Page 59 of Steve's Barmaid
She nodded. My brain whirred. How long would it take someone who had no concept offoreverto decide? Days? Months? I didn’t know if I could hold on that long, waiting for a decision. It would wreck me.
“Well, what do you want to do then?” I asked, trying to give her the freedom to make a decision, even though I knew she was already feeling intense pressure.
She searched my eyes as if somehow I would give her the answer. I stroked down her arm but said nothing as she thought.
“Could I have two days?” Billie asked hesitantly.
I breathed a sigh of relief. I could do two days.
“A two days sounds—very, very fair,” I responded.
“One condition, though.”
My fragile relief started to crumble.
“I need two days where I don’t seeyou. I won’t be able to decide if you are standing there, being all wonderful and tending to my every need.”
I gave her a fierce frown.
“You can’t gotwo dayswithout seeing me?” she asked.
“Maybe I just don’t want to,” I said loftily.
She laughed, thankfully. “Just two days. And that day doesn’t have to start until tomorrow.”
I barely had time to look at her in surprise before she swung a leg over my hip and pulled me in for a bruising kiss. Based on my memories of this night alone, I could go for two days.
BILLIE
The next morning, Steve snuck out early. We decided to tell those who needed to know about the Elska marks. I had a feeling that this was Reykr for him. For me, it was Piper and Joey. I didn’t head to breakfast. I went straight to Joey’s door and opened it without knocking. To my great surprise, I found Joey and Reykr fast asleep, tangled together in Joey’s bed. Reykr’s entire thigh was hanging out of the covers, exposing a great dealof his ass. I almost whooped with joy, but I didn’t think either would appreciate it.
Well, fuck, I needed Joey. How was I going to extricate her from Reykr? Both of them started to shift and wake at the light coming in from the open door. Reykr opened his eyes first and scrambled to cover himself, waking up Joey in the process.
“What the fuck, Billie?!” she whisper-shouted at me.
“OhI’msorry,” I said sarcastically. “How was I to know that I might find Reykr in your bed when you’ve said literally nothing to me about him?” I crossed my arms in front of my chest and stuck out my tongue.
“I wasn’t sure it was—I didn’t know—” She stumbled over her words.
“I think what she is trying to say is that my returned interest took her by surprise,” Reykr said in a growly voice, clearly displeased to be found in such a compromising position.
“Okay, well, I won’t say anything, and we have more pressing matters at hand. Reykr, Steve is going to need you immediately.”
Reykr looked alarmed. “Is he okay?”
Without saying a word, I turned around and pulled up the back of my tunic, exposing the Elska marks running down my spine. I heard both Reykr and Joey gasp. Joey ran to me, completely nude, and traced a finger down my spine, causing me to shiver.
“Hey, watch it, that tickles!”
“Does this mean what I think it means?” she breathed, still staring at my back.
“Yes, Steve has matching marks,” I replied.
Reykr let out a low whistle of surprise.
“So why isn’t Steve with you right now?” Joey asked, brow raised. “Isn’t this supposed to lead to spontaneous, insatiable fucking?” Joey asked, brow raised.
I turned around so I could face Joey. “I told him I needed some time. I didn’t expect this. We didn’t think we had enough orc between the two of us to warrant an Elska bond. And for fuck’s sake, put some clothes on. I can’t have a serious conversation with you while you’re standing there naked.”
