Page 37 of The Orc and the Innkeeper

I long to reach out and pull her close, to have the warmth of her body against mine, but I resist the urge. We’re not there yet, no matter how badly I want it.

Instead, I let my gaze drift to Robert, curious to see how the human is reacting to the magic. To my surprise, he appears utterly transfixed, leaning forward in his seat as if trying to absorb every note. The lines of tension that usually crease his face have smoothed out, replaced by an expression of wonder and delight.

Robert turns to the elf sitting beside him and strikes up a conversation, gesturing animatedly as he speaks. The elf responds with a smile, and soon the two are engaged in a lively discussion, their voices barely audible over the music.

When the final notes of the final song fade away, the room erupts in applause. I join in, clapping until my hands sting, a grin spreading across my face.

Beside me, Robert leaps to his feet, his expression one of pure joy.

“Bravo!” he shouts, his voice carrying over the din. “Absolutely magnificent!”

Then he turns to me, clapping me on the shoulder. “I have to go call my wife and tell her about this. She’ll never believe it. Magical music…”

Robert shakes his head and wanders off toward his room, delight written all over his face. Mariah and I exchange pleased looks before she’s swept off into the crowd.

Eventually, the last of the guests filter out of the lobby and Mariah’s already starting to clean up, gathering discarded programs and empty glasses. I move to help her, ignoring her protests.

“Thorak, you don’t have to do that. I can handle it.”

“I know you can,” I say, my voice low. “But I’d like to help. Let me do this for you, Mariah.”

She hesitates. For a moment, I think she’s going to refuse, but then she nods, her mouth curving into a small smile.

We work in silence for a while, moving around each other with a practiced ease. Every brush of her hand against mine sends a jolt of electricity through me, every glimpse of her flushed cheeks and bright eyes making it harder to attend to the task at hand.

Tension builds between us and I catch Mariah sneaking glances at me when she thinks I’m not looking, her gaze lingering on my hands, my chest, my lips.

It’s maddening, being so close to her and yet so far away. I want to take her in my arms, to crush her against me and claim her mouth with my own. But I won’t, not until she’s ready.

We finish cleaning up the inn’s lobby and I’m about to say goodnight, to give Mariah the space she asked for this morning, when she suddenly turns to face me.

“Thorak, I...” She takes a deep breath, her voice trembling slightly. “I’m ready for the conversation you wanted to have earlier.”

I step closer, barely daring to hope. “Mariah, what are you saying?”

She reaches out, her small, pale fingers grazing my cheek, and I lean into her touch, savoring the warmth of her skin against mine. “I’m saying that I’m not ready to put a label on it, but…I want you, Thorak. I’d like to see where this leads.”

I loosen a breath. “Are you sure? I don’t mean to talk you out of this, but you weren’t in this place this morning.”

Mariah nods firmly. “I’m sure. I was giving into fear and I’m done doing that.”

A wave of joy crashes over me, so intense that it nearly brings me to my knees. I take her hand in mine, pressing a fervent kiss to her palm.

“Mariah, you have no idea how long I’ve waited to hear you say those words.”

She smiles a radiant, heart-stopping smile that I know I’ll remember for the rest of my days. “I won’t lie, it’s been hard for me to come to terms with my feelings for you. But I’ve decided to accept that you’re not the same person you were back then. Neither am I. And I’m not going to fight this any longer.”

I gather her in my arms, marveling at how perfectly her small body fits against my large one.

“I meant what I said before, Mariah. We’ll go at your pace, follow your lead. You’re in control here, and I’ll never push you for more than you’re ready to give.”

Mariah’s eyes darken with desire as she gazes up at me. Unable to resist the magnetic pull between us any longer, I lean in, capturing her soft, inviting lips with my own.

The kiss starts off slow, tender, a gentle exploration. But as Mariah’s fingers tangle in my hair, her body melting against mine, the kiss deepens, becoming more urgent.

I pour every ounce of my longing, my devotion, into the kiss, my hands roaming the curves of her body, mapping out the contours I’ve dreamed of touching for years. Mariah matches my fervor, her tongue tangling with mine, her teeth grazing my bottom lip in a way that has my cock twitching.

The world around us fades away, until there’s nothing but the two of us, lost in the intoxicating haze of our desire.

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