc.

“I wasn’t doing anything,” she said immediately. “I was just getting comfortable and I accidentally—”

Ignoring her words, he slowly dragged his cock over her clit and she lost the capacity for speech. He repeated the movement again, then paused, looking down at her face. The dark intense gaze traveled down over her body, lingering on her breasts, and she realized that her makeshift bra had slipped down during the night. Her nipples tightened as his gaze focused on them. Then he looked back up at her face.

“Kiss?”

It was undoubtedly a question. All the reasons why she shouldn’t encourage him floated through her mind, but… she wanted to kiss him.

“Yes,” she whispered.

A triumphant smile crossed his face, and his head descended. To her shock, he bypassed her lips and closed his mouth firmly around a taut nipple, sucking it deep into his mouth. Oh my God. His hand came up to pluck at her other nipple in the same rhythm. His cock was still wedged between her legs, and she squirmed against it, trying to increase the pressure. But then she felt his fingers impatiently shoving the damp fabric of her panties aside, and she suddenly panicked.

“No. No.”

She shoved at his shoulders, knowing she was helpless to move him if he chose not to listen to her, but he raised his head immediately and gave her an inquiring look.

“Look, kissing is one thing, but I’m not ready for anything else. I wasn’t trying to lead you on or anything but—”

He put a gentle finger over her lips, and she fell silent.

“Kiss. Yes?”

She nodded. She had told him it was okay after all.

“Fek. No?”

“Fek?”

He smiled at her look of confusion and inserted his finger into his closed fist. She gulped and nodded.

“That’s right. I mean no. No fek.”

“No fek. Kiss, yes?” he asked again.

“Yes,” she whispered.

He nodded, and then surprised her once again. He didn’t kiss her lips. He didn’t even return to her breasts. Instead, he lifted her hips to his mouth, pushed her panties aside, and swept a wide hot tongue from her entrance to her clit. He hummed approvingly, sending a shudder of pleasure through her sensitized core, then wrapped his tongue around the swollen nub, and tugged. A climax swept over her so hard and so fast she literally saw stars. Her back arched, but he kept a firm grip on her hips, licking and sucking and sending her straight from one climax into another before his mouth finally softened. He licked her slowly and gently until her body stopped quivering, then carefully lowered her back to the ground.

Every muscle in her body felt limp and satisfied.

“Kiss,” he said in his deep voice, and she opened her one eye to find him grinning again.

“You know good and well that wasn’t what I thought you were asking,” she muttered, but she felt too content to put any real annoyance in her voice.

He smiled again, bent down and gave her a quick kiss—to her lips this time—and sat up. As soon as he did, a cool breeze swept across her body, and she realized how sheltered she had been beneath his big body.

“Brr.”

She shivered and reached for her clothes. They were a little smoky, but they were dry and she pulled them on quickly. Unfortunately, the changes that had been so welcome in the desert meant her arms and legs were now exposed to the cold. Her teeth chattered as she waited for him to build up the fire, and he gave her a worried look. As soon as the fire was going and she was settled next to it, he gestured to her shorts.

“Are you kidding? They may not be much, but they’re all I have. And I think we’ve had enough kisses for one morning.”

“No kisses,” he said sadly, but he kept his hand out for her shorts.

“Why do you—?”

Before she could finish her question, he held up the legs he had cut off of her pants.

“You kept them? I can’t decide if that’s practical or creepy. And how are you going to get them back on?”

He kept his hand extended, eyebrow raised, and she sighed and wiggled out of her shorts. As he took them from her hand, his gaze dropped to the X on her panties. Before she could object, he traced his finger over the symbol, then smiled at her.

“Kisses?”

“No,” she said firmly, pulling her legs together, then saw him smile and realized he was teasing her. “Tease. It would serve you right if I said yes.”

His smile vanished immediately, replaced by hunger. “Yes?”

“No,” she repeated.

He sighed, but he bent over her shorts. He made a row of small holes around the legs, and then made matching holes in the lengths he had cut off. Then he pulled what looked like a long string from the drying rack and wove it back and forth, reattaching the legs to her shorts. He handed them back to her and she pulled them on. The neat sewing job worked surprisingly well, and she immediately felt warmer.

“This is much better. Thank you.”

He nodded, and then looked at her top. She held up hand and backed away.

“Oh no you don’t. This is just fine. I’m warm enough.”

He opened his mouth, but then he sighed. He muttered something which she suspected was along the lines of foolish female.

He handed her a piece of the meat that had smoked all night and started packing the remainder. She expected him to use the homemade basket he’d created the day before, but instead he pulled a folded square of fabric out of his belt and shook it out to reveal a travel pack of strong, thin fabric. It was such a contrast to their primitive surroundings that she found herself staring at it.

“I keep forgetting you have access to technology.”

He slung it over his shoulder, tied the rolled skin from the quatal to his harness, and looked at her. The whole operation had taken less than ten minutes, and there was almost no sign they had even been there.

She took his hand and rose to her feet, looking around at the now pristine campsite.

“You must have been an Orc Scout when you were a boy.”

Keeping her hand tucked in his, he set off into the woods.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

As they started their journey, part of Baldric’s mind automatically noted their surroundings and looked for the easiest way to connect with the pass, but a much larger part of him was focused on the small female holding his hand. Given her independent spirit, he had expected her to pull away and found himself surprisingly pleased when she seemed content to leave her small hand in his. But perhaps he shouldn’t have been surprised by anything she chose to do.

He had never met a female with so many contradictions. Sometimes she seemed so helpless, completely out of place in the wild, but then she had helped him butcher his kill as swiftly and efficiently as any hunter. She responded so passionately to his touch, then withdrew like a frightened bird. But he was a patient hunter. He would not hurry her into something for which she was not ready.

His cock ached, still hard from their morning kisses, but he had no regrets. He would be happy to suffer an aching cock every morning as long as she was willing to allow him the pleasure of tasting her. He licked his lips at the memory, seeking the last trace of her delicious taste—even better than a jimon berry. Perhaps she would be amenable to more kisses this evening, he thought hopefully.

The path continued upwards throughout the morning as they headed up the ridge separating two smaller peaks. Olivia never complained, although he could tell from her flushed face that she was unused to the strenuous activity. He stopped frequently to give her a chance to rest, but she was almost always the one to insist they move on and he admired her stubborn determination. They reached the top of the ridge just as the sun was at its zenith, and he insisted they pause despite her protests.

“We don’t have time for a lunch break,” she insisted, frowning at him.

She remained poised on the balls of her feet, obviously on the verge of marching on, so he picked her up, smacked her ass, and sat her firmly on a rock.

“Stop. Rest. Eat.”

“Oww.”

When she made a great show of rubbing her ass, her lower lip protruding in the most adorable expression, he couldn’t help but laugh. Unable to stop himself, he pressed a kiss to those pouting lips. Her mouth immediately softened beneath his, and he caught the sweet scent of her arousal.

“Perhaps spanking is not the most effective way to control your behavior,” he informed her as he reluctantly raised his head. “You seem to enjoy it far too much.”

She gave him a suspicious look, and he laughed again as he went to retrieve their meal. They ate in silence, looking out at the vista of mountains and valleys ahead of them, and a sense of peace washed over him. He had forgotten how much he loved the mountains. Even after he had left the Royal Fleet and returned to Maskah, he had stayed away from his homelands. He worked for the Sleestiks or the Guulli, and neither one of them was keen to intrude on Daichin territory. His people had a justified reputation of being unfriendly to outsiders.

But the mountain pass was open territory, although there would be few travelers at this time of year. A cold wind swept down from the mountain peaks, bringing the scent of snow, and Olivia shivered. He automatically put his arm around her and tucked her against his side, frowning when he felt the coolness of her skin. He should have insisted on reattaching the arms of her garment. He cast a worried look at the sky, but it was still clear and bright with no threatening clouds on the horizon. And since he knew she hadn’t been cold while they were walking, he would let it go for now.

She held herself stiffly for a moment, then sighed and leaned against him. They sat there for a little longer, and he suspected she was half-asleep. He was tempted to let her rest, but if they could make it to the falls, they would have fresh water for the night and he could catch fish to provide a change of diet from the smoked meat.

“Olivia,” he said softly, and she looked up at him.

His breath caught. She was so beautiful. The sunlight caught sparks of gold in the fiery strands of her hair, and her eyes glowed with the same gold. The golden specks that covered her cheeks shimmered, and he suddenly remembered hearing tales of a legendary treasure—a golden statue of the goddess that would bring fame and fortune to anyone who discovered it. He suspected the real female in front of him was a far greater prize.

“Treasure,” he said softly.

She smiled up at him, and unable to resist, he bent his head and kissed her. He had meant it as no more than a simple acknowledgment, but he was in no hurry to leave her tempting mouth and she didn’t push him away. His shaft stirred but he kept the kiss gentle and exploratory. When he finally raised his head, she smiled at him again.

“That was a very nice kiss too.”

He traced her lips with a finger. “What do you call this?”

“That’s my mouth.”

“Mouth,” he repeated. “Mouth kiss.”

He cupped her breast, so soft and full in his hand, delighting in the way her nipple instantly rose to attention. “And this?”

“Breast,” she whispered, her cheeks turning pink. She let him hold her for a moment longer, then jumped down off the rock. “I think that’s enough language lessons for now—before you start demonstrating more kisses.”

He suspected that if he pulled her back into his arms and kissed her again, she would not resist, but she was right—it was time to get going. He rose to his feet and held out his hand. To his immense satisfaction, she took it.

He set an even slower pace in the afternoon, concerned about her strength. The fact that she did not object made him suspect that she was struggling more than she wanted to let on. In an attempt to distract her from the journey, he asked her more questions about her language. She made a determined effort to learn his words as well, but her voice was just too soft for some of the harsher sounds. But even though she couldn’t reproduce them, he thought she was beginning to understand him. He also found that even though his translator did not have files for her language, the more of her words he learned, the more the translator helped to fill in some of the gaps.

Because of their slower pace, the sun was beginning to set when they reached the falls, the sunlight sparkling on the foam from the cascade as the pool beneath turned a deep blue. The far side of the pool was thick with trees, but there was an open mossy area on their side. It would provide a much more comfortable campsite than the rocky ground next to the river.

“This is beautiful,” Olivia said, looking around.

“Beautiful,” he repeated, touching her cheek.

The fiery pink covered her cheeks again, and she turned away, heading for the edge of the pool. She dipped her fingers into the water, then shuddered and pulled them free.

“Damn, it’s cold. I was hoping to go swimming and get clean, but I don’t think I’m up for that.”

He recognized the word for clean and laughed. The stream came straight from the mountains and even at this time of year, the water would be freezing. Far too cold for a delicate female. But he was not a delicate female and he had grown up in these mountains. He looked at the sun and decided that he had just enough time for a quick bath. He stripped off his harness, clothes, and boots and took a running jump into the water. Fek! By the fires of Heras, the water was cold. He swam back up to the surface, shaking the water out of his eyes, just in time to see a pale naked body running towards the pool.

“Geronimo!” Olivia cried as she jumped into the water.

Her head broke the surface almost immediately, her face so white he could see every golden speck clearly defined. “Oh, fuck, that’s cold.”

Her lips were turning an unnatural shade of blue, and her teeth started to chatter. He swore and swam the short distance to her side, pulling her against him as he towed her out of the water.

“Foolish female. Why did you do that?”

He carried her over to their supplies as her whole body shook and sat down with her on his lap as he pulled the fur side of the uncured pelt around them both.

“You are far too reckless for your own good. Why did you do such a foolish thing?”

Even though her whole body was shaking, she managed to scowl up at him.

“You did it.”

He sighed and gathered her closer. He should have realized that she would see his actions as a challenge. He rubbed his hands up and down her arms and her legs until her shivering eased and her body warmed. As it did, he realized that she was completely naked in his arms. She’d finally removed the unnecessary layer of garments she wore beneath her clothing. The silky skin of her ass nestled against his cock, and he could feel the luscious softness of her breasts pressing against the side. His shaft stiffened and she jumped and looked up at him, her eyes huge and dark gold, her small blunt teeth biting down on her lip.

“I… I guess I didn’t think this through.”

She quivered in his arms, and he suspected it was no longer from cold.

“Kiss?” he asked gently.

He could see the longing on her expressive little face, but he could also see hesitation.

“Don’t worry, treasure. I would never harm you.”

He lifted her off of his lap and wrapped the fur back around her, then went to set up camp. She sat there watching him, unusually silent, as he built the fire and set a net to catch fish. As soon as he was dressed, he handed her clothes to her. To his regret, she slipped them on beneath the fur. The glimpse he’d had that morning was engraved upon his mind. The deliciously soft breasts, topped by the tempting buds of her nipples. He wanted more, more time to look at her and more time to explore every inch.

By the time he had the fish prepared, she seemed to have recovered her composure, and they resumed their language lessons, although he noticed she carefully avoided any further discussion of body parts. After dinner, he worked on the fur, carefully scraping away any remaining traces of flesh. Somehow, he wasn’t surprised when she asked to assist him.

As they sat by the fire, working on the fur, she talked to him. He only understood about one word in ten, but he was filled with a surprising contentment. He was back in his homelands and he had provided for his female. The future was unknown, but the more time they spent together, the more he was convinced that he wanted to be part of her life. Unless she wants to return to her planet, an uneasy voice reminded him. If his suspicions were correct that she came from a pre-spaceflight planet, he would not be allowed to accompany her.

Curious, he patted the ground, then pointed to himself. “Maskah. Baldric from Maskah.”

“Maskah,” she repeated.

“Where Olivia?”

“I have no idea.” She pointed up at the stars and shrugged. “Earth. I’m from Earth, but I don’t know where it is, or even how long it took to get here because I was sleeping.”

As she mimicked the stasis sleep, he wished again that they’d been to recover the ship’s logs. Perhaps the Fleet would have more luck.

He hesitated, then asked slowly, “Pandora. Quinn. Where?”

“They’re from Earth as well.” Her mouth suddenly trembled. “I hope they’re okay.”

“Zargan will look after them.”

It was the only reassurance he could give her. The trader knew that they were valuable, and if for no other reason he would take care of them. Baldric only hoped he understood that they were delicate females.

“They’re still traveling, right?” She walked her fingers across the ground, and he nodded. “For eight more days?”

He nodded but flipped his hand to indicate uncertainty.

“And us?” She walked her fingers again.

He hesitated, then flashed ten fingers at her, hoping he wasn’t too far off. He had tried to account for their slower pace in his initial estimate, but it was not going to be a fast trip.

“So we’re two days behind. Two days isn’t that much time. We should be able to find them, right?”

Her eyes pleaded with him to reassure her, but he was afraid to promise her that they would find them easily. So much depended on when Zargan reached the market and how he decided to proceed with selling them.

She must have read the indecision on his face, because she closed her eyes, her face crumpling. He gently put a hand on her shoulder, remembering how she pushed him away the night before, but this time she turned and leaned against him. He expected her to cry, but instead she just huddled against him until she finally raised her head and gave him a tremulous smile.

“Thank you for not lying to me. Kiss? Mouth kiss,” she added.

“You never need to ask.”

As he bent his head and kissed her, he vowed he would do everything he could to restore her friends to her.

CHAPTER TWELVE

The path began to rise again, and Olivia sighed.

“I am not cut out for this,” she muttered to herself.

Baldric immediately turned to look over his shoulder at her, but she just waved him on. They were on their third day of travel, and every muscle in her body hurt. It didn’t help that last night’s camp had been a bare rocky patch next to a small spring instead of the soft moss by the waterfall. Of course Baldric had pulled her into his arms as he did every night. But even his big body wasn’t enough to completely protect her from the hard ground. There hadn’t been anything fresh for dinner either, and she was getting awfully tired of smoked meat.

The minimal campsite had been at least partially her own fault. He had suggested stopping earlier by a larger stream, but it was only midafternoon and she had insisted that they push on. She half-expected him to object, but after studying her face for a long moment, he nodded and agreed. He really was a nice guy.

Nice? An inner voice whispered. Nice really wasn’t an adequate description. He was big and bossy and protective and so incredibly sexy that she was having a really hard time enforcing any boundaries between them. They had kept it to mouth kisses so far, but she was constantly aware of an ache of desire. And from his frequent erections, she suspected he was just as frustrated.

But he’d been a perfect gentleman, she acknowledged, scowling at his perfect ass as he resumed walking. If a woman was alone in the woods with a barbarian orc, it seemed like she could expect a little ravaging. Her gratitude for his forbearance was wearing thin, but she didn’t quite have the nerve to ask for more.

Of course, if I just happened to rub up against him in my sleep, it wouldn’t be my fault, she thought.

They reached the top of the ridge, and the wind swept over them, making her shiver. Baldric’s eyes dropped to the hard points of her breasts.

“Don’t blame me,” she muttered. “You insisted on taking my bra.”

When they had woken this morning to frost on the ground, he’d insisted on sewing the sleeves back on to her sweatshirt. Stripping her top off before she could protest, he held out a demanding hand. She glared at him, but she reluctantly untied the two strips of material, doing her best to cover himself with one arm as she did. To his credit, although his eyes definitely dropped to her breasts, they didn’t linger there and he returned her repaired top as quickly as possible.

While she was grateful for the warmth, she was extremely conscious of her breasts moving beneath the soft fabric, and her nipples had been constantly hard.

The wind gusted again, picking up speed, and she could feel the tension in his arm as he looked out over the way ahead. They were no longer tracking through unmarked woods but had emerged onto what was clearly a path this morning. She could catch glimpses of it winding down the ridge and, unfortunately, back up again. At least it was wide and relatively smooth. Her socks were still holding up, reinforced by the pieces of fur which he had tied over them.

“I suppose we better get going.”

He nodded, but his face looked unusually forbidding as he stared up at the sky. She followed his gaze to the heavy clouds that were beginning to creep down the mountainside.

“Rain?”

“Snow,” he said grimly, and her heart sank.

They set off down the trail, but his prediction proved correct. They were on their way up the other side of the small valley when the first flakes appeared. At first it wasn’t too bad, almost pretty as the ground and trees gradually turned white, but the damp seeped into her clothes and she started to shiver. He noticed, of course, and swore and wrapped the fur around her shoulders. It definitely provided protection, but it was also extremely heavy and her steps slowed even more.

