Chapter 4

Ashlyn

I felt like a total imposter, holding Thebes's hand as he led me into Patti's, the local museum-slash-tea shop. I mean, who was I to be holding the hand of such a famous hottie? Just some glorified gofer who could barely mange my stepfather's coffee.

But it was almost as if…being in Eastshore allowed me the chance to be someone different.

To wear a disguise for once. To be someone a social media celebrity like Thebes would want to be with.

"See what I mean?" he asked as we stepped into the house's main room.

"Oh wow ." I knew I was whispering, but it seemed appropriate. "This place is gorgeous."

It really was.

The building was a typically designed house from the turn of the last century, just like the bed-and-breakfast where I was staying, and the restaurant we'd just eaten in. And like those rooms, the owners had at some point knocked out some of the walls on the main floor to create one large room.

The bed-and-breakfast used theirs for dining, as did Pastabilities. And while this room had a dozen small tables covered in white cloths—presumably for tomorrow's weekend tea—it was the decorations that really caught my eye.

It wasn't until I felt Thebes following me that I realized I hadn't dropped his hand as I drifted toward the displays along the front wall.

When I glanced back, however, he just grinned that little heart-stopping grin of his, and I was struck again how lucky I was to be with him tonight. It was as if he hadn't figured out that I was no one special yet.

I didn't want to give him any hints. Because if I'd fallen into some sort of alternate reality where the Internet's heartthrob thought I was worthy of wooing , I wanted this reality to never end.

"See?" he murmured, then pointed toward a display of framed old-timey photos and some historical artifacts. "Eastshore was originally just a fishing outpost, but soon, rich holiday-seekers from the cities near the shore built houses out here." He tapped a displayed map. "This was the only source of freshwater on the island before reverse osmosis was invented. So most of the houses were built around this well, which used to stand out where the fountain in the square stands right now."

I blinked out the window, but it was too dark to see anything. "How do you know all this?"

He shrugged modestly. "I pay attention. I've filmed a few—I mean, I've spent some time in here, poking around."

Hmm . Sounded like he didn't want to talk about his career. Okay, I could play along. Maybe he didn't like being fawned over? So I tugged him to the next display. "What's this one?"

It wasn't until he began to speak that I realized what had happened: Thebes had been automatically "translating" for me, since he knew I wasn't going to sit there and try to read through all that spindly little print. He wasn't reading the captions out loud but was just telling me about them.

I hadn't thought twice about asking for help, which usually embarrassed the hell out of me, and he hadn't thought twice about just jumping in and helping, like he'd done in the restaurant. He'd known exactly what to do.

Oh wow.

As he spoke, his expression animated with excitement, I found my gaze darting up to his face more than at the exhibits. I was interested, sure, but I was more amazed by this guy who was teaching me what I needed to know.

I have to admit: That was hot as hell.

Sure, I was already half in love with the guy from his videos, but Thebes in person was much better. Much, much better. He was charming, yeah, but also a sweetheart. And he seemed actually interested in me.

I glanced down at our twined fingers, and idly I wondered what it would be like to feel those hands on me. When he'd caught me that afternoon, a thrill had gone through me, and I would love to experience that again.

And what if…what if he held me, touched my bare skin? What if I wasn't wearing my shirt, and he wasn't wearing his , and he caught me like that, pressing my naked breasts to his chest?

My breath caught in my throat as my heartbeat sped up.

I wasn't a virgin; I knew how to have fun. So why was something as high-school-makeout-sesh as the thought of brushing my nipples against his skin making me suddenly so warm?

No, strike that, not warm . I was horny. I squeezed my thighs together to capture the sudden sensation in my core, and my fingers tightened around his.

Thebes stopped mid-sentence, his gaze going to my lips. His nostrils flared as he inhaled slowly.

I remembered what I'd learned online. Orcs had remarkable senses, including smell. I wondered if he could tell I was aroused. And if he'd guess why.

Oh God, I really, really hope he wasn't talking about shrimp boats or oyster canneries or something. I should've been paying better attention. He's going to think I've got some weird kinks.

Instead, Thebes made a noise, a sort of rumble from his chest. "Ashlyn?"

Change the subject, change the subject!

"Are there more exhibits?" Let him think I was super into history or something.

He glanced around the room. "The smaller rooms upstairs are storage and archives. There's a whole collection of stuff from the original lighthouse in the next room, if you wanted to see that. Otherwise it's mostly here." He waved a hand, encompassing the large room. "Patti uses this main room for tea, of course, but also events. The town hosts some of their big indoor events here, like next Friday's gala."

