Page 16 of Caged By the Orc

As we continue talking, sharing pieces of ourselves we've kept locked away, I feel something shift between us. The air grows thick with unspoken tension, charged with a new awareness. My heart races every time our eyes meet, a jolt of electricity coursing through me. I find myself leaning closer, drawn to him in a way that both thrills and terrifies me. His scent fills my senses, making it hard to focus on anything else.

I'm acutely aware of every movement, every breath. The space between us seems to shrink, and I'm caught between the urge to close that final distance and the fear of what might happen if I do. This pull towards Sarod is unexpected and overwhelming, leaving me feeling both exhilarated and completely out of my depth.

What's happening? This feeling for Sarod... it's unlike anything I've ever felt before. Part of me wants to run, to hide from these confusing emotions. But another part, growing stronger by the second, wants to stay right here and see where this leads.

As the night continues on, I realize that I've spent far too much time here with him instead of doing my chores. I rise from the table, my legs unsteady beneath me. Sarod's eyes follow me as I gather the empty plates.

"Thanks for sitting with me, Josie," he says, his voice unexpectedly gentle. "It was... nice." His amber eyes lock onto mine, and I feel a flutter in my chest that I can't quite explain.

I nod, not trusting myself to speak. My heart's still racing from our conversation, from the unexpected intimacy of the moment we just shared. The warmth of his presence lingers, and I find myself fighting the urge to reach out and touch his hand.

"You can get back to work now," Sarod adds, a hint of his usual gruffness returning. But there's something different in his tone, a softness that wasn't there before.

"Right," I manage to say, grateful for the excuse to escape the intensity of his gaze. My legs feel unsteady as I stand, and I have to take a deep breath to center myself. As I turn to leave, I can't help but glance back at him one last time, catching a look in his eyes that makes my breath catch in my throat.

I hurry back to the kitchen as my mind's in turmoil. What just happened? How did I go from hating this orc to... to what? Feeling drawn to him? Understanding him?

I scrub the dishes with more force than necessary, trying to sort through the mess of emotions churning inside me. On one hand, I'm still a prisoner here. Sarod might be showing a softer side, but that doesn't change the fact that he's keeping me against my will. I should be focusing on finding a way out, on regaining my freedom.

But then I remember the vulnerability in his eyes as he spoke about his past. The way he actually listened when I shared my own struggles. It felt real in a way nothing else has since I came here.

And there's no denying the pull I feel towards him. It's not just physical attraction - though watching him train this morning certainly stirred something in me. It's deeper than that. A connection I never expected to form, especially not with an orc.

I pause in my scrubbing, staring at my reflection in the soapy water. Who am I becoming? The girl who entered this house would never have considered feeling anything but contempt for Sarod. But now...

I shake my head, trying to clear it. I can't let myself get caught up in this. I need to remember my goals, my mother waiting for me. Freedom should be my only focus.

But as I finish cleaning up, I can't shake the image of Sarod's face, open and honest in a way I've never seen before. The memory of our conversation lingers, making me question everything I thought I knew about him - and about myself.

13

SAROD

Istand in the center of the zyrphix arena, sweat dripping down my chest as I face off against Grul. The ball bursts from the ground, and we lunge for it simultaneously. My mind's not in the game, though. It's back at the mansion, wondering what Josie's doing right now.

Grul slams into me, knocking me flat on my back. "The fuck, Sarod?" he growls. "Get your head outta your ass!"

I scramble to my feet, shaking off the hit and feeling the sting of embarrassment burn through me. Shit. This isn't like me. None of this is like me. "Sorry," I mutter, trying to refocus on the game, but my mind keeps drifting back to Josie.

Kargath steps in, his massive form blocking out the sun. His shadow falls over me, and I can feel the weight of his concern. "What's goin' on with you lately? You've been off your game for days. It ain't like you to be this distracted." His voice is gruff, but there's an undercurrent of worry that makes me uncomfortable.

"It's nothin'," I snap, but the words sound hollow even to my own ears. I can't meet his eyes, knowing he'd see right through my lies. My gaze drops to the ground, and I shuffle my feet. "Canwe move the fuck on? Damn, you guys are on my ass like I've committed a crime or something."

Grul snorts, a knowing smirk playing on his tusked face. "It's that human girl, ain't it? The one you brought home? She's got you all twisted up inside." His words hit too close to home, and I feel my jaw clench involuntarily.

I scowl, feeling a surge of anger at his words. "Mind your own fuckin' business," I growl, clenching my fists at my sides. The familiar rage bubbles up inside me, threatening to spill over. I want to lash out, to shut them both up, but I know it'll only prove their point. Instead, I stand there, seething, caught between denial and the truth I'm not ready to face.

"It is our business when our captain can't keep his head in the game," Thokk retorts, crossing his arms over his broad chest. "You goin' soft on us, Sarod? 'Cause if you are, we need to know now before we get our asses handed to us in the next match."

Their words hit harder than any tackle. Am I going soft? I think about Josie - her defiance, her spirit, the way she looked at me last night when we talked. It's not just about power anymore. It's... something else.

"Look," Grul says, his voice uncharacteristically gentle. "We've all seen how you look at her. It's more than just wantin' to fuck her, ain't it?"

I clench my fists, wanting to deny it, but the words won't come. They're right, and I know it. My feelings for Josie have changed. She's not just a prisoner anymore, not just a human I can order around. She's become... important to me. Ever since I beat the shit out of Grokus, it's become more and more apparent. The way she looks at me, the way she stands up to me - it's doing something to my insides I can't explain.

"Shit," I mutter, running a hand over my face. "I don't know what to do with this." I've never felt this way before, not evenwith Connie. It's like Josie's crawled under my skin and set up camp there.

Kargath claps me on the shoulder, his meaty hand nearly knocking me off balance. "Figure it out. 'Cause right now, you're lettin' it mess with your game. And we can't afford that." He's right, of course. The team needs me focused, ready to crush our opponents in the arena. But how the fuck am I supposed to focus when all I can think about is her?