At the top of the next ridge, he paused, and she came out of her misery long enough to wonder what he was doing. The path stretched out in front of them, already white with snow, but there was another narrower path that led off to one side. He looked down at her and sighed, then took her hand and started up the narrow path.

“Wait a minute. What are you doing? I thought Almadin was that way?”

He didn’t even pause. “Big camp.”

“But—”

“Much snow.” He pointed down their previous trail. “No fire. No camp.” He pointed up the hill. “Big fire. Big camp.”

She wasn’t entirely sure she believed him. From what she had seen, he could make camp no matter where they were, but the idea of a big fire in a big camp did sound appealing. Maybe there was some kind of trail camp, with an actual floor and a roof and a fireplace. Maybe even a real bed or even a bath. She was so happily ensconced in daydreaming about the camp that she almost slammed into him when he came to an abrupt halt.

“Oww. Why did you stop like—”

Her words faded away as she looked up the path and saw another orc waiting for them. A very unhappy-looking orc.

Baldric sighed and dropped her hand.

“Stay,” he ordered and strode towards the stranger.

She really hated it when he did that. She was tempted to go after him, just on general principles, but the male blocking the path looked extremely unfriendly. Her heart started to pound, and she looked around for a weapon. A branch lying on the ground on one side of the path was the only thing she could spot, but she bent down and grabbed it surreptitiously as possible. Neither male seemed to notice, their eyes fixed on each other.

The second orc wasn’t quite as big as Baldric, and he looked younger, but as they came together, she could see a definite resemblance between them. Could the new orc be a relative? Perhaps even his brother? From the way that they were arguing, it seemed likely. The new guy was definitely the aggressor, obviously throwing taunts at Baldric, but it wasn’t until he looked over at her and sneered that Baldric reacted. He grabbed the younger male by the throat and snarled at him.

Damn, that was actually kind of hot. But breaking his brother’s nose, or worse, wouldn’t get them anywhere. She sighed and walked over to where Baldric was hissing threats at the younger male and tugged on his arm. He dropped the other male immediately and looked down at her.

“What’s going on?” she asked. “Aren’t you going to introduce us?”

The male he had dropped lurched to his feet and took a step towards them, and she jabbed at him with her stick. “You stay the hell away from us.”

The look of shock on his face would have made her laugh if she hadn’t been so annoyed.

“Tell me what’s going on,” she demanded again, and Baldric sighed.

“Obor.” He tapped the tattoo on his shoulder, and she realized the stranger had the same symbol. “Big camp.”

Her vision of a cozy cabin disappeared.

“You’re taking me to your village? And who’s this?”

“Darak.”

She looked from one face to the other. “Is he your brother?”

She pointed to each of them and pressed her fingers together. Baldric nodded, while Darak grunted.

A gust of snow whipped around them, and she shivered. She had dropped the fur when she’d picked up the branch. Baldric immediately pulled her into his arms and barked something at his brother. The other male scowled, but to her surprise, he went to retrieve the fur. He grudgingly shook it out and handed it to Baldric. He wrapped it around her shoulders again, keeping his arm around her, and they set off up the path.

The two males carried on a conversation over her head, but she only caught a word or two before she was too cold and miserable to really care. Her steps grew slower and slower as the snow began to build up on the ground, and Baldric suddenly lifted her up into his arms.

“I can walk,” she protested, pushing halfheartedly at his chest.

“Stay,” he said firmly, smacking her ass.

Darak laughed, and she glared at him.

“I already don’t like you. Don’t make it any worse.”

He still looked amused, but he dipped his head and she decided to take it as an apology.

“Glad we got that settled.” She yawned and snuggled down into Baldric’s arms. This really was much better than walking.

She wasn’t sure how long they walked, but she opened her eyes when Baldric finally came to a halt.

She wasn’t sure exactly what she’d expected—caves dug into the mountains perhaps—but it was definitely not the picturesque village in front of her. Rows of neat stone cottages were arranged around a central square, their windows adorned with greenery. The village was nestled in an arm of the mountains, and wooded slopes rose protectively around it. A huge bonfire roared in the center of the square, surrounded by tables and benches, and most of them were filled with people talking and laughing.

A female sitting at one of the tables closest to them looked up, and Olivia saw her face pale. She poked the man next to her and he looked up, the same expression of shock creeping onto his face. Silence descended as everyone turned to look at them.

“You can put me down now,” she whispered, starting to struggle, but he only tightened his arms.

“Stay.”

An older female, her hair white with age, frowned at the two of them, then cackled something.

The watchers all roared with laughter, and she heard Baldric sigh. Looking over, she saw Darak scowl before he abruptly turned and stalked off.

A much younger female came rushing over, her eyes wet with tears. A very attractive younger female, her dark hair threaded with ribbons and her lean athletic body barely covered with a thin hide despite the cold. She obviously wanted to hug Baldric but couldn’t quite figure out how to do it while he was carrying Olivia. She settled for squeezing one of his hands between hers, talking excitedly. Baldric sighed again, and said something Olivia couldn’t understand. The female nodded eagerly and led them across the square. The silence ended in a flurry of excited discussion.

The female led them to a small cottage, and Baldric carried her inside. She glared around suspiciously, wondering if it was the female’s home, but it seemed to be unoccupied. A large fireplace dominated one end of the room with a fur covered couch in front of it. The female hurried over to the fireplace, lighting a fire with enviable efficiency, still chattering eagerly.

Baldric didn’t put her down—if anything, he was clinging to her even more tightly. She started to protest but could feel the tension in his muscles, and when she looked up at him, his face was grim. She kept her mouth shut.

As soon as the fire was going, the female rushed to the other end of the room to what was clearly a kitchen area. She opened a cabinet door, then turned and gave him an apologetic shrug. Apparently, the cupboard was bare. The female hurried out the door, still talking, and Olivia waited for Baldric to put her down. Instead, he carried her over to the fur covered couch and sank down on it, still holding her. He buried his face in her hair, and her annoyance vanished at how upset he seemed. Taking advantage of his loosened grip, she wiggled around so she could look up at his face.

“Are you okay?” she asked softly.

He shook his head, looking more vulnerable than she’d ever seen him, and her heart ached. Whatever was happening here, he was not happy about it. She reached up and tugged his head down towards her.

“Kiss?”

“Yes,” he growled, covering her mouth with his.

She could feel his hunger, his need, in the kiss, and she responded just as eagerly. His tusks scraped against the sides of her mouth, but she didn’t care, pressing herself even more tightly against him. He groaned and pulled her closer, one big hand coming up to cover her breast, his thumb unerringly finding her nipple and teasing it to a throbbing peak. The frustration of the past few days exploded, and she arched into his touch. She was about to demand breast kisses when he suddenly stiffened and pulled back.

The female had returned. She said something that sounded apologetic, not looking in their direction as she placed a covered pottery bowl on the table along with two smaller bowls, two mugs, and a pitcher of brown liquid.

Baldric said something clearly dismissive, but the female started talking again. Although her tone was remorseful, her face was determined.

“Later,” Baldric said, and Olivia recognized that word.

The female hesitated, then nodded and disappeared.

Baldric looked down at her and smiled. He still looked tense, but not as anxious as he had before.

“Thank you, treasure.”

She smiled up at him, completely ready to resume kissing, but instead he rose and carried her over to the table. She considered arguing with him, but he sat her down and lifted the lid of the tureen. A rich, meaty scent filled the room, and her mouth watered with anticipation. As wonderful as his kisses were, her stomach insisted they could wait until after dinner.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Baldric smiled as Olivia’s head bobbed. He had tried to warn her that the mountain ale was stronger than it seemed. She’d given him a defiant look, muttered something about a table, then taken a huge swallow. He’d barely managed to refrain from laughing when she pulled a face, but it didn’t stop her from taking another swig. He hadn’t tried to stop her. After all she had been through, she deserved a drink.

Now, she was already half-asleep. He picked her up and carried her back to the couch.

“Kisses,” she demanded as he started to put her down. “More kisses.” She leaned back against his arm, spreading her arms wide. “Breast kisses.”

He would love to comply with her demands, but his sister Rasda had told him that the Elders had called a special Council meeting and he had been ordered to appear.

“I’m afraid they will have to wait until later, treasure.”

“Later?”

Her lips pouted out, and he couldn’t resist one quick kiss. She responded eagerly, and he was seriously considering ignoring the Council when her mouth softened and her body went limp. She was asleep.

Not exactly flattering to his ego, but under the circumstances, perhaps it was for the best. There was no point in antagonizing the Council. Again. The last time had been when he announced he was leaving. His father Arik, the previous chief, had been livid, arguing before the Council that he couldn’t be allowed to leave.

“How are we going to stop him, Arik?” Merric asked. He was one of the more reasonable members of the Council and Baldric respected him immensely. “Keep him in chains?”

“If necessary. At least until he forgets this ridiculous notion.”

“It’s not ridiculous. I’m not happy here, Father.”

With each passing year, he felt as if he was being squeezed into a box too small to contain him. His father’s complete distrust of anything new or different didn’t help.

“Happiness? What does happiness have to do with anything?” His father scowled at him. “Your duty is to lead the tribe.”

Several of the Elders nodded in agreement, and he felt the weight of their expectations pressing down on him. He loved his tribe and his home—it was the reason he had stayed as long as he had—but he wanted to see more of the world.

“Darak is of age,” he reminded them. He’d deliberately waited until his brother had reached adulthood before announcing his departure.

Arik impatiently waved his answer away—he’d never had much use for his second son.

“What do you intend to do if you leave?” Merric asked.

“I intend to join the Royal Fleet.”

Outraged protests immediately filled the hall, but he had expected that. Maskah might have been part of the Kaisarian Empire, but the Daichin had no fondness for the Empire. Baldric was willing to see for himself—and his skills as a warrior were his only assets.

“Impossible,” his father sneered. “It is only open to Kaisarians.”

“Not any longer. The new Emperor issued a decree allowing any male to apply.”

“That doesn’t mean they’ll take you.”

“Perhaps not. But I intend to try.”

“If you leave here, I will never permit you to return!” his father yelled.

Baldric saw several members of the Council exchange concerned looks, but no one voiced a protest.

“So be it.”

He’d turned on his heel and walked out.

The Royal Fleet did accept him, but it turned out that he could not accept them. The battles he’d been in horrified him with their meaningless violence, while the constant politics and the lingering prejudice against anyone not of Kaisarian birth grated on him. Even the travel that he had longed to experience rapidly began to pall. When his five year term was up, he didn’t choose to re-enlist. He returned to Maskah, but he made no attempt to return to the Obor.

His father had died while he was gone. He knew he should mourn him, but Arik had always been a cold, hard male and he had no happy memories of time spent with his father. Darak had taken over as chief and he had no wish to cause any more trouble. He’d thought he had accepted his new life, but returning here had hit him harder than he expected.

Everything seemed so familiar. He remembered chasing Darak around the square when they were children. Long nights trading stories with his friends over pitchers of ale. Returning from a successful hunt to hearty congratulations—although never from his father, of course. Arik did not believe in praise. And he certainly didn’t believe in technology. Even the most minor changes had to be forced upon him by the Council.

At least that has changed, he thought as he headed for the Council Hall. The glow coming from the windows was definitely not the oil lamps of his childhood.

He paused with his hand on the door, listening to the sound of voices within, then squared his shoulders and entered.

“I’D FORGOTTEN how much they loved to talk,” he muttered to Rasda as the meeting finally ended and they left the Council Hall. The Elders had not only cross-examined him about his activities over the past ten years, but they also insisted on recounting everything that had happened during his absence.

Dawn was actually beginning to break to the east, and he gave it a weary look.

“This is a momentous occasion, you returning, Baldric.”

“I’m not returning,” he said automatically for what had to be the fiftieth time, even though no one seemed to pay any attention to his denial.

“But you’re here now, and I want to hear all about what you’ve been doing—and not just the sanitized nonsense you fed the Elders.”

He laughed. “I didn’t want to shock them.”

“Grandmother wouldn’t have been shocked.”

“You’re probably right. But it will have to wait. I need to return to my female.”

“Please, Baldric.” Rasda grabbed his hand, her eyes filled with tears. “It’s been so long, and I missed you so much. I’m sure she’s still asleep.”

He cast a quick look at his cottage, but there was no sign of life, and he’d never been able to refuse his little sister.

“All right. Just for a short time.”

He followed her into the cottage that had once been his home. He’d been desperate enough to get away from his father that he’d built his own as soon as he could, but Darak and Rasda had remained in the family home. To his relief, it no longer looked the way he remembered. Rasda had added brightly woven curtains and pillows, replaced some of the massive, dark furniture, and painted the walls a soft blue.

“This looks different.”

She smiled at him as she started preparing their breakfast. “I hope so. Do you like it?”

“Very much. Does Darak still live here too?”

His brother hadn’t bothered to show up for the Council meeting, even though from the muttered comments, he’d also been ordered to appear. Baldric regretted his brother’s absence. They had been friends once, when they were children, and he still missed those days.

“Yes. But I think he went hunting,” she added quickly.

“Still trying to keep peace between us?” Rasda had always been the peacemaker. He sighed. Perhaps it was just as well Darak had left. He certainly hadn’t been happy to see him, and Baldric suspected they wouldn’t be mending bridges anytime soon. “Tell him that he doesn’t need to worry about me. I didn’t come back to take over as chief. As soon as the storm passes, we’ll be on our way.”

“Couldn’t you stay a little longer?”

“I promised my female I would take her to Almadin. Her friends were headed there and we are trying to find them.”

She shot him a quick look as she placed a plate in front of him.

“Your female?”

“Yes,” he said firmly.

“She seems rather… delicate.”

“She is, but she is also brave and fierce and resourceful.”

Rasda studied his face for a moment, then smiled.

“I would like to meet her. Will there be time for that?”

“I’m sure there will be. Grandmother says the storm will last for a week—and you know she is never wrong.”

“Good.” Rasda sipped on her mug of tea. “Then will you come back? Not to stay,” she added hastily. “I know you aren’t happy here, but at least you could visit.”

“I don’t know,” he said slowly. “I would like to return.” Much more than I realized. “But it will depend on my female, and if she can return to her home.”

“Where is her home?”

“We don’t know. We may have to go in search of it.” Even though it would kill him to lose her.

“But if you can?”

“If I can, I will return.”

“Good.”

She smiled at him and took another sip. As he finished his breakfast, she filled him in on her activities over the past seven years.

“I expected you to be mated by now,” he teased.

She ducked her head and looked away.

“Rasda, what’s wrong?”

“There is someone I… like.”

“Then what’s the problem? Surely he isn’t idiot enough not to realize what a wonderful mate you would be.”

“He’s not an idiot,” she said immediately, her eyes flashing. “And he did ask me to join with him, but…”

“But?”

“But he’s from the Ochar tribe.”

“The Ochar?” The two tribes had had a not-so-friendly rivalry for many years. But one of the many events the Elders had described in excruciating detail involved a trade partnership with the other tribe. “It is a little unusual, I suppose, but I thought that we no longer saw them as enemies.”

“It’s not that, or rather not just that. If I go to him, who will take care of Darak?”

“Let him take care of himself,” he growled, but he knew it was no use. Rasda had a deeply ingrained sense of duty, and she would never abandon their brother. “Or why not ask your suitor to move here?”

“But…”

“Just because it’s traditional for a female to follow her male doesn’t mean it has to remain that way. I have every intention of following Olivia.”

From the thoughtful look on her face, he suspected he’d said enough and he rose to his feet.

“And speaking of Olivia, it is time to return to her. Thank you for breakfast.”

Rasda threw her arms around him and hugged him. “Thank you for coming home. Bring your female over to visit with me later. I can’t wait to meet her.”

“I will,” he promised.

But when he returned to his cottage, it was empty. Olivia had gone.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Olivia awoke feeling warm and comfortable—and alone. Despite the welcome softness of the fur-covered couch, she felt cold without Baldric’s big body wrapped around hers. She sat up and looked around, half-expecting him to be in the kitchen preparing some no doubt incredible dish, but the room was empty. She even went to the window to look for him, but the growing light of dawn was enough to reveal that the snow-covered square was empty. She’d been abandoned. Again.

Don’t be ridiculous, she scolded herself as tears pricked her eyes. She knew she was overreacting to his absence, but it brought back memories of all the times she had woken up to find her mother missing, leaving only a scrawled note promising to return. Sharon always did—eventually—but as Olivia grew older, she stopped waiting. Even before she left for college, she’d essentially been living on her own for two years.

The fact that she was so upset was a harsh reminder of the lesson her mother had taught her so long ago: she couldn’t depend on anyone else. Intellectually, she knew her childhood could have been worse. Sharon had never physically mistreated her, and she’d always made sure the kitchen was stocked with food before she disappeared, but she’d never seemed to realize that her presence was just as important to her daughter.

She sniffed defiantly and turned her back on the window. Time to make my own plans. After all, it wasn’t as if Baldric was going to be around forever. He was just her guide on the journey to find her friends, she reminded herself, ignoring the inner voice protesting that he was much more. She hadn’t really thought about what would happen when she found Quinn and Panda, but she realized now that part of her had just assumed that he would be there. Now she knew better.

But he had promised to take her to Almadin and she intended to hold him to that promise. Impatient to resume their journey, she wandered restlessly around the cottage. It was a nice room, she decided, noticing some of the details she had missed the night before. The vaulted ceiling over the main room gave it a pleasant openness, but the wood-paneled walls kept it cozy.

A set of stairs along the back wall led up to a spacious bedroom overlooking the main room. An enormous bed perched under a big window that looked out on the snowy woods on the slope behind the cottage. The bed was heaped with furs, and she had a momentary vision of what it would be like to make love to Baldric in those furs, but she resolutely pushed it aside. He hadn’t even bothered to bring her up here. For that matter, it didn’t appear that anyone had slept here.

Where the hell is he?

She stomped back downstairs and discovered a small bedroom, this one lined with shelves but otherwise unoccupied. Next to it was a stone-tiled bathroom with a strange but thankfully working toilet. She took advantage of it, then washed her hands and face in the blessedly warm water. She gave a longing look at the shower that took up the entire back half of the room, but decided it would have to wait. First, she needed to find Baldric and find out when they were leaving. She wandered back over to the window. There was still no sign of activity in the square, even though the sky was definitely lighter now.

