Chapter 46

"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 want you?"
"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.