Page 47 of Pursued By the Orc
“Oh,” she dragged out the word, sitting a little straighter. “You’re right. I’m so sorry for barging in, but...” she trailed off for a moment before she blurted, “I wanted to say thank you for the car.”
“Oh,” I echoed with dejection. “That’s no problem. I just wanted to...” I sighed, shrugging.
“To help me,” she said in a soft voice and I watched with disbelief as she moved over to sit next to me. “I know. I... I know I’m being a complete and utter lunatic going back and forth and acting like I don’t feel anything for you, Krusk.”
My eyes snapped over to where she was sitting next to me, my brows furrowed. “Youfeelsomething for me?” I demanded, before gentling my tone. “Somethingotherthan friendship?”
She wobbled her head from side to side. Not a yes, but also not a no. “It’s hard to say for me, okay?” She covered her face with her hands before peeking out at me by spreading her delicate fingers. “I haven’t really had any real relationships.”
I nodded enthusiastically. “Me, too.”
Her fingers lowered and she lifted one elegant eyebrow. “You too?” she asked, as if she didn’t believe it.
I shook my head and promptly shoved my foot into my mouth.“Just sexual.”
That elegant brow dropped so suddenly into a frown that I shook my head earnestly. “What I mean is that it was just sex. Lots of sex.”
“Lots?” she asked, fire burning behind her eyes.
“Not lots,” I denied, shaking my head. “Just... sex.” I didn’t think I was helping myself here, because she was looking at me like she wanted to hit me. “A little sex. Not much sex at all.”
She rolled her eyes and turned so she was facing away from me, her arms crossed. “I guess you can tell me aboutall the sexyou had if you’d like. Since we’re friends and all.”
If I could hit myself over the head with a huge stick, I would do it. “I thought you said that you were feeling things for me that weremorethan friendship,” I tried, but her shoulders were stiff with annoyance, and I couldn’t even blame her. It was all my fault. My fault and my stupid big mouth’s.
“Iwas,” she muttered, sniffing her annoyance in my direction, and I moved closer, settling on the sofa next to her. She yelped as my weight sank the cushions until she was pressed up against my side.
“I’m an idiot,” I explained, pretty certain that she already knew that, but wanting to make sure she understood. “I shouldn’t have said that. What I was trying to explain was that I’ve never had a real emotional connection in any of my previous... relationships.”
CHAPTER 31
Krusk
Emma peeked over her shoulder at me again, but her eyes were softer. “Really?”
I nodded. “But in the last couple of weeks with you, Emma, I’ve felt... so much more. But I agreed that I would only be friends with you. Friends so that you could be certain that I wouldn’t break your trust. You didn’t want anything more and I’m... trying my best.” The words were torn from me, because I didn’t want to admit to her that I’d broken the rules that she’d put in place.
But they’d been broken the moment I’d seen her. The moment I’d gotten to know her. I’d fallen hard and I’d fallen fast. There was no going back for me. I couldn’t take any of my feelings back, and I didn’t want to.
She turned then, hesitant but with a smile. “I felt more too, Krusk. But you’ve given me so much and I don’t want to take advantage of you. I need you to understand that until I’ve fixedthe entire mess of my life, I’m not interested in anything with strings attached,” she explained, searching my face.
I had no idea what the hell she was talking about. I didn’t own anything that had strings, but I’d be willing to toss anything that she wanted me to.
“Okay,” I agreed with a nod.
“I have a lot going on,” she said, reaching for my hands, and I took her soft palms into mine.
Fuck, she feels good. Right. Perfect.
“I can help you,” I told her, and she gave me a small smile, running her thumb over my skin for one mind-melting moment.
“I know,” she murmured, her lashes sweeping down as she closed her eyes, a small smile playing at her lips. “And I know that you’re doing everything you’re doing because you’re sweet and youwant to. You’re not doing it so I’d feel indebted to you.”
I frowned. “Of course not. Who the hell would do something like that?” I scowled hard.
“A lot of people,” she laughed, but it wasn’t the happy sound I was used to. It was a bitter sound that had no place on her soft, sweet tongue. “But you’re not like them and it took me a long time to realize that. That you won’t hurt me.”
Her smile was gentler now, sweeter. “You’re my friend, and you’d never hurt me.”