A larger building across the square might have been a tavern—maybe she should start there. Before she could decide, the doors on a big stone building at the back of the square were flung open and a stream of people flowed out. The building was easily three times as large as any of the stone cottages, and she decided it must be some kind of meeting hall. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw Baldric emerge. Had he been there all night? She still wasn’t happy that she had woken up alone, but maybe it was justified—

Her thoughts came to an abrupt halt as she saw the pretty female who had brought them to the cottage yesterday put her hand on Baldric’s arm. Why was she touching him like that? He stopped and looked around the square, and she ducked behind the curtain before he could spot her. When she peeped around it again, the female was now holding his hand. Olivia saw him nod, and then the two of them disappeared into the cottage next to the meeting hall.

Bastard.

Tears stung her eyes again, but she refused to let them fall. No wonder he hadn’t bothered to return to her—he was too preoccupied with the orc female. Fine. She didn’t need him anyway. The snow had stopped falling, and she knew the way now—all she had to do was follow the path back down the mountain and then take the trail into the city.

She hurried over to where he had left their supplies the night before and checked the bag. It was still more than half-full of dried meat. She filled a container with water, added it to the pack, and picked it up. Heavy, but not unreasonably so. The quatal fur did make her hesitate. While she knew she would appreciate the warmth, it was heavy and ungainly. Hadn’t she seen another door?

She darted back upstairs and found a storage compartment under the eaves. Jackpot. An assortment of clothing hung from wooden pegs, including a fur cloak. It looked too small for Baldric—it probably belongs to his female, she thought bitterly—but it fit her well enough. It was lighter than the quatal fur and had actual fastenings down the front. A small and well-worn pair of boots also proved to be a reasonable fit, and she pulled them on as well.

Back downstairs, she thought for a moment then started scavenging the kitchen area. She found another metal firestarter, as well as several sharp knives. Smiling with satisfaction, she added them to her collection. Baldric had assured her that the quatal hibernated during cold weather, but she felt safer having the knives with her.

She opened the cottage door, then hesitated. Even though she could see lights and signs of activity in the surrounding cottages, the square was empty again. All the people who had emerged from the meeting hall had returned to their homes. Part of her wanted to storm over to the female’s cottage and tell Baldric exactly what she thought about him, but she couldn’t stand the idea of seeing them together. Telling herself that the tears pricking her eyes were due to the icy wind, she tightened her grip on the traveling bag and headed for the path away from the village.

This is just fine, she told herself as she made her way back down the trail. I don’t need him.

The woods were quiet and empty with no sign of life, not even the birds she had started to recognize. Her hand felt bare and cold without Baldric clasping it. Whenever the terrain allowed it, he liked to hold her hand as they walked. He could have held it all the way to the city, she thought gloomily as she reached the main trail. It was wide enough that they could have walked side by side the whole way, but apparently it hadn’t mattered to him. He obviously hadn’t been holding it because he cared about her—he was probably just making sure she wasn’t going to run away. And I don’t care about him either, she thought defiantly.

The path stretched off into the distance, clearly visible despite the light dusting of snow and the mountains towering over it. She took a deep breath and set off.

With each step along the trail, she felt more and more isolated until she was just an insignificant speck in the empty landscape. How long would it take her to reach the city? Seven days? Or perhaps six? She was no longer entirely sure, but seven days was only a week and she’d spent longer periods on her own. I can do it.

The soft crunching of the snow beneath her boots was the only noise in the vast emptiness. The sun never appeared and the clouds began to descend again, rolling down the mountainsides as she watched them uneasily. Baldric had said much snow. Maybe she should keep an eye out for a place to shelter.

The path started to climb again, and the trees were replaced by rocks. Even with the firestarter, she would need fuel. She hesitated, but decided to continue to the top of the ridge and see what was ahead of her. She reached the top just as the snow started to fall and looked around in dismay. The path didn’t descend back down into another valley but continued straight ahead through more of the rocky terrain. Only a few small bushes grew amongst the rocks. She thought she could see trees up ahead, but it was difficult to judge the distance through the increasing snow. Rather than turn around and lose more time, she decided to keep going.

The rocks surrounding her were actually large enough that they blocked some of the wind. Unfortunately, they did not block the snow and it continued to fall, gradually obscuring more and more of her surroundings. She had no idea how much farther it was to the trees. All she could do was keep trudging along. Her new cloak and boots helped, but the cold gradually crept into her bones. She forced herself to keep walking, concentrating on putting one foot in front of the other, but then she stumbled over a rock hidden beneath the snow and fell.

The snowy ground felt as soft as a mattress beneath her cold, aching body. Maybe she’d just rest here for a moment. As she lay there looking up at the swirling clouds of white, she didn’t even feel cold anymore.

Baldric, she thought. I wish I could see you again.

His face appeared above her, dark and intense against the snow, and she smiled up at him.

“I wish I had told you goodbye.” Her voice sounded odd and muffled in her own ears. “No, that’s not right. I wish I never had to tell you goodbye.”

Something jostled her bed, and she frowned.

“Leave me alone. I’m comfortable.”

But instead she was conscious of movement, and with the movement she began to feel cold again.

“No. Leave me alone.”

She tried to fight, but her arms and legs didn’t want to respond, and she abandoned the effort. The numbness started to return, and she was no longer cold. Her eyes grew heavy. She thought she could hear Baldric yelling at her, and she smiled. Such a bossy male.

I wonder if he’ll be waiting for me, she thought as everything went dark.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

“Olivia!” Baldric roared into the empty room, but there was no response.

He searched the cottage anyway, even looking under the bed in case she was hiding from him. but that was no sign of her. Fek! Where had she disappeared to this time? Could she have gotten hungry and gone in search of food? But where would she have gone? Had she come looking for him?

He never should have left her, no matter what the damn Elders wanted. He hadn’t even been able to leave her a note. As he headed for the door, determined to find her, he suddenly realized that his traveling bag was missing.

Oh, fek. No.

Surely even Olivia wouldn’t have set off into a snowstorm. If she knew it was a snowstorm. She wasn’t familiar with the mountains, and she might not realize that the storms frequently lasted for a week with clear periods in between the flurries. Yesterday had just been the opening salvo. He had to go after her. He took another step towards the door, then realized he was being as impulsive as his female. Depending on how soon he could reach her—and he would reach her—they would need to be prepared to take shelter. Despite the impatience nagging for him to move, he rapidly began gathering supplies.

“Go away!” he yelled when he heard the door open. “I don’t have time.”

“Always in such a rush.”

The aged voice actually made him pause and look over his shoulder. Grandmother stood in the doorway, regarding him with a frown on her wrinkled face. She wasn’t actually his grandmother, but she was the oldest female in the tribe and everyone called her that.

“I apologize, Grandmother, but my female has left and I have to go after her.”

“I thought as much. I came across some unfamiliar tracks leading out of the village and came to tell you.” She scowled at him “Why are you going after her?”

The question actually made him pause again. “What do you mean ‘why?’”

The old woman shrugged. “Looks like she doesn’t want you.”

“I want her.” He had never wanted anyone more.

“Why? She’s not one of us.”

“I don’t care. She’s my mate,” he said automatically, then froze. How had he not recognized that before? He had even told Rasda that he would follow Olivia without truly considering what that meant.

“She’s mine,” he repeated slowly.

“Harrumph.” Despite the disparaging sound, the dark eyes twinkled. “Then you’d better get moving. The storm will hit this morning.”

“How long will it last?”

“A day or so. Then a break. Then perhaps two or three more days.” She shook her head. “Better bring her back here when you find her.”

He threw a fur over his shoulder and gathered up his supplies. At the door, he hesitated, then bent and kissed the wrinkled cheek.

“Thank you, Grandmother.”

Her face softened, but she immediately hid it behind a ferocious scowl. “Don’t waste your time sweet talking me, boy. Go on with you now.”

It started snowing by the time he reached the junction between the path to the village and the mountain pass, but there was no sign of Olivia. He had absolutely no doubt that she was headed for the city, and he hurried in that direction, walking as fast as he could on the uncertain footing. How could she have done this?

Fear and anger and guilt circled in his mind with each step. He should never have stayed to have breakfast with his sister. He should have taken Rasda back to the cottage with him, or brought Olivia to meet her. If he’d returned to the cottage earlier, perhaps he could have stopped her from leaving.

How long had she been gone? The snow obscured any traces of her footsteps as it deepened and he grew increasingly concerned that he might have missed her. What if she had stopped to take shelter somewhere off of the trail. Could she really come this far?

If—when—he had her back, he was never leaving her alone again.

When he reached the section of the trail that passed through the Valley of the Giants the trees disappeared, replaced by huge boulders. They blocked some of the wind and he thought he could see a few faint depressions in the snow. Was it wishful thinking or were those her tracks?

He hesitated, looking back over his shoulder. It seemed more likely that she had taken shelter amongst the trees, but Olivia so rarely did the expected. He hadn’t seen any sign of activity along either side of the trail. He focused on those faint marks and prayed to the goddess that she would keep Olivia safe. Perhaps the goddess heard him, because it was those fiery curls which caused him to spot Olivia’s crumpled body. She had fallen to one side of the trail, her hair spread across the snow like a beacon.

Oh, goddess, please be all right. Please be alive. He kneeled down next to her, his hands shaking as he reached for her, and her eyes fluttered open. Thank the goddess.

She started talking, her voice almost too faint to be heard, but all he could make out was his name. When he started to lift her into his arms, she awoke enough to try and resist his grip, and his heart ached. Why was she fighting him?

He ignored her feeble struggles and pulled her tighter against his chest, wrapping his cloak around her.

“Don’t worry, treasure. You’re safe now.”

Her body went limp, and he panicked, but when he put his hand on her chest he could feel the beating of her heart. Still alive. But he had to get her out of the storm as soon as possible.

The woods at the end of the Valley of the Giants were their best chance for shelter, and he set off in that direction, but the storm continued to increase. Even the protection of the boulders failed to block the swirling winds now, but he gritted his teeth and kept going. A blast of air knocked him off his stride, and as he struggled to regain his footing, a dark patch to the right caught his attention. It was away from the path, but the darkness meant no snow.

He headed towards it, praying he’d made the right decision. A swirl of white momentarily obscured his vision, and he swore, afraid to keep moving. Then the wind dropped momentarily, and he saw the dark patch again—a niche where two overhanging boulders had locked together. The angle of the rocks blocked the winds from blowing into the small area.

Still cradling Olivia in his arms, he dropped to his knees and crawled into the niche. The narrow confines made his skin crawl, but he ignored it. The most important thing was getting his mate out of the storm. Past the entrance, the space opened up into a small cave, and he breathed a sigh of relief. He might even be able to stand in the center, as long as he kept his head bowed, but the space was small enough to heat easily.

The goddess does look after her own, he thought as he gently placed Olivia on the ground and ran his hand over her fiery curls. Her face was as pale as the snow beneath those golden specks and her skin far too cold, but she was alive and breathing. He removed his fur and put it over her, then set about making camp.

OLIVIA’S HANDS and feet tingled and burned, the discomfort rousing her from her sleep. For a confused moment, she thought she was recovering from stasis again, but then she realized she was completely naked and plastered against an equally naked Baldric. Where had he come from?

“Baldric?” she whispered.

“Yes, treasure?”

He smiled at her, the relief obvious on his face, and his arms tightened around her. Damn, that felt good. She started to return his embrace, then frowned. The last thing she remembered was going to sleep in the snow and dreaming about him. But it must not have been a dream after all.

“I don’t understand. Why are you here? And how did you find me?”

He didn’t respond to her questions, trying to pull her back down against his chest instead.

“Sleep now.”

“I don’t want to sleep now.”

Momentarily forgetting that she was naked, she pushed herself upright. His eyes immediately went to her breasts, and she felt his cock jerk beneath her. Her cheeks burned, but she pressed her arm across her chest and looked around. They were in a… cave?

Rock walls curved over them, only a few inches away from her head. In the center of the space, a small cube glowed red, and she could feel the heat radiating out of it.

“You have a heater?” she asked him, momentarily distracted. “Why didn’t you use that instead of building all those fires?”

“Sleep,” he repeated, trying to tug her back down.

When she resisted, he sighed and sat up, keeping her cradled in his lap. The fur that must have covered her slipped down her back when he moved, and she grabbed it, pulling it over her front. Of course, it did nothing to separate her naked back from his very naked front, but she did her best to ignore that.

“How did you get here?” she asked again.

“Olivia walk.” For the first time, his relieved expression changed, and he frowned at her. “Why?”

The memory came rushing back, and she glared at him.

“Because you were with that other female.”

From his confused expression, he had no idea what she was saying. She sketched a female figure in the air, her fur slipping in the process.

“Female.”

“Female,” he repeated, his eyes on her breasts again.

“Yes, I’m female. But you weren’t with me!” She scowled at him and tried again. “Baldric, no Olivia. Baldric, other female.”

She saw the moment he understood, but instead of looking ashamed, he started to laugh. Even more annoyed now, she tried to push him away and climb to her feet, but he refused to let her go. His face sobering, he held up three fingers.

“Baldric. Darak. Rasda.” He brought his fingers together. “Family.”

“Family? You mean she’s your sister?”

He nodded. A huge wave of relief swept over her, immediately followed by embarrassment. Feeling stupid, she took refuge in anger and shoved at his chest again. “I don’t care. You didn’t tell me. You left me!”

To her horror, her voice broke on the last word.

“Fek. Sorry, Olivia. Baldric sorry.”

She looked into those dark, intense eyes, and she believed him. She burst into tears.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Olivia wasn’t sure how long she cried, but Baldric held her patiently until her tears finally stopped.

“Baldric sorry,” he said again, and she shook her head.

“That wasn’t just about you.” It was the sorrow of an abandoned child and all the years of loneliness. Her eyes burned and her throat hurt, but she felt lighter. She smiled at him. “So now what?”

“Much snow. One day. Two day.”

“I see. In other words, we wait.”

The thought didn’t distress her as much as it would have done the day before. It wouldn’t help anyone if she died in the snow in a reckless attempt to get to Almadin. She only hoped her friends weren’t out in the storm.

“Much snow mountains?” she asked, and he nodded. “Quinn and Panda—much snow?”

To her relief, he shook his head, and she remembered that he had only indicated that it might delay travel in the mountains.

“That’s good, anyway. But we’re behind now, aren’t we? Many days to Almadin?”

“Yes. Sorry.”

“It’s not your fault. And you did warn me.” She sighed. “So what do we do now?”

When he gave her a speculative look, she suspected he’d understood not only the question but the possibilities. A pang of disappointment hit her when he simply lifted her off his lap and retrieved his travel bag.

He took one of the collapsible metal bowls and placed it on the heater, adding water and a powdered substance. A few minutes later, he handed her a mug of broth. She took a cautious sip, then smiled at him.

“Mmm. This is good.”

They drank in silence as she looked at the heater, questions swirling through her mind.

“I don’t understand. If you have all this equipment, why didn’t you use it before?”

He cocked his head, clearly not understanding the question. She sighed and tried again.

“You and me. Camp. Fire. Hunt. Yes?”

He nodded.

“Now, heater. Bowls. Broth.” She pointed at each of the items. “Why?”

The amused look was back on his face.

“Bridge. Olivia.” He made a splashing noise, then shrugged. “Baldric. Splash.”

Her chest suddenly ached as she realized what he meant. He had gone in after her, even though he hadn’t had any supplies with him. He’d rescued her, not just from the river but also from the quatal, and then again today from the snow. He’d never failed to be there when she needed him. Her throat tight, she leaned over and took his hand.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“Safe.” He patted his chest. “Safe with Baldric.”

“I know. I shouldn’t have doubted you.”

She hesitated for a second, then gathered her courage and climbed into his lap. It was the first time she’d taken the initiative, and she felt him tense. She reached up and put her hand on his face, her fingers trembling.

“Kiss?”

“Yes. Always yes.”

He bent his head and kissed her, lightly at first, and she realized he was waiting to make sure she was ready. But her doubts had disappeared. She deliberately let the fur slip down to her waist and pressed her naked chest against the delicious muscular warmth of his chest. She felt his massive cock swell beneath her ass, but it only added to her arousal.

Her tongue flicked against his, and then he growled and took over, sweeping her away on a tide of rising passion. Oh, yes.

His hand skated up her side, then paused just below her breast, teasing her with its closeness. She gave her own version of a growl and impatiently pushed it up to cover the soft mound. His thumb stroked across her aching nipple with the perfect pressure, and her breath caught. Then he plucked at the taut peak, and she wiggled against the thick ridge of his cock.

“More,” she demanded, lifting her mouth away from his. “Breast kisses.”

She’d barely finished speaking before he had her bent back over his arm, the shocking heat of his mouth closing over her nipple. Any hesitation he might have felt had disappeared, replaced by a sure touch. Her back arched, trying to get even closer to that delicious pressure, and a big hand slid down between her legs. Fuck yes. Her legs parted at his touch, and the first press of a thick finger against her clit sent a tremor racing through her system.

His finger dipped lower, finding the soaked entrance to her pussy and pushing firmly inside. Another tremor swept over her like a mini climax, sending her body even higher. He growled something she couldn’t understand, but it sounded like a question.

“Yes,” she said immediately. “Yes.”

A second finger joined the first as his thumb swept across her clit, and sparks exploded in her vision as her body convulsed around the thick fingers stretching her. She clung to him, panting, as the climax rolled on and on. Her eyes opened to find him watching her, his face taut. His cock throbbed against her ass, but she was completely certain that he wouldn’t take it any further unless she said…

“Yes,” she whispered.

His entire body tensed. “Yes?”

What was the word he’d used?

“Yes. Fek,” she said firmly.

He growled again and swept her beneath him. His cock probed at her entrance, and she shivered, despite her certainty. He was just so big.

“Yes?” he asked again.

“Still yes. But slowly.”

She drew out the last word, hoping he understood. A seductive smile crossed his face and made her shiver again—with anticipation this time.

He pushed again, more firmly this time, and she felt her body open for him, stretching her to the very edge of pain. Instead of moving deeper, he paused there, her muscles quivering around him as she panted. His thumb brushed across her exposed clit, adding to the sensations overwhelming her. Her pussy fluttered, and he finally moved, sinking in another inch. Fuck, he’s big.

He repeated the movement, and the first of his piercings rubbed her inside walls. She saw stars. Her body tried to tighten around him, but he already had her stretched to the limit and her channel fluttered helplessly, overwhelmed by his size. Hot and cold, pain and pleasure—the mixture of sensations made her head reel—and then he gently touched her clit. Her body exploded, her back arching and forcing more of that thick cock into her small entrance as she convulsed helplessly.

