Chapter 14
Brierly took her time getting ready. Not wanting to over or underdress for the occasion of breakfast, she stuck to something simple.
A royal blue spaghetti-strapped, cold-shoulder dress decorated with colourful flowers at the hem.
A set of sleeves rippled down her arms with embellishments of spun gold.
Paired with a set of slingback wedge sandals, she felt confident in understated elegance as she pushed open the door to the Three Seashells hotel.
A small bag slung over her shoulder, and she clung onto it for support; she’d have to tell Tori that she had robbed it from her wardrobe, but the reminder of her friend was of great comfort.
The smell of cooking bacon assaulted her nose as she opened the front door.
Close behind it came the more delightful scent of fresh bread.
She lingered in the lobby, distracting herself with the noticeboards and leaflets advertising local activities and days out.
She found the reception room at odds with her expectations.
Having thought the orc would have preferred an apartment-style hotel, with white painted walls and plain carpets.
The outdated, patterned floor set the tone for the rest of its decor.
Dated, but in a way that spoke of endearing, caring hands rather than just years gone by.
“Can I help you?” The receptionist called out to her, looking over her mahogany desk.
“I’m meeting someone,” Brierley replied hurriedly, tucking some of her stray hair behind her ear.
She’d been waiting for some time already when she was asked, and for a heart-stopping minute, she thought that Breht had already left.
Abandoning her to look like a fool in the hotel lobby.
She swiftly chastised herself. Breht was better than that.
The interior door to the lobby opened, and after only a fleeting glimpse at who entered, she looked back at the leaflets.
Distracting herself, without reading them.
Thick fingers were placed carefully on her shoulder, making her jump despite their softness.
She was about to protest the touch when she turned and recognised the orc.
Breht looked completely different in the casual light of day without his business suit on.
He’d rolled up the sleeves of his dark shirt, revealing the thick lines of tribal tattoos on his strong forearms. The top button of his shirt, left undone, gave him a casual air, and she could see the hint of unexpected chest hair.
Rather than leaving his hair a fuzzy, floppy mess, he’d gelled it upright into a loosely gathered, central spike with enough endearing strays to make him still seem approachable.
The holes across his jeans only added to the orc’s allure.
In short, he looked like a million dollars, and she couldn’t help but stare.
When he leaned in close and growled low in her ear with the confession, “You’re making me want to skip breakfast,” she felt weak at the knees.
The sweet allure of attraction that had swept over her the first time she’d seen Breht again after their school years caught her again.
Initially, she had pushed that feeling deep down into her pockets.
Now, she pulled it out and tripped over it all over again.
“You look fantastic,” she complimented, heat rising to her cheeks as he circled her.
She didn’t feel diminished underneath his studious gaze, but a Goddess, ready to be worshipped.
“Says you,” he bristled confidently. “I’ll compromise, let’s get room service?” He offered.
She put her hand on his muscular forearm, subconsciously tracing the mark of the thick tribal lines etched there.
“Can we talk about something first?” She asked, leading him out of the lobby.
In the reception room, a handful of small round tables and chairs were scattered for those awaiting service.
Brierley led them into the far corner where they could speak without being disturbed.
She settled herself demurely into one of the chairs as he followed closely behind.
“I’ll go get us a coffee,” he smiled down at Brierley, reaching out and running his hand over her hair protectively.
She leaned into his touch before he vanished.
Heading off to the breakfast room to bring them a couple of drinks.
She closed her eyes, still feeling the traces of his fingers in her hair.
Adoring how caring the large orc was over her.
How well he looked after her in the smallest, simplest of ways.
Eager to bring her a drink and something to help put her at ease in light of the discomfort to come.
His confidence inspired her, allured her.
She felt foolish for rejecting his obvious advances.
It was clear that the orc was attracted to her; he had been ever since the impromptu party, the kiss that they’d shared.
And probably before then, too. And yet, she was content to let things simmer between them.
Now that their last hours were upon them, she was pulling away again.
She looked into her hands as she tried to rationalise her feelings.
She’d spent most of the previous night thinking of how she could seduce her way into his heart, and now that she was on that very doorstep, she was having second thoughts.
Wanting to put a voice to her feelings before action, but moreover, she wanted him to take the lead.
She looked up when a mug of steaming black coffee was placed on the table.
He placed a cappuccino in front of her, leaning down towards her.
