“Yes, but how would she know where to find Vervain?”
Thor had started pacing.
“Who knows,” Ull chimed in. “Someone found her and that’s all that matters. I have to admit; it looks as if it could be Mom.”
“She’s never even seen Vervain.” Thor walked by me, and I grabbed his hand.
“Do you still love her?”
The room stilled; little shuffling sounds and nervous coughing dying out to silence as everyone waited for him to answer my question while trying to appear completely uninterested.
“Why would you ask me that?” Thor looked so shocked that I almost let it go, but I had to know.
“You don’t want it to be her.” I tried to look as understanding as possible, but it felt as if a fist were twisting my gut so I probably looked more pained than sympathetic. All I needed was a god with baggage. Hell, I had enough baggage for the both of us... big, Louis Vuitton, steamer trunk baggage.
“Of course, I don’t.” He went down on one knee in front of me; bringing him a little closer to eye level with me and completely consuming my view. “Would you want to believe someone you once shared a life with was a heartless killer? That they were so bitter, they’d deny you any happiness even if it meant murder? I don’t want to believe that of her, but it doesn’t mean that I still love her. She destroyed our love a long time ago.”
“Sorry,” I whispered; feeling like an insensitive ass. I wondered what Sif had done to him, but I wasn’t about to be even more of an ass and ask.
“It’s all right.” Thor got to his feet. “You’ll be safe here.
Either way, we’ll get to the bottom of it, and if it is Sif, I’ll take care of her. For now, I think we've talked this out as far as we can, and it's time to call it a night.”
I swallowed hard as I realized what that meant. The others got to their feet in agreement and wandered out to their guest rooms with a chorus of goodnights. I felt awkward after all that had happened. I'd had to face a gorgeous ex-girlfriend and details about an ex-wife who wanted to murder me. The mood was kinda gone, and I wasn't sure I was up to getting it back.
Then Thor held his hand out to me.
Thor was backlit by the fire; his hair glowing red at the edges as if it had joined with the flames while his face was soft gold from the light of scattered lamps. His broad shoulders looked even wider with the dramatic shadows playing them up, and when he smiled at me, he looked like every fantasy I'd ever had rolled into one.
“Are you tired, darling?” His voice sent shivers racing down my spine.
“Not at all.” I smiled and took his hand; letting him pull me to my feet.
“Good.” He led me to the door, “I have every intention of watching the sunrise with you.”
Something tightened low in my body and my heart sped up until I couldn't separate the beats. It became one complete and unbroken note; one long vibration waiting for the touch that would quiet it. All I could do was nod. Thor's smile softened as he walked me down the hallway to his bedroom; the artwork lining the walls blurring into obscurity. The details of the bedroom were the same, just a hazy background. All I saw clearly was Thor and the massive four-poster bed we were heading toward.
“I feel as if I've been waiting forever for this,” Thor
whispered as he pulled me into an embrace.
“It's been barely over a week,” I whispered back; completely fascinated by his lips.
“Not for me.” His hands snaked into the hair at my nape to angle my head up. “For me, it's been two years. Two years of watching and wondering, fantasizing and waiting. Two years of wanting you here like this.”
“That's a long time to wait.” I gulped; suddenly worried that I wouldn't be up to his expectations. Two years is a lot of pressure to put on a girl.
“I'd have waited longer if you needed me to.” Thor brushed his lips over mine. “I can be a very patient man.”
“Well, I'm not patient at all.” I reached up and held him still for a more thorough kiss. When I pulled back, I pushed his hair away from his face and saw something I hadn't noticed before. It looked like a small piece of stone embedded in his forehead.
“What's this?”
“Ah, that is a long story.” He grimaced. “Let's just call it a bar brawl.”
“Is that a piece of rock?” I was fascinated.
“Yes, let it go.” He started kissing my neck.
“Oh, the dilemma,” I murmured appreciatively over his endeavors.
“What's that?” Thor didn't even lift his face. In fact, it was slowly lowering.
“There's just so many jokes.” I groaned. “Blockhead. Rocks for brains. Sorry, I had to get a couple out or I was gonna explode.”
Thor finally pulled back and looked down at me as if he
didn't know whether to strangle me, laugh, or just ignore me altogether.
“Right.” I smiled lasciviously. “It's your explosion we need to be working on.”
“Our explosion.” He chuckled and pulled me back against him.
“Rock my world, baby.” I giggled, and he threw his head back; making a very frustrated sound.
Then I started rubbing him the right way—yes, that way—
and he groaned; his arms crushing me against his chest. My hands shifted to his back; learning all those dips and planes his muscles made like a blind girl reading braille. He was my new language, a doorway to knowledge and undiscovered worlds, and I intended to become fluent in him. There was a library of learning for me to do, but all the books had only one title and only one author.