When she finally recovered enough to open her eyes, she realized he was frozen in place, his eyes fixed on the place where their bodies joined and his face taut. She lifted a hand to his face and his gaze snapped to hers.

“Kiss,” she said softly, and some of the tension left his face.

He bent towards her, but even that slight movement sent a shudder of desire through her helpless body and another inch of his cock entered her, his passage eased by her climax. The hint of pain had gone, replaced by an incredible fullness.

Their mouths touched, the hard press of his tusks a reminder of their differences, but she didn’t care. She’d never wanted anything more than to be completely joined to this male in this dim little cave surrounded by the raging storm.

“More,” she whispered, and he obeyed, pushing deeper and deeper into her body, further than she’d ever dreamed possible. She panted into his mouth as her body quivered in constant little spasms, slowly opening around him until his hips finally came to rest against hers.

“Yes?” he asked, his voice a hoarse growl.

“Oh, yes.”

He started to withdraw but her body clung to him, his piercings dragging against her walls and sending her into another helpless, shuddering climax. This time, he didn’t freeze, his cock thrusting into her again and again before he growled, and she felt him grow impossibly harder before hot liquid flooded her insides in long, endless pulses.

He rolled to his back, their bodies still locked together as he wrapped his arms around her and murmured soft words she couldn’t understand. They didn’t matter. All that mattered was the possessive grip of his hands and the tender way he spoke to her.

“You have ruined me for all other males,” she murmured when she finally regained her tongue.

She had intended it as a teasing comment, but the truth in the words hit her as she spoke. He had ruined her for all other men—and not just because of his amazing cock. His concern, his kindness, even his bossiness spoke to a part of her that she had thought unreachable. She knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that he would never let her down.

As long as we’re together.

Were they? She was still committed to finding her friends, and she would do whatever she could to help them make it back to Earth, but she no longer wanted to go with them. Not if it meant leaving Baldric behind. She looked up to find him watching her, his head tilted as if he was trying to read her thoughts.

“Are we together now?” she asked, her voice unexpectedly shaky. “You and me?”

He held up two fingers, then brought them together.

“Baldric. Olivia. Family.”

“Yes.” She gathered her courage and placed her hand on her heart and then on his. “Love?”

A blinding smile covered his face.

“Love,” he said immediately. “Love Olivia.”

“Oh, thank God. I love you too. Kiss,” she demanded.

He obeyed, kissing every part of her body before finally entering her again and sending her into yet another mind-blowing climax.

A ROCK DUG into Baldric’s spine, but he didn’t care. He was completely content. They were protected from the storm, and they had more than enough supplies to last until it finished. More importantly, his mate was in his arms and she had admitted that she loved him.

The knowledge filled him with satisfaction, not just because she loved him but also because he suspected that it had taken a great deal of courage for her to admit it to him. He’d seen the shadows in her eyes and the vulnerability that lurked behind her fiery temperament. How many others had let her down in the past?

I will never fail her, he vowed.

His body also hummed with satisfaction of a far more physical kind. Nothing had ever felt as good as being buried in Olivia’s perfect little cunt. Her body was so much smaller than his that he hadn’t really thought she would be able to take all of him. But she had. Every single inch of his cock had been surrounded by wet, silken heat.

He hummed reminiscently and stroked her hair.

“Baldric?”

“Yes, treasure?”

She raised her head and looked at him.

“I acted stupidly. I shouldn’t have left without talking to you. No walk away.”

“No.”

He bore his own share of guilt, but it had still been reckless of her to leave the village. He shuddered as he remembered seeing her body motionless in the snow.

“I was wrong. I’m sorry.”

He sighed. “I know.”

He did know, and he truly believed that she was sorry, but would that be enough to stop her the next time she had a foolish impulse?

“I… I think you should spank me.”

“Spank?”

She reached back and patted her ass. A moment ago, he would have sworn he was completely drained, but the blood rushed to his cock so quickly he felt dizzy. She smiled and wiggled against him.

“I guess you like that idea.”

“Are you sure?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“Very well.” He sat up and pulled her over his lap, running his hand over the lush curve of her ass. She pushed back against his hand and he almost laughed. Just because she had asked him didn’t mean he would take it easy on her. She could have died out there in the storm. The thought erased any trace of humor.

“Ten,” he said, then brought his hand down across her ass.

He heard her breath catch, but he didn’t give her a chance to protest before he delivered the second stroke.

“Oh, fuck,” she cried, and despite his resolution, he hesitated. But she made no attempt to stop him or escape his grip, and he kept going.

When he finished the ten strokes, she looked at him over her shoulder, her face tear-stained but more at peace.

“Thank you.”

“It was my pleasure,” he assured her, and she rolled her eyes at him.

She didn’t attempt to move, her body limp across his lap, and he gently rubbed the soft pink of her ass. She jumped, but then she pushed back against his hand again. He slid his finger into the heated crevice between her cheeks, then probed at the delicate star of her anus. She jumped again, but didn’t protest. When he dipped lower, he found her delicate folds slick and hot.

“What a naughty girl,” he murmured, finding the small pearl of her clit and circling it. “You enjoy your punishments far too much.”

“Baldric,” she gasped, pushing back against his hand. “Please. Fek me.”

He pushed her onto her hands and knees and rose up behind her. From this angle, he could see every inch of her glistening folds, still reddened from their previous encounters. He almost hesitated, but she thrust her hips back impatiently.

“Fek me, Baldric.”

His restraint vanished. He pushed inside her, groaning in pleasure as he watched her small pink entrance stretch around his thick green cock. His passage was easier this time, but he still had to work for every inch. Her body quivered, shaking each time one of his piercings slid into her.

“Such a good girl,” he praised her, stroking his hand down her back and across her ass.

“Oh, fuck.”

He squeezed the soft pink flesh, and she exploded, her body jerking so hard she would have dislodged him if he hadn’t been buried so deep. Her channel gripped him so tightly he couldn’t move, but he gritted his teeth and held on until her body began to soften.

“My turn,” he whispered and started to thrust. Her soft, wet heat surrounded him, clinging to his cock, and he thrust harder, faster, until his own climax swept over him and the seed rushed from his body in an explosion of liquid heat. He sagged down over her, barely remembering to keep his weight from crushing her as he pulled her into his arms.

She put her arms over his and held him against her.

“That was amazing. Maybe I should be bad more often.”

“Olivia,” he warned, recognizing the word, and she laughed.

“Just a little. Just for fun. And spanking.”

He reached down and squeezed her still pink ass. She winced and laughed at the same time, and he sighed with contentment as they drifted off to sleep. The goddess had blessed him with the perfect female.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

They remained in the cave for another day, and for once, Olivia wasn’t impatient to move on. When Baldric wasn’t making love to her, they snuggled together, drank more broth, and ate jerky. They also spent a lot of their time talking—or rather trying to talk. Several of the pebbles on the floor of the cave left marks on the rock, and the floor and walls were soon covered with pictographs. Words about specific objects, such as a boat, were easy enough to draw, but it was difficult to find pictures to convey more abstract concepts like friendship and family, and they frequently resorted to sign language.

At her request, he drew her a map of the planet. If she understood correctly, they were on the only large continent. The mountains they were in divided the continent, curving across the middle and then continuing up the left side all the way to the far north. The mountains belonged to the orcs, or rather the Daichin as they called themselves, and they were divided into multiple tribes. The Sleestiks occupied the southern half of the continent, which was primarily dry and desert-like. A third race, the Guulli, lived between the mountains and the sea, as well as on the chains of islands off the coast.

“What do the Guulli look like?” she asked curiously.

Since neither of them were artists, Baldric’s resulting picture did little to convey much beyond the fact that they had two arms, two legs, and long wavy hair.

“That’s helpful,” she said dryly, and he laughed. He seemed to be picking up her language much quicker than she was picking up his, and she scowled in mock annoyance. “You think you’re so smart, don’t you?”

He tilted his head to one side as if considering the matter, then gave her a smug smile and nodded. She wasn’t sure if he was responding to the actual question or the tone of her voice, but she couldn’t help laughing.

“You may be the language expert, but I have other ways of communicating.”

She bent over on her knees, stretching across the cave to retrieve a piece of jerky. The cave was warm enough that all she was wearing was her shirt and she felt it slide up over her butt. When she looked back over her shoulder, the laughter had vanished from his expression and his gaze was focused on her ass. She wiggled it teasingly, but when he reached for her, she shimmied out of reach.

“Nuh-uh. Use your words.”

The amusement returned to his face, but the hunger in his eyes remained.

“Ass,” he said clearly. “Olivia’s ass.”

“You do seem to be fascinated by it. What do you want to do with it?”

“Kiss Olivia’s ass,” he said hopefully, and she burst into laughter.

“People don’t usually mean that literally.”

His eyes narrowed. “Spank Olivia’s ass.”

A shiver of remembered pleasure ran down her spine. Back on Earth, she would have decked any man who tried to spank her, but she loved the sharp sting of Baldric’s big hand and the lingering warmth it left behind. Her nipples tightened, and he smiled triumphantly, reaching across the cave for her. She squeaked and tried to escape, but it was a small space and she wasn’t trying very hard. He caught her and pulled her into his arms as his big hand covered her ass, squeezing the soft flesh.

“Kiss?” she asked hopefully.

“Spank.”

They both felt her shiver, and a slow smile crossed his face. “Both.”

“Both,” she agreed, and he gave her exactly what she asked for.

A LONG TIME LATER, they were snuggled together when she realized that something had changed. The howl of the wind outside the cave had stopped. Did that mean it had stopped snowing?

She rolled over to look at him and saw he was staring up at the ceiling.

“I think the wind stopped.”

He nodded and sat up, bringing her with him.

“Back to village now,” he said.

“We have to go back? Why?” She had just assumed that once the snow stopped, they would resume their trip to the city.

He pointed behind him, next to him, and then ahead. “Much snow. No snow. More snow.”

“You mean this is just a break in the snow and it’s going to start up again?”

He nodded. Damn. Her first impulse was to insist that they move on, but now she understood why he wouldn’t want to travel through another storm like the one they had just experienced. She knew how close she had come to dying. But did that mean they would have to remain in the village for the entire winter?

She put her hand on his arm and gave him a beseeching look. “I understand we have to go back to the village now because of the snow. But after that snow? Will there be more snow? When can we go to Almadin?”

He looked thoughtful, then drew on the floor again.

“Village. Snow. No snow, Almadin.” He drew five lines, then looked at her and added a sixth.

“You mean we need five or six days without snow?”

He nodded.

“But how will you know?”

“Ehmay know.”

She wasn’t sure what Ehmay meant, but he seemed confident in its abilities to forecast the snow.

“And we’ll go as soon as the weather is good? Both of us together?”

He nodded, but his face had resumed its stern expression again. She put her hand on his cheek.

“I’m not trying to leave you, Baldric, but I have to try and find my friends. You understand, don’t you?”

He sighed, then turned his head so he could press a kiss against her hand.

“Love Olivia. Help Olivia.”

“Thank you.”

She moved her hand away so that she could kiss him. She could feel the urgency with which he responded and matched it eagerly, trying to provide the reassurance she knew he wanted. She was squirming against him when he reluctantly raised his head. She could still see a hint of concern in his eyes, but his face had relaxed. He gave her another quick kiss and lifted her off his lap.

“Go now. No snow.”

“I suppose you’re right. Let’s go.”

He packed everything with his usual astonishing speed, leaving the heater for last, and she gave it a wistful glance as he tucked it away in his pack. She wasn’t looking forward to this.

They stepped into a world of brilliant whiteness. The sun was actually shining, sparkling on the untouched snow. Everything looked beautiful and magical—and cold. Even though the wind dropped, the air felt even colder after the coziness of their little cave. It didn’t help that the snow came up to her knees.

Baldric looked at her and at the snow and then reached for her, but she waved him off.

“It’s fine. You don’t have to carry me.”

“Love carry Olivia.”

“That’s sweet, but I want to try this on my own.”

He frowned at her, but he didn’t insist.

“Follow.”

A little surprised that he hadn’t taken her hand, she set off after him, quickly realizing that he was going first so that he could break a path for her. It did help, but she was panting with exhaustion by the time they reached the end of the boulders. Because the next section of the trail was more exposed, the snow wasn’t as deep, and she could walk next to him again, holding his hand.

This part of the journey wasn’t as strenuous, and she relaxed enough to look around and admire the scenery. The white mountains gleamed against a blue sky and the snow-capped trees looked like a scene from a holiday postcard. The exertion had warmed her, and she found herself enjoying the walk through the snow with Baldric’s big hand enclosing hers.

The only dent in her happiness was her worry about her friends. She was still determined to find them, but what then? Could they be happy here as well? Maybe they just need orcs of their own, she thought as she stumbled, and Baldric automatically caught her.

Hmm. Maybe that wasn’t such a bad idea. She gave Baldric a speculative look.

“Are there any other single males in your tribe?”

“Single?”

“Male with no female. No mate.”

“No other male,” he roared, coming to a sudden halt and hauling her up against him. “One male for Olivia. Baldric and Olivia.”

Shocked at his sudden fury, it took her a moment to realize what he thought she was suggesting.

“I only want to be with you,” she said quickly. “Just Baldric. Baldric and Olivia.”

He was still frowning. “Why know?”

“Because you make me very happy, and I thought maybe Quinn and Panda could be happy too.”

“Friends and males,” he repeated thoughtfully, then nodded. “Yes.”

“So you don’t need to go getting all possessive just because I asked,” she said sternly. Although it had been kind of hot.

“Olivia belong to Baldric.”

Not exactly the way she would have put it, but she couldn’t argue with the sentiment—as long as he understood it went both ways.

“And Baldric belongs to Olivia.”

They stood there smiling at each other until she shivered. He shook his head and started walking again.

This time when they returned to the village the square wasn’t full of people sitting around eating and drinking. Everyone seemed to be busy, and she realized they must have been taking advantage of the break in the weather. Despite that, Baldric’s sister must have been keeping watch because she appeared almost immediately. She hurried over to them, talking animatedly, and reached out to hug Baldric. He took a step back with an uncertain look at Olivia, and she immediately felt ridiculous.

“Don’t be silly. I don’t mind if she hugs you now that I know she’s your sister.”

Rasda was giving them a puzzled look, so Olivia extended her hand.

“Hi. I’m Olivia. It’s nice to meet you.”

Rasda stared at her outstretched hand for a moment, then grabbed it and pulled Olivia into a hug, chattering excitedly again. When she released Olivia, she turned to Baldric, and this time he let her hug him, a patient look on his face.

Rasda said something to her that was obviously a question, but Olivia had no idea what she was asking. She spread her hands apologetically.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

Rasda’s gaze flicked to Baldric, as she asked another question. When he shook his head, she looked thoughtful, then hurried off. Her departure seemed surprisingly rushed, and Olivia hoped she hadn’t insulted her.

Baldric didn’t seem worried as he led her back to his cottage. A few people called greetings to him, but he only waved his hand without stopping.

She sighed with relief as they entered the cottage and he immediately started the fire. She moved over to stand in front of it, grateful for the warmth, then gave him a curious look.

“No heater?”

He shook his head. “No…” He struggled to find the words, and shook his head again. “No.”

Hmm. It wasn’t because they didn’t have access to the technology.

“Do you mean that it’s not allowed? Not permitted?”

“Yes,” he said immediately. “No permit.”

Once again, he seemed to have picked up the word as soon as he heard it in context, and she frowned at him.

“How do you do that?”

He tapped his ear just as the door opened and Rasda rushed in, smiling cheerfully. She started talking again as she went to the sink, filled a small bowl with water, and placed it on the table. Baldric asked her a question and she nodded, holding out her hand.

Olivia’s eyes widened as he reached up and pulled something out of his ear. It resembled a shiny black kidney bean, but it seemed to pulse between his fingers.

Rasda washed it, then placed it in the bowl of water. Olivia peered into the bowl as Rasda added a second black kidney bean. The two beans touched, and this time they both pulsed, moving gently against each other for a moment. When they stopped moving, Rasda handed one back to Baldric and offered the other one to Olivia.

She regarded it suspiciously.

“What do you expect me to do with that?”

“Ear,” Baldric said as he pushed his own back into his ear.

“I got that part, but why? Is this some kind of weird body snatchers thing?”

He pointed to her ear and his mouth. “Know talk.”

“Are you trying to tell me that this little thing is some type of translation device?”

Rasda nodded eagerly and offered her the bean again. Olivia sighed and took it, but it pulsed against her fingers in a disturbingly alive sort of way and she hesitated.

“Yes, Olivia,” Baldric urged.

Wrinkling her nose, she lifted it to her ear. As soon as it touched her ear canal, it seemed to slither inside of its own accord, and she shuddered.

“That’s disgusting.”

Rasda laughed. “Yes, but effective. It’s a bioengineered trans—”

Whatever Rasda was saying never reached Olivia’s ears as Baldric pulled her into his arms, his eyes fixed on her face.

“I love you, Olivia. Do you understand me?”

“Oh, yes. I love you too, Baldric.”

“Thank the goddess.”

He breathed a sigh of relief and kissed her. Somewhere in the distance, she heard a discreet cough.

“I’ll just be leaving—” Rasda began, but Olivia pulled away from the kiss to look at her.

“What did you do? And how come if Baldric already had one of these, he couldn’t understand me?”

“His information was outdated.” Rasda shrugged. “Putting it together with a newer version updated the records.”

“That’s amazing. No more trying to communicate with single words.”

“I think we managed well enough,” Baldric said, and she grinned up at him.

“You are pretty good at making your point.”

“I’m going to leave you two to… talk,” Rasda said firmly. “But if you don’t mind, I’ll come back later. I’d love to talk to you too, Olivia.”

“That sounds great,” she said sincerely, but her eyes were locked on Baldric.

“I’ll give you a few hours.” Rasda laughed and disappeared.

“So you don’t think we need language in order to communicate, my treasure?” Baldric asked.

“Well… a few words did come in useful. Like kiss.”

“Mmm. Mouth kiss.”

His mouth came down to cover hers as a big hand cupped her breast.

“Breast kiss,” she murmured when he lifted his head.

“Two excellent words,” he agreed.

“Fek.”

“An even better one.”

