4. Katar

Iloved teasing Bailey. Talking with her.

And I was praying the wind had picked up outside.

With me leading the way, we took the stairs to the ground level. But when we entered her office, we found it in shambles.

Bailey collapsed against the wall, rocking a floor lamp when she inadvertently brushed against it.

I straightened the lamp and scooped her up in my arms. I wanted to take her to her car and lock her inside while I looked into this, but I got the idea she'd refuse to leave me. And frankly, I wanted her where I could keep my protective eyes on her at all times. I settled for lowering her gently into her desk chair and wheeling it back away from the rubble.

"Someone . . ." She gaped up at me, her finger sweeping across the mess. "We were only in the attic for a few minutes."

I should've locked the front door. No, locked Bailey in her car and then searched the place alone.

"I'm so sorry." Irritation churned through me, combined with the need to keep her safe.

"I don't understand why anyone would do something like this. Do you think they were searching for something?"

It had to be connected to the theft of the book.

"Where do you keep that inventory?" I asked, sensing what she'd soon tell me.

Her trembling finger shifted to the desk. "It's on my . . . Oh, my gosh. My laptop is gone. Gone . . ." When she cupped her face, I stooped down in front of her, taking her chilly hands in mine, warming them. I kissed her knuckles, and she looked at me with teary eyes. "Someone destroyed my office." She took in the papers scattered all over, the books flung from the shelves, lying in ungainly piles on the floor.

If they were only looking for her laptop, they would've taken it and fled. "What else did you keep here? Anything of value?"

She shrugged and when a tear trickled down her cheek, I wanted to find whoever did this and rip off their head. I settled for stroking the tear from her face with the pad of my thumb.

"We'll figure this out," I said. "I promise."

"Again, I'm so glad you're here." A sob shook her frame. I tugged her from the chair and into my arms, dropping down onto the floor with my back against her desk. I should lock all the doors and search the place from top to bottom, yet everything important was nestled in my arms.

"I'm not going anywhere," I said gruffly. "I promise this as well. I'm here for you for as long as you need me."

"Thank you." She shuddered and looked up at me, and her pretty eyes stunned me all over again. So did her silky hair I kept fisting at the nape of her neck. And the way she molded her body against mine as if she belonged there.

"Did you feel that?" I croaked.

Her lips twitching, she shook her head. "No. What do you mean?"

"I felt a gust of wind."

Just like I thought, her lips curled up sweetly, which was my goal when I said it. "Now you're trying to cheer me up, make me feel less afraid. I appreciate it."

"Maybe I also want that kiss."

"Then what are you waiting for, Katar Dolkin?"

All I could see were her lips parting and the way her gaze locked on my mouth.

I feathered my lips across hers, tender at first, not wanting to hurt her. She was so much smaller than me. Infinitely precious.

And incredibly responsive.

She moaned and turned to wrap her legs around me, her fingers digging into my upper arms as she shifted her pelvis against me. With a gasp, she pulled away. Her fingers left my arm only to trace across her lips.

"Tusks," she said softly and with wonder. "I thought they'd be hard, but my lips fit between them. They only pressed into my cheeks."

I frowned. "They didn't hurt you, did they?"

She shrugged. "I didn't feel them. I was too . . ." Her eyes closed but only for a heartbeat. "I was too lost in your kiss. You kiss well, Katar Dolkin."

"So do you, Bailey Everhard." I wanted more. So much more. But now wasn't the time.

I shifted her off my lap and back into her chair, rising to stand over her. I wanted to wrap myself around her, shield her from everything and anyone who might be a threat, but I really needed to make sure we were alone inside the building.

I said as such.

She scrambled to her feet, leaning against my side. "I'll come with you while you look."

"I still can't convince you to wait in the car or here, behind a locked door?"

"I'm terribly sorry, but no."

Because she was stubborn, I wanted to growl and gnash my teeth. But I also liked having her with me where I could watch over her.

We went to the front door, finding it wide open, and shut and locked it. Then we covered the entire first floor and scoped out the basement and attic again, finding no one inside the building.

"I should call the police now," she said in a tiny voice once I'd sat in her office chair and tugged her onto my lap. She leaned back against me sweetly.

"Go ahead. I'll stay with you."

"Thank you." She plugged in her phone and made the call.

We waited until a police officer arrived and let him inside, explaining everything that had happened. He took a bunch of pictures with his phone before grunting and studying us.