I was busy peering up at the ornate ceiling, trying to get my libido under control, but shot him a glance at that. "The gala?"

"Yep, it's a big fundraiser for different aspects of the community. This year, they're raising funds for playground improvements at the primary school. I think since that playground doubles as a community park, people are willing to bid a lot on tickets."

"Are you going?" I found myself asking.

He shrugged modestly, his lips curling up on one side. "I bought a pair of tickets, but I just viewed it as a donation, since I didn't have anyone to go with." He winked. "Wanna go to the gala with me?"

Oh my gosh, his flirting made me feel as if I could fly ! I felt myself simultaneously grinning and blushing. "Maybe." I was supposed to leave next Friday, a week from today, but I'd happily extend my stay a few days on my own dime if it meant hanging out with Thebes longer.

No, wait, I meant hanging out in Eastshore, didn't I?

No, girl, you most definitely mean Thebes .

A few extra days of holding his hand, a few extra days to convince him to kiss me…

Oh dear, there went my libido again.

"Hey, let's go look at those pictures!" I said brightly, turning to a random point in the room and dragging him after me.

These were the more recent displays, photos of the Miss Eastshore winners over the years, the annual strawberry festival, and the Christmas parade. It was cute, I guess, to look at the smiling faces and imagine how much fun they'd been having.

Besides, it helped me cool off.

We didn't speak much as we strolled, examining the photos, occasionally pointing out funny costumes or someone's expression. It was clear whoever put together this display had a sense of humor, and I was really looking forward to coming back here on Sunday to meet Patti and try the macarons.

Or the macaronis. Or macchiatos .

The thought made my lips twitch, so I was smiling as I shuffled sideways to the next column of framed photos.

And quit breathing.

Thebes must've been able to tell. "Ashlyn?"

My fingers were shaking as I lifted my free hand toward the photo in front of me.

"Ashlyn, honey, what is it?" I could feel him moving up beside me, his chest pressed against my arm. "What's wrong?"

My fingertip rested against the glass, right between two smiling faces, then dragged down to their shoulders, where they stood with their arms around one another.

"Joshua and Marianne, winners of the 1993 sweet potato toss at the Fall Festival," read Thebes.

I couldn't see their smiles anymore, because the tears were blurring my eyes.

"Ashlyn, speak to me," he commanded.

"My parents," I gasped. "Marianne Anderson was my mom. I—I have a picture of them from about this time." That's how I recognized my father, despite him being gone since I was a baby.

"Oh shit," Thebes muttered, pulling the photo off the wall with one hand as he wrapped his arm around me and turned me toward a padded bench resting along the wall. When he eased me down beside him, he slid the frame into my hands.

I stared down at it in my lap.

My parents had been here on Eastshore Isle before I was even conceived. They'd participated in the fun activities this town offered—one of the events Thebes had gushed about at dinner—and they'd won.

They'd smiled and laughed and had fun .

They'd treasured these memories, I knew .

"Do you want to talk about it?" Thebes's strength and warmth was a comfort at my side.

It felt natural to tip my head against his shoulder, as a tear finally crawled down my cheek. "My parents never married. My mom's dad was a self-made guy, lived on an island. Now I'm wondering if that was Eastshore. He liked my father, but my parents weren't into marrying. I think they considered it when I was born, but then my father died in a motorcycle accident."

"Oh, honey." Thebes put his arm around me, snuggling me up closer to him. "I'm sorry. That sucks."

I sniffed, loving the little zingy sparks I could feel moving up and down my arms from his touch, and lifted the photo. "Yeah, but look at them. Look how happy they were."

Sure enough, it was impossible to be sad when faced with those smiles. I felt the band around my chest easing. "My grandfather introduced my mother to William Cinders, and she married him shortly before grandpa died. I didn't know him well either."

"Did you ever visit him here on Eastshore Isle?"

I shook my head as much as I could with it pressed against Thebes's shoulder. "I remember him coming to Chicago. I don't even know if he was from Eastshore, all of this happened when I was pretty young."

"So your stepdad helped raised you?"

I was still staring at the photo, at my mom's radiant smile. "Mom died when I was thirteen, and to give him credit, my stepfather paid for a shit-ton of therapy for me. Also my college and MBA degrees, then I went to work for him."

"Where you're a valued member of his team," Thebes guessed.