He swept her up in his arms and carried her up the stairs to the big bed where he proved that making love in the soft furs was every bit as wonderful as she’d imagined.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Contentment filled Baldric as he curled up with Olivia in his big bed. He’d always remembered his time in the village as unhappy, but he was not unhappy now. With Olivia at his side, and without his father’s overbearing presence, he could remember all of the things that he had once loved about being part of the tribe.

Someone knocked on the door, and Olivia mumbled a sleepy protest.

“You did tell my sister you wanted to talk to her,” he reminded her. “Shall I send her away?”

“No, that’s fine. I would like to get to know her better.”

She yawned and sat up, stretching lazily as the furs slipped to her waist. Despite their recent lovemaking, the sight of her beautiful naked body sent a bolt of arousal straight to his cock. He tugged on a rosy nipple.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to send her away?”

For a moment, she swayed towards him, but then she sighed and shook her head.

“We can resume this later.”

“I shall hold you to that.”

He brushed a quick kiss across her lips, gathered his clothes, and went downstairs to let his sister enter. However when he opened the door, Rasda was not waiting on the doorstep. Instead, Elder Merric scowled at him.

“Is this how you learned to treat your elders in the flatlands?”

“I didn’t know that you were waiting.”

“Harrumph.” Merric frowned and brushed past Baldric. “Where is the female?”

“My mate is upstairs,” he said coldly, and a sudden smile crossed Merric’s face.

“Don’t be so touchy, boy. I wish to meet her.”

Olivia came down the stairs as he spoke, and they both turned to look at her. She gave Merric a suspicious look as she joined Baldric.

“Olivia, this is Elder Merric. Merric, this is my mate Olivia.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” Olivia said politely but with an obvious lack of enthusiasm.

Merric’s gaze traveled from her tumbled red curls down over her patched-together outfit, and Baldric braced himself for a disparaging comment. He had a fondness for the older male, but he would not allow anyone to insult his mate. Instead, Merric surprised him by laughing.

“Now I understand. If I were ten years younger, I would steal her away from you.”

“You couldn’t steal me,” Olivia said defiantly. “I belong to Baldric.”

He gave Merric a triumphant look, and the old male laughed again.

“I do love a spirited female.”

He decided to take that as a compliment.

“I’m glad you approve,” he said dryly. “May I ask the reason for your visit?”

“We are organizing a hunt while the weather holds. I thought you could join us.”

“So you could see if I lost all my skills in the flatlands?”

Merric raised a challenging eyebrow. “Did you?”

“Baldric is a wonderful hunter,” Olivia said immediately, glaring at Merric. “He doesn’t need to prove anything to you.”

“In that case, perhaps he should lead the hunt.”

“Isn’t that Darak’s job?”

Merric scowled again. “Your brother has gone off on his own.”

He hesitated, looking down at Olivia.

“Do you want to go?” she asked softly.

He realized that he did. He had missed the camaraderie and the teamwork, and the journey with Olivia had revealed to him how much he enjoyed providing for his female using his own skills.

“Do you mind?”

“Not at all. Your sister is still coming to visit so I won’t be lonely.”

“And you will be here when I return?” he asked sternly, and she gave him a speculative look. “Olivia,” he warned.

She laughed, and leaned against him.

“Just teasing you. I’ll be here.”

“If you’re not…”

He slid a surreptitious hand down over her ass, but Merric’s eyes twinkled, and he suspected the Elder had seen.

“Don’t tempt me,” she whispered, then tugged his head down for a kiss.

He kissed her back, then reluctantly put her aside and went to gather his hunting equipment. A few minutes later, he and Merric went to join the other hunters. The old male gave him a curious look.

“Why do you press your mouth against hers?”

“It is called a kiss. It is most pleasant.”

Merric hummed thoughtfully.

“Perhaps so, since she has no tusks to collide with yours. Does she have other differences?”

“None that I intend to discuss with you,” he said scowling, and Merric laughed.

“My apologies, boy. I meant no harm.”

By this time they had reached the other hunters, he assumed the discussion was over. He was wrong.

As they moved into the woods, the other males peppered him with questions about Olivia. At first he was inclined to take offense, but he soon realized that they were merely curious. He ignored anything he deemed too personal, but he was more than willing to praise his mate’s many virtues. The conversation ended as the hunt began in earnest.

Several hours later, he returned to the village, tired but satisfied. The majority of the meat from the hunt would be used to prepare a feast for the entire village, but he had a small portion to share directly with his mate. Already anticipating her smile, he strode confidently into his cottage.

Once again, Olivia was gone. His heart skipped a beat before he realized that she was probably with his sister. Determined to hunt her down, he turned to the door just as she rushed in, her hair wet and her cheeks flushed with laughter. Rasda followed her, grinning as she took in his expression, and he sighed with relief.

AFTER BALDRIC LEFT with the hunt, Olivia found herself wandering aimlessly around the cottage. She’d told him to go, and she’d meant it, but after all the time they had spent in each other’s company recently, it seemed strange not to have him at her side. She was trying to decide if she should go and look for his sister when there was a soft knock on the door, and Rasda peeped in.

“Did I give you enough time?”

Olivia laughed. “Yes, thank you. Baldric just left to go hunting.”

Rasda nodded. “I thought he might. He always enjoyed being part of the hunt.” She studied Olivia’s face. “But how are you doing? I’m afraid you must have had a difficult time.”

She snorted. “I suppose you could say that.”

“I wonder, would you care to visit the bathhouse? I find it most relaxing.”

“Bathhouse? That sounds wonderful.”

“Then come with me.”

Rasda led her to the bathhouse, a circular building nestled in the trees a short distance away from the rest of the village. They passed through a small vestibule into a big open room and Olivia sighed with pleasure. The steamy warmth created a stunning contrast to the icy cold outside. The walls were covered with wooden panels that added a faint spicy fragrance to the air. A huge wooden tub, big enough for twenty people, occupied one side of the space, while two smaller tubs were partially hidden behind wooden screens.

“Hang your clothes here,” Rasda instructed, stripping off her leather dress and boots. “We’ll dip water out of the tub to wash before we enter.”

Olivia did her best not to blush as she removed her own garments. She snuck a quick look at Rasda from under her lashes and found the other female staring at her with frank curiosity.

“You are very small.”

Olivia shrugged uncomfortably. “I’m pretty average for a human woman.”

“Although your breasts are quite large for your size,” Rasda added thoughtfully.

Olivia blushed and resisted the impulse to cover her breasts with her arm.

“They’re pretty average too,” she muttered, but sneaking another glance at Rasda, she understood the other female’s comment.

Rasda, along with the other orc females Olivia had seen, was built on lean, athletic lines. Even though Rasda was easily a head taller, Olivia’s breasts had been larger by the time she was twelve.

“I meant no offense,” Rasda said as she showed her the pitcher for scooping water from the tub and a bar of actual soap. “It’s just that my brother is… not small.”

“I know.”

Her mouth curved reminiscently, and Rasda laughed.

“I see. We Daichin females prefer larger males as well.”

They dipped more water out of the tub, rinsed, and then climbed in. Olivia smiled happily as the hot water surrounded her.

“This feels so good.”

“It is especially pleasant in the wintertime,” Rasda agreed. “We are lucky to have it to ourselves.”

Olivia bit her lip and cast a quick glance at the screen covering the entrance. “Is it… I mean, do males and females bathe at the same time?”

“Of course. Is that not your custom?”

“Only in some human societies.” She looked at the entrance again. “And I’m not sure that Baldric would approve.”

Rasda laughed. “It is often the way with newly mated males, but you do not need to worry. Everyone is either hunting or working right now. I do not believe we will be interrupted.”

They sat there in silence for a few moments as the heat of the water penetrated deep into her bones. It would be wonderful to have such a tub in their cottage. She could easily envision sharing a private tub with Baldric, but being surrounded by others would… limit their activities. Could they add one to the cottage?

The thought made her remember her earlier questions about the level of technology.

“Rasda, Baldric said that heaters were not permitted in the cottages. Why is that?”

Rasda sighed, making circles in the water with her fingers.

“My father was a… difficult male. He believed that everything should be done in the traditional manner, and he fought every attempt to introduce technology to the village. Occasionally he was overruled, as with the hunting heaters, but on the whole he prevailed.”

“But hasn’t Darak been in charge for several years now? Is he also opposed?”

Rasda shook her head. “No, he’s actually very eager to introduce more technology, but he does not deal well with the Council. He is too impatient to listen to them debate the options. He loses his temper and storms away, and no changes are made.” The other female gave her a rueful smile. “In order to work with the Council, one must listen and understand their feelings, but Darak refuses to do so.” She sighed again. “Sometimes I think that he has been angry since the day Baldric left.”

“Why is he so angry?”

“I’m not sure. They were very close when they were small but it changed as they grew older and our father started to train Baldric to replace him. It didn’t help that our father had little time for Darak. Baldric tried to reach out to him, but he shut himself away. He is an unhappy male, and I wish I knew how to help him.”

Olivia had no experience dealing with siblings and no suggestions so she returned to the previous subject. “Tell me more about this Council of yours.”

“We may be here for a long time,” Rasda laughed, but she began describing the Council members to Olivia. Her opinions were not always flattering, but Olivia noticed an underlying current of affection and respect.

“You seem to get on well with them.”

“I get frustrated as well, but I do respect their knowledge and their dedication to the tribe. And I spent a lot of time with them working on the agreement with Noric—I mean, the Ochar tribe.”

Something on the other female’s face caught her attention. “Noric?”

She hadn’t realized that orcs could blush, but the skin across Rasda’s cheekbones definitely darkened.

“He is the warrior from the Ochar tribe who I spoke with most often.”

“Just spoke with?” she teased.

“Perhaps more than that. He wants to mate with me,” Rasda rushed on. “But how can I leave the tribe with so much work to be done here and Darak so unhappy?”

“Why do you have to leave? Can’t Noric come here?”

Rasda gave her a startled look, then laughed.

“Baldric said the same thing. I suppose I am more bound by tradition than I realized, but I have been considering it.”

“You should at least ask him,” she said. “If he loves you, he’ll come to you.”

“Is Baldric going to go with you?”

“He said he would,” she said honestly. “But I’m not sure where we will go. I have to find my friends and make sure that they are safe, but after that…” She shrugged. “I don’t want to return to Earth and leave Baldric behind, and he could not come with me.”

“I see,” Rasda said thoughtfully. “You would be welcome here, of course, both of you.”

“Do you think Baldric wants to return?”

“I don’t know. He was anxious to leave, but I’m not sure that he found whatever it was he was searching for.”

“We have a saying on Earth that there’s no place like home.” Then she laughed. “Of course, we also say you can’t go home again. Maybe the truth is somewhere in between.”

“I suspect so. But at least for now, I think it’s time to return to our homes.”

They climbed out and dried off, and Olivia reluctantly pulled her clothes back on.

“Forgive my asking, but do you have any other clothing?” Rasda asked.

“Nope. The alien who took us originally didn’t bother to have us pack a suitcase.”

She meant it as a joke, but it came out more bitterly than she had intended, and Rasda apologized.

“I meant no offense.”

Olivia sighed. “I know you didn’t. It’s just… frustrating.”

“Would it also be offensive to ask if you would accept some clothing from me? As my sister?” Rasda added hastily.

“Not offensive at all,” Olivia assured her. “Although I may have to get Baldric to adjust the size.”

“If that’s an example of his sewing skills, it might be better if I assisted you,” Rasda said dryly, and they both laughed.

“I meant what I said,” Rasda added as they reached the door. “You are my sister now. Part of my family. I will assist you in whatever way I can.”

A lump appeared in her throat. “Thank you. I’ve never had a sister, but I think I’m going to like it.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Baldric woke up to find the snow had stopped. It had started up not long after he returned from the hunt and snowed continuously for the past three days. He hadn’t cared. They were snug and warm in his cottage, and his mate was by his side.

Although the tribe kept close to the village during the storm, their normal activities continued. He had taken Olivia to the tavern one night, watching in amusement as his friends regaled her with tales of his childhood and her cheeks grew flushed from the ale. This time, she had not fallen asleep, and when he brought her home, he found the ale had only increased her… creativity in the bedroom.

Some of his other activities were not so pleasant. The Elders called another meeting, and once again, he had to listen to them talk endlessly. Olivia and Rasda had accompanied him, and he wasn’t surprised when Olivia fell asleep in his lap. Rasda, on the other hand, followed the discussions with great interest, just as she had at the previous meeting, and managed to insert a few thoughtful comments.

He’d also tried to talk to Darak several times, but his brother proved singularly evasive. And not only with Baldric. The Council had spent a great deal of time bemoaning his absence. He decided he would make one more effort to track down his brother before he left.

Olivia stirred against his side, and he looked down to see her smiling at him. He loved seeing her this way each morning, her cheeks flushed from sleep and her eyes heavy.

“Good morning, treasure.”

“Morning.”

She yawned and stretched, her naked body wiggling delightfully against his side. He lifted her on top of him, and she snuggled against him.

“You’re very comfortable,” she mumbled, and he suspected she was falling asleep again.

But then he felt a soft little kiss against his neck. His already erect shaft jerked beneath her. He felt the hard points of her nipples against his chest and expected her to slide down on to him, but she only kissed him again. She left a trail of kisses across his collarbone, then traced the lines of his tattoo.

“What are you doing, treasure?”

“Exploring,” she said absently, moving across to his chest.

He relaxed back against the sheet. After all, who was he to object if his mate wished to explore? His relaxation disappeared when she reached his cock and pressed a gentle kiss against the head. The brush of her lips sent a streak of electricity down his spine.

“What are you doing?”

“Kissing you,” she said innocently as she looked up at him, but her golden eyes were full of mischief.

“There?”

“Why not?”

She kissed him again. This time, her lips parted so that her hot little tongue could caress him, and he groaned.

“Don’t you like that?” she asked.

“I… I…”

Words failed him, and she frowned.

“You really don’t like it? I can—”

“No! Stay there. Please,” he added quickly.

She laughed. “This is the first time I’ve ever wanted to obey when you told me to stay. Are you sure?”

“Yes.” His body hummed with the urgent need to feel her tongue caressing him again. “It’s just that no one has ever done that before.”

“No?”

“These make it a little difficult.”

He gestured to his tusks and an understanding look crossed her face, immediately followed by a seductive smile.

“Then I think you’ll enjoy this.”

To his utter shock, she enclosed the entire tip of his cock in the hot, wet depths of her mouth. His balls tightened, already on the verge of exploding.

“Olivia,” he gasped. “I don’t think I can wait.”

“Then don’t.” Her breath skated across his damp flesh, and he shuddered. “Just enjoy.”

She took him in her mouth again, sliding a little further down his shaft as her hand came up to meet her lips, and he groaned. When she lifted her head, she sucked, a deep pull that seemed to reach to his very soul.

“Fek,” he roared, his hand going to her head.

She hummed approvingly and repeated the movement, each time taking him a little deeper. He couldn’t resist the combination of the slow, wet slide down his cock and the deep, sucking withdrawal. He buried his fingers in those red curls and urged her on. When his cock hit the back of her throat, she swallowed, and he exploded, his seed flooding out of him in long, endless pulses as she gulped him down.

When his body finally went limp, she gave him a final lick with that amazing tongue, then smiled smugly.

“I think you enjoyed that.”

“I…”

He was speechless once more, and she laughed as she wiggled up next to him.

“I find it very satisfying to render you speechless.”

“We have never needed words,” he growled, and kissed her.

A CONSIDERABLE TIME LATER, she yawned and stretched again, looking lazy and content.

“I guess we’d better get up, or Rasda will be pounding on the door. It’s a good thing we started locking it.”

“Like you, my sister can be a little impetuous.”

“Everyone in your tribe seems to think we have an open door policy,” she said dryly as she sat up. “Oh, look. It’s not snowing. Does that mean it’s time to leave?”

His chest ached that she was so anxious to depart. In spite of the Elders, he had enjoyed their time here and he wasn’t ready to leave. But he had promised her.

“I don’t know. I’ll have to talk to Grandmother.”

“Why?”

“To know what will happen with the weather.”

“And she knows?” she asked, clearly skeptical.

“Always,” he said firmly.

“Then I suppose we’d better go talk to her.”

She rose and dressed in the new tunic and leggings that she and Rasda had sewn. The two had spent several afternoons sewing, and Rasda had told him several times how quickly Olivia had caught on. Now, the soft leather clung delightfully to her soft figure, accentuating her delicious breasts and the tempting curve of her ass. He found himself wondering how it would feel to spank her with only the tight leather covering her lush little ass.

A rapid knock on the door to the cottage interrupted his lascivious thoughts.

“There’s Rasda,” Olivia laughed, and headed downstairs.

He followed her, only to have Rasda rush over to him as soon as he reached the main room.

“You aren’t going to like this, Baldric.”

“Like what? What’s going on?”

“Darak left! He must have departed during the night, as soon as the snow stopped falling. He left a note saying he wouldn’t be back.”

“What? He can’t do that.”

He’d realized that his brother was having issues with the village, but he was the chief. He couldn’t just leave.

“I never thought he would take it this far.” Rasda gave him an apologetic look. “And I’m afraid it gets worse. The Council are meeting right now. I’m pretty sure they are going to appoint you chief instead.”

“C-Chief?” Olivia’s voice broke. “Is that what you want, Baldric?”

“No,” he said automatically, then forced himself to think about it.

He had enjoyed returning to the village, far more than he had expected, but he had left to avoid being trapped in the role of chief and that hadn’t changed. He wanted to be free to come and go—and to take Olivia wherever she wanted to go.

“No,” he repeated. “It’s not what I want. And besides, we still have to find your friends.”

She sighed with relief and squeezed his hand.

“Then you need to leave,” Rasda said firmly. “Now. I know how you are. If they come and ask you to take over—just for a little while, because they need you—you’ll end up feeling guilty and you’ll say yes. And then you’ll be trapped.”

He’d started assembling his traveling pack before she finished speaking. Olivia gave him a grateful smile and immediately headed upstairs to gather her belongings.

“Rasda, do you know where Darak was heading?”

“His note mentioned going offworld. I’m not sure that he’ll go through with it, but I’m sure he would go to the city.”

“Good,” he said grimly. “Then hopefully we can catch up with him and I can knock some sense into his thick head.”

