Page 69 of Till Orc Do Us Part

His exhale gusts across my forehead. Large hands frame my face with surprising gentleness. "Real estate moguls make poor fairytales."

"Good thing I prefer gothic romances." My smirk falters when he stills. "What?"

"Your son." The words sound dredged from bedrock. "He deserves..."

"Don't." I jab his ribs. "Jamie's been judging my choices since he learned 'disappointing.'"

His tusks brush my temple as he huffs. Insistent fingers tip my face upward again. "I can't be half a man for you."

The raw edge in his voice splits me open. I press our foreheads together. "Be greedy."

He crushes me against his chest so suddenly my laugh gets trapped between us. His nose buries in my hair. We breathe in tandem until moonlight creeps past his shoulder blades.

"Your bookshop's roof leaks." The non-sequitur rumbles through me.

"Thanks. Thought the indoor rain aesthetic was chic."

"Contractors arrive Tuesday."

"I didn't?—"

His hand clamps over my mouth. "Hush."

I bite his palm. He retaliates by pinching my waist. Our laughter shakes the cushions.

We settle when his arms band around me again, anchoring me against the fortress of his body. His last whisper ghosts across sweat-damp skin. "Stay greedy."

Sleep drags me under to the rhythm of his pulse—a war drum turned lullaby.

CHAPTER 21

ROWAN

The first thing I notice is the weight.

Warm. Solid.

An arm draped across my waist, fingers curled loosely against my ribs. The slow, steady rise and fall of breath against the back of my neck.

I blink.

Sheets. Soft. Too soft to be mine.

I turn my head, the faintest ache in my neck as memory crashes in like a wave.

The beach. The stars. His arms around me. The kiss that undid me piece by careful piece.

The choice I made.

No promises. No plans.

Justthis.

But this… is not the beach.

This is his bed.

I shift slowly beneath the blanket, heart pounding. The faintest creak of the frame draws a soft rumble from behind me.