Page 2 of Unruly Hearts

Still, I stay where I am and keep a smile on my face, even though I have to crane my neck back farther and farther to look up at his face.

Orcs are so huge.

He could crush me with a swipe of his arm, and somehow that turns me on.

Pull yourself together, Serenity.

I drop my hand. He's obviously not aware of that human custom. "Are you okay?" I ask, gesturing to his foot which is crisscrossed with ugly red cuts.

"A trap in the forest," he mutters. "It is noth—" he eyes me and sighs. “It hurts a little.”

"Oh no." I scowl toward the woods. I thought that Talon had taken care of the last of the poachers a few months ago, but they seem to sprout up like weeds.

“I’m sorry that happened. I thought the last of the poachers had cleared out… You should come inside and get checked on." I start to pile the boxes from my trunk into my arms.

I chew on my lip as I do. Orcs are scary big, but Talon has never threatened anyone here, and I hope that his brother will have a similar temperament. I certainly don’t need more trouble on top of Ethan’s threats.

"I help you with boxes," he says, limping over.

"I don't want to hurt you any further."

"I am orc," he says as he hits his chest. "We are tough."

I can't help the smile that crosses my face. I consider what it would feel like to be pressed against that muscular chest, and the way my nipples pucker has nothing to do with the cooling air. There's something wild and fierce about him even in sweatpants and a ballcap.

He takes all of the boxes in one towering pile. "These smell good."

I nod. "Cinnamon rolls for breakfast tomorrow. They're delicious."

He pops open the top box and scoops a roll into his mouth. His face puckers and then a wide grin settles across it. "I like these."

Then he grabs a second one. "Tasty," he says as if he's trying out the word.

"We like them too," I say as I reach up and close the box. "So don't eat them all."

His lips twist, and I’m not quite sure if it's amusement or annoyance.

Closing the jeep’s back door, I start toward the center. Agis walks along next to me, still dragging his leg. I hope he's not injured too badly. We have medics and vets on staff, but they aren't used to working on orc bodies.

Once we’re inside, I lead him down the hall to the cafeteria and we stack the boxes on a table near the kitchen.

I point to one of the benches. "You sit here," I say, "I’ll get Talon.”

He reaches for one of the pastry boxes, and I swat his hand. "I said no."

Agis stares at me in surprise. "Yes, Ser-en-ity," he says, feeling out how to say my name.

I swallow and force myself to turn away.

Agis

Iwatch the human woman Serenity as she walks away. I can't help but admire the way her hips sway when she moves, and my cock stirs restlessly. Females have become scarce in our mountains, and an orc has needs.

Turning over my hand, I stare at it then chuckle. The little human female had hit me. I could crush her with one hand, but she swatted me without a thought.

I'd been wondering why my brother Talon decided to stay among the humans, and I couldn't see anything overly exciting about any of it... but then there was this woman.

“Ser-en-ity,” I say, practicing her name. “Serenity.”