Orc Boyfriend: Bryok (special preview)

Bryok gives me a smile. “What can I do to make those tears seem distant?” 

His words are an arrow through my heart. “I know we met only a short time ago, but I could I have a kiss?”

“A bold request.” Bryok slips his fingers under my chin. “My a clandestine one.” He dips down and I close my eyes. His tusks touch my cheek first and then his soft lips. The kiss is all too brief but it has wrought it’s damage upon me.

“There,” Bryok’s low growl rumbles in my ear. “Any better?”

I swoon a bit, feeling much younger than my years should allow. “It solved nothing,” I clear my throat. “But it certainly made me feel better.”

Bryok grinned. “Then perhaps you would allow me the honor of doing it more often?”

My heart rattles and I feel knocked off my feet. “Wasn’t one enough?” I ask him, eager to take him up on his offer.

“It isn’t even a start.” Byrok brushes his knuckles against my cheek and then strokes his fingers through my hair. “I don’t mind waiting until I’ve earned the rest.”

I cough and giggle. “Well then, what would you say to dinner?”

“I never turn down a meal.” He slaps his palm to his belly. “Obviously.”

I giggle and smile up at him. “I was just about to go to my chambers and have a meal with my son. I’m sure he’d love to have you join us, he’s been fascinated with the Orcs since we arrived.”

“You’re raising him on your own?” Bryok asks as we walk down the halls.

I let out a sorrowful breath and nod my head. “As much as I can. His father died before he was born, I’m all he knows.”

Bryok smiles at me. “My father used to take in the children of Obresh who had lost their way, or who needed guidance. He raised many children, not just me. He was father to everyone in Obresh, but he always made time for me and my siblings.”

“Sounds like you had a big family,” I chuckle. “The Mainers have always been small families,” I sigh. “Never more than two children, often just one. Fear of usurping of something, I don’t know.”

“Would you want to end that tradition?” Bryok asks with a smirk.

I give him a playful shove. “I am not the young woman I was. If I am to have more, it would have to be soon. Is that what you want? A big family?”

“I wouldn’t mind it,” Bryok chuckles. “I don’t know how to handle anything else.”

“Mama!” Abel waves at me from the end of the hall where he’s standing with Chirayu and a few Orc children.

I wave back to him. “Come along, Abel, it’s time to eat! You can play with your new friends tomorrow.”

Abel hugs one of the Orc children, handing them his toy boat and rushes up to me. He’s filthy from tip to toe, his curly hair is tangled and wild, his clothes are covered in dirt, and his face is smudged all over. He glances up to Bryok and waves. “Hello.”

“Hello, young man,” Bryok chuckles. “You look like you’ve had fun today.”

“You’re a mess!” I scoff. I use a handkerchief to wipe his face off. “What on earth have you been getting into?”

“I helped build something for the little Orc kids today,” Abel said. “I helped Chirayu fetch the wood because I didn’t want the kids to get hurt.”

My heart melts, he’s such a wonderful little boy. “What did you make?”

“Chirayu and Mr. Foluke showed me how to build playhouses from logs and sticks, so we built two for the younger Orc kids. They looked bored so I asked Chirayu if there was something we could do.”