Page 7 of Grumpy Orc CEO

She tilts her head slightly, curiosity flickering across her face. “Yeah?”

“I don’t want this to be just a one-time thing,” I admit, my voice steady but filled with urgency. I lean in closer, my eyes locking onto hers. “I’d really like to see you again.”

Her eyes widen slightly, and for a moment, she seems taken aback. The seconds stretch out, each one feeling like an eternity as I wait for her response, my heart pounding in my chest.

“I’d like that too,” she finally says, her lips curving into a smile that reaches her eyes, softening the tension. “But… I don’t even know where you live.”

I chuckle softly, relief washing over me. “Well, I’m based in Eldrith. You?”

“Not far from there actually,” she replies with a playful twinkle in her eye, her expression brightening. “Looks like fate might be on our side.”

I grin, the weight lifting off my shoulders. “Seems like it.”

As we stand to leave, I feel a rush of determination. The kind that pushes you to take a leap without thinking about the consequences. I glance at Lucy; her vibrant green eyes reflect anticipation and something deeper. It's like she's waiting for me to say something, to make a move that goes beyond exchanging business cards. I take a deep breath, my mind racing with the possibilities of what this could turn into.

Before I can second-guess myself, I gently take her hand in mine. Her skin is warm and soft, sending a jolt of electricity through me. She looks up, surprise flickering in her vibrant green eyes.

I lean in, closing the distance between us, and press my lips to hers. The kiss is brief but intense, a firework in the middle of our mundane surroundings. It's filled with all the unspoken emotions from our short time together—curiosity, longing, and an inexplicable connection.

I pull back slightly, our foreheads almost touching. I can see the same astonishment mirrored in her eyes, a silent acknowledgment that neither of us expected this but neither can deny its power. The loudspeaker blares another boarding call, but it feels like white noise compared to the pulse between us.

For a moment, we just stand there, our breaths mingling in the space between us. The noise of the airport fades into the background as if we are the only two people in the world. Her eyes search mine, and I can see the wheels turning in her mind.

Lucy squeezes my hand gently before letting go. "That was... unexpected," she says softly, her voice tinged with amusement and a hint of something else—maybe curiosity.

"Sometimes the best things are," I reply, feeling a sense of satisfaction wash over me. Her presence has had a way of grounding me in the short time we spent together, making the chaos of my life and the bullshit with Elara seem distant.

She chuckles, a melodic sound that makes me want to hear more. Shaking her head slightly as if to clear it, she looks up at me with those vibrant green eyes. "You’re right about that," she says, her smile widening, and I can’t help but mirror it.

We stand there for another moment, the world seemingly on pause, before the hustle and bustle of the airport creeps back in. But even as the noise returns, I know this moment between us is something special—something worth holding on to.

"Lucy, wait," I say quickly as she turns to leave. I slip my card in her hand. "Call me, if you change your mind."

"Okay," she says softly, giving me a soft smile as she turns, slowly slipping her hand from mine.

“If I don’t hear from you I’ll just have to assume I’m a terrible kisser,” I say with a laugh.

Her eyes light up and she chuckles, smiling at me as she turns away.

We begin to walk towards our respective gates, but this time there’s a new energy between us—a shared understanding that this chance encounter is anything but ordinary.

As we reach the point where we must part ways, Lucy glances back at me one last time. Her eyes hold a glimpse of something I want, something I almost had.

I watch Lucy walk away, her figure gradually blending into the crowd of travelers. The kiss still tingles on my lips, an echo of the unexpected connection we just shared. As she disappears from view, a mix of longing and hope washes over me. She’s different, special in a way that makes me want to hold on tight and never let go.

Turning towards my gate, my mind races with thoughts of how to see her again. Despite her suggestion that our encounter might be just a fleeting moment, I refuse to let it end like that. There’s something here, something worth pursuing. I know it in my gut, and I’m determined to follow this path, no matter where it leads.

As I board my flight, I settle into my seat and pull out my phone. I stare at the screen for a moment before pulling up my schedule. Meetings, conference calls, deadlines—my life as a CEO doesn’t leave much room for spontaneity.

That kiss was out of character. I'm used to going for what I want, but to be so bold, so spontaneous to kiss a complete stranger? It sounds crazy, but there was something deeper there than just a chance encounter.

The plane begins to taxi down the runway, and I glance out the window, the city skyline fading into the distance. Her laugh, her smile—they play on repeat in my mind. I can’t let this be just a chance encounter lost to the chaos of life.

I lean back in my seat and close my eyes. The hum of the engines becomes a backdrop to my thoughts of Lucy. I picture her green eyes lighting up when she laughed at my jokes and the way her hand felt in mine. There’s a magnetic pull there, something that draws me in and refuses to let go.

There's something in the way she carried herself that was alluring, drawing me in and making me feel a hope for something I haven’t felt this deeply about anyone in a long time, not even Elara. It seems so sudden, but the spark that burned between us, even for that moment, was too strong to be imagined. I need to see her again.

The flight attendants move down the aisle with drink carts, but I wave them off, too lost in my own world to care about refreshments. My mind races with possibilities on how to reconnect with her once we’re both back in Eldrith.

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