Page 33 of Bread with the Orc
“Fucking hells,” he muttered, dropping my chin and wrapping his arms around me. “I’ve never told you, have I?” He didn’t let me answer, just tucked my head under his chin. “I’ve never told you I love you? That was stupid.”
I mean…maybe? A spark of hope lit in my chest.
“Dkaar…” He blew out a breath, ruffling my hair. “An orc does not throw around the wordlovelightly. I would never use that as a weapon, even against your father.”
Baba. My eyes closed tightly, trying to hold in the tears that threatened. My father thought I was a failure. I’d seen his disgust, but when he’d directed it at my Dorvak, I’d lost my calm. Dorvak wasmine, and I’d be damned if I was going to let my father insult him just because of some stupid prejudices.
“I can hear you thinking,” he rumbled above me.
“If you ask me,” cut in someone from the other side of the bakery, “you need to just tell the girl you love her, Dorvak!”
I jerked my head away from my Mate’s chest to stare around the space. At my friends and neighbors, who were now laughing and clapping and calling out helpful—and unhelpful suggestions.
“Kiss her!”
“Get down on one knee—humans like that sort of thing!”
“Girl, any man who cooks like that is a keeper! Go find an extra-large ring and put it on him!”
“Kiss her!”
“You’re going to have to tell her how you feel, you idiot.”
“She’s clearly not thinking straight either, just look at her!”
I stared around at everyone, bemused…but should have known Dorvak wasn’t going to stand for it.
“Enough!” he roared.
Suddenly, I was in his arms, and he was lifting me. He scowled at the gathered crowd.
“It’s closing time. Everyone finish and leave. No one touch anything behind the counter. The last one to leave, lock the door.”
The chuckles began again, and I found myself breathless—in a fearful sort of hope—as I clutched at Dorvak.
“What are you going to do?” called out someone near the door.
Dorvak dropped his now-dark gaze to mine. “I have to show my Mate how much I love her.”
Dorvak
I could smellthe sharp spike of Laney’s arousal, as well as her irritation. When we reached the living room, she squirmed in my grasp. “Put me down.”
“Of course,” I rumbled, letting her slide down my body to stand, glaring at me, hands on her hips, beside the battered armchair she claimed she’d had since college.
“I’m not going to let you distract me with sex, Dorvak. I’m warning you. This is serious.”
“Sex can be serious.” I waggled my brow. “See?”
Laney threw her hands up. “Now? Now you decide it’s time for jokes?”
“Mate.” I reached for her, catching her hands in mine, letting her see how very seriously I was taking this. “The way I feel about you is no joke. I’m not trying to distract you.”
“We need to talk,” shehmphed…but her gaze was locked on my chest. “What you said to my father… It wasn’t just to get him to leave?”
I squeezed her hands. “I meant it. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you I loved you sooner.”
Her lips formed the wordlove,but when she took a breath and peeked up at me from under dark lashes, what she said was, “It feels sudden.”