She could smell the intoxicating scent of his aftershave, making it hard to focus on anything but him.
She missed her chance as Breht turned the other chair towards her and settled himself down into it.
“What was it you wanted to talk about?” He asked, running his hand over the well-groomed beard across his chin.
“Us,” she answered, honestly. Putting them back a step with her need for clarification.
He raised a thick brow towards her in question.
“If we have a chance of working together?”
“In what way?” He ventured.
“Romantically. Maybe in a business manner?” she propositioned. “I can’t exactly offer a six-figure pay cheque a year, but I’m sure you’ll find my rates reasonable?” Brierley offered as she purposefully licked the bottom of her lip.
The suggestive gesture wasn’t lost on him as he watched her tongue, pink between her lips, and he watched to steal it, capturing it between his. “When you put it like that, I can’t exactly argue.”
“I’m serious, Breht.” A frown appeared on her features. “I need to face the fact that it was your designs that sold last night. Not mine. And, I also can’t deny how I feel about you. But, I’m scared.”
His brow turned to a frown. All hints of flirtation and play had gone from his features in a heartbeat the moment she’d announced her concerns.
“I can’t compare to the beauty of Rosani. She’s a stunner. And, I am so worried that once you get bored with me, you’ll go running back to her.”
He was on his knees in front of her in a heartbeat.
His hand was on the side of her face, guiding her to look down at him.
“That won’t happen,” he promised. His stare was intense as he gazed into her eyes.
“You’re on a whole different level. I’m not even going to compare the two of you.
It’s been so quick, but I’m in love with you, Brierley.
We orcs are loyal to a fault, and if you’ll have me.
If you really want to give us a chance, romantically and businessally… ”
“That’s not even a word,” she laughed, but it was forced from a place of nervousness.
“Then, you’ll not be rid of me so easily.” He wasn’t making light of her hesitations. Reassuring her that she was everything he desired, all he could ever want.
When she looked down at him, her hair framed the sides of his face.
The rest of the world pushed away behind their secluded barrier.
It was just him, and she could drown in the depths of those dark eyes.
She toyed nervously with her bottom lip, feeling tears prickling her eyes at his heartfelt confession.
“When I think of happiness, I see us together. I’ve been dreaming of you all night,” he told her.
His fingers felt warm when they reached up and touched the side of her face, his thumb trailing over her lip. “I understand your concerns, but there’s no one else in the world that makes me feel the way you do.”
It was her turn to raise an eyebrow in question.
“You make me feel like I am who I’m meant to be.
You make me feel honest, safe.” He leaned in a touch closer, his tusked mouth almost touching hers, and in the privacy of their hair-cascaded prison, he whispered, “And when you do that thing with my ears,” she felt him shudder, his hand tightening its grip on her thigh.
“I want no one else but you. So you want me beside you?” He asked, “I’m there.
You want me to hold your hand in business, I’m there too. ”
For a moment, Brierley simply stared at him, her breath caught somewhere between her heart and her throat.
A nervous laugh escaped her lips, and she looked away briefly, her hand rising to touch her own face as if to ground herself.
Then she turned back to him, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, and reached out for him, her hands caressing his cheek, searching his eyes.
Breht knelt up to kiss her. Pressing his mouth firmly against hers.
A purr rumbled through his throat. His maw parted, tongue darting out to tease hers, coaxing her to play.
To dance with him. The gasp that escaped her throat only encouraged him further; his fingers gripping her hair, holding her against him as their passion heightened.
She believed in every word that he said.
Felt the conviction in his words. Yes, their conversation was disjointed, there was a lot of ground to cover, and a lot of holes to plaster over.
Right now. All she cared about was losing herself in those glorious eyes and the heat of his mouth exploring hers.
As he pulled away from her, standing, she straightened her hair and looked up at him.
How could she have dreamed about passing up on such exquisite passion?
His kisses alone ignited her very soul, which tingled right through her core.
Brierley looked up at the orc with pleading in her eyes.
All she could think about was him, wanting nothing more than to be closer, to prove that this was real.
He held his hand out for her to take, and he grinned and asked a single-worded question, “Breakfast?”
She shook her head, leaning closer to him, standing on her tiptoes so that she could whisper to him, “We can call room service.” Her breath ran across the tops of his ears with a tremor laced with delightful promise.