Page 8 of Bidding on the Orc Outcast (Sweet Monster Treats)

CHAPTER EIGHT

V arek lost himself in the kiss. Her lips were impossibly soft beneath his, softer than the petals of the flowers in his greenhouse, softer than anything he’d ever felt. The scent of her filled his head - the smell of the winter air mixed with the sweet honeysuckle scent that was all hers. She clung to him, her soft body cradling his aching shaft as his arms tightened around her. Her curves filled his palms, so warm and tempting that he groaned, a deep rumble of need that he felt in every inch of his body.

Heat coursed through his veins. He wanted to carry her inside and never let her go.

The thought snapped him back to reality. He jerked back, his breath ragged, and quickly lowered her to the ground. She stared up at him, her eyes wide and dazed.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have-”

“Don’t you dare apologize.” Pink stained her cheeks, but her eyes sparkled. She touched her lips, which were slightly swollen from his kiss. “That was… wow.”

His chest tightened at her expression. No one had ever looked at him like that before - as if he was something wonderful, not someone to be feared.

“You’re not afraid?” The words slipped out before he could stop them.

“Of you?” She shook her head. “The only thing that scares me is how much I want to kiss you again.”

The simple honesty in her voice undid him. He took a step back, needing distance before he gave in to temptation. “You should go.”

“All right. But… would you like to come to dinner tomorrow?” Her words tumbled out in a rush. “At my place? After the shop closes?”

His first instinct was to refuse. Being alone with her in an enclosed space was dangerous - not because he’d hurt her, but because he wanted her too much. The kiss had proven that. But the hopeful look in those big brown eyes broke through his defenses.

“What time?” The words came out before he could stop them.

“Seven?” She brightened, practically glowing. “I live above the shop. There’s a side entrance with stairs leading up and blue fairy lights around the door.”

Every rational part of him screamed to take it back, to make an excuse. Instead, he nodded. “I’ll bring wine.”

“Perfect.” She bounced on her toes, and for a moment he thought she might kiss him again. His body tensed in anticipation, but she just gave him a warm smile. “See you tomorrow then.”

He watched her walk away, his fingers curling into fists at his sides. What was he thinking, agreeing to dinner? Being in her apartment, surrounded by her scent, sharing a meal…

But he couldn’t bring himself to regret saying yes. Not when her smile had lit up her whole face like that. The kiss replayed in his mind over and over - the soft press of her lips, how perfectly she fit against him, the little sound she made when his hand tightened on her luscious ass.

Maybe he was being a fool, but he couldn’t wait to see her again.

He returned to the cabin and sank onto the couch. The fire had gone out, but he didn’t bother to rekindle it. Instead he stared at the cold embers and tried to make sense of the day. Of all the things he expected when he woke up this morning, none of them had included Posy. Or the way she’d made him feel.

Alive.

As if the winter had ended and spring was on the horizon. As if he’d come back from the dead. He shook his head at the fanciful notion, but he couldn’t shake the feeling. The way she’d looked at his herbs, at the valley, at his greenhouse. No one had ever seemed so genuinely interested in what he did before. He’d shared more with her in a few hours than he had with anyone else in years. Maybe ever.

She’s different.

Not just because of her sunny smile, or the curves that made his body ache, but because she seemed to understand him in a way no one else had. He could almost see her in that wintergreen valley, the snow clinging to her dark hair, the pale sunlight highlighting the golden strands. She belonged there.

With me.

Fuck. What was he thinking? They were from different worlds. The townsfolk seemed to have accepted her easily enough, but she’d given them no reason to fear her. They’d always be wary of him, and he couldn’t blame them. And Posy… eventually she’d see it too. She’d realize what everyone else already knew - that he didn’t belong among them. The warmth in her eyes would turn cold, and that radiant smile would fade. Better to end it now before she rejected him.

But the thought of disappointing her, of being the one to dim that light in her eyes, caused an unfamiliar ache in his stomach.

Fuck. He was already in too deep and he knew it.