“Vervain.” Thor pulled back, panting a little. “I don't want to rush this. Let me look at you. Let me savor this moment.”
“Oh, you're good.” I started to unbutton his shirt.
“Good?” He smiled, but it was a tad confused.
“Smooth.” There went another button, another, and another.
Oh, sweet sacred Viking, look at that chest. All golden skin and curving muscles. “I guess you've had centuries to practice your pillow talk, though.”
“Pillow talk?” Thor threw his unbuttoned shirt aside and grabbed my questing hands. “You think what I'm saying is meaningless romantic coercion?”
“Then again”—I frowned—“that just ruined the mood a bit.”
“Vervain, what do I have to do to make you believe that I
“I believe, I believe!” I reached for his belt, and he took my hands again. I sighed and went further, “I could sing a damn Monkeys' song, I believe so much.”
“Now, who's pillow talking?” He rolled his eyes.
“Ugh!” I threw up my hands. “What do I have to do to get you to fuck me?”
Thor looked as if I'd slapped him; blinking hard, his mouth hanging open.
“Oh, for the love of the blessed Moon, what now?”
“I just realized how little this means to you.” He backed up a step. “I've been waiting years, but for you, it's been barely any time at all. You think of me as nothing more than a pleasant diversion.”
“Seriously?!” I was ready to scream. “All your flirting and seduction and now you're upset because I want to have sex with you?” I rubbed at my temples with frustrated fingers before flinging them out in exasperation.
“Vervain”—Thor ran a hand over his face—“I want to make love to you; you want to fuck me. That's why I'm upset.”
“You want me to be in love with you before we have sex?”
I couldn't believe it. The Norse God of Thunder was a romantic . . . and stuck in a Jane Austin novel. Didn't Jane die unwed because the man she loved married another woman? But I digress.
“Yes,” he growled. “No. Shit. I don't know. I can't expect you to love me after only a week, but I guess I expected you to feel something for me. I didn't think this was as base as fucking for you.”
“It's not.” I groaned. Was I going to have to give Thor therapy every time we had sex? If he hadn't been half naked and completely hot, I would have left. “I was frustrated and blurted that out. I have no filter. In my head, out my mouth. I do feel something for you. Trust me; this wasn't just going to simply be a good time.”
“It wasn't?” A little spark of interest lightened his look.
“Thor, I haven't had sex in years. Do you really think I'd just jump into the sack with you because you're hot? That's not how I was raised. If I didn't feel something for you, I wouldn't be here.”
I walked over to Thor and slid my hands around his waist.
He started to smile and reached down to undo my belt. It fell to the floor with a thunk. Then his hands were pulling up the tunic, and I was suddenly reminded that I had no underwear on. Thor sucked in his breath and ran a hand lightly over my face. It trailed down my neck and then fluttered between my breasts before snaking around my waist. I was yanked against him suddenly as his lips descended.
I fumbled for his belt and undid his pants without bothering to remove it from the loops. Thor kicked them off; his boxers quickly following. Then he was pressed against me, and I was able to feel all of him, especially the hard length rising between us. I reached for it without breaking the kiss, and he growled low in his throat as I stroked slowly. Strong hands lifted me and carried me over to the bed.
Lightning flashed outside and illuminated the room a second before thunder boomed. With the storm came a chill in the air which shocked me a little as he laid me down, but soon I was warmed by the heat of his skin. Thor smiled down at me, easing between my legs, and I gave myself a moment to enjoy the breadth of him. His massive shoulders were too wide for me to wrap my arms around so I slid my hands down the smooth skin of his chest and then slid them around his waist and up to grip his back.
“You look perfect in my bed,” he rumbled over the tempest brewing outside his balcony.
“And you look perfect above me.” I nipped his chin, and he chuckled.
Thor's hair trailed across my face as he lowered his mouth to my neck, nibbling and kissing his way to my collarbone, and I inhaled his invigorating scent. Everywhere he touched seemed to spark to life; dancing tingles spreading over me from top to bottom and back again. I felt as if I were the center of an electrical circuit; conducting his energy through me and back to him. My exhaustion vanished; fueled by his spark.
Thor's hands trailed down my arms, captured my wrists, and raised them above my head. With a firm push to convey his desire for me to keep them there, he left my hands to trail his fingertips down the underside of my arms and over my breasts. I shook as the tingles spread; tiny blue sparkles glinting from his fingers to my flesh.
