Page 47 of Thor

Thor's laugh was unexpected and rich. "You using pickup lines on me now, Wright?"

I felt heat rise to my cheeks.

The bartender appeared at our table, setting down a whiskey neat for Thor without asking. Then he placed a drink I hadn't ordered in front of me—a chocolate martini, complete with a dusting of cocoa powder on top.

I looked up in surprise.

"Thanks, Jake," Thor said, dismissing the bartender with a nod.

"To new beginnings," Thor said, raising his glass to mine.

"New beginnings," I echoed, clinking my martini against his whiskey. The chocolate was rich and velvety, with an undercurrent of alcohol that warmed my throat.

We sat in companionable silence for a moment, the bustling activity of the bar washing around us like we were stones in a stream.

"So," I finally said, setting my glass down. "Let's talk practicalities."

Thor nodded, his expression growing more serious. "Smart. That's what I like about you. Always thinking ahead."

"How would it work? With the club and everything."

Thor took a sip of whiskey, considering. "Within the club, there's respect for relationships. If we're together, you'd have certain... protections. Status."

"As your old lady?" I asked, the biker terminology feeling strange on my tongue.

"Eventually, if that's where this goes." Thor's gaze was steady. "But we'd take it slow. Date properly first."

I couldn't help but smile at that. "The big, bad Sergeant-at-Arms wants to date properly?"

"Don't let the cut fool you," Thor said, his voice dropping lower. "Momma raised me right. And something this important deserves to be done properly."

The sincerity in his voice sobered me. "What about my work? For the club, I mean."

"Nothing changes there," Thor said firmly. "You're damn good at what you do. The club needs your skills. That stands separate."

I nodded, relieved. "And my regular job? That's important to me, Thor. I've worked hard to get where I am."

"I'd never ask you to give that up," he said. "Your career matters. That's part of who you are."

Another weight lifted from my shoulders. So many men I'd dated had been intimidated by my career focus, had tried to make me smaller to soothe their egos.

"What about your responsibilities?" I asked. "Being Sergeant-at-Arms isn't exactly a nine-to-five job."

Thor's expression turned more guarded. "No, it's not. There will be times I can't tell you everything. Times I'll be called away with no notice." He hesitated, then continued more quietly, "Times I might come home with blood on my knuckles. Can you handle that?"

The blunt question hung between us. I appreciated his honesty, even as it forced me to confront realities I'd been avoiding.

"I don't need to know all the details," I said slowly. "But I'd need honesty about the big things. And I'd need to know you're coming home."

Thor's hand found mine across the table, his large fingers enveloping mine. "I can promise that. Always."

I took another sip of my martini, letting the sweetness and alcohol bolster my courage. "And what about . . . the other part? The DDLG thing. How public would that be?"

"As private as you want," Thor said immediately. "That's between us. No one else's business."

Relief washed through me. "Not even the club?"

Thor shook his head. "Especially not the club. They know better than to pry into my personal life." A hint of that dangerous edge crept into his voice. "And anyone who disrespected you would answer to me."

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