Page 4 of Bread with the Orc
I sighed and hung out the rag to dry, then moved the cleaning spray back beneath the counter. “Almost certainly. That’s what I was trying to build!” In frustration, I threw up my hands. “I wanted to bring people together, you know? I wanted them to linger, to talk, to smile, to solve problems. I makereallyfabulous tea, Dorvak—I’ll have to make you some to say thank you for the pastries. I just…” I sighed. “I wish the tea had been enough. I needed somethingmoreto keep people coming back, I guess.”
By this time, I’d walked myself to the front door, ready to go back and begin packing up. Face my failure. But Dorvak had followed me, that little cardboard box in his hand.
When I pulled open the door, he thrust the box toward me. “Your sugar.”
With a sad smile, I reached for it. I don’t know if we both shifted wrong or something, but my hand closed over his, and for a moment, I froze. His fingers were large and callused, but impeccably clean. Beneath mine, they felt huge, and I had to tamp down on a shiver when I considered how they’dfeel, gliding over my skin…
Dorvak’s nostrils flared, and I wondered if he could tell what I was thinking.
“Be well, Laney,” he murmured with a strange look in his dark eyes, one I couldn’t identify.
I nodded, pulling the pastries to me, severing the connection we’d shared for a moment. “Be well, Dorvak,” I whispered, before yanking open the door and hustling back to my own shop. My own failure.
But I felt as if I’d been hugged, and that was…lovely.
Chapter Two
Dorvak
The hoursbefore dawn had always been my favorite time of day. I loved the solitude, the quiet. Even before my kind had made ourselves known to the humans—or when I visited with my brothers in the woods—I appreciated the calm before the sun rose. It was an almost holy time, when I could reflect on the mistakes of yesterday and how to improve today.
Except…
Yesterday hadn’t been a mistake.
Oh, I’d forgotten to dip the rosemary in oil before I sprinkled it on the focaccia, and I’d had to pick off the singed pieces, but that had been far from the defining moment of the day.
No,thathonor had belonged to the sound Laney had made as she’d bitten into that bearclaw. That moan ofpleasure had shot straight to my cock, and had told me I’d made the right decision in inviting her into my kitchen, a place few had seen.
But when I’d witnessed her tears—so different from her usual smiles—I’d known I needed to do something. It had been a strange tug, myKteer—that primitive part of me which had kept males of my species alive and procreating for so long before we’d becomecivilized—howling at me tofix help smile kiss love.
A strange urging, one I’d never felt before.
Luckily, I’d guessed correctly when it came to offering her a pastry.
With a small growl, I punched down the focaccia dough, then pulled the edges from the bowl with even, sure tugs. The pastry had madeLaneyfeel better, but me?
I’d been up half the night reliving the sound of her pleasure.
MyKteerhad had plenty to say about that, as well. It was after midnight before I’d finally given up and reached beneath the sheets to pull out my cock, stroking it briskly until I’d come with an ashamed grunt.
I shouldn’t have done that, not while thinking of Laney’s lips. I shouldn’t have imagined her sweet taste, shouldn’t have imagined the sounds she’d make as my cock sunk into her. It felt like a violation to imagine such things when she likely didn’t think twice about me.
Fuck. Pay attention to the dough. It’ll get rubbery if you yank it too hard.
Right.
Baking bread required an even temperament and a calm manner. It was more difficult than the cinnamon rolls I’d prepped before going home last night. Just the sight of Laney eating my last bearclaw, and hearing her talk aboutnuts, had made me want to replenish my stock.
Feydin’s text had been good timing, I guess.
Speaking of timing, the handle on my back door rattled. “It’s open,” I called gruffly, and I heard Feydin step inside.
Few humans realized just how advanced orc senses were. Our hearing was unrivaled, and our sense of smell…well, let’s just say that the sweet scent of Laney’s arousal had coated my nostrils and tongue yesterday, andthatwas what had kept me awake all night.
I almost wished I hadn’t scented her, becausedamn. I don’t know what caused it, but I don’t think I’d ever forget the way?—
“What has you so distracted?”
