Chapter 8

8

MARIAH

T horak's mouth is hot and hungry on mine, claiming me with an intensity that steals my breath. The foreign press of his tusks against my cheeks sends a forbidden thrill racing down my spine as his tongue delves deep, tasting, exploring. I melt into him, my hands gripping the front of his shirt for support.

His large hands pull me impossibly closer until I'm molded against him, soft curves yielding to unyielding strength. The hard planes of his muscular body are a startling contrast to my own small frame, igniting my nerve-endings.

I lose myself in the heady sensations—the spicy, masculine scent of him filling my nostrils, the low, rumbling growl emanating from his chest, the searing heat of his touch branding me through my thin blouse.

Rational thought flees as desire, hot and urgent, pools low in my belly.

The lines between us blur with each drugging slide of his lips over mine.

Panting, I break away, my breasts heaving against his solid chest. Thorak's intense amber eyes, pupils blown wide with barely restrained hunger, bore into my own. In their molten depths, I glimpse a reflection of my own want and confusion.

My cheeks flush hot under his penetrating stare, no doubt turning a vivid scarlet. I pray he'll attribute it to our very public display and not the desire threatening to consume me.

Thorak tears his gaze away from mine to level a menacing scowl at our gawking former classmates. Grok and the others scatter like frightened mice before the imposing orc, mumbling apologies as they nearly trip over themselves in their haste to retreat.

Watching Thorak stand protectively in front of me, all six foot eight inches of pure, rippling muscle, defending my honor without hesitation—it's sexy as hell.

And damn him, he knows it, if the smug tilt of his lips is any indication.

I'm torn between wanting to yank him down for another scorching kiss or knee him in the groin for making me feel this way.

Weak and wanting and completely at his mercy.

I decide to take a coward's way out of this. Better than dealing with the extremely inconvenient and infuriating thoughts currently coursing through me. The ones urging me to climb this giant orc like a tree.

I pretend my phone is ringing.

"Sorry, I have to take this," I mumble, turning away from Thorak and Kingsley as I press the phone to my ear. "Hello? Yes, this is she."

I keep my back to them, listening intently to the imaginary caller on the other end. In reality, my mind is racing, desperately trying to come up with an excuse to escape.

"What? No, that's not acceptable," I say with feigned frustration, hoping my acting skills are up to par. "I'll be there right away to sort this out."

Ending the fake call, I turn back to Thorak and Kingsley, an apologetic expression plastered on my face. "I'm so sorry, but there's an emergency at the inn. I need to head back immediately to handle it."

Thorak's brows furrow, concern etched on his rugged features. "Is everything alright? Do you need me to come with you?"

No way in hell, dude. That would defeat the point of getting away from you.

"No, no, it's fine. I can handle it. You two stay and enjoy the market."

Kingsley nods, his eyes flickering between Thorak and me with a knowing glint. The upside of this whole debacle, that little display seems to have him convinced of our love. "Of course, Mariah. We understand. Business comes first."

I force a smile, my cheeks aching with the effort. "Thanks for understanding. I'll catch up with you later, okay?"

Without waiting for a response, I turn on my heel and hurry away, my heart pounding in time with my swift steps. I imagine Thorak's eyes boring into my back, but I resist the urge to look over my shoulder, afraid of what I might see in his piercing gaze.

The bustling sounds of the monster market fade away as I navigate the winding streets of Elderberry Falls. The memory of Thorak's lips on mine, the press of his hard body against my softer curves, plays on a torturous loop in my mind.

I shake my head, trying to dislodge the treacherous images. I can't afford to get caught up in whatever this is. I have an inn to save and a future to secure.

Falling for my bully is not part of the plan.

As the Moonflower Inn comes into view, its enchanted stained glass windows glinting in the afternoon sun, a sense of relief washes over me. The inn is the one constant in my life. All that matters is keeping it afloat and building a better life for myself.

I push open the heavy oak door, the familiar scent of woodsmoke and vanilla washing over me like a comforting hug. The lobby is quiet, the only sound the gentle crackling from the hearth.

"Mariah? Is that you?" Laurelle's melodic voice floats from the reception desk, her silhouette emerging from the back room.

I paste on a bright smile, hoping to mask the turmoil raging inside me. "Hey, Laurelle. Yeah, it's me."

But as she steps into the light, her elven features coming into sharp focus, I know I'm busted. Laurelle's eyes narrow, taking in my flushed cheeks and the way my hands tremble slightly at my sides.

"What happened?" the older woman demands, her voice soft but firm. "And don't even think about trying to brush it off. I've known you most of your life, Mariah Parker, and something is definitely up."

I sigh, my shoulders sagging under the weight of her perceptive gaze.

