Orc Bound Mates

Chapter Eight

We head to the front gate to leave the stronghold before heading out into the bright morning light in the clearing. The morning holds a crisp coolness that the sun hasn’t had the time to dissipate yet. Skarr dances around us in excitement as we set out for our journey. Vlorg walks in step beside me, Orguk and Borguk taking up the rear. I laugh as Skarr gently shoves his nose up my backside before batting him away. He leaps out of my reach and bounds around our group, yipping his delight. My previous fear of the sweet beast seems silly as he romps around me. He is acting like an oversized puppy with too much energy and lots of fun to give.

My Orcs chuckle around me at the wolf’s antics, none of them chastising him for his behavior. Rolling my eyes, I glance around the barricaded area briefly as we pause at the gate. Vlorg wrenches it open for us to move through before shutting it back behind us. He whispers something to the entrance, and a bright purple dome encapsulates the whole stronghold. I stare at the barrier for a few moments before it fades away completely. I turn to the twins in shock, and the question must be plain on my face because they chuckle.

“More Fae magics. It is a protective shield to keep unwanted guests out while we are away. The only people able to get back in is our group.” Orguk explains since he seems to be the Orc with all the knowledge and the most likely to give an explanation instead of a grunt.

Skarr stops his playful behavior before taking his place at my side, his large swaying form tucked under my arm. Inside the safety of the fence, the great wolf can be playful and have fun, but outside the gate, he has me to protect. These Orcs and this wolf have me melting like snow under a mid-summer sun. His fierce protectiveness of me has my heart melting more. I’ve never felt so loved or cherished in my life.

All I had to do was travel to another world and fall into the hands of Orcs to get the devoted love and compassion I longed for after being left alone. Hell, I miss Grandma Jinia. She was always the light in my dark existence.

The greater half of the morning slips by as my comfortable strides shift to trudging shuffles. I glance at my traveling companions and internally groan at the ease that they’re moving like the sun isn’t beating them to death. Maybe I’m the only one dying in this heat, the long walk not helping my fatigue.

I reiterate!! I! Am! Not! The! Active! Type! If I plan to live here, I might need to get used to it, but right now, I want to take a break from this trip. Hopefully, we are almost there.

“Are we almost there?” I pose the question to anyone that will answer, wiping at the beads of sweat dotting my forehead. Borguk chuckles behind me, but Vlorg’s the one who answers.

“We are a little under halfway there.” His tone is calm even as a slight frown tugs his lips down. I glance over to Borguk, who hides his smile with a cough.

Why is it taking so long to get there? Borguk made it there and back in a few hours yesterday.

“How did you get there so quickly yesterday?” I question, recalling that he was only gone for a few hours. He chuckles again, and I want to throttle him at the amusement he’s finding in my discomfort.

“We would already be there normally. However, we are keeping to your pace.” Orguk’s sweet smile doesn’t damper my sour mood; getting hot and sweaty typically doesn’t make me happy. The only time I’m content to be covered in sweat and panting happens during s*x. I huff out a breath as I continue trudging forward, trying to push my tired legs to move faster.

“If you are starting to get tired, one of us can carry you.” Vlorg offers from his spot next to me, not a single drop of sweat on his beautiful sea-green skin. A small surge of jealousy flares at the fact that none of them are affected by the heat. In comparison, I’m sweating like a pig about to get sent to the slaughter.

“No. I don’t want any of you to carry me like a baby. I don’t want to burden any of you with my weight. I can walk.” I deny aloud as the voice inside my head screams at how tired I am. My flushed cheeks heat more as my trio of Orcs scorches me with their stares. I try to ignore how their eyes rake over my body, taking in the way that my steps falter periodically with the strain of the lengthy trek.

“If you would rather. Skarr would let you ride upon his back. He is very steady. He would not let you fall off.” Borguk chimes in; the hopeful tone in his voice weakens my resolve. I don’t know how much more I can take; I’ve never walked so far. Not even in school when we had the mandatory Walk-A-Thon crap. I’d walk as slowly as possible until the time limit was up and then go home to relax.

“I couldn’t do that to Skarr. I would feel bad making him carry all my weight.” I protest with a firm shake of my head, embarrassed at the idea of having the poor beast heft my two-hundred-plus pounds of fluff around.

“I understand you do not want to burden Skarr. However, he is stronger than you think. He has carried all of us at one point in his life.” Vlorg puts in his attempt to appease me, but he is a bit firmer, as he adds. “We do need to increase the pace to avoid keeping the Chieftain waiting. He does not appreciate waiting longer than necessary.”

I take a deep breath at the rational reasoning for their suggestions. I'm not too fond of being carried like a sack of potatoes, but I understand that we have somewhere to be and that I’m making this journey take much longer than needed. I concede.

“Okay. I understand. Vlorg, would you mind carrying me?” I glance at him, ensuring he’s all right with lugging around my body weight. Even knowing that he’s exceedingly well-built, I still get flustered at the idea of anyone having to pick me up. Let alone carry me across a far distance. That long-buried shame of being heavier than most women my size burns sardonically in the back of my throat. Every hateful comment, spiteful insult, and disgusted sneer flickers through my mind.

