Page 47 of My Orc Has Big Tusks
We untangled ourselves from Abagail, both a little flustered.
Laina’s eyes remained on mine, wide and startled, but not in the way humans sometimes looked startled by orcs. This was different. Her fingers lingered on my shoulders.
“I didn’t plan that,” I said softly.
“I’m glad you didn’t stop to plan it.” Her cheeks flushed pink.
“It was alright?”
Her smile lifted. “If you’re looking for critique, it was amazing. If you’re asking if we should or shouldn’t be doing it, I think we should.”
“Ah.”
“Yes, ah.”
We left the pen and walked back inside the building.
We ran into Traig in the entryway.
“We’re leaving now to meet up with Ranz for the new intakes,” he said. “We’ll stay overnight and arrive in the morning.”
Drogar strode from the hallway. “Brovish, you’ll have the facility to yourself.” His grin widened as he took in Laina. “Well. Almost to yourself.”
My ears went hot.
Krem shouldered past them both, juggling two bags and a thermal carrier. “I packed extra blankets for transport. The forecast says rain all evening.” He paused, glancing between Laina and me. “You’ll be alright here alone?”
“We’ll manage,” I said.
“I’m sure you will,” Drogar said, his eyes gleaming.
Greth appeared last, silent as always, and nodded once in my direction before following the others outside and toward the transport vehicle parked out front.
Traig climbed into the driver’s seat, and Drogar waved from the passenger window as they pulled away.
The facility felt larger with them gone. Quieter.
Laina headed for her office, and I went to mine.
I tried to work, but my body hummed like a hive of thornsprigs. My tusks felt too large for my mouth. My hands remembered the curve of her waist, and I kept touching my lips, trying to recapture the warmth of hers.
The kingdom had words for this feeling, this thunderstorm inside the chest, this hunger without belly pain.
None of the surface words seemed big enough.
CHAPTER TEN
BROVISH
My pen stopped mid-word every time I remembered Laina’s smile after we’d pulled apart. The kiss felt unfinished, and I caught myself listening for her footsteps in the hall all afternoon. Twice I nearly walked to her office without a reason. Twice I stopped myself, unsure what surface protocol demanded after kissing your colleague beside a pregnant snugglethorn.
Where I come from, intentions would be clear. Gifts would be exchanged and families consulted. Here, I had no guidance to follow, only the warmth where her hands had touched my shoulders.
“I need to head out early today,” Laina said from my open doorway late in the afternoon. “I have some paperwork I need to take care of related to the clinic. The sale closes in two weeks. I hope that’s alright. There’s nothing here needing my attention, though you can call me if you run into trouble.”
I looked up from my desk. “Of course.”
Sofia peeped from her shoulder, her wings fluttering.
