Page 41 of Thor
“We know that he makes you happy.Your dad and I miss you and want you back in our lives.On your terms.However you’re willing to do that.And we understand that means this Thor gentleman will be part of it.”
“Mom, we haven’t talked in years.What’s changed?”
“Just things.You’re my daughter.”
“I was your daughter before today.It didn’t matter then.”
She let out a dramatic sigh.“Okay, here it is.I watched the news last night.About those kids that were murdered in the school shooting?They interviewed one girl’s mother.She talked about all the things she’d never get to do with her daughter, and I realized unless I made the first move, I’d never get to do those things with you either.I know we’ve never been close, but I want to change that.Listening to her, I realized how much I’ve been missing.How muchwe’vebeen missing.”
She’d always been dramatic, and I wasn’t sure what to make of this sudden about face.“What have we been missing?Because I’m happy now, and I’m not about to go back to being manipulated by you and Dad.”
She hesitated.“That’s not going to happen.Are you married to the gentleman?”
So they didn’t know everything.Interesting.And rather amusing that she referred to him as a gentleman.Maybe their influence didn’t extend to this area of society.“Not yet, but it’s likely in the near future.”Of course, he’d have to ask me first.
“I’m sure your father would like to walk you down the aisle when the day comes.And I could help plan a beautiful wedding.”
My head throbbed.On top of the day I’d had, this about-face on their part was just too much to comprehend.“Mom, I’ve had a tough day, and I’m really tired.This call is completely out of the blue.How about you give me a few days, and I’ll call you back?Maybe meet for coffee or something.”Despite everything that had happened, she was my mother and a part of me missed her, missed the relationship we could have had.Should have had.
“You promise you’ll call?”
“I promise.”I hesitated.“I miss you too.”I almost whispered the last bit as I disconnected the call.
“Who was that?”Thor strode into the room and sat beside me.
“My mother.”I guess now was the time to have that talk.“It’s been years since we last talked.”
He pulled me over to sit on his lap.“You don’t have to tell me anything if you don’t want to.”
“But I do.”I tried to sort the words out in my head.“When you were knifed, my first thought was to wonder if they had anything to do with it.”I explained my family as best I could, and the hardest part was admitting I still loved them and wished we could have some kind of relationship.
Thor held me close.“Of course you do.They’re your family, and that’s important.Trust me.I don’t have a family, and I envy everyone who does.If they’re holding out an olive branch, take it.Maybe they’ve had a change of heart.”
I turned to face him.“You are the wisest man on the face of the earth.I love you.You know that, right?”
He grinned.“Does that mean I can finally put my cut on you?”
I lowered my head to capture his lips in a passionate kiss.When we finally came up for air, I traced a finger across his rugged jawline.“Yeah.I guess it does.”
He looked shocked.“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure.”
He reached past me to slide open a drawer on the bedside table.Reaching inside, he pulled out a leather vest and held it up for me to read the back.On the rocker panels surrounding the Riptide logo, it saidProperty of Thor.I stood up and let him put it on me.
“How long have you had that hiding in there?”I straightened the vest.
“Too long.You are one hard-to-pin-down woman.”
I grinned, turning so I could admire my reflection in the mirror on the back of the door.“I’m going to have to wear this when we go meet my parents.”
Thor raised a brow.“We’re going to meet your parents?”
“Eventually.”I wrinkled my nose.“I’m going to make them work for it, though.”
Thor pulled me back into his arms.“That’s my girl -- play hard to get.”He lifted my hair and nibbled at my neck.“I want to fuck you in nothing but your cut.And maybe those boots.They’re sexy as sin.”
I laughed.“You are bad!”