I couldn't stop the snort, but I twisted sideways to glance up at him. "More like a minimum-wage intern. The man has me doing the most menial, stupid tasks. But…" I inhaled, glancing down at Mom's face. "Next month when I turn thirty, I get access to the inheritance my mother left me, and I'm gone . I can go do anything I want, anywhere I want. I just have one more assignment from my stepfather, and I can quit."

Thebes didn't respond, and when I glanced up at him, he was staring at my lips.

"Thebes?"

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "Can I kiss you?"

When I tell you my heart leapt at the suggestion, I mean it. Still… "You're sorry you want to kiss me?" I teased.

He made that noise, low in his chest again, and leaned down. And I met him eagerly.

It wasn't a deep kiss. It was more…comforting. His hand closed around mine where it held the framed photo, squeezing both, as I leaned into it. Into him .

His lips were softer than I might've imagined, and those tusks framed them in the most curious way. I'll admit, I'd always been curious about kissing an orc—no, not just any orc, Thebes —but I barely noticed the tusks.

I was too distracted by what his tongue was doing to me.

With a little whimper, I stretched up to capture his lower lip between my teeth, and he released a moan. But just as I was really getting into things, the lights went out.

I stiffened in his arms, as Thebes let out a little chuckle. Was it my imagination, or did he seem a little reluctant to release me?

"I guess Patti is trying to tell us something."

Through my daze, I hoped she had the lights on a timer or something, and not that she was watching us make out on some closed-circuit TV somewhere. "What do we do?" I whispered against his mouth in the darkness.

"Come on." He stood, startling a little yelp out of me, and wrapped my hands in his. No, he was just taking the photo frame from me. I heard him place it on the bench.

"I'll give her a heads up that needs to be replaced. I'll also get a copy of the photo for you, unless you want the original?"

That was…incredibly sweet of him. I smiled into the dark. "Leave the original. I think they'd be happy to be part of Eastshore's history."

"Okay, let's go."

That was the only warning I got.

One moment I was standing with my weight on the balls of my feet, waiting for an indication of which direction I should turn…and the next I was nestled snugly in Thebes's arms as he strode confidently for the exit.

Oh.

Oh wow.

Not only could he see in the dark, but he was also big enough to lift me without any strain. Suddenly, I wondered what it would be like to kiss him like this. No, screw kissing—No, I mean, yes, the kissing was wonderful, I just meant that there was so much more we could be doing in this position, besides kissing.

As we stepped out onto the porch, the streetlight illuminating us, I saw Thebes glance down at me. "You're killing me, Ashlyn."

I froze. "I'm sorry! You can put me down if I'm too heavy?"

"Are you kidding?" he groaned as he staggered down the steps toward the fountain. "I don't think I ever want to put you down. You feel perfect in my arms. You smell even better. "

"Smell?" I whispered.

Thebes stumbled to a stop beside the fountain, and I pulled myself upright with my arms around his shoulders. This allowed me to shift my butt until he was holding onto that , and my front was plastered against his front.

Just the way I'd been imagining earlier. "Thebes, what do you mean?" I prompted. "What do you smell?"

"Oh, fuck, Ashlyn," he growled, moments before he kissed me again.

This time, the kiss wasn't sweet. It wasn't comforting.

He plundered my mouth, and I happily—so happily—let him. In fact, I was doing some plundering of my own. I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulled myself closer, and ground my pelvis against the intriguing hardness in his pants.

I thought of the way his nostrils had flared earlier today when his fingers had closed around my orcish dildo, and I'd wondered if he'd known what it was. I'd wondered if he'd known how I used it.

But what I was feeling now was so much better. So much more real .

And from the way Thebes was kissing me, it was all for me .

I still couldn't believe someone like him was interested in someone like me, but I wasn't going to turn down my fairy godmother moment. Maybe tomorrow he wouldn't call. Maybe all this talk about more dates or the gala or whatever—maybe that was all bullshit, part of his playboy attitude.

But at that moment, I didn't care.

I wanted this. I wanted to be a different person than I normally was.

What happens in Eastshore stays in Eastshore, right?

With a gasp, I wrenched my lips away from Thebes's and realized at some point, I'd wrapped my legs around his waist. His cock was rubbing against my ass now, and I couldn't help but wriggle a little, loving the way he groaned.

"Thebes," I prompted, deciding I was going to grab the opportunity and hold on for as long as possible before reality returned. "Want to come to my room?"