I rolled my eyes. “Thenmakeit a home. Buy stuff that you love. Pictures. Comfortable furniture. Plants. Throw rugs and fancy blankets. Shelves and books. Furs.”
Jordan had mentioned Ozar’s love of fur pelts, so I figured it might be an orc thing.
Eng frowned. “I won’t be here long. Why…bother?”
“Because you shouldn’t have to live surrounded by a bunch of crap that doesn’t bring you joy. I’m guessing you guys get paid a decent amount of money. Spend it. It’s not like human currency is of value back in your kingdom, so use it to make your time here pleasurable.”
He tilted his head, regarding me as he thought about what I’d said. “Where would I get these things?”
I was about to suggest the internet, then I realized that Eng wasn’t the sort of guy who would decorate his house with purchases from Wayfair. “There are some great galleries here and in DC. And you can always take the Amtrak up to New York if you want to consider additional artwork. Same with furniture, rugs, and other stuff.”
He slowly nodded, his brown eyes fixed on mine.
The waitress arrived with our check. Eng and I had a mini tussle over the bill, which he won even though I protested loudly that I was supposed to pay as recompense for pepper spraying him in the parking lot.
“It was my fault for alarming you, warrior shrew. So it is me who should pay for not only my own dinner, but also a future meal of your choosing.”
Warrior shrew? I understood the warrior reference from earlier tonight, but shrew? Did he know what a shrew was and the connotations it carried, or was it similar to an animal back in his world that perhaps had a different symbolism?
I was afraid to think about the “future meal of my choosing.” So far all Eng and I had done was the mattress mambo. I didn’t want to put too much faith into the idea that we might actually share a meal in the future.
We left and Eng walked with me to the parking lot. I appreciated the chivalry and was about to offer to drive him home when he suddenly spoke.
“I would very much like to feed you tomorrow night.”
I caught my breath. “That’s not necessary. I mean…I know what we have between us and I don’t want to pretend it’s anything more.”
He frowned, obviously perplexed. “We desire each other greatly. And while we enjoy physical satisfaction together, I have also enjoyed talking and sharing food with you tonight. I would like to have this again, but I understand if you don’t?—”
“No! I mean, I do. I just…” I felt hot, like maybe I was about to faint or have a heart attack or something. “I enjoyed tonight too. And I would like to have this again as well.”
He smiled and once more I thought I might need to see a cardiologist for what was going on behind my ribcage. “Then I will meet you tomorrow night to feed you.”
It sounded downright primal. And it was sexy as hell. I opened my mouth to say yes, then remembered I had a date with Dean.
Damn it all. I could suggest Sunday instead, but my family was having a huge dinner get-together that included most of mysiblings, nieces, and nephews. And pushing Eng’s dinner offer to Monday night would send the message that I didn’t value him enough for a weekend night, that I’d relegated us to a shitty evening dinner on a lesser weekday instead. Not even a Thursday night date, but aMonday—the least valuable night of the week as far as dates went.
This thing between us wouldn’t work out. He was here to find his princess and he’d made it clear that I didn’t make the cut. I might be a warrior-shrew, but that wasn’t a princess trait.
He’d break my heart. I should stick to my date with Dean and just tell him no. But stupid, heart-breaking decisions were my modus operandi.
“I’d love to go out Saturday night.” I dug around in my purse for my keys. “But you pick the place.”
“Five o’clock?” he suggested with a smug smile that I wanted to wipe off his face. Or kiss off his face.
“Where should we meet?” I choked out.
“Urban Axes on North Haven Street.”
I laughed. “We’re going to throw axes? No fair! You’ve clearly got the advantage there.”
He grinned. “I think not, my warrior shrew. And after we throw axes, I will feed you.”
Feed me. Good Lord the very idea turned me on.
It was a date. Tomorrow night. I offered him a ride home, fully expecting to end up spending the night in his bed, or maybe with him in mine, but he refused. Then he kissed me soundly and waited until I drove out of the lot, before turning in the direction of his apartment.
My sleep was restless and full of dreams. And the next morning as soon as it was a decent hour, I called Dean.
