Page 70 of Bliss & Her Idols

I can’t look away from his eyes, as he leans closer. “Anything you want, a chroi.”

“A chroi?”

“My heart.” His voice is like silk sliding over frozen metal.

I shiver.

“That’s dangerous. I could call you sexy knot, boo boo bear, stud muffin, or—"

“Can I safe word?Red.” He shudders. “You win this round. I’m waving the white flag.”

“Win for the cringe.” I grin. “Consent is important to me. I’ll always honor a safe word. What aftercare do you need after terrible pet names?”

“I guess that I need to balance them by telling you my real name.” Amusement ripples in his tone.

Goosebumps prickle along my skin.

It’s intense having all this man’s attention on me.

His dominance isn’t oppressive. It’s like lightning; bright and electrifying.

This conversation is similar to hate sex: a fight and a fuck.

I love it.

When I reach up to brush along his sharp cheekbone, he leans into my hand for a moment. Then my breath hitches, as he noses alongmycheek, then up to my hair.

His lips are hot against my ear. My core is throbbing.

I hold myself still.

“My name,” he whispers, “is Tor.”

He waits for a moment, and I can hear his fast breathing loud against my ear, as if he expects me to react…like he expects me to know his name.

He’s anxious.

Scared.

My brow furrows.

There’s something slightly familiar about the name, but I can’t place it.

Tor…?

“Is that an Irish name?” I ask, hoping that it may calm Tor’s panic, which he’s attempting to control but I can hear in his breathing. “It suits you.”

His breathing slows. His shoulders relax.

Tor pulls back from me with a cool smile. “Yes. I’ve only just flown in from Dublin.”

“So, are you pack or friend?”

“I’ll answer, if you do.”

“We’re friends.”

“Are you now?” Tor scrutinizes me with his large, blue eyes. “It’s complicated. Right now, I’m a work colleague.”

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