She chuckled and crossed to the bed. He swung his legs over the edge and pulled her to him. The scent of her clean hair enveloped him as he kissed her. He didn’t want her to go. Didn’t want her away from him. Wanted to take her down to his place and keep her there forever by his side.
He kissed her, and she raked her hands through his long hair and leaned into him. A sharp knock sounded on the door, and she groaned and broke away.
“I need to go.”
“Stay.” He couldn’t hold the plea from his voice.
Her brow creased, and she bit her lip.
No. That wasn’t right. She needed her independence. He had to let her have it.
“It’s okay, Beautiful. You go to work, I’ll see you tonight.”
“Are you sure?”
He nodded and then kissed her again. “I don’t want to make you late.”
She smiled. “You would be worth it.”
Thor spent the day working on his dad's bike. Time flew, and before he realized it, it was time to pick up Elle. He'd not looked forward to something in so long that the sensation left him anxious.
Anxious? He'd never been anxious. Not before battle, not before ceremonies, not before anything. But somehow introducing Elle to his family made him anxious. Not because he was afraid they wouldn't like her, how could they not? But because he was afraid they would do something to scare her off. And he would do anything, go anywhere to keep her. Even if it meant leaving his family.
Thor walked through the portal to Midgard and jogged up the stairs. Heimdall nodded to him as Thor headed to the lofts. When he got to Elle's door, he found it open.
"I'm telling you, this isn't a good idea," said someone.
"Why?" Elle asked. "Thor and his entire family will be there."
"Exactly."
"I can't be safer anywhere in Helheim than with the entire family of Norse gods."
"That's not what I mean."
"I can't be afraid forever, Val. You brought me here to have a life. That's what I'm doing. Would you rather I fell for a Helborn or something else?"
"Of course not, it's just-"
"What? You're going too."
Thor knocked on the door, and it swung inward. Val turned to him. Both she and Elle wore beautiful, expensive dresses and heels. Elle's red hair had been pulled off her neck, and her crimson dress showed off her flawless peachy skin. It hung off her shoulders and swathed her curves in satiny sumptuousness.
Maybe they could skip the family dinner. He wasn’t totally sure he wanted his brothers to see her looking like that. It had been a long time since he’d had to fight his brothers; it would be a shame to have to hurt one of them tonight to keep them off her.
Val eyed him for a moment and then strode from the room, stomped down the hall, and disappeared down the stairs.
"She doesn't like me," Thor said. "I'm not used to that."
"Don't take it too hard. She doesn't like anyone."
He wondered what made her angry. Had she been through the same things Elle had?
"Are you ready?" Elle asked.
Thor nodded.
She walked to the door, and he bent in and kissed her cheek. "You look amazing."
