She cupped his face in her hands, and lightning flashed in his eyes.
"Elle..."
"Thor."
He kissed her again before rolling off her and pulling her into his arms.
His body wrapped around hers, making her tingle from head to toe. Thor, God of Thunder, had made love to her. Sutrelle- daughter of his enemy.
Elle squeezed her eyes shut, a tremor running through her body that had nothing to do with pleasure. The weight of her deception pressed against her chest, making each breath shallow and painful. Thor's arms around her felt like a sanctuary and a trap. His heartbeat thrummed against her back, strong and steady, while hers raced with panic.
"Are you all right?" Thor's voice rumbled against her ear, his breath warm on her neck.
She nodded, not trusting her voice. How did she tell him now? The words stuck in her throat like shards of glass. Surtr's daughter. Enemy of Asgard. Liar.
"Elle?" His fingers traced gentle patterns along her arm, raising goosebumps in their wake. "You're shaking."
She rolled to face him, forcing herself to open her eyes. His face was so close, blue eyes still glinting with remnants of lightning, stubble rough against her palm as she touched his cheek. The tenderness in his gaze made something crack inside her.
"I'm just..." The lie died on her lips. She couldn't bear to add another falsehood to the mountain between them. Not now. Not after what they'd shared.
Thor brushed a strand of hair from her face, his calloused thumb lingering at her temple. "Whatever it is, you can tell me."
A sob built in her throat. The secret she carried was a living thing, clawing to get out. If she told him, she would lose him. If she didn't, she would lose herself.
"I'm afraid," she whispered.
His brow furrowed, protective instinct flashing across his features. "Of what?"
"That this isn't real." It wasn't what she meant to say, but it wasn't untrue. "That when you know me- truly know me- you'll..."
"I'll what?" His voice was gentle, but his body tensed.
Elle pressed her forehead against his chest, breathing in his scent- ozone and iron and something uniquely him. Her heart lay raw, exposed, like an open wound. She had never given herself to anyone before- not her body, not her trust, not her heart. Now she had surrendered all three, and the vulnerability terrified her.
"You won’t like me," she whispered into his skin. “Or worse… You won’t want me anymore.”
Thor's arms tightened around her. "Elle, look at me."
She couldn't. If she did, she might shatter.
His fingers tilted her chin up, forcing her gaze to meet his. "Nothing you tell me would make that happen."
A tear slipped down her cheek. "You don't know that."
"I know you." His thumb caught the tear. "I may not know where you came from or what you're running from, but I know who you are. Here." He placed his hand over her heart. "And that's what matters to me. You are what matters to me."
CHAPTER ELEVEN
A twitch awoke Elle. She opened her eyes, and Thor twitched again. She looked at his still-sleeping face, twisted in anger. For a moment, he didn’t move, and then he shouted and swung wildly. Elle scrambled out of the way.
"Thor?"
He struck out again, rolled over, and fell out of the bed, hitting the floor with a thump.
"Thor!" Elle ran around the bed.
Thor jumped to his feet, his body in a tense, defensive stance. He peered at her through the darkness like he couldn't place her.
