17. Bailey

Bliss had a name, and it was Katar. My legs shook where they were hooked on his shoulders, and my heart had flung itself apart to let this gorgeous orc saunter inside.

I'd only met him yesterday. How could I be falling in love with him already?

Yet, here I was, eager to tell him he was more than welcome to feast again. Even in my limpness. Even when I couldn't do so much as move. I lay splayed out for him on the counter, and I'd be happy to remain here for the rest of the day.

"Breakfast or me again?" he asked quite politely.

A glance at the clock told me I was going to be late for work already. While today's volunteer, Carole, would open up if I wasn't there, she'd rightly frown when I stumbled through the door. What could I tell her? I was late because the orc I met the day before decided to dine on me instead of the breakfast he'd painstakingly prepared?

"I sense hesitancy on your part," he said, though with an easy grin. "It's all right. A few days. I can wait."

I wasn't sure I could. Maybe he could stop by the library later today, and we could disappear among the stacks. I'd never contemplated having sex inside the library, but there was a first for everything, right?

"It's eight-thirty," I said. "I slept in."

"As you should." He gently removed my legs from his shoulders and helped me sit up. "You'll need the sleep."

Frowning at him, I tilted my head. "Oh? Why in particular?"

"Because I have a few more plans for us that'll show you how wild you can be." My heart floundered, wondering what he'd come up with next. He turned and calmly strode over to the stove. "I assume you need to leave for work soon, sweetheart."

Umm . . . Umm . . . Was I supposed to be able to think after what he'd just done? "Yes, I, uh, do."

"Go shower fast." He paused. "Oh, no, wait."

I slid off the island but leaned against it. "Wait?"

"Don't shower."

"Why not? I . . . need to shower each morning. Wash my hair. Wash . . . other parts."

He turned back and strode over to me, pressing me back against the counter. "You can comb your hair. Wash it in the sink, I guess. Get dressed."

"Thanks?" I'd never needed a male's permission to do self-care.

"I want you to leave your pretty little pussy just as it is, dripping from my mouth and the juices your body gave me."

Talk about swoon. It was all I could do not to melt on the floor. "That sounds . . . messy."

"And wild."

Ah, there was that word again.

"I'm going to come see you today," he said. "When's your lunch break?"

I gazed up at him, loving how he looked at me as if he would love to place me back on the island and go for another round. "Thirty minutes at one."

"Be ready for me, then." With that, he turned and sauntered back to the stove. "I'll make you an egg and toast sandwich you can take with you to eat during your drive."

"I usually just stop for egg white bites and a coffee on the way."

"You're going to need something heartier than egg white bites, sweetheart."

My skin tingled from his words, though I wasn't completely sure why.

"Oh?" I asked.

"Oh, yes." He looked back at me over his shoulder. "When I get there, I'm going to lock the door and lay you out on your desk. Then I'm going to have you for lunch."

With my breath coming in jerky pants, I staggered down the hallway and to my room where I fumbled around for something to wear. A skirt. A nice blouse to match.

And no undies.

Pandemonium reignedwhen I got to the library, pulling into my spot at exactly one minute after nine.

Like a good girl, I'd eaten the sandwich he'd prepared for me on my way to work, and man, was it tasty. There was nothing better than an orc eating you out on the island to work up an appetite for . . . Okay, more.

But we'd agreed my going wild didn't only apply to my sexuality, and I was eager to find out where he'd take me next. Dancing to the music of the moon and the stars had felt freeing. What else did this orc have to offer?

My coffee—also Katar-prepared—in hand, I strode up the walk with my briefcase in hand, meeting up with Carole out front. My body still hummed, and I swore I smelled from Katar's attentions, but that was the whole point. Every time I sat or moved, I was going to be reminded of what he did to me and what he planned to do to me during lunch.

"The detective is here," Carole said, shooting a look of concern toward the front door. "He's not letting anyone inside."

Oh, yeah. I'd completely forgotten about Detective Carter's visit.

