Page 28 of Bossed By the Orc

I froze under his steely look, ignoring the sting at the back of my eyes and fighting the tears. No one outside of my immediate family had ever said anything like that to me before. My family thought I was brilliant because I’d been accepted into the tiny local college, but after I’d had to drop out, I’d been too embarrassed to even talk about that.

Listening to this male—this titan of industry—you’d think I was a real hire, not a simple pity-vote. I nodded without responding to him, taking a bite of my fruit. He didn’t look away for a long moment, but when he did, he did so with a huff, his nostrils flaring.

He gathered his jacket from the back of his chair, knotting his tie with quick, efficient motions. Eyeing me, his fingers slowed, becoming clumsier. I frowned as he made a big loop that wasn’t there before. He fumbled for a few more moments before I asked,

“Do you need some help with that?”

“Yes,” he responded right away, moving over to where I was sitting.

Bemused, I moved to wash my hands and he followed behind me. I forced myself to smile up at him as I dried my hands and then tiptoed to reach. His huge palms moved to my waist and I squeaked as he lifted me—it was so effortless and fast that I felt a wave of dizziness as he settled me on the counter where I could reach easier.

I swallowed hard—no one had ever lifted me off my feet as an adult before. It was disorienting and hot at the same time. Ignoring the sudden flood in my panties, I began knotting the tie. I’d only ever done it a few times when my mother showed me how, but I remembered the movements.

Being that close to him, I couldn’t stop myself from inhaling his woodsy scent. I felt the heat of him—and I swayed forward, barely stopping myself from pressing against him. Trying to get control of my own body, I gritted my teeth, my fingers faltering as they brushed against his shirt.

Even his shirt’s hot.

Biting my lip, I glanced down at where his hands were still holding my waist. As I did, I noticed something that made my breath go shallow.

He’s hard. Hard and huge.

Yanking my eyes back up to the tie and pretending I hadn’t seen anything, I struggled to force my shaking hands to follow instructions. When the knot was complete—but definitely not as neat as it could be, I patted it gently.

“You’re good to go,” I whispered, meeting his smoldering gaze for only a moment before looking away. His fingers clenched in my skin and I had to bite back a gasp as he lowered me to the ground as though I was as light as a feather—which I knew very well was the furthest thing from the truth.

He’s so strong. He could just use me like his own cock sleeve—

Cutting off the completely inappropriate thought, I cleared my throat and brushed past him.

“Thank you,” he called after me and I lifted a hand in acknowledgement. I wouldn’t be able to speak with my dry mouth anyway.

Chapter Eighteen

Dristan

I patted myself on the back as I looked in the mirror in the bathroom, contentment filling me as I surveyed the—only slightly haphazard—knot of my tie. The idea of pretending that I couldn’t do it myself was genius. I’d been able to get my hands on her and now I knew exactly where her tiny, perfect body would sit if I planned on fucking her in the kitchen.

Which I definitely plan to do. Maybe in the near future.

I sauntered out of the bathroom and back to where she was seated at my desk, only to find it empty. Halting my steps, I looked around, wondering if she was grabbing a file or folder from one of the shelves.

I narrowed my eyes when I spotted her standing at Fionel’s desk, the insufferable elf beaming up at her as they spoke. I couldn’t see her expression, only her luscious ass as she leaned forward—probably giving him a spectacular view of her breasts. The same one I’d enjoyed that morning when she’d been knotting my tie.

Violent urges brewed in my brain and I could feel my arms flexing with the need to rip the male’s head off, but I pushed them back. That wasn’t who I was. Orcs had rules that they needed to follow now. We didn’t kill mindlessly anymore. I watched Fionel and Penelope laugh together and I wondered how quickly I could put together a defense team and where I could hide a body.

She moved away from his desk heading toward the elevator and I released a low growl. Memories of the way she’d smiled at that minotaur who’d come in for his presentation flitted through my mind.

I ran my palm over my face, wondering how much push-back she’d give me if I added a proximity clause into our employment agreement. Three feet seemed like enough freedom for her.

Scowling, I exited my office, glaring at Fionel who beamed back at me.

“I love her,” he told me, completely ignoring me when I growled at him. “She’s fun and she’s taking a lot off my plate.”

I grunted and told him, “I need to hire someone to clean the penthouse.”

His eyebrows went all the way up. “Isn’t that why you hired Pen?” he asked.

I narrowed my eyes, leaning in so he received the full power of the threat I was making with my eyes. “Her name’s Penelope to you.”

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