Page 105 of The Orc Chief's Baker
She didn’t.
He pressed his lips to her palm and her whole body shivered as lightning struck through her. His tusks felt cool against her fingers, but his lips were so hot she felt like he might be branding her. Marking her as his own.
Still, she didn’t pull away.
He lowered her hand again, his expression relaxed with pleasure, and then he looked into her face and his eyes went wide with surprise. She knew her expression must have been telling.
She didn’t care. She reached up, stroked her fingers through his shaggy hair, gripped hard. Pulled him down to her.
He came with a low rumble of pleasure that made her toes curl. Their mouths collided.
He tasted so good. Husky with spice. His lips were so soft, and the contrast against his hard tusks was incredible. She opened her mouth, wanting more. To taste him. To drink him up.
He let her delve her tongue into his mouth to duel with his, and she lost herself, drowned in him. She didn’t want it to end even as her body grew hot, her thighs clenched, and her core began to pulse with need.
He broke off the kiss, and she blinked up at him in shock.
“I... want you.” His voice was a bare growl. “Want you badly. We must stop.”
“W-why?” She could hardly keep track of what he was saying. It felt like her thoughts were thickly coated in sugar. “Why can’t we?”
“Because I will render you with child.”
Her breath hitched. She’d almost forgotten about that. About their deal. About the house he was supposed to build for her. About thebusinesstransaction.
But then she blinked rapidly as she comprehended his words. “Wait, you... you don’t want me to play conquest for you?”
His beautiful green eyes went wide, and his complexion went a little pale, but then he sucked in a hard, determined breath.
“Trinia of Oakwall.” His eyes held her captive. “I don’t want a son. I wantyou.”
She lost all the air in her lungs.
“I will... build your house for you, and in exchange, I will host you until it is ready. You will keep me company during lonely nights.”
She exhaled, shivering at what he might have meant by “lonely nights.” “A—a whole house for advice and companionship. That doesn’t seem like enough.”
“It’s more than enough,” he said firmly.
She forced a laugh. “Oh Brovdir... you... you’re still really bad at making trades. I’m getting a much better deal.”
He gave her a lopsided grin that melted her heart. “Is that a yes?”
Was it?
“Brovdir, I—” Her mind grappled with this decision. It was too soon, wasn’t it? They barely knew each other!
He must have read her face because he pulled a paper out of his waistband.
The sketch she’d done of his house. The one that turned it into two bedrooms.
“We can do this,” he said. “Can build it in a day. You stay with me, but also have space until I have finished building your home.”
She couldn’t believe this. This was insane. She shouldn’t even consider staying with him.
She watched his hand as he held the parchment. His thumb brushed it almost tenderly. His grip was careful, like he didn’t want to risk creasing it.
He was trembling a little.
