Page 2 of Kissing my Grumpy Troll Boss
The eyes of the whole room turn toward a tall human man with sandy blond hair and a dryad I recognize from accounting. I wonder if they went under the mistletoe on purpose. I’ve seen them flirting in the staff kitchen and noticed the way he always lingers at the end of the day to walk her out.
It would be embarrassing with everyone looking. But the rush of blood to my cheeks and the silly smile on my face gives away how much I’d love to be the one being kissed beneath the mistletoe.
Not that I could. My snakes would bite anyone who came that close.
Eventually they kiss and everyone cheers and raises their glasses. I feel hot just watching them and I squirm awkwardly at the way it makes a tingle of awareness start low in my belly. What would it feel like to be kissed?
I think if I was to kiss someone, I’d rather he be someone a bit more… rugged? The human is very handsome, but I can’t help thinking I’d rather kiss someone like Mr. Kvalt.
My boss is a tall, impossibly large troll with shoulders that block out daylight when he stands right in front of you and a smile that always feels a little heated. Maybe that’s just the way I feel when he smiles at me if I’ve done a good job on something.
My snakes writhe against my neck and I turn in the direction they’re looking to see Mr. Kvalt talking to Natasha in the corner. My snakes stretch out their long necks and hiss and I slap them down, embarrassed. “Shhh.”
I’m bitten for my trouble, but they subside against my neck and I relax a little.
“You OK?” asks Michelle.
I nod. “Yeah. Fine. This is great. I’m so glad I came.” I take another sip of my drink. Thank goodness she got me something icy.
Is it time to go home yet?
TWO
Kat
It’s getting late.
To be precise, it’s almost 8. That’s well past the time I’d ordinarily stay at something like this. I can’t find a way to make my excuse to leave, though.
I wish I’d thought of something before I came out. A reason I need to leave. Only the usual things won’t work on Michelle. She knows I’ve got no family in Heartstone who could call me up with an emergency. She also knows I don’t have work in the morning.
I’m stuck.
Only the longer I’m stuck, the more fun I start to have.
There really is a reason Michelle is my work friend. She pulls me onto the dance floor and we find a secluded corner where I can shuffle awkwardly to the beat of the music when no one is watching. With the buzz of alcohol in my system that I’m not used to and the loud music, the darkened room. I can almost relax. So for a few songs, I close my eyes and give into it. Only blinking them open every now and again to check that no one has come near.
I stop worrying so much after the next song. It’s one I recognize. And while I’ve danced at home alone to this tune, I’ve never done it in public. It feels good.
The dance floor gets more crowded. It’s only a small venue.
I start to feel anxious when a human with a bright yellow dress sways nearby, backing slowly toward me until I’m hurrying to get out of her way.
“Ooooooh!” The same call as earlier silences the room. The music fades out. The lights turn on and everyone pauses what they’re doing.
It’s happened again, hasn’t it? Someone stepped under mistletoe. That’s all.
Only I blink around the room, trying to work out who it is, only to realize everyone is looking at me.
I take another hasty step back and encounter a wall behind me. A solid, warm, moving wall that holds me by the arms and steadies me.
I turn, already knowing in my heart who’s behind me.
My stomach still does that awful little dive into the void. Only this time, he’s looking down at me, so instead of coming out the other side feeling elated, I feel like I want to throw up.
“You OK there?” Mr. Kvalt’s voice is a low rumble, just for me.
I nod, instinctively, but I can’t talk.
