Page 22 of Thor

“And what were you holding?”

“The tray.”

“Right. You have a few options but I’m gonna teach you a few of the easiest.”

She nodded; her heart pounding so hard she was sure he felt it. He wrapped his arms around her tighter like two hardbound ropes. His warm chest hit her back as her body rested against his.

For a moment Elle closed her eyes and allowed the warm sensations inside traverse her body uninterrupted. Wave after wave of warmth crashed over her like the heated waves of the ocean back home.

“Ready?” Thor asked so close to her ear she was unable to voice words.

She nodded, trying to gain control of her mind and body.

“First, throw your head back and smash me in the face,” said Thor. “A broken nose is a great way to make someone let go of you. Try it.”

She shook her head. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Trust me. I’ll dodge. But the guy grabbing you won’t because he won’t expect it. Go on. Throw your head back hard and quick.”

Elle closed her eyes and leaned her head back until it rested on his shoulder.

“Uh... no,” he said strangely. “You aren’t using me as a pillow. Faster and harder. If you do it like that, they are more likely to think you are enjoying it.”

Elle took a deep breath and tried again. This time she whipped her head back and caught Thor on the right temple.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m sorry.”

“No,” said Thor. “No, that was perfect. You’re faster than I thought you’d be.”

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Though if I’d been a fraction slower, I’d have a broken nose right now. Well done.”

He smiled and her heart squeezed. It was a genuinely broad, toothy smile. One she’d not seen from him before. His infectious smile made her smile in return. She liked the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled like that. And she noticed a dimple on one cheek that she’d not seen before. Every moment she looked at him he grew more and more handsome. How was that even possible?

“All right. So, if someone grabs you the first thing you can do is throw your head back. The second option is to use your elbow or the tray in your hand. Like with your head, you can throw your elbow back and catch the guy in the nose, eye, throat, doesn’t matter. Any of those hits will make him let go.”

“But... won’t it make him angry? Won’t he strike me back?”

“Not if he knows what’s good for him.”

Thor’s eyes flashed with deadly lightning like they had previously.

“You need to stop being scared of what they might do to you if you fight back and worry more about what they might do to you if you don’t fight back.”

Elle knew all too well what happened when she didn’t fight back. She’d had the bruises, cuts and welts to prove it at one time or another. And Val had brought her to Midgard, to become a new person. The person she wanted to be. And the person she wanted to be, was strong.

“Here.” Thor turned her to face him and put his hand on her shoulder. “Push my hand off and tell me no.”

She brushed his hand away lightly. “No, thank you.”

Thor shook his head. “Say it forcefully. And don’t say thank you. Tell me no.”

She took a deep breath and pushed his hand a bit harder. “No.”

“I didn’t believe you for a minute.” He put both hands on her shoulders. “Push my hand off and say, don’t touch me.”

She pushed his hand. “Please, don’t touch me.”