He swore again and decided to spend a few hours in his workshop. Maybe if he focused hard enough on his work, he could forget about soft lips and radiant smiles. He’d almost reached the greenhouse when a shadow passed overhead, followed by a rush of displaced air. Nakor dropped into a smooth landing, folding his golden wings behind him as he strolled casually towards the greenhouse, and Varek swore again.

He wouldn’t call Nakor a friend exactly - he didn’t have friends - but they got along well enough. The dragon owned most of the mountain bordering Varek’s property and he valued his privacy as much as Varek did. Nakor was also arrogant enough not to be afraid of him - with some justification. A dragon was a formidable opponent.

“Your path needs maintenance.” Nakor brushed an invisible speck from his expensively tailored sleeve. “I nearly scuffed my shoes.”

He crossed his arms and glared at the dragon. “If you’re that concerned about your footwear, don’t come and visit me.”

“Can’t a neighbor drop by?” Nakor strolled past him into the workshop. “Though I must admit, I’m intrigued by this latest development. Last I checked, you were determined to live like a hermit.”

“Still am.” Varek followed him in, watching as the dragon examined the neat rows of bottles on his workbench.

“Clearly. I suppose that’s why you agreed to participate in that ridiculous bachelor auction.”

Damn. He’d forgotten just how fast news traveled in Fairhaven Falls. He sighed.

“It was Flora’s idea.”

“Ah.” Nakor nodded, examining his manicured nails. “That explains it. Though I hear you actually found someone. A mate, perhaps?”

“She’s not my mate.” The denial tasted bitter on his tongue as the memory of their kiss replayed in his mind. His body responded with a surge of possessive hunger but he did his best to ignore it.

“No? Finding a mate is a good thing, you know. Even for those of us who think we’re better off alone.”

“Not for me.”

Nakor’s nostrils flared, smoke trickling from his nose as his golden eyes gleamed.

“And yet, I can distinctly scent the presence of a human female.”

“She just stopped by to… talk.”

“Just talk?” Nakor’s eyes gleamed.

“Yes.” The memory of their kiss flashed through his mind and he turned away, organizing bottles that didn’t need organizing. “She’ll realize her mistake soon enough.”

“Interesting.” Nakor’s voice held a note of amusement that made Varek want to throw something at him. “You seem quite certain about that.”

He gripped the edge of his workbench hard enough that the wood creaked under his fingers. “Because it’s true.”

But even as he said it, his treacherous mind conjured images of Posy in his greenhouse, her eyes bright with interest, her smile warming something inside him he’d thought long frozen.

“Indeed?” Nakor raised an eyebrow before pointing to a row of bottles. “I’ll take your entire stock of lavender oil. My mate likes the scent.”

“Fine.” Anything to change the subject. He started packing up the bottles, but Nakor wasn’t finished.

“You know, isolation is highly overrated. And sometimes the real treasure isn’t what you think it is.”

“You don’t understand. You know what Fairhaven Falls thinks of me.”

Nakor curled his lip. “I know that other people’s opinions are of no consequence. You can’t let small-minded fools dictate your life.”

“They’ll poison her against me.” He could already picture the whispers, the sideways glances when he walked into town with her. The thought of seeing that warmth in her eyes turn cold made his stomach churn. “Or worse, turn against her.”

Nakor sighed.

“It’s been ten years since that incident with the Morgan girl-”

“Don’t,” he growled, but Nakor ignored him.

“You were only trying to help her. Everyone who matters knows that now.” Nakor straightened his perfectly tailored jacket. “The question is, when will you stop punishing yourself and seek your own happiness?”

The dragon set a stack of bills on the workbench, then picked up the box of bottles and left without another word, leaving him alone with thoughts he’d rather not examine. But those thoughts continued to circle like wolves in the dark - what if Nakor was right? What if he could have something more? What if he could be worthy of Posy’s bright smiles? If only…

He shook his head. There was no use dwelling on what couldn’t be. Better to focus on the work that needed doing. He’d agreed to have dinner with her, and he’d keep his promise, but that was it. It would be foolish to expect anything more. After all, he knew better than to think a happy ending was possible for someone like him. He was a creature of the winter woods, and winter was always waiting around the corner, no matter how warm the sunshine.