Page 101 of Horn in My Side
Her face lit up.“I guess I’m your girlfriend.And you’re my ...boyfriend.”She said it experimentally, like she was trying it on for size.
But did she like how it fit?
“You’re my boyfriend,” she stated again, now in a more resolute voice.
“Good.”He liked the sound of it, the feel of it.While the l-word remained in his mind, for now, he would take things slowly with Jasmine, even though it killed him not to let her know.Yes, he would keep it to himself for now and tell her when the time was right.
Chapter Twenty
MAL
There was a saying in Old Orcish that translated to, “You could be sitting on top of the world one moment, and then get hit by manticore dung the next.”
Karak would recite this quote to his apprentices on their first day of training.It was meant to be a cautionary tale, to always be prepared for anything—delayed or denied permits, budgets blowing up, or a roof you thought you’d sealed properly could start leaking.
Mal, however, had a different interpretation: you can be at your highest point, and life can still find a way to shit on you.
His life was incredible right now.He’d spent most of the last couple of years moving around, going to amazing places and working on some truly magnificent architectural wonders.It was fulfilling, and his peers could only dream of what he’d accomplished.Then he’d come to Dewberry Falls, and while he thought that was a setback, it turned out to be the opposite.Now on top of all his accomplishments, he had a wonderful woman.One that filled every room with sunshine, whose smile could melt even his cynical hearts.Hearing her laugh made his day and seeing hertook his breath away.He wanted nothing more than to wake up with her every morning, make love to her, and go to bed with his arms around her.
It was almost too good to be true, and he wondered when that axe would fall.
Right this moment, though, it was difficult to think anything could possibly go wrong.Not when the current expression on Jasmine’s face sent his hearts into the stratosphere.
“Mal?”Jasmine’s smile could power an entire electric station.“Remember when I said you shouldn’t spoil me by using your money?”
“Yeah?”
“Forget I said that.”Jasmine threw herself onto the massive double-king-sized bed and let out a sigh as she ran her hands over the luxurious sheets.“In fact, if I ever bring it up, tell me I’m wrong.”
Though it had only been three weeks since their last trip, Mal had wanted to take Jasmine away again.The shop had been busier than ever, and Jasmine began to show signs of stress once more.So, this time, he took it upon himself to plan their staycation, and he did it his way, booking a corner suite at the Solstice Pavilion Hotel, right in the middle of the bustling downtown of Bayview City.He also convinced her to close Fantastic Tails for both Tuesday and Wednesday, so they could have a proper mini-break.
“I’m glad you like it.”Mal jumped on the bed beside her, then grabbed at her waist.She squealed in delight as he covered her body with his, then nibbled at her neck.As her sweet perfume filled his senses, he reveled in the smell and feel and taste of her.She sighed and melted against him, her fingers lazily raking through his hair.
How he wanted to stay like this forever.For things to always be this way.
But a question slunk into his brain like a slithering serpent that had been hiding in the back of his mind these past few weeks.
Did she want the same thing?
Did she love him too?
And if the Historical Society called him and told him he’d won the bid, could he tell them no?
There were so many times since his parents’ visit that he wanted to tell her he loved her, but he just couldn’t get the words out.Things were still progressing between them, and they had hit that perfect point—they were still in that honeymoon phase, unable to keep their hands off each other, but also wanted to spend each and every moment together.While that seemed like a positive sign, he should tell her that to him it was the opposite.
What if he scared her off?
What if she didn’t love him back?
While his mother might think she knew a thing or two about love, she didn’t know Jasmine.Yes, they had been enjoying each other’s company in and out of the bedroom, but that didn’t mean she was ready for anything more with him.Jasmine was a whole person on her own.She had her own life, her own plans and dreams, and Mal might not fit into them.She was the one who suggested the “see where this goes” arrangement.What if she did that in the first place because she knew he was leaving, and it would be an easy break for them?
That would make things easier when he had to leave, Mal supposed, whether that was in a few weeks or tomorrow.While the Orc Historical Society may have dilly-dallied on their decision, they would expect a swift acceptance, as there were many eager builders ready to take on the job.
“What are you thinking so hard about, Mal?”
I love you, Jasmine.
“Nothing, nothing at all.”Mal ran his hand up her thigh, pushing her shirt up so he could graze his claws on her belly.
