Page 2 of Bread with the Orc (Harmony Glen #6)

Chapter Two

Dorvak

The hours before dawn had always been my favorite time of day.

I loved the solitude, the quiet. Even before my kind had made ourselves known to the humans—or when I visited with my brothers in the woods—I appreciated the calm before the sun rose.

It was an almost holy time, when I could reflect on the mistakes of yesterday and how to improve today.

Except…

Yesterday hadn’t been a mistake.

Oh, I’d forgotten to dip the rosemary in oil before I sprinkled it on the focaccia, and I’d had to pick off the singed pieces, but that had been far from the defining moment of the day.

No, that honor had belonged to the sound Laney had made as she’d bitten into that bearclaw. That moan of pleasure had shot straight to my cock, and had told me I’d made the right decision in inviting her into my kitchen, a place few had seen.

But when I’d witnessed her tears—so different from her usual smiles—I’d known I needed to do something.

It had been a strange tug, my Kteer —that primitive part of me which had kept males of my species alive and procreating for so long before we’d become civilized —howling at me to fix help smile kiss love .

A strange urging, one I’d never felt before.

Luckily, I’d guessed correctly when it came to offering her a pastry.

With a small growl, I punched down the focaccia dough, then pulled the edges from the bowl with even, sure tugs. The pastry had made Laney feel better, but me?

I’d been up half the night reliving the sound of her pleasure.

My Kteer had had plenty to say about that, as well. It was after midnight before I’d finally given up and reached beneath the sheets to pull out my cock, stroking it briskly until I’d come with an ashamed grunt.

I shouldn’t have done that, not while thinking of Laney’s lips. I shouldn’t have imagined her sweet taste, shouldn’t have imagined the sounds she’d make as my cock sunk into her. It felt like a violation to imagine such things when she likely didn’t think twice about me.

Fuck. Pay attention to the dough. It’ll get rubbery if you yank it too hard .

Right.

Baking bread required an even temperament and a calm manner. It was more difficult than the cinnamon rolls I’d prepped before going home last night. Just the sight of Laney eating my last bearclaw, and hearing her talk about nuts , had made me want to replenish my stock.

Feydin’s text had been good timing, I guess.

Speaking of timing, the handle on my back door rattled. “It’s open,” I called gruffly, and I heard Feydin step inside.

Few humans realized just how advanced orc senses were. Our hearing was unrivaled, and our sense of smell…well, let’s just say that the sweet scent of Laney’s arousal had coated my nostrils and tongue yesterday, and that was what had kept me awake all night.

I almost wished I hadn’t scented her, because damn . I don’t know what caused it, but I don’t think I’d ever forget the way?—

“What has you so distracted?”

I didn’t startle when Feydin stomped his stupid gargoyle feet all over my kitchen, but I scowled down at the loaves I was slotting into the pans, the movements so ingrained I could do them without thinking.

“I’m not distracted. I’m thinking.”

“Yeah, that’s what I meant.”

Behind me, I could hear Feydin gliding around my kitchen, peering at things. If he started poking stuff, I was going to snap at him .

Before I could find a reason to kick the male—admittedly my best friend—out, Feydin asked, “What’d you make my Dazy today?”

So instead of snapping, I grunted as I reached over to preheat the industrial ovens. “Cinnamon rolls. I made a double batch, you can have half.”

“Oh, awesome, she loves those. The usual place?” Without waiting for a response, the other male was digging out the to-go boxes for his Mate’s treats. “Who’s the other half for?”

I hesitated, not wanting to share the way my Kteer was so hung up on the little human next door. “Do you think… I wonder what would happen if I sold some of those cinnamon rolls out front?”

“Are you kidding?” Feydin was suddenly at my side, his big wings in my space, his expression eager.

“Harmony Glen would eat them up. Your breads are delicious, and they know that, but your pastries would keep them coming back.” In his excitement, he pressed even closer.

“Your customers come in here a few times a week for bread, right? If you sold your pastries, they’d come in daily for their morning treats. ”

There was that. If I sold something smaller, more consumable, people would return more frequently.

With a thoughtful, noncommittal grunt, I reached for the second batch of loaf pans.

If Laney had sold my pastries at her tea shop, people would have visited there each morning, and she would have been able to build that community space she’d been talking about.

The idea was…strange to me .

Don’t get me wrong; orcs have a strong sense of community. It’s just that I didn’t see a lot of use for it. Ironic that Laney—the outgoing, bubbly one—was losing that opportunity, while I…

“Dorvak, are you thinking about expanding your offerings outside of bread? Dazy’s been after me for months to get you to sell those cheese Danishes at the counter.”