"And who are you?" Detective Carter asked, his tight gaze raking down my frame.

"An orc who was passing by on the street," I said carefully. It would be easy to pull out my badge from the orc kingdom, but I was told to be discreet. The kingdom hadn't notified the human authorities I would be here. I could work quicker and quieter without all the fanfare that might come from an official state visit. "I heard Bailey cry out and ran to help her."

She slunk closer to me, taking my hand. "I would've been terrified if he wasn't here."

"Do you have any ID?" he asked.

I pulled it out and handed it to him. It was a simple thing with just my first name and picture, but it also indicated I was here on a diplomatic mission to aid in ongoing treaty negotiations. Orcs had emerged from the ground years ago and integrated with human society. We were treated like visitors from another country, not the monsters a few people shouted when they first saw us. When it came down to it, we were people like everyone else.

Orcs bought homes, took jobs, and dated humans. Most had accepted us as part of their everyday lives.

Detective Carter studied my ID longer than necessary, but it had been produced by the kingdom itself, and he wouldn't find anything suspicious there. With a grunt, he handed it back and watched me as I carefully returned it to my back pocket.

He sighed and directed his attention to Bailey. "You need to close the library for the rest of the week while we investigate."

Not a bad idea.

"I can't," she gasped. "We have activities planned. Three sessions of reading hour tomorrow and Thursday for differing age groups. The local romance book club is meeting here tomorrow evening at seven to talk about their latest read."

"Romance club?" I asked, curious.

"They're reading an orc romance." She winked. "It's called Candy for My Orc Boss, and it's steamy."

"Steamy?" Detective Carter frowned. "People actually write books about orcs?"

"Romance books. Well, I assume other genres as well, but orc romances are hot right now."

His brow creased.

"This one features an orc male and a woman." Bailey grabbed a book off the floor beside her desk and handed it to him.

I leaned over to study the cartoon orc on the cover, plus the woman holding a lollipop. She was looking at the orc as if she wished she was holding—and about to lick—him instead.

My low laugh rang out. I loved it.

"Have you read it?" I asked.

"Yes, I facilitate the romance book club."

Perfect.

The detective huffed. Bailey shared her frown with both me and then him. "It's a fun book. Sweet. Romantic. Steamy, as I said."

"I don't discount that orcs and humans can . . ." The detective coughed. "Back to the subject at hand, if you please."

"Yes. As I said, the romance book club needs to meet here tomorrow night. You know the coffee shop is closed for renovations, which means they can't meet there. And the reading groups and the book club aren't the only ones using the library this week. Did you know many of the elderly come here not only for books but for regular socialization? And children come here after school. It's spring and while not too cold outside, there are times when children have no secure place to go until their parents get home from work."

"I quite agree," someone said sternly.

We turned to find a middle-aged man standing in the open doorway of her office. He gasped as he took in the disarray. "My goodness, Bailey. What happened here?"

Bailey explained about hearing a sound in the attic, running outside, and us searching—leaving out the impact to my forehead with the stapler, which the man now held.

"How horrifying. You poor dear." The man placed the stapler on the desk and held out his arms.

Bailey hesitated but went to him.

Seeing another male holding her made my guts churn, but I swallowed down the bitter taste in my mouth. I'd just met her. She didn't belong to me. Even if she was my fated mate, something I'd verified with our kiss. No matter what, she was still her own person.

But it was all I could do not to snarl.

"How did you know?" she asked him.

"I heard the call on the scanner."

"Ah, I see. Katar." She returned to my side and waved toward the other male. "This is Flynn Jacobs. He's the chairman of the board overseeing the library. Flynn, Katar Dolkin was here when I needed him most."

"You should've called me immediately," Flynn said curtly, though his eyes held concern. "I would've come right away."

Was there something between them? The hug suggested yes. My growling belly shouted there better not be.

"There was no need." Bailey leaned into my side. Did she realize she'd gravitated back to me instead of the man who was acting as if he had some say in how she ran her life? "Katar was here."

I took her hand and gave him a proud grin. While my chest shouldn't puff from the fact that she'd chosen me over him—sort of—it still did.

He blinked a moment, his attention falling to our clasped hands before he stiffened. The look he sent me did not contain the warmth it had when he gazed at Bailey.

In fact, I had no problem reading the sharpness there.

My jawline tightened.

Challenge accepted.