At my father's dying wish, I crossed the realm, looking for his best friend...and ended up in an orc camp.

It turns out the man I'd heard so much about is actually an orc, a warrior with more scars than I can count and a surly disposition.

And after reading the letter my father sent him, he declares himself my guardian - and me his ward.

Which wouldn't be a problem if he wasn't intent on marrying me off to some human stranger, even though the tension between us grows with every touch and every heated, forbidden look.

Sometimes, though, a woman has to take her fate and pleasure in her own hands, and after being told what to do my entire life, I'm not taking any more chances. I want to learn more about myself. And I think my orc guardian might be the right male for the job.