“I wanted to take my time with you.” Thor looked up at me, and I was mesmerized for a moment by the lightning flashing against the bright blue of his eyes. “Vervain?”
“We have all night, and I don't want to wait anymore.” I slid my hands down to the curve of his ass and pulled him closer.
Thor grinned and gave up resisting. “I don't either.”
The storm outside lashed the walls of Bilskinir with a violence perfectly in tune with our passion. Thunder rumbled, growing in strength until the vibrations shook the bed, and lightning struck right beside the balcony. The room was illuminated with bright flashes, like snapping halogens, and everything blurred into a tribal pounding of rain, flesh, and hearts.
One last flash of lightning cast the erotic look on Thor’s face into stark relief as we cried out together; hands clenching in ecstasy.
Then the wind whistled into a gentle breeze and the rain lightened
into a delicate shower. Our heavy breathing replaced the sound of thunder as his head fell to my shoulder and his body collapsed over mine.
Even in his exhaustion, Thor was considerate; shifting his weight to the side so he wouldn't crush me. He ended up with a leg and an arm draped across me; his face buried against my neck. I smiled; feeling my heartbeat return to normal and enjoying the little aftershocks coursing through my body along with the random blue sparks that still jumped between us.
“Sweet mercy,” I breathed. “What was that?”
“Well it wasn't fucking.” Thor smiled against my neck.
“It was fucking phenomenal.” I smiled back as his hands started to roam again.
I watched the sun rise in Asgard from the bed of a Viking god. It couldn't get much better than that. Unless you added in the fact that I'd yet to go to sleep because said god had kept me up all night with a marathon bout of the most incredible sex I'd ever had.
I smiled and snuggled deeper into the sapphire silk comforter as I sleepily perused Thor's bedroom.
He'd gone to get us coffee and breakfast so I finally had an opportunity to take a look around. The massive, four-poster bed I was in was draped with deep blue silk, the thick posters carved with runes and Scandinavian scroll-work. Beyond it, the walls were the same dark wood as the bed, divided by pillars carved in the same style, adorned with eclectic artwork, and separated by bookshelves. Persian rugs littered the floor haphazardly and antiques were strewn about just as carelessly. In front of the stone fireplace were two chairs upholstered in deep burgundy leather, one with a thick animal pelt thrown over it. Dominating a corner was an amethyst cathedral crystal which would probably stand about waist high on me. Opposite it was a Native American headdress set on a stand; long feathers trailing to the floor.
It was the room of a scholar, with piles of books and prime pieces of art from extensive travels. It was the room of a warrior, with weapons of every size and shape hanging proudly on the walls. It was the room of a sensuous man; comfort and seduction oozing from every surface. It was the room of a god.
What the hell was I doing there?
The god himself walked in carrying a tray with a silver coffee pot, two ceramic mugs, and two plates of steaming food. I
grinned and sat up; the comforter falling to my waist, forgotten.
Thor's eyes glowed appreciatively and my hand shot down to replace the cover. I couldn't handle another round yet.
“Food first.” I wagged a finger at him.
“Puny human,” Thor teased as he laid the tray on the bedside table and then poured me a cup of coffee. “First, I want you to see something.” He held a hand out to me and helped me from the bed. “Here.” He picked up a discarded robe and helped me into it before handing me my coffee.
I wobbled a bit, and Thor steadied me with a smug look as I added cream and sugar to my coffee. When I had it perfect, he led me out to the balcony with one hand carrying the tray of food and the other on me. There was a small cafe set there, and he placed the tray on the round wood table before he pulled out a chair for me.
Amazingly, the table and its cushioned chairs had survived the thunderstorm; remaining completely dry. I raised a brow at their untouched condition, and Thor smiled.
“Bilskinir is mine. Nothing enters without my permission, not even the rain.”
“Must be nice.” I sipped my coffee as I looked out over Asgard.
Unsurprisingly, his balcony had the best view in Bilskinir.
Asgard was laid out before us; the cliff we were situated on practically giving us a bird's eye view. Speaking of birds, big white ones darted in and out of sight; their cries carrying gently up to me along with the sound of the surf pounding endlessly on black boulders below us. The mountain we were on stretched out to the right; continuing around the lake where it was bisected by a channel of water leading out to the sea. High above this channel, at the edge of each cliff, were twin stones; tall boulders carved with runes.
“The Guardian Stones of Asgard,” Thor said from my left.
“I thought you were the Guardian of Asgard.” I smiled at him.
“I am, but I'll take all the help I can get.” Thor smoothed my tangled hair back from my face. “Especially when I have such treasure to protect.”
