Page 35 of My Orc Billionaire
But since my assistant was waiting, I just hummed in agreement. “Apparently. Aswan texted me earlier today that he was expecting me for dinner. Thebkarnhas been in the smoker since yesterday.”
“Oh Malla the Beginner, I do miss your brother’sbkarn. Has he started a new restaurant out there?”
“No, he has his hands full with the kitlings.” Kitlings I’d agreed to spend the evening with, byaccepting the dinner invitation. “My new chef is just as good though, so I’m not deprived.”
“Ah. Does this mean you’ve forgiven me for that little fuck-up?” Sylvik sounded hopeful, and I had to snort.
“I suppose so. She might be human, but she seems to understand the importance of cheese. And she’s…decorated the place. For fall.”
“Uh…and are you okay with that?”
I was surprised to discover I didn’t mind it. Besides, she hadn’t got all humany with the spooky Halloween decorations; her work had been limited to a few leaf garlands and pumpkins and some scented candles.
I’d thrown away the cinnamon candle, but I hadn’t told her why.
“It doesn’t completely suck. Feels like nature on the inside of the house.” Yeah, that was it. “And she’s been making autumnal foods. I’d forgotten how many types of soups there were.”
“She sounds perfect, Abydos.”
Yeah, there were plenty of other reasons for me to be grateful Riven had come into my life.
Closing my eyes, I tipped my head back against the seat and struggled to keep myKteer—and cock—under control. In the two days since she’d come apart in my arms, she’d avoided me. I could smell her embarrassment and shame whenever we were in the same room, and while I didn’t want to discomfit her further, I wished I could find a way to tell her I didn’t regret that kiss…didn’t regret what we’d shared.
No. In fact, the memory of her arousal, the scent of her orgasm, kept me up until almost dawn the next day. I’d fucked my own handtwice, and it hadn’t helped to calm myKteer. There’d been a million layers of clothing between us, and I could still feel her pulsing heat.
I groaned and scrubbed a hand over my face.
“Boss?”
Fuck me, I’d forgotten I was on a call with my assistant. I’d been distracted as shit the last few days, but at least I knew why. Walking on eggshells around my pretty little personal chef could do that.
“Take the rest of the day, Sylvik,” I told him firmly. “Go enjoy the Halloween festival.”
“…Are you sure you’re okay?” The other male sounded concerned. Well, why the hells wouldn’t he be? He’d spent years taking care of me, the same as Riven, and likely knew me better than I expected. “Giving me the evening off, visiting your brother, attending a festival…”
“I’m fine,” I growled, knowing he was teasing me. “I’m notattending. I’m just here for thebkarn.”
“Sure,” Sylvik teased. “Eat some for me. I’ll have your schedule for tomorrow waiting when you wake up. Havefun, Abydos. You deserve it.”
Did I?
If you wanted to have fun, you shouldn’t have given Riven the evening off when she asked for it.
My lips twitched, knowing damn well what kind offunmyKteerwould prefer. But she’d made it clear she’d been embarrassed by the whole encounter—likelybecause she woke up and realized who it was she was actually kissing—so I’d respected those boundaries.
Sylvik was waiting, so I sighed. “Yeah, okay,” I promised, knowing I’d do no such thing. “And Sylvik? Thanks.”
He made a little choking noise on the other end of the line, and I knew if he was going to respond, it’d be something snarky, so I punched the button to hang up before he could. And then I smirked just a little.
But I definitely wasn’t smirking when, after I knocked on Aswan’s door, it swung open to reveal chaos. “Hi, Uncle Abby-dos,” shouted nine-year-old Tova to be heard over her younger brother’s shrill screams. “Happy Halloween!”
Oh fuck me, theAbby-dosthing was sticking? “Happy Halloween,” I managed to mutter before Joshy gave a particularly loud holler and made a beeline toward me.
No, not toward me. Toward the open door.
Thinking only of the heavy traffic on the street out front, I snatched up the tiny body as he hurtled past me, then lifted him, still kicking, into the air.
“Fweeeedom!” Joshy bellowed, squirming enthusiastically. “Fweeeeedom!”
