Page 23 of Bread with the Orc
I could take a quick break.
The bell over the door jingled just as I finished frothing my chai, and I looked up to see Maggie heading for me, a determined look on her face.
“Perfect timing!” I blurted, pouring the tea into two cups and sliding them across the counter. “Grab a table.”
I snagged two pear tarts from the case and met her, sliding into the chair across from her with a sigh. “I was just about to take a break. I’ve been dying to try Dorvak’s new recipe.”
Maggie hummed in appreciation as she bit into the tart. “Is there…this tastes familiar.”
When I bit into it, I’ll confess I lit right up. “It’s hibiscus and rosehip!” I blurted as I swallowed. “He’s trying my idea to use tea in his pastries!” I leaned across the table and lowered my voice. “We’re trying to win the dessert contest at the Harvest Festival. I think it’ll do wonders for the shop.”
Maggie nodded wordlessly as she chewed, but as soon as she swallowed she agreed. “It would work. I’m entering the craft contest. If I can win, or at least get noticed, I think it’ll mean a lot more followers and sponsorship opportunities.”
What a fabulous idea. I toasted her with my tea. “I’ll keep all my fingers and toes crossed for you.”
“AndI’llstart packing up your stuff,” she threw right back, a teasing look in her eyes. “I assume your days of crashing on my couch are through?”
Guiltily, I glanced around the store, hoping no one could hear our conversation. To be sure, I leaned in closer, and Maggie did too.
“What’s up?” she whispered. “Are we playing spies?”
“Kinda,” I whispered right back. “I don’t want anyone to overhear.”
“You know we just look suspicious as hell, right?” Maggie smirked as she glanced around. “And Dorvak’s hearing is better than anyone’s.”
Aiya, she was probably right. I straightened and fiddled with my tea cup. “Last night…” Unable to help myself, I lowered my voice to just above a whisper. “We…you know.”
“You know?” Maggie waggled her eyebrows. “Likeyou knowyou know? Did you go all the way?”
“No.” I flushed and sipped my tea to hide it. “That’s what I don’t get. Mags, I swear weyou know’da dozen times last night and this morning, and not once did he…” I glanced about, then mouthed, “Come,” to her.
Her eyes had widened and now she was the one to bend over the table, the tea cupped protectively in her hands. “Laney Wong,what?” she hissed. “That gorgeous hunk of male made you…” she mouthed the wordcome, “twelve times, and he didn’t ask for anything in return?”
My cheeks were flaming, and sipping hot frothy chai wasn’t helping to hide them.
I stared at the white bubbles. “It’s so strange,” I whispered. “We did everything up to and including…”
“Penetration?” Maggie whispered.
“Yeah, but he didn’t…” Embarrassed, I waggled my eyebrows.
She burst into laughter, which didn’t help, because it had everyone turning to stare at us.
In true Maggie form, my bestie didn’t care. She reached across the table and patted my arm. “Well, Laney, it sounds like you have found the perfect male. He wants to make you happy, and you ought to just accept the gift the universe has given you.”
I should.
But…I’ll admit I was a little disappointed. I wantedallof Dorvak. Not just the parts where he gave me pleasure, buteverything. I wanted to bringhimpleasure.
I sipped my tea, wondering how in the world I could bring that up to him. How to tell him that I wanted him to enjoy our time together as much as I did?
How to tell Dorvak that I wantedallof him?
Chapter Nine
Dorvak
On Tuesday night,I took Laney out to Ming’s Garden for dinner. It wasn’t our first time dining out together, and we’d had dinner together each evening since last Friday, when she’d spent the night with me. Every day, more of her things arrived at my apartment, and I was beginning to feel as if this was her home as well as mine.
