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I shook my head over and over again, struggling to process this immense act of kindness.
“I thought you said you were going to wait to start wooing me until after the shop was open,” I said, wiping away more tears. “This is too much, Archie!”
His tired smile faded, his brows drawing downward. He skimmed a thumb across my cheek.
“No, Maggie. No. Don’t say it’s too much. It’s not. It’s not even a fraction of what I want to do for you,” he said huskily.
“But you’ve already done so much. I feel bad that all I’ve done so far is called you a gigantic knob in cookie form!” I exclaimed, not sure if I wanted to laugh or cry.
“Oh, I can think of ways you can repay me,” he said, drawing his thumb downward and across my lower lip. My stomach jolted, heat flooding my core.
“For Terra’s sake, just come here.” I threw my arms around his neck, the way I’d wanted to last night, dragging his face down to mine. He stiffened, just for the briefest moment, in surprise at my actions. But half a heartbeat later, his mouth was hard against mine, his exhaustion apparently forgotten. He groaned into me, his lips working over mine, his tusks scraping my cheeks. I opened my lips, tongue already aching to find his. I gasped into his mouth, squeezing my thighs together at the sparks of arousal exploding between them.
Archie’s tongue swept along mine, and he groaned again, his huge hands coming up to cradle my jaw. My palms slid down from his shoulders, over the thin, soft fabric of his black T-shirt. When my fingertips grazed over his nipples, he hissed, and they hardened.Guess he wasn’t joking about being sensitive, I thought, dizzy with the hot jab of need deep in my pelvis.
Archie’s rough, warm hands dragged needily down from my face to my waist, crushing me harder against him. I bit back a moan when I felt the unmistakable swell of his cock against my abdomen.
“Archie, wait. We’re in the middle of the fucking station,” I said breathlessly, pulling away from the kiss.
“You’re right,” he rasped against my ear, making my nipples prick and my clit throb. “Apologies, Maggie. It’s just... It’s been weeks of wanting you.”
He let out a ragged breath against my sensitive neck, and I almost dragged him into my shop, ready to straddle him right there on the goddamn floor. But, holy Terra, it was after 4am, now. And I hadshit to do.
“You go home and get some sleep,” I ordered him.
Archie straightened, blowing out another shaky breath. “Don’t know how I will after that,” he murmured, subtly adjusting the tight fit of his pants around the bulge of his cock. Fuck, it looked big.
Archie’s lips brushed over mine in a quick, unexpected kiss before he finally fully stepped back.
“I’ll be back soon,” he said, heat thrumming beneath his words.
“Oh, God, like I need that distraction,” I said, shaking my head. I was already going to have trouble getting that kiss out of my head today. I didn’t need the kiss-giver skulking around making me all hot and bothered in front of my customers. “I close at 4pm station time. Come back then.”
“I’ll be here,” he said instantly. The heat in his gaze abated somewhat, his expression softening into what could only be described as dreamy adoration. “I’d say, ‘May the moons guard you,’ but I still don’t think you need it. So, I suppose that I’ll just tell you that I-” He stopped suddenly, slamming his mouth closed. He took a small breath through his nose before trying again. “I believe in you,” he said quickly.
Those words hit me like a rolling pin to the gut. Eyes brimming and threatening to spill over with yet more tears, I nodded wordlessly. He walked backwards away from me, as if he couldn’t stand to look away even for a moment. Somehow, his finely tuned orc senses kept him from toppling any hapless passerby as he plunged backward into the crowds.
I was the one to look away first, finally snapping the connection between us. I turned around, my chest feeling like it was going to burst as I took in the sign again. The care he’d put into it was shocking. Frankly, it was hard to believe he’d been able to do it all in one night of work.He must be fucking exhausted.
A swell of gratitude made my chest feel even more strained. I was so thankful I’d met Archie. Without him, I’d have been completely alone this morning, terrified and stressed about the coming shift, with no pretty sign above my shop. I’d be heading into the day with nerves pinching in my guts instead of the remaining fire of a fantastic fucking kiss. Yeah, I knew Sophie and X would stop by once the shop was open to see me, but that was different from confronting the shocking loneliness of the 4am hour. But it hadn’t been lonely. It had been perfect. Because he had been there.
This isn’t just gratitude,you idiot, I said to myself as I disabled the forcefield and stepped into my shop.This isn’t even just affection.
As much as I’d tried to avoid it, as much as I’d tried to keep my priorities in line...
There was no denying it.
I was falling in love with an orc on Elora Station.