Olivia returned with her clothes, already wearing her cloak and boots, and he added them to his pack. They were ready to go. Rasda went to the window and peeked out.

“The doors are still closed. They’re still meeting.”

“For once, I’m grateful for how much they like to talk,” he said dryly.

Rasda looked at him, her eyes bright. “Will you come back?”

He looked over at Olivia, and she nodded.

“We will, although I’m not sure when. And I will send Darak home.”

“Thank you,” she whispered and hugged him.

She flung her arms around Olivia next, whispering something in her ear that made his mate laugh. Then she wiped her eyes and hurried away.

“This way,” he told Olivia, leading her around the side of the cottage.

“Are we sneaking out the back way?”

“To an extent. But I also have a surprise for you.”

“A good surprise?” she asked suspiciously.

“I think you’ll like it.”

Several workshops were scattered behind the cottages, and he led her to the woodworking shop. After a quick check to make sure no one was inside, he pulled her through the door.

“This is amazing,” she said, her eyes traveling over the array of tools. “But do we really have time for you to stop and make some furniture?”

“I’m afraid not. But I wanted to get this.”

He retrieved the sled he’d been working on from his workbench, and her eyes lit up.

“It’s beautiful.” Her fingers stroked the smoothly polished wood the same way she had stroked his cock, tracing the intricate carving. “When did you do this?”

“While you were sewing with Rasda. It’s not a hover sled, but I thought it would make the trip easier for you.”

She put her hands on her hips and scowled at him. “I’m not a child. I’m not going to let you pull me the whole way.”

Fek. That defiant scowl made him hard every time.

“It will be faster this way.”

“But—”

“We don’t have time to argue about it.”

He tucked the sled under one arm and grabbed her hand. As soon as they were outside, he loaded his pack on the sled and told her to sit. She didn’t move.

“I don’t like being ordered to sit any more than I like being ordered to stay.”

“You liked it well enough this morning,” he reminded her.

She glared at him. “That was different.”

He sighed and smacked her ass. As he’d suspected, he loved feeling the soft leather over the even softer curves. His hand lingered for just a moment as she leaned into him, but then he remembered they needed to hurry and dropped her onto the sled.

Before she could resume arguing, he picked up the reins of the sled and headed off down the mountain.

CHAPTER TWENTY

“That’s Almadin,” Baldric said as he helped Olivia off the sled.

She sighed gratefully and stretched. The sled had been a mixed blessing. While she’d been far less exhausted traveling that way, the long hours of sitting left her feeling stiff and cranky. She’d talked him into letting her walk a few times, but she could tell how much slower they moved and she’d stopped asking.

They’d made the journey in only four days, arriving on the afternoon of the fourth day. In spite of the faster travel time, they hadn’t caught up with Darak. Based on Baldric’s muttered comments, his brother had left enough tracks that he was sure he was ahead of them.

“Do you think we’ll find your brother? And my friends?” she asked as she joined him at the lookout point.

They were on a hill looking down over the city that lay in a great crescent along the edge of the sea. The sun was already sinking towards the horizon, bathing the entire scene in golden light. She wasn’t sure what she’d expected, but it wasn’t this sprawling complex of low, blocky buildings interspersed with everything from fanciful towers to sharp-edged metal structures. To the north, farms were scattered across the rolling grasslands that led to distant hills. The mountains ended abruptly to the south, and she could see the wide trail running along their base. That must have been where the caravan had passed.

“Do you think Quinn and Panda are already here?” she added.

He put his arm around her shoulders and drew her closer.

“I’m afraid so,” he said gently. “There was no snow to interrupt their travel.”

She nodded. The base trail was clear, and even the path down from their position was more mud than snow.

“How are we going to locate them?” Somehow, she managed to keep her voice from shaking.

“We’ll start by trying to track down Zargan. In spite of everything, we’re only a few days behind them. I suspect he’s still here.”

A low rumble interrupted his words, and she looked over to see a sleek dark spaceship soaring gracefully away from the spaceport behind the city. Her heart skipped a beat. What if her friends had been on board?

“What kind of ship is that?”

“A private flyer. Not a trading ship,” he added soothingly.

She let out a shaky breath.

“That’s good. What about your brother? How are we going to find him?”

“Head for the nearest tavern,” he said grimly, then sighed. “Or perhaps I should check the spaceport first. Also…”

When he hesitated, she gave him a questioning look.

“Also what?”

“The Royal Fleet has an outpost here which serves to represent the Imperial government. I should talk to them about the male who took all of you from your planet.”

Her stomach churned. “You said it wasn’t allowed, right? Because we don’t travel out of our solar system. But what if that means they want to take me away from you?”

“That will never happen, treasure. You belong to me, remember?”

His arm tightened almost painfully around her shoulders, but the possessive grip reassured her.

“But why even go to them?”

“They have the resources to retrieve the ship and its records. If they can trace the smugglers, they can shut down the operation. And they could find out where your planet is located,” he added reluctantly.

This time, she gave him a reassuring hug.

“Even if they do, I’m not leaving you. Although, if Panda and Quinn want to return, I have to do everything I can to help them. You know that right?”

“I do. And it’s possible that the Fleet may be able to assist in that as well.”

He didn’t sound enthusiastic about the idea, and she leaned back to look at his face.

“Isn’t that a good thing?”

“Perhaps, but dealing with the Imperial Government can make dealing with the Elders a pleasure in comparison. And your companions do not have mates to defend them.”

She suddenly remembered what Rasda had whispered to her before they left and choked back a laugh. He raised an eyebrow.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Rasda said I should bring them back to the village. So they can also find mates with large cocks.”

“I’m not sure which is more disturbing—the fact that you discussed my size with my sister, or the thought that you only love me because of my massive cock.”

“I said large, not massive.”

He growled and pulled her against him, letting her feel every inch of his admittedly massive cock.

“You win. It’s very large. Massive,” she added when he gave her butt a meaningful tap. His teasing helped to ease her nerves, and she smiled up at him. “And it’s not the only reason I love you.”

He kissed her, and she lost herself in his mouth before finally pulling away. He picked up his pack and concealed the sled beneath some bushes. Then he took her hand and they descended the hill.

Two major thoroughfares ran through the city, one along the waterfront and a parallel one through the center of the city. Baldric took the central road.

“We can check along the waterfront tomorrow, but most of the docks will be empty by now. I want to go to the market first and see if we can find Zargan.”

Even though it was much warmer in the city, Baldric asked her to keep her hood up over her head so she would attract less attention. As far as she could tell, no one was interested in her, but she kept her head covered as she looked around, fascinated by her surroundings. The strange combination of traditional methods and advanced technology was everywhere in Almadin. A floating neon sign hovered over a street vendor cooking skewers of meat above an open fire, while an automated serving cart delivered drinks in handmade pottery mugs.

The people were equally intriguing. She recognized the other native race, the Guulli, from their tall, thin frames and long curled hair, but a variety of other species filled the street as well, shopping and eating and talking in a symphony of different voices. Fascinating, but also overwhelming, and she found herself edging closer to Baldric, suddenly wishing they were back in the peaceful snow-covered village.

The market was held at a huge square in the center of the city. A number of colorful stalls clustered around the edges, but it was obvious even to Olivia that it was far from fully occupied. Piles of lumber from disassembled stalls were stacked in the middle of the space and the ground was littered with bits of vegetation and scraps of paper. Her heart sank.

“We’re too late, aren’t we?”

“For the main market, yes. But that doesn’t mean that Zargan has left,” he said firmly, guiding her towards the remaining stalls.

Only two Sleestiks remained, and they both denied even knowing Zargan.

“Do you believe them?” she whispered when he turned away in frustration.

“Maybe, but even if they’re lying they might get word to him.”

“Which means he’ll have a chance to get away.”

“You’re forgetting something, treasure. When you so recklessly jumped in the river, Zargan was still under the impression that I was a loyal guard and you were a valuable commodity.”

“I didn’t jump,” she muttered, digging her elbow into his side before she thought about the rest of his statement. “Hey, wait a minute. If Zargan still wants to sell me, you can use me as bait.”

He hauled her up against him so quickly she saw stars.

“Listen to me, Olivia. Under no circumstances whatsoever am I going to use you to get to him. And if you even think of doing something so ridiculous, you won’t sit down for a month. Do you understand?”

She opened her mouth to argue with him, but he looked so grim she reconsidered.

“I won’t,” she promised. “But what now?”

He made a frustrated sound as he looked around the market. The sun was setting, sending long shadows slanting across the square. The stalls selling fresh meat and produce had started to close, replaced by others selling cooked items and various types of alcohol. Her stomach rumbled as the smell of fried meat drifted through the air, and he sighed.

“We had best find a place to eat and spend the night.”

“But we’ve only just started looking,” she protested.

“We can make some more inquiries after our meal, but I want to find accommodation before it gets too late.”

He took her hand and led her away from the market and down a smaller street lined with what looked like inns. More of the lighted signs flashed, interspersed with carved wooden signs. She noticed that many of them had the same sets of symbols.

“What do those mean?”

“They indicate the types of accommodation for each race.” He smiled at her. “For example, I would not be comfortable in a room intended for a Sleestik.”

She imagined his big body in a tiny bed, his feet hanging over the edge, and laughed.

“I guess not.”

He paused next to a plain wooden doorway with a carved sign.

“This looks suitable.”

“If you say so,” she said doubtfully.

It didn’t look particularly promising to her, especially when he opened the door to reveal a narrow passageway illuminated only by flickering lamps, but she followed him anyway. Maybe he couldn’t afford anything else.

Then they turned a corner, and the passage opened up into a lushly planted courtyard. Despite the season, flowers still bloomed amidst the greenery, and golden vines climbed up the pillars to the second-floor balcony that ringed the courtyard. More lanterns cast a magical glow, reflected in the fountain tinkling in the center of the space, and the rich fragrance of the flowers perfumed the air.

“Better than you expected?” he murmured, and she realized her face must have revealed her doubts.

“Definitely. This is beautiful.”

A female came out to meet them, one of the Guulli, her long blue ringlets streaming down over a flowing robe the exact color of the vines.

“Welcome, honored travelers. I am Sumi. May I assist you?”

She had a light, musical voice and a friendly smile, and Olivia relaxed even more.

“My mate and I seek a room for one night, perhaps longer. One suited for Daichin.”

“Of course. Fortunately, I have one remaining. It is on the upper floor with an attached bathroom, so it is a little more expensive, but I’m sure your mate will appreciate the additional privacy.”

“I would like to see it.”

Sumi bowed her head. “As you wish. Please follow me.”

She led them up an exterior stair and along the balcony, stopping in front of a carved wooden door. She lifted the ornate metal latch with a graceful gesture, then stepped back to let them enter.

The front part of the room consisted of a huge canopy bed draped with colorful fabric and a long couch in front of a tiled fireplace. Columns separated the back section, but Olivia could see a raised tub, also covered with colorful tiles, and a window overlooking the city behind the tub.

The room was gorgeous, but it also looked expensive. She looked at him uncertainly.

“Can you afford this?” she whispered, and he gave her an amused look.

“Yes, treasure.”

“There is access to a private roof terrace as well,” Sumi added as she joined them. “Although it is not the most desirable season. Is the room satisfactory?”

“Olivia?” he asked.

“I think it’s perfect.”

“Then we’ll take it.”

He pulled what looked like a credit card out of his leather belt, and she had that disjointed feeling again. The knives at his hips seemed far more appropriate than that thin metal rectangle.

Sumi touched the metal card to a small data pad, then handed him a large old-fashioned key.

“Thank you, honored sir. If you need anything, please do not hesitate to ask.”

The innkeeper bowed her head and slipped gracefully out of the room.

“Are you sure you can afford this?” she asked again, taking another look around the room. “It looks very expensive.”

He shrugged. “It was not unreasonable. I suspect Sumi knew she could have charged me far more, but she was not greedy. And we have plenty of credits. I have had no one to spend them on before now.”

“You don’t have to spend them on me.”

“I am delighted to do so. Now, I promised you a meal.”

He turned towards the door, but she was no longer interested in food. Their campsites had been rough, without much shelter, and they’d done little more than kiss each night. This beautiful room was far more promising.

“Don’t go,” she said.

“Don’t worry, treasure. I’m just going to get food.”

“And leave me all alone with only this big bed for company? How am I going to… entertain myself?”

She let her cloak slip off her shoulders as she ran her hands down her sides. His dark gaze heated immediately, and her nipples hardened in response. She cupped her breasts, feeling unexpectedly seductive.

“I guess I’m just a little achy from the trip.”

She gently massaged her breasts, teasing her nipples, and his eyes followed every movement.

“But I understand if you need to leave…”

She deliberately turned her back on him and walked towards the bed, putting an extra swing in her hips. She heard him growl, and then she was flying through the air to land face-down on the bed. Baldric’s hands, so much bigger and harder than her own, followed the same path down her sides, leaving a trail of fire behind. She tried to turn over, but he kept a big hand on her back as he stripped off her pants. She expected the tunic to be next, but he left it in place, caressing her ass through the thin leather. She tried to arch against his hands but he didn’t let her move and another wave of excitement swept over her.

He finally slid his hand beneath her tunic, shockingly warm against her bare skin, and ran his finger through her folds, growling again at the damp heat which met his touch.

“Did you enjoy teasing me, treasure?”

“Yes,” she gasped as a thick digit slid into her channel.

“Good. Because I enjoy it too.”

He withdrew his finger, ignoring her muttered protest, then pressed it against her bottom hole. He’d caressed her there, but nothing more, and she quivered as he applied more pressure and suddenly pushed inside.

He pressed a little deeper, awakening nerves she’d never noticed before, keeping her poised somewhere between pleasure and pain. But then his other hand slipped beneath her and he swept his thumb across her clit. An unexpected climax swept over her, and when her body clenched around his thick finger, it triggered a second wave of pleasure. She was suddenly desperate to have him inside her.

“Please, Baldric. Fek me.”

But despite her pleas, he worked her through two more orgasms before he finally, finally entered her.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Baldric growled with pleasure as he buried himself in the silken heat of Olivia’s perfect little cunt. His finger was still embedded in her ass, making her impossibly tighter, and he could feel her struggling to adjust.

“Too much, treasure?”

“N-no. Just so full,” she gasped.

He stroked her swollen clit and she softened, just a little but enough to ease his passage as he slowly withdrew.

“Good girl.”

“Not that good.”

She deliberately tightened her muscles as he slid back in, and he groaned. He paused to appreciate the sight of her small entrance stretched around his cock, the graceful curves of her ass, and the fiery curls streaming down her back.

“Very good,” he said, and pulsed her tighter against him.

“Oh, God.”

Her body was quivering, on the verge of another climax, and he was too impatient to wait any longer. He started thrusting, harder, faster, and she urged him on until he roared, his seed filling her in wave after heated wave as he collapsed over her.

“I love you,” she whispered.

“I love you too.”

He pressed a kiss to her shoulder since it was closest to him, and she sighed happily. They snuggled together in contented silence until he finally withdrew. He reluctantly slipped away to clean up, then returned with a warm cloth. She gave him a lazy smile as he tended to her.

“Baldric,” she murmured.

“Yes, treasure?”

“Now I’m hungry for food.”

He laughed and stood back up. “Then I will provide. What would you like?”

“A hamburger and french fries?” The words did not translate, and she laughed at the confusion on his face. “How about something fried? And something sweet? And maybe some wine?”

“Is that all?” he asked dryly, and she gave him an impish grin.

“The longer it is before you leave, the more time I’ll have to think of other things.”

“Then I will be on my way at once.”

He dressed, gave her a not too quick kiss, and left, smiling. As he made his way down the stairs, he heard Sumi talking to someone.

“I apologize, honored sir, but we have no more rooms for Daichin. If you would be willing to consider another type of accommodation…”

“Never mind,” a voice growled, and Baldric recognized the voice.

Darak.

He leaped down the last two stairs and grabbed his brother’s arm just as he started to turn away.

“Oh no you don’t.”

His brother scowled at him.

“How the fek did you get here?”

“I came looking for you.”

“Right.” Darak’s voice dripped with scorn. “Don’t tell me you aren’t occupying the best room in the inn with your little alien sl—”

He snatched his brother up by the neck. “Don’t even think of completing that sentence.”

“Should I call for a guard, honored sir?” Sumi asked him calmly.

“No. He’s my brother. I’ll deal with him.”

She nodded. “Of course. Will he be staying? Your room is not designed for three. Unless you would like me to bring an additional bed?”

“No, thank you.”

“Fek no.”

His refusal and Darak’s overlapped, but he ignored his brother’s protest.

“You said you had another room, Mistress Sumi?”

“Yes. It is a Guulli room, but the bed is quite large.”

“That will do. Please add it to my bill. Darak, come with me.”

He released his grip on his brother’s neck, but kept hold of his arm as he hustled him towards the stairs.

“It’s time you talked to me, but if you upset my mate, it will not end well,” he growled.

“Your mate?”

“Yes. Don’t tell me Rasda didn’t mention it.”

Darak shrugged, but he looked slightly abashed.

“She tried, but I didn’t give her much of a chance. I thought she was just being romantic.”

“Olivia is my mate and you will treat her with respect.”

Darak muttered something that sounded like an assent, and Baldric didn’t push the issue.

“That didn’t take long—” Olivia looked up, and her eyes widened as he pushed Darak into the room. “You found him.”

“He was downstairs looking for a room.”

“Well, that solves one problem. I don’t suppose my friends just happened to be down there too?”

He knew she was trying to make a joke, but her mouth trembled.

“I’m afraid not, treasure,” he said gently.

“What friends?” Darak demanded.

He hesitated. His brother’s face darkened even more, but he thought he saw hurt as well as anger there. In spite of Darak’s obvious fury, he couldn’t believe his brother would betray them.

“Olivia and her two companions were taken from their planet. The ship crashed on Maskah, and the Sleestik trading caravan I was guarding discovered them.”

“You were working as a guard?”

He sighed.

“That’s the part you found most interesting?”

“It’s just not what I pictured you doing,” Darak muttered. “You said you were joining the Fleet.”

“I did, but it was not the right place for me.”

“Why not?”

How could he explain? He’d been trained as a warrior, but the type of carnage rendered by the Royal Fleet had been completely outside his experience. His nightmares had persisted long after the battles.

“Too much destruction,” he said at last, and Olivia squeezed his hand.

Darak made a disgusted noise, but he ignored it. He just hoped his brother never had to face such horrors.

