Page 24 of Bread with the Orc
Yes, we’deatentogether, but tonight I wanted to do something special. I wanted to feel as if she wasmine: Mine for the whole town to recognize. So I made reservations at a place I thought might make her feel at home and paid special attention to what I wore. I even rolled up the sleeves on my button-down shirt, knowing she liked to admire my forearms.
But throughout dinner, Laney picked at her food, her gaze darting around the restaurant restlessly. I caught herlooking at me from the corner of her eyes a few times, as if she wanted to say something…but didn’t.
I couldfeelmy Mate’s confusion and anxiety, and I didn’t like it. I didn’t like that I couldn’t fix it for her, couldn’t crush it or bite it or stomp it into submission, the way myKteerurged me to do.
I needed to know what was wrong.
So after I paid—and we packed up her leftovers to take home—I suggested a walk.
“A walk?” She was surprised. “I assumed you would want to go home and…”
She trailed off in a blush, and I put my finger under her chin to raise her eyes to mine. “As much as I love that you call the apartmenthome, Laney, I think we both need to clear our heads a little. Something’s bothering you, and I would very much like if you could trust me enough to share it with me.”
I saw the hesitation in her eyes, and prayed that she’d let me in. Finally, she took a deep breath and nodded. “Yeah, okay. I want this to work, Dorvak.”
One corner of my lips twitched. “You have no idea how much I want”—need—“this to work,dkaar. So please tell me?”
Another nod. “Let’s walk down to the beach?”
Since home was only two blocks from the boardwalk, we stopped into the bakery. I ran up to grab my coat and her scarf, while Laney made some fragrant tea and poured it into a thermos. We did it all without speaking—we didn’tneedto speak, because we understood each other so well already.
Once ready, I looped the scarf gently around her, took her arm in mine, and we strolled toward the lake.
In the autumn evening, the lakefront was almost deserted, a good place for a private conversation. Still, I led her down to the sand, toward one of the bonfire sites I could smell had been used recently. There was no one about, so I settled Laney on one of the logs as I crouched in front of the fire and blew it back to life, feeding it with the stacked kindling and logs until we had a cozy little fire rumbling before us.
Then I let out a breath, urged myKteerto shut up and be still for once, and settled myself on the sand with my back resting against the log where my Mate sat.
Where to start?
I should have guessed Laney would make my job easier.
“I like you, Dorvak. I like you a lot. I’ve…I’ve wanted you for a long while.”
Was it easier to confess such things when we were staring at the fire? I shifted but didn’t turn to look at her, hoping I wouldn’t scare her into silence.
Please keep telling me how you’ve lusted after me, Mate.
“You know my father is kinda a jerk, right?” I could hear her fiddling with the thermos. “He doesn’t like monsters—well, he doesn’t like that monsters have moved intohistown. I think maybe I started noticing you—noticing monster guys in general—just to irritate him. But then, once I started watching you…”
Unable to help myself, I tipped my head sideways just enough that I could see her staring at me.
“I chose the building next to yours for my tea shop because I wanted to be near you, Dorvak,” she whispered, and deep in my chest, myKteerignored my orders and crowed.
“I have watched you,dkaar,” I confessed. “You were the most intriguing, most beautiful human I could imagine.”
The firelight flickered on her features as she studied me. “What does that mean?Dkaar. You’ve called me that before.”
I didn’t hesitate to explain. “Beloved. It meansbeloved, because that’s what you are to me.”
Laney took a deep, shuddering breath, held it…and turned away.
“Love!” I reached for her, pulling her down onto the sand beside me. “Don’t hide from me. Tell me what’s wrong. Tell me what you’re worried about.”
Her gaze was locked on the thermos in her lap. “How could I be your beloved,” she whispered, “if you won’t share all of yourself with me?”
I frowned, switching my attention back to the fire, trying to decide what she meant. “Laney, youaremy beloved. You are my Mate.”
“Yes, I know we’re mating, and I’m enjoying it?—”
