Page 63 of Steve's Barmaid
“Um, not that kind of emergency,” I said.
I turned my back to him and pulled up my tunic.
“Well, well, well, what do we have here?” he asked, sounding incredibly pleased. “Who is the lucky orc?”
I dropped my tunic and turned back to him, blushing. “It’s Steve.”
“Ohhh, even better! We can use this to build relationships with the Snaerfírar. He’s such a beloved member of his tribe. When I was there, they treated him with deference and respect. His parents were in high standing in the tribe. His taking a human mate will open up trade and diplomatic opportunities.” Agnarr rubbed his hands together enthusiastically.
“Excuse me,” I said tartly, “but I haven’t said yes. If you recall, humans don’t have fated mates. Finding out that someone you’ve been sleeping with for only a handful of days is now yourforeveris a lot to take in.”
Agnarr’s face flashed with concern before he said, “I understand. You’ll need to talk to Piper, and I should probably talk to Steve. What did you tell him?”
“I told him I needed a couple of days to think about it and that I would stay in the kitchen while he worked on the bar.”
“Does anyone else know?” Agnarr asked.
“Just Reykr,” I said. Agnarr arched a brow. “They are best friends, and I can’t expect him to handle this on his own. While I might be overwhelmed with the idea of forever, I can empathize with the anxiety he must be feeling at me wanting time to decide.”
I wasn’t a bitch. Well, only when I wanted to be. I decided to leave out how Reykr found out. Reykr and Joey were even more tenuous than Steve and me. Though I did have to admit to myself, my best friend dating my mate’s best friend did sound pretty great.
“I will go to Steve and Reykr. I can also help them with the bar today. Piper should be down any moment, and you three can discuss how you want to proceed. Does that work?” he asked.
I felt relief flood through me. He wasn’t mad. He wasn’t expecting me to say yes or no. He was giving me all the tools I needed to make an informed decision. I felt better already. I sat down at one of the chairs at the dining table, ready to wait for Piper. Agnarr stared at us awkwardly for a moment.
“I’m just going to go finish getting dressed. I am sure Piper will be here any minute,” he said very quickly as he headed back up the stairs.
Joey and I burst out laughing as soon as Agnarr had left the room. We’d definitely interrupted Piper and Agnarr’s morning sex. Not too long after Piper arrived. She didn’t look embarrassed at all. She was fully dressed, and her hair was freshly braided.
“I knew you’d expect me to take awhile, you know, what with all the cum.” She waved her hand vaguely toward Agnarr.
I snorted, and Joey let out a laugh that could only be described as hysterical.
“So Agnarr tells me there is some sort of female emergency going on?” she asked, looking suspicious. “I’m not sure I believe it’s an emergency if you two are involved, knowing theshenanigans you get up to in the kitchen and the bar. Wasn’t it just a few weeks ago you were throwing furniture out a second-story window?”
“Oh, it’s very much an emergency.” Joey’s eyes widened as she nodded and nudged me to start explaining.
I said nothing but stood and pulled up the back of my tunic. Immediately, I felt Piper’s finger tracing the markings down my spine.
“Wow, yours are so different than mine. Is it Steve?” she asked.
I whipped around, “How did you know it was Steve?”
“Um, you used Agnarr as a cover-up to go have sex in the berry bushes. You thought that wouldn’t get back to him? Also, we both know everything that happens around here.” Piper crossed her arms matter-of-factly.
I opened my mouth to say something, then closed it. I wasn’t sure what else there was to say.
“So what is the emergency?” she asked.
“Well, I haven’t said yes,” I said.
“Ohh, I see,” she responded sympathetically. “Scared of forever?”
I wrung my hands. Piper was spot on.
“We just don’t have anything like this on Earth,” I said anxiously. “What if we get tired of each other? Or want to separate?” I worried about this, too.
“My parents are divorced, and I knew so many people in unhappy marriages. I thought I always wanted forever, but now here it was, a hulking, sensitive, kind orc, standing right in front of me—I was scared. But I don’t know if it is Niflheim, or the orkin, or just a magic we don’t understand, but the Elska bond felt very real. I have never connected with someone the way I connect with Agnarr. It is almost as if I know what he feelsbefore he tells me. I don’t even like being apart from him.” Piper exhaled, then asked, “How’s the sex?”