I blushed and looked down into my cup. I should have been used to Thor's sweet talk—he'd been pouring it on thick all night—
but I wasn't. It felt like a movie to me; everything too soft and too shiny. Life wasn't like that, especially not mine, and it was hard for me to believe that someone so perfect could want someone so far from it.
“Those mountains separate my immediate family from the rest of the Norse pantheon.” He pointed to some white-capped massiveness which I assumed were his mountains. “Although, Balder's hall is beyond the peaks as well. And there runs the herd of Asgard; Odin's favorite horse comes from their line.”
He gestured to a group of magnificent horses running through a valley on our left. They went straight to the lake below us and hung their heads to drink.
“Are they divine horses?” I pulled my plate over and took a bite of french toast. “Do they listen to the prayers of regular horses?”
“Only Nordic ones.” Thor winked at me.
“Is that the forest your brother Vali lives in?” I pointed at the thick woods surrounding the valley.
“Yes, though he tends to favor the region around Valhalla.”
Thor pointed at the shining hall, roofed with golden shields. It spread out, wider than a football stadium, on a patch of open land across the lake from us. “Even though he doesn't visit Father, he still likes to be close to him.”
Then sunlight hit the shields, flashing red and gold, and setting the surrounding trees aflame with light. The rest of Asgard seemed to shiver with that first strike of sun. Everything flashed, everything sparkled, though that might have had something to do with all the raindrops left over from the previous night. The Viking territory stretched and yawned, sparkled one last time, and came awake.
“Wow,” I breathed; my fork forgotten on my plate.
“That's what I wanted to share with you.” Thor smiled and took my hand to place a quick kiss on it.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
“I want you to feel at home here, darling.”
“That may take some time.” I chuckled, but stopped abruptly when he frowned. “I just meant it's a lot to take in, a lot to get comfortable with, but it's wonderful. Asgard is amazing.”
“I agree.” He relaxed and started to eat.
“How long has it been since you've visited your father?” I asked casually.
Thor swallowed and looked at me sideways. “Does sneaking in to steal his war plans count?”
“No.” I pushed at his shoulder. “Is it really so bad between you?”
“Well, we're on opposite sides of a war right now,” he said.
“I think I'm an embarrassment to him, but I also think he secretly agrees with me. He's a leader, but after Sabine died, he started letting his people lead him. They want the power, and so he goes along with their plans.”
“That's sad, baby.” I frowned when he smiled at me.
“What?”
“I just like hearing you call me baby. ” He grinned wider.
“Well, if that's all it takes to make you smile.” I held up my coffee in salute. “Thanks for breakfast, Baby Thunder.”
“You're welcome, Darling Witch.” He kissed the syrup from my lips.
“Miss V!” Jackson exclaimed as I walked up to the table.
“Where you been, shug?” He drew out the endearment with a hint of New Orleans, so the shortened sugar came out sounding like shu-u-ug.
“Fighting Gods.” I laughed and hugged him. “Oh, and one werewolf.”
“You're never satisfied with the normal are you?” Jackson's boyfriend, Tristan, stood up to hug me next. “The rest of us just have demons to slay, but you get Gods. I wanna live in your world.”
“No, you don't; trust me.” I loved teasing the boys with the truth because even though they assumed it was just fun fiction, there were times when they got a sharp look in their eyes, and I knew they suspected it wasn't so fictional.
“Gods or demons”—Jackson sent me a penetrating look
—“we've missed you. You should spare some time for us mere mortals.”
“Hot stuff, you ain't a mere anything,” I settled down into my seat and picked up my menu.
I'd been putting my guys off for as long as I could, and honestly, I needed some Jax and Tryst time. So, I'd snuck out of bed to meet them. It was evening in Asgard even though it was late morning in Hawaii. Thor and I had gone back to bed after breakfast, completely exhausted from the previous night's activities, and I had woke up just as the sun was setting.
“This is going to be my second breakfast in eight hours,” I laughed as I looked over Cinnamon's selection. I don't know why I bothered; I knew the menu by heart.
“Oh, noonsies!” Tristan clapped his hands; his bright burgundy hair slipping into his eyes.
“No, no, second breakfast and then noonsies,” I corrected him.
“I know.” He rolled his gorgeous blue eyes as if the thought of me knowing more about The Lord of the Rings than he did was ridiculous. Which, of course, it was. “I meant we could do noonsies after this.”
“Ah, pardon me. How could I ever doubt you?” I rolled my eyes.
“So, Miss Vervain,” Jackson interjected before the conversation became pure LOTR. “What have you really been up to?”
“Oh, you know; painting, witchcraft, and having wild sex with my new boyfriend!” I did a little squeal, and Tristan joined in.