Laurelle has always been able to see right through me. Like that time when I was a kid and I tried to hide a stray glowkitten in my room. Laurelle took one look at my guilty face and the telltale glowing bulge under my sweater and marched me straight to Great Auntie Ida to confess.

Laurelle guides me to the plush armchairs by the fireplace, her slender fingers wrapped gently around my wrist.

"Sit," she commands, her tone leaving no room for argument. "And spill. Every last detail."

I sink into the cushions, the events of the day catching up to me in a rush of exhaustion and confusion. Laurelle settles into the chair across from me, her gray hair shimmering in the firelight as she leans forward, her expression equal parts concern and determination.

"It's Thorak," I admit, the words spilling out. Laurelle knows everything about the fake engagement, in case it comes up when Kingsley is around. "We were at the monster market with Kingsley, and we ran into some of our old classmates. They were being jerks, as usual, and I just...I snapped."

Laurelle's brows rise, her lips pursing thoughtfully. "What did you do?"

I bury my face in my hands, my voice muffled by my palms. "I kissed him, Laurelle. In front of everyone. And it was...it was..."

I trail off, unable to find the words to describe the searing intensity of that moment, the way Thorak's touch had ignited a fire in my veins and left me aching for more.

Laurelle is silent for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Then, slowly, a smile spreads across her delicate features, her eyes gleaming with delight.

"Oh, Mariah," she says, her voice tinged with a mixture of amusement and understanding. "You have a crush, don't you?"

My cheeks burn, a telltale blush that I can't seem to control. "No," I protest, shaking my head vehemently. "It's not like that. It's just...it's complicated."

Laurelle arches a delicate eyebrow, her expression skeptical. "Complicated how, exactly?"

I sigh, trying to find the words to explain the tangled web of emotions that Thorak stirs up inside me. "He was horrible to me in high school, Laurelle. He made my life a living hell. And now, here I am, pretending to be his fiancée, and I'm...I'm..."

I trail off, unable to admit the truth that's been gnawing at me ever since that kiss. That despite everything, despite the painful memories and the years of resentment, I'm starting to feel something for Thorak.

Something that terrifies me and thrills me in equal measure.

Laurelle reaches out, her slender hand resting gently on my knee. "Mariah, listen to me. The past is the past. People change. And from what I've seen, Thorak is not the same orc he was as a teenager."

I nod, my throat tight with emotion. "I know. But it's not just that. It's...it's this whole arrangement. It's supposed to be purely contractual, Laurelle. I can't afford to catch feelings. Not now. Not with everything else that's going on."

Laurelle opens her mouth to respond, but before she can speak, a loud crash echoes from upstairs, followed by a string of colorful curses. I jump to my feet and race up the stairs, Laurelle hot on my heels.

The scene that greets us is one of utter chaos.

Brorik is standing amidst a sea of glittering debris, his face twisted in a scowl. The walls are streaked with shimmering residue, and the air is thick with the cloying scent of pixie dust.

"What happened?" I demand, my voice sharp with worry.

Brorik turns to face me, his expression grim.

"We hit a snag," he grunts, gesturing to the mess around him. "Turns out these little buggers are a lot more resilient than we thought. We're gonna need some specialized equipment to get rid of ‘em for good."

My stomach drops, a sense of dread settling over me like a heavy blanket. "Specialized equipment? How much is that going to cost?"

Brorik shrugs, his eyes darting away from mine. "Hard to say. Could be a couple thousand extra, could be more. Depends on how deep the infestation goes."

I close my eyes, taking a deep breath to calm the rising panic in my chest.

"No," I say, my voice firm despite the tremor running through me. "Absolutely not. You gave me a quote, and that's what I'm paying. I can't afford any more than that."

I can't afford to ask Thorak for any more. Not when things are already getting more complicated than I'd ever imagined.

The dwarf opens his mouth to argue, but I cut him off with a sharp glare. "Make it work," I snap, my hands clenching into fists at my sides. "I don't care how you do it, but you better stick to that original quote. Do you understand me?"

He nods, his expression sullen as he turns back to the task at hand. I watch him for a moment, regretting my sharp tone.

Between the unexpected turn of events with Thorak and the mounting costs of the pixie dust mite extermination, I feel like I'm drowning, the weight of it all threatening to pull me under. But I can't afford to fall apart. Not now.

Not when everything I've worked for is on the line.

The Moonflower is more than just a business to me. It's my home. It's what saved my family when my parents both got laid off from their jobs in the human lands and we needed somewhere to go. When Ida died and passed this place along to me, my parents urged me to sell it and join them back in the city where I was born. But I couldn't.

Elderberry Falls is an extraordinary, otherworldly, extremely special place. And the Moonflower allows me to be a part of the magic, too.

I take a deep breath, squaring my shoulders as I turn back to Laurelle. "I need a drink," I mutter, my voice rough with exhaustion. "A strong one."