Page 122 of The Orc Chief's Baker
He nodded hesitantly.
“For how long?”
He averted his gaze, but she cupped his cheek and forced him to look at her. His hard swallow made him wince, and she stroked his temple until he relaxed.
Finally, he mumbled. “First kiss. Didn’t realize at the time, though.”
“The first kiss.” She cupped his face with the other hand and searched his worried eyes. “You’ve felt this way from thefirst kiss. But how is that possible? It’s supposed to take time.”
“Don’t know,” he said carefully. “Same happened to Govek.”
“Oh, right. I heard about that,” Trinia said, thinking back to when her sister had come back from that first trade with the warriors ranting and raving, threatening to bring down the bakery with her fury over losing Govek.
And Trinia had barely minded because she’d just shared a kiss with the male kneeling right in front of her.
“But you avoided me forso long. You were fighting the imprint this whole time? Even when you were avoiding me?”
“Yes.” He held her gaze. “Regret it now. Won’t make this mistake again. I will never run from your side again, Trinia of Oakwall.”
Despite everything that had happened,becauseof everything that had happened, she believed him. To the depths of her soul, she knew that from this moment forward, she would never feel alone again.
Her body went lax and her mind calmed, and her tension eased away. Tension that had been lingering since her mother had gotten sick so many years ago.
Tears flooded her eyes.
Poor Brovdir’s blurry face instantly fell into panic. “Wha—I apologize. Trinia, I?—”
She dashed at the tears. “No, it’s not. It’s not you, it’s just...” She moved her hands down from his face and gripped his shoulders. “I’ve been on my own for so long. I had friends, of course, but it’s just... it’s not the same as... as...”
He cupped her neck and drew her forward, pressed her forehead to his. She could feel his steady breath on her face, helping her to breathe. His pulse was strong under her fingertips.
“You will not be alone again.” His voice was so solid and certain, and she helplessly leaned into him. “I vow this, Trinia. You aremine.”
She felt that down to the pit of herself. To her core. She washis, and in this moment, nothing else mattered. Not the bakery, not the sinkholes, not the prophecy. It was just her and him anchored in to ride out the storm.
They sat like that for a long time, just holding each other, allowing a moment of stillness which was so rare of late. She relished it. Relished the steady feeling of being cared for, of being given the space to breathe.
“I feel like I’ve been sprinting for years,” she murmured, eyes still shut, but she could feel Brovdir all around her. His warmth, his spicy scent... “Since I took over mother’s bakery, I’ve never had a chance to slow down.” She opened her eyes and found him staring back at her. “Thank you, Brovdir, for giving me a moment of peace in the chaos.”
His hand came up and brushed at the back of her head.
“Always.”
He truly meant that.
And she believed him.
She leaned in and kissed him tenderly. Sweetly. She poured her gratitude into the kiss, nibbling gently at his lips, scratchingat the nape of his neck. He let out a huff of pure contentment and pleasure.
She tipped her head to deepen the kiss.
And a sharp pain radiated from her neck. From the bite wound. She’d almost forgotten.
Brovdir instantly released her. “I’ll find bandages.”
He got up and her hands fell back down into her lap, as disappointment flattened her. She would have him back the moment her neck had been fixed up.
Brovdir searched the storeroom shelves. His posture was easy, and his expression was calm but for a light furrow of concentration.
