Chapter 3 #2
I blinked. Where had that thought come from?
I’d only just met the female—although Riven had spoken of her often over the last few months.
Still, I couldn’t deny that I’d thought of little else since I’d met her.
Since she’d knocked a tree on top of me and then fell into my arms. Since she’d touched me, and I touched her…
I forced myself to open my to-do list. “I’ll figure out what needs to be done to get permission. The Community Development Coordinator is Mated to an orc, the artist.”
“Karnak,” Garrak supplied, and I noted his name as well. I remembered that he was a bit reclusive, but surely I could contact his Mate and invite them both.
“She’ll approve.” Korrad’s grin was as feral as his brother’s as he pushed himself to his feet. “Once she hears what’s entailed. If she’s not interested, then Karnak isn’t doing his job as her Mate.”
Brakor chuckled darkly, a rare sound from the normally grumpy male, and slapped his brother on the shoulder as he passed. “Let’s go get dinner.”
Young Jay scampered after them. “It’s not even dark yet!”
“Early dinner, then,” his uncle grunted, throwing his arm around the boy’s shoulders. “Pizza? Then you can eat leftovers at ten, like you’ve been doing. Don’t think we haven’t noticed.”
“He’s a growing boy,” Korrad chided as he held out his son’s jacket. “Although if he doesn’t eat some fruits and vegetables with that pizza, he’s going to grow in a different direction than he wants.”
“Dad,” Jay sighed, grabbing the coat. “I’m not a baby.”
“You’re my baby, T’man,” his father announced, ruffling his hair.
Brakor snorted, then pulled the door open. “Let us know about the Solstice, Sylvik. It’s next week.”
I’d followed them to the door. “I know. It won’t be fancy—”
“Doesn’t need to be,” he grunted as he watched his brother and nephew head to their SUV. “It’ll be good to celebrate again.”
True to form, the curt male didn’t say goodbye, but stalked off after his family, leaving me holding the door and watching them depart.
Good to celebrate again. We’d made a home for ourselves in Bramblewood, but it had never felt…
right. Was Eastshore our chance? Abydos and his brothers had found peace here.
Were Korrad and Brakor looking for that same peace?
Because in the last week, I’d realized I most definitely was.
“Are you expecting someone?”
At Garrak’s question, I realized he’d limped up to my side, and now I followed his gaze to the sedan, which was pulling into the spot in my drive that Brakor had just vacated. I frowned at the same time my pulse began throbbing in my temple.
“No,” I murmured thoughtfully, even as I recognized the shape behind the wheel. “Maybe she had a wedding question.”
“Maybe.” Garrak’s big hand clapped my shoulder. “Thank you, T’mak, for helping to make this place a home for all of us.”
Surprised, I dragged my gaze away from Brooke’s car to glance at him. “You’re the one we owe thanks to.”
His smile was a little sad as he squeezed my shoulder briefly, then dropped his hand. “Only doing what needs to be done, T’mak.”
Little brother. Garrak thought of all of us as his younger brothers, didn’t he? The gods of the ancestors knew he protected us, watched over us, that way. I inclined my head slightly. “Well, we owe you, D’malk.”
I knew he’d never set out to be our chief; but it was in his nature to lead us, and after he’d saved so many of our brothers, how could we think of him any other way?
Still, his snort was my only answer as he brushed past me out the door.
I guess he’d walked here from the new condo building, where he had a place as he waited for his house to be finished.
I would have offered to drive him, except…
Except Brooke Starr was unfolding her long legs out of the driver’s seat, her binder clutched to her chest and her grin hopeful, and there was no way I was bothering to pay any attention to my brother after that sight.
“Hello,” I called as she hurried across the sod laid for my lawn—we’d all been flabbergasted to learn that humans farmed grass to build lawns like this—and I met her halfway down the steps. “Is everything okay?”
“Everything’s great!” She was breathless and smiling, and I felt like a gust of sweet-smelling wind had just washed over me when she bounced up to me. “I would have texted, but I didn’t know your number, and I wanted to show you some pictures.”
