Page 81 of The Orc Chief's Baker
No, not entirely. There was a tension in her jaw and a tightness in her movements. He wished he could drag her into his arms and stroke her hair and back until she finally relented her sadness.
She disappeared into the bathroom. “Biscuits and jam, this room is adisaster! I promise I’ll help you clean it in the morning.”
Like the depths, she would. He’d slip out of bed after she was asleep and get it done.
She came out of the bathroom dressed inhisshirt, andFades, have mercy. The blasted thing was short enough to show generous glimpses of her thighs every time she walked. It draped perfectly over her breasts and rounded stomach. The white cloth was so thin he could see her dark nipples poking through it.
This was torture. She looked more erotic than she had when she was fully naked. His fingers twitched with the need to yank it off her and cast it into the fire.
“Oh, no you don’t,” she said warningly. “I know that look. You stay right over there.”
She... knew his look? Most of the Rove Wood orcs couldn’t read his expressions yet and he’d lived in their company for half a season.
The grin fell away as she pulled back her curly hair and tied it up. Her neck was long and the scent of her, like vanilla and dew at dawn, was the best thing he’d ever smelled in all his years. He took a long, deep inhale, letting the scent fill him up. The imprint he held for her was pulsing contentment in his veins.
“Where’s your tea and honey? And cups.”
She’d ordered him not to get up, so he simply pointed to the cabinet nearest the oven. The few kitchen items he had were in there.
Trinia walked over without preamble and pulled out the cup. Her nose curled in clear disgust. “Brovdir, whatisthis?”
“Mug.”
“No, it isn’t. This is broken shards kept together with nothing but spit and sheer force of will. How do you even drink out of this?”
It had worked fine for him so far.
“Are you being serious? Brovdir, you are the chief of Rove Wood Clan! I’m sure you could get a better cup than this.” She went to the spigot and turned on the tap. She looked more at home here than he did. “I cannot believe this holds water. The Fades themselves must have blessed it with their mighty endurance.”
He laughed. The deep sound filled his gut and burned his throat, but his mirth couldn’t be contained.
To his delight, he found Trinia was grinning back at him, her cheeks flushed a pretty pink, and then she slipped over to where the kettle was and popped off the lid.
“Brovdir, there isdustin this.” Her chiding tone made his smile widen. She rinsed the kettle, filled it, and set it up on the stovetop with practiced efficiency. She even knew how to light and adjust the fire in the oven to heat the burner. It had taken him a half a day to figure out how to properly use the magical kindling and shift the temperatures without extinguishing the flame.
He could learn much from her.
“Now, where is the honey?” She went back to the cabinet and got up on her toes to reach the highest shelf. His shirt rode high on her thighs, almost to the swell of her bum, and his blood heated. Her thighs were dimpled and lovely. Her skin looked so soft it made his fingers twitch. His mouth watered just from the memory of her taste.
She dropped down onto her heels and quickly pulled the shirt down around her legs. He tried to snap his gaze to her face before she’d turned around, but he wasn’t fast enough.
To his alarm, she snorted. “I guess I look a bit strange wearing nothing but your shirt, right?” She set down the honey and tugged at the hem. “It’s a decent fit, though.”
“Breathtaking.”
The words slipped out before he could think better of it, and she let out a wry laugh. “You don’t have to flatter me.”
His brow furrowed. “Not flattery. Fact.”
“Fact, huh?” Her tone indicated she did not believe him. The way she covered her stomach with her arm and turned her body away made a spike of alarm go down his spine.
He got up and crossed the room to her. Her eyes widened as he loomed over her, but she didn’t order him to go sit back down, nor did she seem alarmed. She did not even flinch.
“Here isfact, Trinia of Oakwall. You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. So beautiful that I believe the Fades must have been inspired when they rendered you. To deny that fact is to deny our gods themselves. I suggest you do not do so again.”
Chapter
Twenty-Three