“It doesn’t matter now, but please listen to me, Darak. You didn’t have to leave the village. I didn’t come back to try and replace you. I’m no threat to your position.”

“You think that that’s what this is about? I don’t want to be chief. I never wanted to be chief!” Darak yelled.

He stared at his brother in shock. “I don’t understand.”

“I was just fine being the second son. I saw what you went through with Father watching your every move, and I was glad he never paid any attention to me.” Darak laughed bitterly. “And then you left and he focused on me. Nothing I did was ever good enough for him.”

“Nothing I did was either.”

“Not according to him. You were the perfect example he held up to my face every moment of every day until he died.” His brother’s voice hardened. “Don’t you understand? You found your freedom by leaving, but you condemned me to serve in your place.”

“I thought you’d be happy because I thought you wanted to be chief. You were so angry with me once Father started training me.”

How many times had his brother thrown his future role in his face? He had always thought it was because he was jealous.

“No,” Darak said with absolute certainty, then sighed. His anger seemed to drain away. “I wasn’t jealous that you would be chief. I certainly wasn’t upset about the fact that Father didn’t notice if I was dead or alive. But I missed my brother.”

“I missed you too, but every time I tried to talk to you, you pushed me away.”

“I didn’t think you meant it. It was just part of your duties, making time for your useless younger brother.”

“I never felt like that,” he said firmly, but it was true that he’d had little time to spare. His father’s demands never ceased.

“Really?”

“Of course not. You’re my brother.”

For the first time since Baldric had seen him, Darak smiled. He looked so much younger when he did, like the brother Baldric remembered, and his chest ached. Whatever else happened, he would make sure that he and his brother never grew so far apart again.

“Good. I’m glad that’s settled.” Olivia smiled at both of them. “But now that we’ve established that you two really love each other after all, can we please sit down?”

“I’m sorry, treasure.”

“Don’t be silly. It always helps to clear the air. I’m just tired of craning my neck to look up at the two of you.”

He laughed and sat down on the long couch, pulling her against his side as Darak joined them.

“Are you sure you don’t want to be chief, Darak?”

“Not at all. I don’t even want to stay in the village.”

‘What do you want to do?” Olivia asked.

“I want to work on engines.”

Baldric remembered that his brother had always been fascinated by mechanical devices, but he’d had to hide his interest from their father.

“I was a mechanic for a while,” she said thoughtfully. “I liked working on the cars, but I hated dealing with customers, and my boss was a pig.”

The term didn’t translate. “A pig?”

“A jerk? A bad male?”

“Ah. I’m sorry I was not there.”

She laughed. “I would have loved to see him staring down an eight-foot orc.”

“Orc?” Darak whispered to him.

“It is the term she uses for the Daichin. Apparently, we resemble mythological warriors from her planet’s past.”

“I see.” His brother studied him. “And you don’t want to be chief either?”

“No. I enjoy spending time in the village, but I—we—have to be free to leave. And I definitely don’t want to deal with the Council.”

“But our family have always led the tribe. What can we do?”

Olivia looked from him to Darak, then sighed.

“Baldric, I love you, but you’re being an idiot. You both are.”

“What do you mean?”

“If you really want to keep it in the family, you’re completely overlooking the obvious solution.”

“Which is?”

“Rasda. She’s perfect.” She ticked the points off on her hand. “First of all, she is a member of your family. Second of all, she knows everything about everybody in the tribe. She knows when to be bossy and when to back off—which definitely gives her an advantage over both of you. And finally, I know you’re worried about this arrangement with Clan Ochar, but what better way to seal it than with a marriage?”

“A marriage?”

She waved a hand. “Mating. Whatever. My point is that she’s in love with Noric and wants to be with him.”

“What? Our sister with an Ochar?” Darak roared with outrage, but the more Baldric considered the idea, the more he liked it.

“You make an excellent argument, my treasure.”

“I have a knack for it,” she said modestly, and he laughed.

“Rasda cannot mate with an Ochar,” Darak protested again.

“At least he’s another orc—I mean, Daichin. Just think if she’d wanted to marry a human.” Olivia raised her eyebrows at Darak, and he actually grinned.

“A good point.”

“Great, then that’s settled as well. Can we have dinner now?”

Baldric suspected it would not be entirely that simple. They would have to ask Rasda, of course, but considering her involvement in village life, he suspected she would like the idea. And of course, the Council would have to be convinced, but he believed they would eventually agree. A weight lifted off of his shoulders, and he smiled at his mate.

“Fried things and sweet things and wine. I remember. Will you join us, Darak?”

And to his great satisfaction, his brother agreed.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

The next morning, Olivia accompanied Baldric and Darak to a café on the main street for breakfast. The brothers had talked late into the night—so late that she’d fallen asleep in Baldric’s lap—but it had obviously helped. While they ate, Darak groused good-naturedly about the size of his bed, and Baldric told him it was because his feet were too big. She smiled as she watched the two of them tease each other. They seemed well on their way to restoring their relationship, and she only hoped she’d been right about Rasda becoming the next chief.

After they ate, Baldric left Olivia and Darak in the café while he went to the Royal Fleet outpost to report the crash and ask for their assistance. She knew he didn’t want to leave her, but they had decided it would be better for him to see how the commander reacted to his information before involving her directly.

“You will stay here until I return,” he ordered.

She rolled her eyes. “Yes, dear.”

“Darak will take care of you,” he added, and his brother looked both pleased and gratified.

Since it seemed to matter so much to Darak, she bit back her instinctive protest about not needing a bodyguard, and Baldric kissed her and left.

Although she was anxious for him to return, hopefully with news of her friends, she enjoyed sitting there and watching the flow of people along the street. The café had braziers between the tables to ward off the morning chill and although she attracted a few curious glances, Darak’s presence discouraged any overt advances from other males. She noticed more of the Sleestiks today, but none of them seemed interested in her as they went about their daily activities.

Their side of the street was lined primarily with eating establishments, but the other side contained various retail stores along with more market stalls. She was idly watching an attractive green-skinned female with elven ears haggling over prices at a fabric stall when one of the Sleestiks caught her attention. She thought he looked familiar, but it wasn’t until he turned his head that she gasped and grabbed Darak’s arm.

“That’s him. Zargan.”

She was halfway out of her seat before the memory of her promise made her think twice about chasing after the trader. She cast a desperate look up the street, but there was no sign of Baldric. Dammit. Where was he?

Could she confront Zargan on her own? He didn’t look very large or threatening, but what if he tried to take her captive again?

“What do you mean he’s the one?” Darak demanded, and she jumped. She’d been so focused on Zargan that she’d almost forgotten he was there.

“He’s the one who found the ship we were on. The one who was going to sell me and my friends.”

Maybe I could just follow him, she thought. But she had promised Baldric that she would stay. She clenched her fists on the chair, her eyes darting between the trader and the crowd, praying for a glimpse of Baldric’s tall figure.

“Do you think he knows where your friends are?” Darak asked.

“He must. Either he still has them or he knows who bought them.”

“I’ll go and find out.”

He started to rise to his feet, but she grabbed his arm again.

“What if he won’t talk to you?”

“I can make him talk,” Darak said with icy certainty.

“You can’t make him tell you the truth. I thought about following him, but…” She cast another look down the street. “But if I do that, how will Baldric find me again?”

“We could both go,” he said immediately. “That way if he leads us somewhere important, one of us can keep watch and the other one can come back here and get Baldric.”

“I’m not sure—”

“I’ll leave him a note.” He gave her a hopeful look. “Don’t you think he will be impressed if I can track down these friends of yours?”

Olivia bit her lip as Darak scrawled a brief message and handed it to the serving girl. What was she going to do? She had promised to stay. But I also promised to stay with Darak, she reminded herself. It was enough of a justification to ease her guilt, and when Darak stood, she looked down the street a final time, then went with him.

They stayed a short distance behind Zargan, trying to blend into the crowd, but he never looked around. He didn’t seem to be in a hurry either. He stopped at several stalls and examined the merchandise, paused for a long conversation with another Sleestik, and finally headed up a set of wide steps.

When they followed him up the steps, they found an open plaza in front of an ornate building with a long columned facade.

“What’s that?” she asked.

“The fight pit.”

She didn’t like the sound of that. “What’s a fight pit?”

“It’s a place where trained males battle each other in front of a crowd. It is a very popular entertainment and a lot of credits change hands.”

“You have gladiators?” She shook her head. “This planet never stops surprising me.”

“It was not part of our history, but the fights are very popular throughout the Empire.”

Ahead of them, the small figure of the trader disappeared into the building.

“Why is Zargan going in there?” Her heart skipped a beat. “They don’t make women fight, do they?”

“Never.”

She breathed a sigh of relief. “In that case, is there a fight today?”

Darak shook his head. “I don’t think so. I heard someone saying yesterday that they were sorry to have missed the last matches. Apparently there were some famous fighters here for the fall market.”

“Okay. Now that we know where he is, we should go back and get Baldric.”

Darak frowned at her. “But he might leave while we’re gone.”

“He could do that anyway. A place that big must have more than one entrance.”

“Let’s go see.”

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

“Yes.”

She could see the determination on his face as he started across the plaza. She bit her lip, gave a longing look over her shoulder, and then reluctantly followed him.

“WAIT HERE, COMMANDER BALDRIC.”

The junior officer gave him a nervous look before he hurried off, and Baldric hid his smile. He was quite aware that his traditional garments were out of place in the Fleet offices, but he was no longer part of this world. He hadn’t even wanted to use his previous title, but he’d had to in order to gain access to the officer in charge of the outpost.

“This way, sir.”

The junior returned and led him through a maze of corridors to a large, neat office. The officer behind the desk, a Kaisarian with deep red skin and dark hair, looked up and smiled.

“Commander Baldric. What a pleasant surprise. Come to reenlist?”

“You know better than that, Commander Trogar. And it’s just Baldric now.”

Trogar laughed, and they clasped arms. He had served with Trogar his last year in the service, and he both liked and respected the other male.

“Not that I’m not pleased to see you, but if you’re still not interested in contributing to the glory of the Kaisarian Empire, why are you here?”

He paced over to the window, trying to decide how to begin.

“Since I returned to Maskah, I’ve been taking contracts to guard Sleestik caravans,” he said finally.

“A waste of your talents,” Trogar muttered, but Baldric ignored him.

“On my last trip, we discovered a crashed ship in the desert.”

“Indeed?” Trogar scrolled through his data screen, then shook his head. “We have no record of an unregistered ship, but then again, we don’t monitor air traffic that closely. This is a peaceful planet and not one of strategic interest.”

“I assure you it’s there. I can provide the coordinates.”

The other male regarded him thoughtfully.

“And why would I be interested?”

“Because an Alnuk was piloting the ship. He died in the crash, but he had three hidden females on board.”

“An Alnuk?” Trogar sighed. “Then they were undoubtedly illegal slaves. What happened to the females?”

“I don’t know about the other two. I’m hoping that you can help us track them down.”

“The other two?” Trogar raised an eyebrow.

“Yes. My mate is the third female.”

“Indeed? Has she accepted that mating?”

The words were provocative, but from his tone, Trogar genuinely wanted to know. Baldric reined in his annoyance, and nodded.

“She has.” Then he shook his head as he remembered that morning and how she’d reacted to his teasing in the shower. “Although it doesn’t prevent her from threatening me with bodily harm on occasion.”

Trogar laughed. “I suspect that most females consider that part of the mating contract.” He drummed his claws thoughtfully on the desktop. “Do you know where the females came from?”

“Not specifically. I was hoping you could track their original location through the ship’s logs. My mate says their planet is called Earth and that their people are called humans.”

“Human?” An expression Baldric couldn’t read crossed Trogar’s face before he asked slowly, “Are you familiar with the First Consort?”

He shook his head. “I never paid much attention to politics.”

It was another one of the reasons that his time in the Royal Fleet had not gone well. Even within the Fleet, there was a great deal of political maneuvering. He’d left home in part to avoid such squabbles and he had even less inclination to deal with them in the Fleet.

“She is a human female, from a pre-spaceflight planet. It is due to her influence that the Emperor is so strict on enforcing regulations concerning slavery.”

“Human? You mean like my mate?”

“Yes. And as such, she is entitled to protection within the Empire.”

“I will provide all of the protection she needs,” he said firmly. “But the two females who are with her may be in need of your help.”

“Agreed.” Trogar hesitated. “You should be aware that I received a message stating that there were human females in need of assistance. Do not take this the wrong way, but I will need to interview your female.”

Only the fact that he was sure Trogar did not mean it as an insult prevented Baldric from growling. And he did appreciate the fact that the Emperor was looking out for human females. If he had been Emperor, he was quite sure that Olivia would have insisted on the same thing.

“I will bring her to you. Perhaps later today? We want to continue trying to track her companions.”

“Later today is acceptable. In the meantime, I will begin making arrangements to recover the ship. I wish you luck with your search—we were unable to locate any human females.”

“Thank you,” he said sincerely, and clasped Trogar’s arm again before he left.

As he headed back to the café, he considered the options and decided that they would go to the waterfront. Most of the ships had already left for the season, but they could question the sailors who remained.

He was so engrossed in his plans that he had to look twice before he realized that their table was empty. Olivia and Darak were gone.

For a moment, rage dimmed his vision. He had trusted his brother, and he had betrayed him.

No. He refused to believe that his brother would do that. He was afraid it was far more likely that Olivia had given in to one of her impulses and Darak had gone after her. As he scanned the crowd looking for them, the serving girl approached and handed him a note.

“The other sir asked me to give this to you.”

He had to read the note twice before he was convinced of what it said. They had found Zargan and were going after him? Fek. Just because the Sleestiks were small didn’t mean they were harmless, and he knew from personal experience that Zargan could be ruthless.

All he had to go on was the direction Darak had indicated in his note, but he started up the street, searching for any sign of them. He had just reached the steps leading to the fight pit when a small red-headed figure came flying towards him.

“Oh, thank God you’re here.”

He breathed a prayer to the goddess as he wrapped his arms around his mate.

“Olivia, are you all right?”

“I’m fine, but Darak’s in trouble. Zargan has him.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Olivia clung to Baldric, her hands shaking. She’d never been so glad to see anyone in her life.

“What happened?” he asked, his deep voice reassuring despite his obvious anger. She didn’t care as long as he was here.

“We were sitting in the café when I saw Zargan, and we decided to follow him,” she said quickly.

“You promised me you’d stay there.”

She winced as guilt swept over her, but she lifted her chin.

“I also promised to stay with Darak, and he thought it was a good idea.”

Baldric’s expression darkened.

“I mean, we both did,” she added hastily. She didn’t want to come between Baldric and his brother.

To her relief, he didn’t pursue it.

“So we followed him here, and he went into the fight pit building. Darak went to see if there were any other exits, and I stayed outside to wait for you. But then I heard voices and when I peeped through the door, I saw Zargan pointing a gun at Darak. I didn’t even think you had guns here.”

She should have realized that they would have more than swords and knives and axes, but it had still shocked her when she saw the dark weapon in Zargan’s hands.

“We do,” he said grimly. “Were there any others there?”

“I heard another voice, but there may have been more than one. I didn’t want them to see me.”

“Thank the goddess they didn’t.”

“Then they went into another room. I thought about following them…” She actually felt him shudder at her words. “But then I decided I should go back to the café and wait for you. You said you’d come back there, and I knew you would.”

She hadn’t felt the slightest doubt—she knew she could depend on him.

“Now what do we do?” she asked.

“We go and get my brother back, then question Zargan.”

“We?”

“If I told you to stay here, would you?”

“No,” she admitted. “Everything goes wrong when we’re apart.”

His face finally lightened and he gave her a quick hug.

“I can’t argue with that. Just stay behind me.”

“Umm, do you have a gun?”

“I don’t need one,” he said grimly and started up the steps.

FIVE MINUTES LATER, Olivia gulped and looked away from the two dead bodies. Baldric had been right—he hadn’t needed a gun. She’d shown him where Darak had entered the building and then they’d followed the sound of voices to a room where Zargan was yelling at Darak and waving his gun around. Two strange males stood behind Darak.

Baldric pulled a knife from his belt, and then there was one.

A second knife made Zargan drop the gun, and by then Darak had taken out his other captor.

Baldric stalked over to where Zargan leaned against the wall, clutching his hand, and the trader’s eyes widened.

“I thought you were dead.” He looked even more startled when he saw Olivia. “And you brought my property back.”

“She is not your property,” Baldric growled.

“I found her.”

As much as she disliked him, she felt a grudging respect for the trader’s defiance when confronting a very large and very angry Baldric.

“She is a female who was illegally removed from her planet, as were her companions. Now, where are they?”

Zargan looked at her, then back at Baldric. He obviously didn’t want to tell them, but he equally obviously knew that he didn’t have an alternative.

“Do you want me to start breaking his bones?” Darak asked.

“That won’t be necessary.” Zargan shrank back against the wall. “The problem is that I do not know.”

“Why don’t you know?” Somehow she managed to keep her voice from shaking.

He looked at her, then sighed.

“The dark haired one was taken.”

“What do you mean taken?”

“The night after Baldric abandoned us…” Zargan glared at her mate. “The caravan was attacked by raiders. They took anything that was small and valuable—and they took the dark-haired female.”

“What happened to her?” Baldric demanded.

“I do not know. I assumed they intended to sell her so I made inquiries when I arrived in Almadin. There is no record of her sale.”

The room swayed around her.

“You mean she might be… dead?”

Even Zargan seemed discomforted by her distress. “I do not think so. I was told that a female of her description was seen boarding a ship.” He shook his head. “They said she was carrying a bag of scrolls, but that seems most unlikely.”

A strangled laugh managed to escape her mouth. Of course her friend would find a way to get a version of books. “That sounds like Panda. Was she… forced on board?”

“Not according to my witness, although he did say she was accompanied by a Balain warrior.”

She gave Baldric a quick look but his face was set in that familiar stern mask. She would have to ask him for more information later.

“Where was the ship going?” she asked.

“I don’t know. It was the day after the Harvest festival, and many ships were leaving that day.” Zargan shrugged the shoulder of his uninjured arm. “The gods give, and the gods take away.

She gave Baldric a pleading look. “Can we find out where she was going and go after her?”

“I’m afraid not. Even if we could track down the ship, the seas are too rough for travel in the winter season.” He tightened his grip on her hand. “But if the ship was here for the fall market, it is quite likely that it will return for the spring market.”

