Page 42 of Thor

Our eyes met, and a startled laugh escaped me. Thor's mouth curved into a smile that transformed his rugged face.

"Ladies first," he said, gesturing with the spatula.

I shook my head. "No, you go. Please."

Thor turned back to the stove, sliding a golden pancake onto a waiting plate. "Sit," he said, nodding toward the table. "Food first, then we talk."

The table was already set with butter, syrup, and fresh berries. Coffee steamed from two mugs—mine already fixed with cream and sugar, exactly how I liked it.

Thor set a plate of pancakes in front of me, then took the seat across from mine. His bulk made the kitchen chair look absurdly small. He watched as I took my first bite.

"Good?" he asked.

I nodded, swallowing. "Really good. Even better than the stew last night."

“I’m glad.”

I set down my fork, appetite suddenly overshadowed by nervousness. "I'm sorry about dumping all that on you. About my . . ." I couldn't make myself say the word.

"Your Little side?" Thor supplied, his voice matter-of-fact but gentle. "Don't apologize. I'm glad you trusted me."

"It wasn't exactly planned," I admitted, staring into my coffee.

Thor nodded slowly. "I meant what I said last night. I'm not freaked out. Actually, I’ve been thinking and, uh, if you’d be interested, we could explore it together."

Together.

The word hung between us. I held my breath.

"I know what it means to be a Daddy Dom,” he continued. “It's about caring, protecting. Creating safe space."

"I've never had that," I whispered. "Not really. Just stolen moments on my own."

Thor's expression was serious. "Mandy, look. There’s something between us. You feel it. I feel it. We can’t ignore it.”

I felt my heart pound in my chest as he continued.

“I want to see where it takes it, if you want to. A DDlg dynamic. It would be about balance. You're strong, independent, fucking brilliant at what you do. But everyone needs a place to let go, to be taken care of sometimes."

I swallowed hard. "What would it look like? Between us, I mean." I somehow managed to get the words out without stuttering.

"Whatever we decide together," Thor said firmly. "There's no one-size-fits-all. But the core is trust. You trust me to hold your boundaries, to care for you when you need it. I'd help you feel safe enough to express that side of yourself."

"And when I'm not in that headspace?" I asked, needing to understand.

"Then you're the same badass accountant who keeps the Kings' books straight and takes no shit." A smile played at the corners of his mouth. "You don't have to choose between being a successful professional and having your Little space. The right relationship makes room for all of you."

Something warm unfurled in my chest at his words. Thor understood what I needed without me having to explain it—acceptance without dimming any part of myself.

"I've spent so long keeping these parts of me separate," I admitted. "Work-Mandy and the other me. Never the two shall meet."

Thor shook his head. "That has to be exhausting. Trust me, I know something about wearing different faces." His expression darkened briefly, hinting at the complexities of his own life. "But with the right person, you don't have to compartmentalize so hard."

"The right person," I repeated softly.

Thor leaned closer, his large frame shifting forward until I could see the lighter flecks of blue in his eyes, feel the warmth of his breath on my face. "I think we could be right for each other, Mandy. In ways neither of us expected."

My gaze dropped to his lips, then back to his eyes. The space between us seemed charged with electricity, crackling with possibility. My body swayed forward instinctively.

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