Really? Hmm.

“I am…not entirely opposed.” I buttered the pans with smooth strokes. “Just considering it.”

“Well, Dazy is going to be thrilled. I’m going to wake her up with my tongue. Then the cinnamon rolls. Then this news.” He winked. “Want me to cover these pans?”

“Depends how clean your hands are. Hold on.” Putting aside what I was working on, I whipped out the plastic and began to wrap the full pans. “Put these in the fridge.”

We worked together in silence, and I tried not to think about what my friend had said about waking his Mate with his tongue. Did Dazy like that sort of thing? Would Laney?

“Did you see your neighbor is leaving?” Feydin asked as he slid the last of the pans into the cooler. As if he hadn’t just made my Kteer jump, he continued, “The tea shop next door is closing.”

I nodded neutrally, going back to dividing the focaccia dough. “She stopped in yesterday. She was the one to mention selling the bearclaws.” It had been more than that, and had given me an idea, one I wasn’t yet sure enough of to voice. “She was…sad. ”

“Well of course she’s sad.” Feydin moved behind me, likely moving things out of place. “She’s worked hard on that place, and it’s going to be a shame to have to close it. But honestly, with tea being the only draw, it’s not a complete surprise it wasn’t viable.”

“She makes good tea,” I growled, despite having zero knowledge of it to draw on. “And she’s…friendly. Good with customers.”

“Whereas you’re a complete ass,” Feydin teased. “Seems a shame she has to close and you’re still open.”

Since that was what I’d been thinking about moments ago, I didn’t argue. “She was in here yesterday.”

“ In here , here?” Feydin sounded surprised. “I didn’t think you allowed anyone into your space. Except me, of course.”

I finished wrapping the first pan of focaccia and slid it along the counter toward him. “And sometimes I regret that. Be useful and put these on the shelf below the sourdough.”

As Feydin followed my direction, he smirked. “So Laney was here. Doing what?”

Being unbelievably erotic as she ate my bearclaw . I scowled, knowing I couldn’t say that. “She needed cheering. I gave her a pastry and listened to her. She cleaned.”

Feydin picked up another pair of loaves. “Listened to her about what?”

“About—” I snapped my lips together. The male might be my best friend, but I still wasn’t going to tell him Laney’s business. Or share her woes. The ones she’d shared with me, the ones which made my Kteer howl to gather her in my arms and comfort her.

Instead, I’d given her a pastry , for fuck’s sake.

Yeah, but a pastry that made her moan with pleasure .

There was that, yes.

Hmm .

What would it be like to hear her make that sound again? To have her in my space? To see her smile each day—no, each hour , if what I was considering came to fruition…

“She cleaned?” Feydin interrupted my thoughts as he closed the cooler for the last time. “What did she clean?”

“Behind the counter.” I jerked my head. “Without being asked. Just picked up the rag and started.”

“Hey, I offered to help.” Feydin’s wing nudged me, and I knew he was teasing. “But she sounds like a better friend if she just sees what needs doing and does it. What do I know about running a bakery or a tea shop?”

“Nothing.” I scooped up the box with his Mate’s cinnamon rolls and thrust it at him. “But you are a good lawyer, a better guardian, and you don’t completely suck to talk to.”

“Dorvak.” He pretended to wipe a tear from his eye. “I think that’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”

“It is.” I hid my smile with a fierce scowl. “Now go away. ”

Because I needed to think.

My friend waved cheerfully as he let himself out the back door, the alleyway beginning to lighten with the coming sunrise. My oven dinged its readiness, and I took a deep breath, rolled my shoulders, and began my day.

As each loaf went into the preheated oven, I checked it off on my tally sheet. Once those were ready, I pulled out my cookbook and flipped it to the page for fruit tarts, wondering if Laney would like them.

Absently, I glanced through the window to the front area, imagining people lined up to buy tarts and cheese Danishes and pastries. I would have more customers, yes, but that meant I’d have to deal with more customers, which sounded like the hells to me.

Unless you hire help .

But I didn’t want help. I could barely tolerate Feydin in my kitchen.

You tolerated Laney well enough .

I pictured the big room decorated like her tea shop, with the cozy wall hangings and those tables and chairs spread throughout.

I imagined people sitting there in front of the big picture window, doing the community stuff she’d dreamed of.

I pictured her bustling about, making tea and smiling and charming the customers into buying another bearclaw.

Would it work?

Could I take the chance?

Deep in my chest, my Kteer thrummed, remembering the sweet scent of Laney’s arousal.

Yes, I wanted her. Here with me.

How could I not take the chance?