Page 16 of Bossed By the Orc

My brain unfroze on the spot and I was rocketed back to the present, embarrassment flooding my face with heat. “Oh. Right.” I stumbled over the words, exiting the SUV and facing away from him.

Please pretend that didn’t happen.

“I think you were a little distracted in there,” he said with a silky voice, his thumb jabbing toward the closed doors I’d just exited from, a tiny smug smile pulling at his perfect lips.

I loathe this male.

“Yes. I have a lot on my mind,” I snipped, tipping my chin up and trying to act unaffected.

“No doubt. We still have so much to discuss,” he murmured in a voice a lower octave than he usually used.

I watched with fascination as he took a step closer, but I caught myself and all but ran toward the back, gesturing for him to open it.

“Yes, let’s get my things and go see your place. Then you can let me know how this will work.”

He didn’t respond, instead tapping something on the fob he held and walking with a calm air toward the back as it slid open. He took the two bags and sewing machine out and led the way forward to the elevator while I grabbed my work-clothing bag from the backseat.

I inhaled deeply to fortify my self-control—praying that I had any left at all after that car ride—and followed him. He used a keycard at the elevator controls before he leaned back against the railing of the elevator and I got a good look at the bulge at the front of his slacks.

I almost swallowed my tongue.

He’s hard. And huge.

I knew my eyes were bugging out of my head and I also knew that he had to have noticed.

Look away. Please, please look away.

But I didn’t. I admired the outline of his cock—because this male could not possibly be wearing any underwear—with the head clearly delineated along the right leg. My mouth was suddenly watering and I wanted nothing more than to drop to my knees to worship what had to be the ultimate gift to females. The doors to the elevator opened with a chime but neither of us moved.

By sheer force of will, I lifted my gaze to meet his, and if I had to choose a word to describe his expression, it would be smoldering. His nostrils were flared as he breathed deeply, his brow furrowed.

I moved backward toward the entrance before he did and his eyes went pitch black, his pupils dilating in anticipation. I forced myself to stop, knowing that I was triggering his need to chase.

I’d devoured the romance novel with the orc and I’d learn that they had an instinctive drive to pursue and pin their prey—and that included sexual partners. If Dristan was turned on, then I would be the one he chased.

And I couldn’t say with certainty that I wouldn’t welcome him over me with open arms. In fact, right now I was pretty sure if he came at me, I’d jump him so fast his head would spin. No chasing necessary.

Mentally smacking myself, I stopped, tipping my chin up in defiance of the stranglehold my libido had over me. “Age before beauty,” I snarked, trying to keep that distance between us. Instead, I watched with awe as his yellow eyes softened and his lips quirked with amusement.

The step he took closer to me made a shiver of acute awareness run down my spine. His eyes dropped to my lips before returning to mine. “Yes, definitely beautiful.”

He swept out of the elevator, taking his overwhelming presence with him and I almost sagged to the floor with the loss. Trying to keep my head on straight, I stumbled after him—straight into my wildest dreams. The elevators opened into a huge penthouse with an open-floor concept that allowed me to see the wall of floor to ceiling windows that traveled across two sides. The massive, commercial-grade kitchen had a wall behind it that probably separated the bedrooms, but I was too awed by the view.

The entire skyline was laid out in front of me—an even better view than the one from his building. The lake was visible and based on the direction we were facing, I imagined the sunsets would be phenomenal.

The dark hardwood floor gleamed as Dristan flicked on the lights, illuminating the gorgeous space. They were offset by lighter rugs throughout the living area and the dining room set up on the far end, but it didn’t detract from the sumptuous warmth of the area. I didn’t expect that from him and I wondered if a designer put the space together or if he’d done it himself.

My stomach tightened with a painful clench as I wondered if he had a girlfriend or wife that I didn’t know about.

I turned suspicious eyes toward him and he just quirked an eyebrow at me as he rolled my suitcases inside.

“Welcome to my home,” he purred. The words seemed formal to me—even in that dark magic voice that he was using—and there was a gleam in his eyes that told me something more was happening that I didn’t understand.

Chapter Ten

Dristan

My mate’s here. In my home. Finally.

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