CHAPTER 15
Krusk
Ileaned back in my chair, not certain that I was going to be able to move ever again. I would just sink into the floor and become one with it like a melted pile of orc-butter.
“I see you enjoyed that,” my mate’s sweet voice sounded from next to me. I turned in her direction, grinning at her.
“I’ve never had a better meal in my life,” I told her, honestly.
“Good,” she murmured, her eyes sparkling with amusement for a long moment before she glanced away from me. I didn’t bother to, tracing her gorgeous features with my eyes. “Dessert?” she asked, leaning down to clear the plates from in front of me.
I clenched my fingers on the edge of the table. I wanted her to be sitting next to me, enjoying this meal with me. She shouldn’t have to be serving me.
But I couldn’t have that until I won her. It was all on me. I needed to do better. Do more.
“Dessert sounds good,” I said, looking around and noticing that the rest of the restaurant was empty. I glanced at my watch, realizing that we had to be past closing time. Horrified, I blurted. “But I think I’ve overstayed my welcome. I kept you here—”
She shook her head, leaning her hip against the sturdy table with a small smile playing on her lips. “It’s nothing to worry about. There’s always time for dessert.”
The words ran up my spine with a fine shiver, as if she’d touched me ever so gently.
You wish.
“W-would you share it with me?” I asked, hesitant. Maybe it was moving too fast. She might want to get to know me better before spending time alone with me after all.
Which I understood. She was so tiny and perfect; she wouldn’t want to be in any kind of threatening position with a male as large as I was.
Even though her breasts, hips and ass would be luscious handfuls—
My inner ramblings were cut off as she smiled at me, leaning down. In a low whisper, she said, “I recommend the gelato, if we’re sharing.”
I nodded like a complete idiot for a full minute, even as she walked away from my table with a grin on her face.
She wasn’t gone for long, bringing back a tray with two bowls on it. She placed one in front of me before taking a seat opposite me. I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. She was volunteering to spend time with me, and I was supposed to do something more than worship at her feet?
I leaned forward, shaking my head and giving her an out. “You… you don’t have to be here just because I’m a customer.”
She nodded agreeably. “I know. I’ve gotten this kind of invitation before, you know,” she said with a bashful shrug, as I tried to shove aside the vengeful, jealous monster inside of me that wanted to rip those males’ throats out.
“I don’t have to do anything. But I… I wanted ice cream,” she finished, glancing away for a moment before our eyes met again and she gave a small, shy smile.
Fuck, I might have just come in my pants.
“Do—” I started, but my voice came out high and squeaky. I cleared my throat before beginning again in my regular voice. “Do you like gelato?”
“Yep,” she said, dipping a spoon into the bowl in front of her, scooping up some of the pale pink dessert. “Even the vegan kind. I don’t know where Hans keeps it or I’d raid his stash more often,” she added with a little giggle that made me want to punch my fist in victory.
She likes gelato.
That was the first fact about her that I didn’t have to find from someone else. When she leaned forward, I started to lean forward as well, my lips parted with shock and hope.
She likes gelato and now we’re soulmates.
I only realized what a ridiculous statement that was after she snagged my glass of wine from next to my hand and took a long sip before closing her eyes and humming her enjoyment. I was bewitched by her again, unable to look away.
“I’ve been trying to get into his wine stash too,” she admitted, her eyes twinkling with an amused light that I wanted to keep there forever. “But he keeps the key to his office too high for me to reach.” She rolled her eyes then. “And he’s shorter than I am, so I don’t know how that works.”
“Extended arms,” I told her, leaning back in my chair so I could see more of her. “If he’s a kobold.”
Her eyes went huge in her face and she gasped, slapping her hand on the table. “I knew it! I saw him snatch something from across the room one time and I thought I was crazy.”
“Magic,” I told her, the word sounding dazed while I studied every single feature on her face.
She rolled her eyes, taking another long sip of my wine. I couldn’t help but wonder if her lips were pressing against where mine had. It might be the closest to a kiss we’d ever get. Not that I wasn’t hoping for more, but just in case—
My thoughts cut off when I realized she’d put her glass and spoon down and leaned back in her seat, mirroring me. Startled, I sat up.
“Did I do something wrong?” I asked, needing to know so I could fix it.
Her eyes ducked and she bit her lower lip, shaking her head. “No, I just… It’s nice. Talking to you.”
Gods, I wanted to preen like a fucking peacock.
“I wasn’t sure you’d want to talk to me,” I laughed, scrubbing at the back of my neck with my palm, self-conscious.
“I wanted to make sure you were clear about me being…” I paused for a moment, not sure how to finish the sentence without saying, ‘obsessed with you and absolutely certain that you’re my mate.
Now, can I pretty please mark you, so every other male knows that too? ’ “...single.”
Well, that’s one way to say it.
“Oh, yeah,” she laughed, taking another bite of gelato. The way she slipped the spoon into her mouth with slow precision should be outlawed. I ignored the throbbing of my cock and focused on what she was saying instead. “I spoke to Lin just to make sure.”
I nodded with enthusiasm. “Yes! Lin can corroborate!” I insisted.
Her surprised snort was the most adorable sound I’d ever heard in my life. I wanted her to do it again. I wanted to make this female smile, laugh and snort for the rest of her fucking life if I could.
“She did,” she told me, staying quiet for a long moment while searching my face before dropping her eyes to the bowl in front of me. “You don’t like gelato?” She asked, scooping another spoonful into her mouth and for the first time I remembered that there was a bowl in front of me too.
I looked down, snorting out a laugh at the pale green colour.
“Matcha to match-a your skin,” she told me with amusement and a fake Italian accent.
When I looked up, she was grinning at me, her pearly white teeth showing, a cute gap in the middle of the front two.
Gods damn it. I never stood a fucking chance against her.