Jackson just smiled and reached for my hand.
“Oh, no!” I jerked my hand out of his reach. “None of that.
I don't want to know how horribly it's going to end.”
Jackson was a clairvoyant, and it was a constant battle to keep him from seeing too much. I probably should just give in and tell them already. If anyone would believe me about Atlanteans becoming Gods it would be those two.
“Why do you assume it will end badly?” Jax moved his coffee aside to try and get a clearer shot at my hand. “Or that it will end at all? This may be the one. Your soul mate. Could you pass me the cream, porfa-please?”
“He isn't the one.” My bright mood faded a bit when I thought about the future Thor and I would never have.
It didn't matter what Thor thought; I knew there was no hope for us. Human-god relationships had a notorious reputation for ending badly.
“Hah!” When I passed the cream, Jackson grabbed my hand. “Oh.” His eyes went distant as he focused on a point somewhere beyond my left shoulder. “He's magnificent. What is he; Scandinavian?”
“You could say that.” I grimaced and tried to pull away, but the guy had a kung-fu grip.
“Vervain, this man's in love with you already,” he whispered. “He's appointed himself your guardian. He's scared to death of you getting hurt. How very gallant, very old world.”
“Very old world.” I nodded and inwardly groaned. Please don't see anymore, please don't see anymore.
“Or very paranoid.” Tristan frowned as he watched my face.
“He's got a right to be afraid.” Jackson's hand clenched on mine. “Vervain, what have you gotten yourself into?”
“Nothing!” I tried to jerk my hand away again.
“There's so much blood,” Jackson's voice took on the monotone reserved for his predictions. “The Queen of Love brings only pain. Take her pain, take everything she is, and you change pain to pleasure, pleasure to love, love to heal the blackest hearts and make them yours.”
Jackson blinked and refocused on my face. Tristan and I were staring at him as if he'd just announced his preference for Payless shoes over Gucci. I was terrified. Jackson was never wrong
and coupled with Yemanja's warning, it was pretty much carved in stone. Pain was coming my way; pain and blood, evidently.
“Well, that was really helpful.” Tristan twisted his lips into a grimace. “And by that I mean you were completely useless. More trouble than honey on a pig's ass.”
“What I say?” Jackson's brows lifted. Sometimes, he would instantly forget what he prophesied. I breathed a sigh of relief. My secret was still safe.
“You started out great.” Tristan narrowed disapproving eyes at him. “Then you started blabbering about blood and pain and something about the Queen of Love, whatever that's supposed to mean.”
“It's fine, Tristan,” I started to reassure Jackson as well, but the waitress came up to take our orders.
When she finally left, the dark mood had dispersed, and I just wanted to let sleeping hellhounds lie. So, I left Jackson's strange prediction alone and focused instead on the happy news of the long-awaited end of my abstinence. They teased me with merciless intensity and fished for every bit of information on Thor they could get. I offered them every normal tidbit I could think of.
It was a surprisingly relaxing morning after that. I scarfed down my carrot-cake pancakes, drank way too much coffee, and basked in the general wonderfulness of my gorgeous friends. Every female eye in the place was fastened on me with envy. If only they knew.
Why is it that gay men are usually hotter than straight ones? I have one word for you; hygiene. Well, that and great genes.
Jackson had modeled at one time and had kept himself in top shape. He was not only gorgeous but was also one of those gay men you didn't realize was gay until two hours into a conversation when he moved his hand a certain way or sent you a sassy look.
But by then it's too late, you're hooked.
Tristan, on the other hand, had just a touch of flamboyance.
It was enough for you to realize you weren't getting any play in this lifetime, but reserved enough to compliment Jackson instead of embarrass him. He was Versace to Jackson's Armani. They were a great pair and loads of fun. I hadn't realized how much I'd missed them until it was time to leave. We said goodbye amid hugs and kisses. Tristan pouted when I told him I couldn't stick around for noonsies, but brightened back up when I promised to introduce them to Thor at the soonest opportunity.
I crossed the parking lot Cinnamon’s shared with all the other cute restaurants and shops in Kailua; making my way to my car in a happy food haze. Buildings boxed in the lot on all four sides; two high-rise office buildings guarding one entrance and looking grotesquely out of place next to the other, quaint two-stories around them. In the alleys between the smaller buildings, trees grew amid thick plant life; gaily adding their appeal to the country cottage façade and further alienating the massive cement monstrosities.
The alleys were clean and bright, nothing like you’d expect an alley to be, and short on shadows to hide in. They weren't scary.
They were the domain of stroller-wielding yuppies, not monsters.