Page 37 of Grumpy Pucking Orc
“I’m dying to know what you’re cooking,” I said as I poured and handed him a glass of wine.
“It’s supposed to beSwakegastew.” He put on a surprisingly frilly apron and a matching pair of floral-patterned oven mitts then opened the oven, sliding out the rack and lifting the lid off the Dutchoven.
I thought dinner had smelled good before, but this… I’d left my house determined to delay having sex with Ozar, but this was totally changing my mind.
“Here.” He took a spoon off the stove, ladled some of the sauce, blew on it, then held it out. I gingerly sipped it while the orc watched, an anxious expression on his face.
The sauce was spicy and hearty and reminded me a lot of a Moroccan dish I’d once had. I made an appreciative noise, then took the spoon in my mouth for the rest of the sauce, my eyes on Ozar the whole time. The tension in his shoulders vanished, and a flare of lust lit up his eyes as I slowly slid the spoon out of my mouth. It was one of the most overtly suggestive things I’d ever done, but any self-consciousness fled at his expression.
He wanted me as much as I wanted him. And just like me, he was imagining his cock between my lips instead of that spoon. But that would need to wait because I was starving, and I wanted to get to know this orc a little better before we got naked in the sheets.
Ozar stared at my lips, then put the spoon on top of the stove before returning the lid to the Dutch oven and closing up the stove. Taking off his oven mitts, he made a grumbling noise and scratched his head. “I don’t know if any of the ingredients I found in the grocery store are the same as what we have back home. A female employee at the grocery store named Amina assisted me. It’s similar toSwakegastew, but not exactly the same. I’m sorry. I really wanted you to have a traditional orc meal.”
There was no need for him to apologize. I’m sure it was difficult trying to find similar ingredients, and I truly appreciated all the effort he’d put into this dinner, even if I felt a flare of jealousy over his mention of this Amina woman.
“Someday I’d like you to have the real thing, served to you in my clan’s homeland,” he said with a shy smile.
“I’d love that.” It had been years since I’d taken a day off from my dental practice, and I didn’t have the staff to cover for an actual vacation, but I really did want to see his homeland and try the authentic version of his foods. It would require a lot of advanced planning, but I did need to start taking time off now and then. I’d covered Aaron Steinman’s practice when he and his wife celebrated their thirty-year anniversary in Italy last year. He’d offered several times to return the favor.
“Shall we sit down and wait for the dinner to finish?” He gestured to the living room, that worried frown back.
I grabbed our wines and followed him into the room, watched him adjust the pillows and furs, then placed our drinks on the coffee table and sat down smack in the middle of the sofa, making sure that he was going to end up against me no matter which side of the sofa he took.
Without the slightest hesitation, he sat to my right, draping his arm across the back of the sofa where it brushed against my shoulders. His thigh pressed against mine, and the warmth of his body was like a heater. I wondered what the body temperature of an orc was? Sitting here beside him, I thought it had to be close to a hundred degrees.
“Tell me aboutSwakegastew back where you grew up,” I said, continuing to think some rather uncharitable thoughts about Amina, even though the employee was most likely in her sixties and had probably only been helping Ozar navigate human foodstuff as part of her job.
“Swakegais a game meat, similar to your horses, although I used lamb,” he hurriedly added, no doubt in response to the look of horror on my face. “It has lots of spices and root vegetables. We cook it in a pot all day, thenserve it over another root vegetable. It is a common winter food at home. All orcs growing up have eaten it. We have lots of memories and heart-feelings aboutSwakegastew.”
I nodded. “Comfort food. We humans have those same feelings and memories, although the foods are different for each of us depending on our upbringing and cultural heritage.”
“What areyourcomfort foods?” he asked, brushing his hand against my hair.
I leaned back, feeling the heat of his skin against my neck. “Macaroni and cheese—the kind in the box with the squeeze packet of cheese. Pizza. Brownies. Oh—and chocolate chip mint ice cream.”
He scooted over so that I was nestled in the crook of his arm. “I’ve had pizza, and I like it. We have fried bread and cheese at home, but I actually like the human version better. I’ve never had these other foods, though.”
“I’m not about to cook you boxed macaroni and cheese after the meal you’re making for me, but I’ll buy you some to try yourself. Ice cream, though—that’s an experience that’s better shared.”
“So, it’s cold milk?” he asked, a strange note of hopefulness in his voice.
I turned to him, surprised that he didn’t know what ice cream was. He was so close, his face only a few inches from mine. His brown eyes met mine, and I sucked in a breath.
“Cold milk and cream, sugar, and other ingredients. It’s frozen while being churned,” I whispered.
“Sweet milky slush.” Ozar leaned closer, his dark eyes warm. “I should try it.”
“You should.” I closed the distance and kissed him.
His tusks were smooth and hard against the corners of my mouth. His lips brushed against mine, gentle and sweetuntil I nipped at his lower lip. With a sharp inhalation, he gathered me close, his tongue tangling with mine. I felt his fingers tighten on my shoulder while his other hand worked its way up my waist to cup my breast.
My stomach growled loud enough that we both could hear it. The rumble probably shook the floor. Laughing, I broke the kiss and pulled back. His eyes were soft and warm, with a hint of concern. Reaching out, he lightly traced my jaw with a calloused finger.
“I need to feed you now.” His smile was sheepish. “I meant to feed you before kissing.”
“Well, that was my fault.” I grinned. “I couldn’t resist.”
The rough edge of his thumb brushed against my lower lip. “I don’t want to stop but tonight is supposed to be about dinner. And the food should be ready now.”