A mom with two children in hand gave me a look of desperation. "They need story hour," she said.

Which Carole would run this morning.

"Really need story hour." Her voice lifted to a screech.

"We're holding story hour, no worries," I said with an easy smile.

Funny how a solid orgasm could make a day perfect. I wasn't even stressed that I was already behind.

"Oh, thank God," the mom said, her posture loosening. "It's the only time when I can do my homework." At a lift of my brow, she explained. "I'm taking classes toward a degree at the community college, and during story hour, well, I get a lot done."

"You should bring them in the afternoons for choo-choo book play," I said.

"What's that?"

"We lead them around the library like they're part of a train—complete with cardboard boxes painted to look like boxcars. Then we help them pick out the books they'll read all on their own. We sit them down and help those who are new readers sound out the words. We've got a full staff of volunteers during choo-choo book play. You shouldn't miss it."

"How long does it last?" she asked.

"An hour as well."

"Ah!" She danced in place, her boys looking up at her and giggling. "I'll—we'll—be there."

"Awesome." I turned my smile to the elderly woman waiting patiently beside the door.

"I was about to borrow the next book in the Monsterville series," Betty Sleed said primly. Eighty years old but still biking to the library every other day, she adored and ripped through every monster romance we stocked on the "steamy" shelf. "I finished My Orc-y Breaky Heart last night at two in the morning, and I'll gnash my dentures if I can't get the next book in the series ASAP."

I hoped it wasn't already checked out, though we had two copies.

I gave her a big smile. "Orcs are amazing, aren't they?"

She wiggled her gray eyebrows. "I'll say."

"Orcs?" Carole asked as I opened the front door and waved for Betty to enter. "Hold on." She slid her arm between Betty and the foyer. "I'm really sorry, but I told you that no one can enter the library yet." Her frantic gaze met mine. "Detective's orders."

"The steamy shelf is near the front, far enough away from the . . . turmoil," I said. "I'm sure the detective won't mind."

Betty huffed at Carole and, with a lift of her nose, pranced inside the library. I hid my smile and followed her, grateful there was still a copy of the next book in the series on the shelf.

"All of you need to wait outside. Please." Detective Carter strode forward, his hands lifted.

"I'm afraid we're already in." I stepped between him and our patrons who poured inside and rushed to various rooms. A library was a thriving business. Surely the detective could see that. If we didn't open, many would mourn—especially the mom with two lively young boys.

"But, but . . ." he said.

I ducked over close to him and lowered my voice. "Is there a problem?"

"Well, it's not huge." His face darkened, and his voice stiffened. "I need to speak with you inside your office."

"I'll handle the desk," Carole said, aiming that way. James Turner, one of our regulars, already stood in front of it with a big pile of books. He was researching ancient Tibet for a paper he was writing for his dissertation, and he must've found more material among our very extensive collection.

Helga Merryweather had been quite particular about the books she ordered. She'd had a knack for knowing what our patrons might need, even in the future.

It was my job to try to step into her very big shoes.

I followed the detective down the hall to my office and shut the door behind him.

"I do apologize for the mess I didn't create," I said, removing a stack of books from the guest chair and nudging my chin toward it. "Please sit."

He settled on the wooden surface but didn't lean back, watching as I walked around my desk and dropped onto Helga Merryweather's also very big chair.

We went through what I was doing last night when I heard noises in the attic, and how long I was away from my office. I could tell we weren't discovering anything new.

After finishing, he sat for a long moment, staring at me, before nodding slowly.

"I'm afraid you're not going to be happy with the conclusion I've come to," he said.

I nodded politely, wishing he'd get to it so I could do some work. I needed to straighten my office. Do an inventory of the items in the attic and here.

Clean off my desk for my lunchtime visitor.

Detective Carter pulled something from his pocket, and it clinked when he waved it in the air. "I'm afraid, Ms. Everhard, you're under arrest for the theft of the ancient orc tome."