I hope he doesn’t mind. I feel bad that I’m slowing everyone down.

Even as the doubts filter through my thoughts, I watch Vlorg’s chest puff out and his shoulder set back in a prideful display. I giggle at his reaction while trying to keep a lid on my response to his posturing. The embarrassment of having him carry me settles a ruddy blush over my cheeks.

What am I going to do with these prideful males and their posturing? Please don’t grunt with the strain of picking me up.

Vlorg wastes no time scooping me into his arms with a sexy growl. He settles me against his chest, holding me aloft in one arm as though I weigh no more than a child. His thick bicep is hard against my back. I loop my arm around his neck for support, not that I’ll need it, but feeling better about holding on anyway. I bite my lip to hold back the groan of pleasure sitting in my mouth.

He didn’t grunt, groan or huff as he picked me up. He growled. f*****g growled as he lifted me. Like he was waiting to have a reason to touch me. My weight is no burden to his strength. I wonder how else he can use his power with me.

A giddy part of me squeals at his show of vigor, enjoying that feeling of being dainty to someone. Vlorg adjusts my skirting, making sure that everything’s in its place before he nods his head.

Vlorg begins to move forward, his walking strides much faster than mine. His long legs eat up the distance as he walks down the beaten path. I glance over his shoulder to see the twins and Skarr on his heels, having no problem with the brisk pace. Borguk catches my eye and smiles wickedly.

“Alexa. You look like a princess being carried around by her servant.” I flush harder at the teasing remark but decide to stick my tongue out at him like a petulant child. He snickers as Orguk knocks him in the ribs with his elbow, causing a huff to leave him. I smile at Orguk before turning a glare to Borguk.

“You’re just sour because you have to walk there while I get carried like a princess.” I tease back as Vlorg silently chuckles, his chest jerking with soundless enjoyment. Borguk scoffs at my teasing, looking slightly offended.

“My princess, I am envious that I am not the one getting to feel your intoxicatingly exquisite form against my body. I want nothing more than to feel your curves pressed against my chest and smell your hair under my nose.” He stares into my eyes with a hungry intensity that causes a flood of heat to pool in my lady bits that happen to be pressing against Vlorg’s forearm. Before, the contact had barely been noticeable, but now all I can feel is the hard press of his skin against my clothed cunt. The gentle sway of his gait grinding his arm against my p***y. I swallow at the rumble in Vlorg’s chest, the vibrations coursing through me like an electric shock.

Trying to defuse the spiking s****l tension, I scowl at Borguk. He smirks as the scent of my arousal reaches his nose, and he confirms it by breathing deeply through his nose and growling. Taking control of my desires and needing to put the flirtatious Orc in his place, I quark an eyebrow at him.

“If you’re not going to be nice, then I won’t either. I won’t be letting you carry me back to the Longhouse. Maybe Orguk will be given the pleasure of feeling my body moving against his instead.” I quip as color flushes the teasing Orc’s face. The cute way his mouth turns into a pout has me wanting to tease him more. “I might even make you sleep on the floor tonight. No touching me allowed.”

The look that settles on Borguk’s face is too much, and I hide my smile behind Vlorg’s shoulder as Orguk bursts out laughing. Vlorg’s husky laughter joins in as Borguk groans. I hear Borguk kick a rock off the ground; it bounces off a nearby tree before plunking to the ground.

“Our little female is not to be teased too much.” Vlorg glances over his shoulder to look at Borguk, a smile teasing his lips. “She will put you in your place.” Orguk knocks his twin on the shoulder, still laughing.

“The floor, it seems like.” He howls with another fit of laughter, and I cannot help but join in the thunderous laughter with a quiet giggle. Borguk looks at me with the most pitiful expression, begging me with his eyes to save him.

“Please do not make me sleep on the floor.” He begs aloud, putting on the puppy dog eyes and the most adorable pout on his bottom lip. I calm my giggles to give him my most serious glare, even if it's all mock reprimands.

“I don’t know. It’s not very nice to get me excited when we’re on our way to see your parents. I don’t think it’ll make a good first impression to meet the Chieftain smelling like I’m begging for a climax.” I chastise him tapping my finger against my lips, making a show of deciding his future sleeping arrangements. Borguk’s pout turns somber as he bows his head in regret.

“I am sorry, Alexa. I did not think of that.” He mumbles, just loud enough to be heard. I almost slip up and relieve his worries, but Vlorg takes that moment to speak up.

“Alexa. We need to make haste. We will run the rest of the trip. I will try not to jar you too much. Let me know if it becomes unbearable.” He looks into my eyes, and when I nod, he takes off.

Worrying the run will have me bouncing around his embrace, I brace myself for the turbulence. However, his long strides are smooth, and I sigh at how graceful the colossal Orc can be. The only part of me bouncing is my t**s. And that’s something I can’t change, so I brace my free arm over them and hold tight.