“Do you really think so?”

“It seems likely. If nothing else, we can make inquiries of the other ships that return.”

She managed a shaky smile. “At least it’s a chance. And if the male she was with let her bring books along, he must not be too bad, right?”

“Perhaps he wanted to please her as much as I wish to please you.”

This time her smile was more genuine.

“Now what about Quinn? My other friend?” she demanded, turning back to Zargan.

The trader suddenly became very interested in examining the woven cord tied around his waist.

“I do not know where she is.” When Baldric growled, Zargan held up a hand. “But you might ask Temit.”

“The fight master?”

“Yes.”

“Is that why you were here? To arrange that transaction?”

“No, this visit was in reference to an entirely different matter. No doubt you would prefer to talk to him in private…”

Zargan began edging towards the door, but Darak grabbed him before he reached it.

“Not so fast.” Darak looked over at Baldric. “Do you want me to bring him along?”

“Yes.”

“Then let’s go.”

BALDRIC IGNORED ZARGAN’S PROTESTS, taking Olivia’s hand as they all headed for the fight master’s office. He didn’t like the fact that she was so pale, each golden speck on her face clearly visible. He only hoped that they would receive more positive news from the fight master.

Rather surprisingly, the administrative offices were empty, and no one came to stop them as they stepped into a large, luxurious office. The walls were hung with images of celebrity fighters, and he had a hard time keeping his face expressionless. Fighting to protect what was yours was one thing, but for entertainment? He hated these places.

“We are closed for the season.”

The male behind the elaborate desk didn’t even look up when they entered. He was a Guulli male with an unassuming demeanor, but when he finally raised his head, Baldric saw the intelligence in his quick appraisal.

“May I inquire as to the reason for this unexpected visit?” That sharp gaze flickered between Baldric and Darak. “You two appear to be fine candidates for the pit, but the matches will not resume until the spring. And Zargan, I already told you there are no fighters left who are in need of… entertainment.”

The master’s gaze shifted to Olivia as he spoke, and Baldric growled.

“That’s not why we are here.”

“I see. I am Temit. How may I help you, honored sir?”

“We are looking for another female, similar to my mate, but with pale hair.”

Temit raised an eyebrow at Baldric’s emphasis, but he shook his head.

“I’m afraid you’re too late. She left with the Queller.”

“What?” Olivia whispered, swaying dizzily, and he put his arm around her shoulders.

“The Queller. That’s him.”

The master pointed at a vid image of an imposing dark-skinned male and Baldric swore under his breath. The Queller was an Asing, one of the deadliest races in the Empire.

“Where did they go?” he demanded.

“I don’t know. No one knows where the Queller goes during the off season.”

Darak scowled at the fight master. “Why not?”

“He is one of the most popular fighters on the circuit. He guards his privacy most strictly.”

“She’s gone.” The hopeless look had returned to Olivia’s face.

“Can you send him a message?” he demanded, and Temit shook his head.

Baldric growled and took a threatening step forward, but the other male held up his hand.

“I understand your frustration, honored sir, but I truly have no way of contacting him until the spring matches are scheduled.”

“The spring?” Olivia cried. “What’s going to happen to her between then and now? She’s so fragile.”

Ignoring the others, he focused on his mate.

“Olivia, listen to me. The Asing have a reputation as honorable fighters.”

“So? I doubt he wants to fight her!”

“If he is an honorable male, he will treat her with honor.” He hoped.

She took another look at that dark face and the knife-like spikes and shuddered.

“She must be so scared.”

“You were scared of me at first.”

“I was not,” she said indignantly, and he raised an eyebrow. “Okay, maybe just a little. But Quinn isn’t used to taking care of herself.”

“I am sure she will lack for nothing, mistress,” Temit said. “The Queller has accrued a great deal of wealth over the years and, by all accounts, spends very little.”

“Except on slaves,” she said bitterly.

For the first time Temit’s composure seemed to slip, and her eyes narrowed.

“What aren’t you telling us?”

Zargan smiled triumphantly. “I believe that the esteemed fight master does not wish to inform you that he is actually the one who purchased her.”

“It is not uncommon,” Temit said hastily, frowning at Zargan. “And her paperwork seemed to be in order. I should have known not to trust a Sleestik.”

“And I should have known not to deal with a dishonorable Guulli.”

“Silence!” Baldric roared as the two began hurling insults at each other. “Where is that paperwork now?”

Temit sighed. “The Queller, err, appropriated it and informed me that I had no further claim on the female. He ordered me to forget her existence.”

“And you listened to him?”

Temit gave a meaningful nod at the image. “One does not argue with the Queller. Although I did find it odd that he also ordered me to provide clothing for her. Pink clothing.”

“Pink?” Olivia gave him a startled look.

“Yes. Very odd. Most fighters are not interested in dressing their pets.”

Baldric growled again, and Temit coughed, looking somewhat abashed.

“How do you schedule the matches?” he demanded.

“He has a communication channel, but as I said, he does not respond until the spring.”

“But he might check before then. Give me the information. And it would be in your best interests not to argue with me either,” he added when it appeared the Temit would object.

The fight master studied his face for a moment, then wrote down the information and handed it to him.

“This is the frequency.”

“Good. Now you and Zargan are going to accompany my brother.”

“Where?”

“To the Fleet outpost. The commander is very interested in males trading in illegal females.”

Zargan squawked an outraged protest, but Temit only sighed.

“If you insist, although I will tell him the same thing I told you. I was operating in good faith.”

Baldric doubted that Trogar would agree, but he would leave it to the commander to explain. Right now, his only interest was in caring for his distressed mate.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Baldric gave Olivia a worried look as they returned to the inn. She’d barely spoken since they left the fight pit. He led her into their room, and she just stood there, as if she had no idea where she was.

“Olivia,” he said gently. “Would you like something to eat?”

“I’m not hungry.”

He sighed and went to fill the tub. While it filled, he made her a cup of hot sweet tea and pressed it into her hand.

“Drink this,” he ordered.

She blinked down at it, but didn’t raise it to her lips.

“Do I need to spank you?” he asked teasingly, hoping to get a reaction.

Her eyes flew to his face, suddenly desperate.

“Yes. I deserve it. It’s all my fault.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I was the one who ran out on the bridge. If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have fallen in and you wouldn’t have come after me. You would have stopped the raiders from taking Panda, and you would have gone to the Fleet as soon as we got to the city. That fighter would never have gotten his hands on Quinn.”

“It’s not your fault,” he said firmly. “You don’t know that it would have happened that way. The raiders could have overpowered me.” Or killed me, but he didn’t say that part out loud. “Zargan could still have sold them before I could convince the Fleet to intervene. We just don’t know.”

He could tell she wasn’t listening, lost in her guilt and despair.

“It’s my fault,” she repeated.

He hesitated. He didn’t want to punish her, but perhaps it would help her move on.

“Very well.”

He led her to the couch and removed her cloak and pants, then pulled her over his lap. She looked as tempting as ever in this position, but he was too concerned about her to enjoy it. Best to get it over with.

As soon as his hand came down on her ass the first time, she started to cry in great, heaving sobs. To hell with it. He lifted her off his knee and cuddled her against his chest, despite her struggles.

“No, punish me,” she sobbed.

He didn’t try to argue with her. He just held her while she cried, until she finally leaned against him limp and exhausted. When she looked up at him, her face was pale but she managed a shaky smile.

“I never cried back on Earth, and yet I always end up crying in your arms.”

“Perhaps you had no one to hold you while you cried.”

“I didn’t.” She took a shuddering breath. “I love you, Baldric.”

“I love you too, treasure. Would you like to bathe now?”

“Only if you join me.”

“That’s a sacrifice I’m prepared to make,” he said, and she smiled again.

He lifted her to her feet, and she stood there obediently while he stripped off their clothes, then carried her to the tub. She sighed as the warm water covered them and leaned against his chest.

“I like having our own bath. I wish we had one in our cottage.”

“We can always go to the bathhouse.”

She frowned up at him, and he rejoiced at the sign that her usual spirit was returning.

“I don’t want you walking around naked in front of other females.”

He had never considered the matter before—mixed bathing was simply another part of village life. He started to smile and tell her so.

“Do you want me to be naked in front of other males?” she added before he spoke.

“No,” he growled immediately, suddenly understanding her objection. “I suppose that’s why the two smaller tubs can be screened off.”

“Mmm. But they only provide a visual screen.” She swung around in his arms, until she was straddling him. “It wouldn’t stop anyone overhearing us.”

The water lapped at her breasts, washing over the taut peaks, and he followed the line of the water with his finger.

“I can’t decide if you’re more enamored of my breasts or my ass,” she teased.

“Neither.” He touched his finger to her temple. “My favorite parts are this active little brain,” his finger dropped down to her chest, “and this warm, caring heart.”

“You say the sweetest things.”

“I only speak the truth.”

“Is it wrong to be so happy?” she asked, and he knew she was thinking of her friends again.

“No, treasure. Wouldn’t you want them to be happy?”

“Yes. No matter what happened to me, I would want them to be happy.”

“And I’m sure they feel the same way.” He hesitated. “And perhaps they are happy as well. In both cases it seemed as if the males paid attention to their wishes.”

“Instead of throwing them over their shoulders and spanking them?”

“Perhaps that was your wish and you simply didn’t realize it.”

“Or maybe you were my wish,” she whispered, and kissed him.

He kissed her back, his cock responding as always to the erotic pleasure, but he ignored it. There was no need for urgency.

“So what do we do now?” she asked when they finally separated.

“Would you like to remain in the city?”

She was silent for a long moment, then shook her head. “I don’t think so. It doesn’t seem as though we’ll make any progress before the spring, and I don’t think there’s any other reason to stay.”

“If we return to the village, there may not be another opportunity to visit again until the spring,” he warned.

“I don’t mind. I’ll have you, and Rasda. It might be nice to spend another day or two here, but then I want to go back to the village. That is—do you want to go back?”

He thought about returning, about spending time with his sister and renewing old acquaintances. Of hunting and carving and curling around his mate in the big bed in their cottage.

“I would like that very much.”

“Then that’s what we’ll do.”

She smiled up at him, and as he bent his head to kiss her, he thanked the goddess once again for sending him this perfect female.

OLIVIA DIDN’T OBJECT as Baldric lifted her out of the tub, then dried her like a helpless child. After the morning’s emotional rollercoaster, it felt nice to have him care for her. Her crying fit had left her drained, but she felt lighter. Even though some of her guilt remained, she could accept that she would never know if things could have been different.

Baldric pulled on a robe, then wrapped one around her shoulders and led her to the stairs along the side wall.

“What’s up here?”

“Remember Sumi said there was a roof terrace? I thought it might be nice to get some fresh air.”

“If you say so,” she said doubtfully, and he laughed and urged her up the stairs.

She had envisioned a bare terrace, but she should have known better. The area was as lushly planted as the courtyard below. Bushes in colorful pots framed three sides of the terrace with smaller flowering plants tucked amongst them. The fourth side opened up to a view of the city with the plains and mountains beyond.

An unfamiliar landscape on a strange new world, and yet it already felt like home. A cool wind whispered across her face, and she thought she could detect the scent of snow from the mountains.

“Where’s our village?” she asked, wandering over to the railing.

“There, behind those peaks.”

Baldric put his arms around her as he pointed, and she leaned back against him with a contented sigh.

“The city is at your feet, treasure. What would you like to do?”

She turned her back on the city and smiled up at him.

“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe take a little nap?”

“Are you tired?” he asked immediately, his face worried.

“Not that kind of nap.” She trailed her fingers down the open neck of his robe, and his face lightened. “I was just thinking of that big, empty bed…”

His cock jerked against her, and she smiled.

“That is much too far away,” he said solemnly, picking her up and carrying her over to a cushioned daybed beneath a golden vine.

“It’s too cold,” she protested half-heartedly.

“You will not be cold,” he promised, and he was right.

The warmth of his touch and, more importantly, the warmth of his love surrounded her. By the time he stripped away the robe and covered her with his big body, she wasn’t cold at all.

EPILOGUE

Five months later…

OLIVIA LEANED FORWARD ANXIOUSLY as they approached the last hill overlooking Almadin.

“Stop that,” Baldric ordered. “You’re making Zaan anxious.”

She rolled her eyes at him. The placid animal she was riding had never shown the least sign of nerves.

“A little anxiety might be good for him,” she said, giving the shaggy white fur an apologetic pat. “It might speed him up. I can walk just as fast as he can.”

“But you’re not going to,” he said firmly, and she scowled at him.

“I think I preferred the sled.”

Unfortunately, the snow had melted with the coming of spring and it was no longer an option.

It had been a wonderful winter. In spite of her desire to return to the village, she had been a little worried that she might get bored. The opposite turned out to be true. There was always a variety of work to be done and she could assist in many different ways. She sewed with Rasda, and even learned how to create delicate embroidery on the smooth leather. Grandmother had started teaching her about the various herbal remedies. She baked bread with other females and helped make the ale for the tavern. Baldric had taught her more about woodworking.

The various tasks had not only kept her busy and happy, but they also helped her to grow close to the other people in the village. Now the tribe felt like the large, extended family that she’d never had. She’d almost cried when they left the village.

She still thought she could have walked to Almadin, but now that she was four months pregnant, Baldric had become even more protective than before. The first weeks of her pregnancy had not gone well. She’d felt tired all the time and had difficulty keeping anything down. As she passed into her second trimester, she regained her strength and her appetite, but unfortunately, Baldric was so upset by those first months that he acted as if she was going to break at any moment.

He had argued against the visit to Almadin, but Darak had sent word that the Queller was scheduled to fight in the spring matches. There had been no direct response to the message that Baldric had sent to the fighter’s communication channel, but they had received a cryptic invitation to attend the match and there was no way she wasn’t going to make the trip.

Zaan had been their compromise. Noric’s tribe used the big animals to assist in their lumber operations, and he had arranged for them to borrow one for the journey.

He and Rasda had officially mated shortly after Baldric and Olivia returned to the village and Rasda accepted the position as chief. Noric had been perfectly happy to move to the village and live with her, rather than demanding that she come to him.

She smiled at the thought of her friend. Rasda was doing a great job of gently but firmly guiding the village into accepting modern ways. They had been tasked with bringing back a communicator so the village wouldn’t have to rely on messengers to communicate with the city.

Darak had remained in Almadin over the winter, apprenticed to a local mechanic, and he seemed much happier.

As they reached the top of the hill, Baldric helped her down, and they stood looking out over the city just as they had back in the fall. As they watched, the spaceship came in for a landing, and she could see a number of ships along the docks. The city was coming back to life after the long, cold winter.

“Do you think we’ll find them?”

“I think we will do everything we can.” His hand curved protectively over the swell of her stomach. “But you must not be upset if it takes time.”

“I know. And you know how much I love you and how happy I am about the baby. I like to think that they’re happy too, but I just wish I knew for sure.”

“We’ll do everything we can,” he promised.

As he lifted her back onto Zaan, a sleek dark ship descended through the atmosphere, reminding her of the one that she had seen leave in the fall. Maybe Quinn was on the ship, she thought, and Panda was on one of the boats sailing towards the harbor. She smiled at the thought and headed down the hill with a hopeful heart.

AUTHOR’S NOTE

Thank you so much for reading Olivia and the Orc! I always love returning to the Kaisarian Empire and the many worlds - and many sexy aliens - it contains! And of course, Olivia and Baldric were so much fun to write.

Whether you enjoyed the story or not, it would mean the world to me if you left an honest review on Amazon – reviews are one of the best ways to help other readers find my books!

As usual, I have to thank my readers for coming on these adventures with me - I couldn’t do it without you!

And, as always, a special thanks to my beta team – Janet S, Nancy V, and Kitty S. Your thoughts and comments are incredibly helpful!

Up next - Pandora and the Prisoner!

The golden alien warrior who steals Pandora arouses her mind as well as her body - but can he be the hero she so desperately needs?

Click here to order Pandora and the Prisoner!

To make sure you don’t miss out on any new releases, deals, or updates, click here to sign up for my newsletter!

OTHER TITLES

The Alien Abduction Series

Anna and the Alien

Beth and the Barbarian

Cam and the Conqueror

Deb and the Demon

Ella and the Emperor

Faith and the Fighter

Greta and the Gargoyle

Hanna and the Hitman

Izzie and the Icebeast

Joan and the Juggernaut

Kate and the Kraken

Lily and the Lion

Mary and the Minotaur

Nancy and the Naga

Olivia and the Orc

Pandora and the Prisoner

The Alien Invasion Series

Alien Selection

Alien Conquest

Alien Prisoner

Alien Breeder

Alien Alliance

Alien Hope

Exposed to the Elements

The Naked Alien

The Bare Essentials

A Nude Attitude

The Buff Beast

The Strip Down

Folsom Planet Blues

Alien Most Wanted: Caged Beast

Alien Most Wanted: Prison Mate

Alien Most Wanted: Mastermind

Alien Most Wanted: Unchained

Horned Holidays

Krampus and the Crone

A Gift for Nicholas

Cyborgs on Mars

High Plains Cyborg

The Good, the Bad, and the Cyborg

A Fistful of Cyborg

A Few Cyborgs More

The Magnificent Cyborg

The Outlaw Cyborg

Treasured by the Alien

Mama and the Alien Warrior

A Son for the Alien Warrior

Daughter of the Alien Warrior

A Family for the Alien Warrior

The Nanny and the Alien Warrior

A Home for the Alien Warrior

A Gift for the Alien Warrior

Cosmic Fairy Tales

Jackie and the Giant

Blind Date with an Alien

Her Alien Farmhand

Anthologies

Claimed Among the Stars

Adamant Spirits

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Honey Phillips writes steamy science fiction stories about hot alien warriors and the human women they can’t resist. From abductions to invasions, the ride might be rough, but the end always satisfies.

Honey wrote and illustrated her first book at the tender age of five. Her writing has improved since then. Her drawing skills, unfortunately, have not. She loves writing, reading, traveling, cooking, and drinking champagne - not necessarily in that order.

Honey loves to hear from her wonderful readers! You can stalk her at any of the following locations…

www.facebook.com/HoneyPhillipsAuthor

www.bookbub.com/authors/honey-phillips

www.instagram.com/HoneyPhillipsAuthor

www.honeyphillips.com