I’d been working remotely for the last decade, as my boss traveled around the world, and if I had been in her shoes, I would have just sent the pictures electronically.
But I loved that Brooke printed them out and arranged them in a binder, and I would be damned before I suggested anything that gave her an excuse to stay away.
So I gestured toward my front door. “I can’t wait to see them. Can I get you something to drink?”
“Oh, hot chocolate would be lovely. You remember the Mistletoe Mistake we had at the diner?” When she exhaled, her breath clouded the air in front of her, and she giggled and ducked into the house.
“It’s so cold out there! Well…” Green eyes flicked over me briefly.
“I guess you don’t think so, Mr. Wears Short Sleeves. ”
“I told you,” I teased her as I headed for the kitchen. “I’m from Alaska. This is summer weather to me.”
Gods below, the sound of her laughter went right to my cock.
Hot chocolate. Hot chocolate! I didn’t have any mix, and nothing I could make was going to be as good as the diner’s, but I did have some M&Ms…
When I returned to the living room carrying the mug, Brooke was standing near the front window. She’d removed her gloves and hat and was staring down at her binder—
No.
She was staring down at my little tree.
Suddenly a little nervous, I thrust the mug toward her. “Here. I microwaved the milk to melt the chocolate.”
Her nose wrinkled adorably as she studied the drink. “It’s brown.”
“Yeah.” I tipped my head closer to hers so I could stare down into the mug. “Chocolate’s brown.”
“This isn’t brown-brown, it’s like…blue-and-red-and-green-swirled-together-brown.”
Ah. I peered closer. She was right. “That’s all the candy coating from the chocolates I had to use. It’ll add sugar.”
A giggle slipped free, and when she peeked up at me, I realized how close our noses were. I didn’t move away, and neither did she.
I wanted to kiss her. In that moment, I wanted to kiss Brooke more than anything.
But as I swayed toward her, she lifted the mug and took a sip. Her eyes widened with what looked like delight, and I saw her lips curl. “It’s really good!” she announced, lowering it just enough to speak. “Do you want some?”
Yes. I nearly groaned it out loud but managed to swallow down my plea. If I wasn’t careful, I would press against her, pinning her with my body, showing her exactly how much I “wanted some.”
But I couldn’t afford to terrify her. Not if we were going to be working together for the next few weeks.
No matter how much I wanted to taste that chocolate on her lips.
So I forced myself to exhale, to straighten, to plaster a polite expression on my face. “I made it for you.”
“Thank you.” Her gaze flickered sideways. “I like your tree.”
“It’s…” I swallowed. “It is smaller than the one you chose.” The one we met under.
Brooke turned toward the potted tree, which should have been disappointing. But somehow her shoulder ended up almost brushing my sternum, and I froze, terrified of scaring her off if I drew her attention to the proximity. If I inhaled, my body would brush against hers…
“And it’s in a pot.”
I heard the teasing in her tone, but didn’t understand it. “What?” I croaked.
With a little grin, she shot me a smile as she sipped her hot chocolate. “You left the root ball intact, didn’t you, Sylvik? You didn’t want to cut down a living tree.”
Forget my earlier good intentions. Because when she said my name? Those chocolate-flavored lips caressing my simple syllables? I swayed forward, having to reach out and grip the edge of the credenza to stay upright.
“I…”
She winked. Gods below, she winked. “I’m learning all about orcish traditions. My sister and cousin are both Mated to orcs, you know. Tarkhan is far more talkative than Abydos, and he has a lot to say about reverence for growing things.”
My voice was a rasp, but I managed, “Didn’t think he cared…”
“He said the same thing.” While one hand cupped the mug near her face, the other reached out to tap the little pine. “I love that you put some fairy lights up, but the only other decoration you’ve added is this paper chain?”
“A friend…” I cleared my throat. “A friend’s son made that for me. Today.”
“Well, he did a great job.” She suddenly placed the mug down beside her binder. “But it’s not enough. Mom and I decorated that big tree from top to bottom.” She whirled to me, grasped my hand, and before I could remind my heart to start beating, beamed up at me.
“Come on, Sylvik. I’ll help you decorate it.”