Page 23 of Thor

“No!” His voice rose, making her jump. “There. That right there, That’s the problem. You’re scared of everything. Why?”

Elle dropped her gaze but didn’t answer. She didn’t want to look weak in front of him. But she wasn’t sure what he would do if she showed him what she was fully capable of.

A moment passed and then Thor’s hand tilted her chin up.

“Someone hurt you.”

She swallowed hard as her eyes filled with tears. Memories flooded her. Like the time her father had found her sneaking food from the kitchen and had forced it all into her mouth at once and caused her to choke until she threw up. Then he’d thrown her to the ground and made her clean it up with her bare hands.

“Elle?”

Her gaze whipped up as the memory faded. Thor’s eyes flashed silver again, and he pulled her into his arms. His soft t-shirt pressed against her cheek, and she couldn’t help but wrap her arms around his back and cling to him.

She’d never talked about the abuse. Not even with Val. Everyone in the kingdom knew what she’d suffered, but no one said anything. No one did anything. Only Val had taken to teaching her to fight. Aside from that no one in her father’s kingdom had cared.

“All right,” said Thor. “Let’s start differently. What is the worst thing that could happen if you fight back?”

“They could hurt me,” she said into his chest.

“But you’ve been hurt before.”

“True.” She never admitted it to anyone before.

“You’ve already been through the worst. Now it’s time to make sure you have the tools you need to keep it from happening again. And the first thing you need to make sure is to learn that you deserve better and to be able to tell someone no, and mean it. So, tell me no, and push away from me and mean it.”

Elle chewed her lip. “No.” She tried to push from his grip, but he held her fast. “It didn’t work.”

Thor glowered at her. “Did you mean it?”

“N... no,” she stammered.

“Why?”

Her cheeks heated. “Because I like when you hug me.”

Thor’s eyebrows rose slightly and something changed between them. Suddenly the heat that had sparked her skin when he’d touched her previously rose once more. Thor looked at her the same way he had previously. His hand splayed on her back sending warmth down her spine.

He leaned in slowly and Elle’s heart beat so fast she thought she might pass out. His lips moved closer to hers, and she sucked in a breath and held it.

Kiss her. Was he going to—

Before she finished the thought, his lips pressed to hers lightly. He pulled her closer to him, and she gripped the back of his t-shirt.

Kissed. She was being kissed. For the first time in her life. And by Thor, God of Thunder.

His lips pressed harder against hers and parted slightly. The tip of his tongue licked her bottom lip making her gasp slightly.

He pulled away. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have.”

“Why?”

“Because I am trying to teach you to stand up for yourself and be assertive and I go and kiss you. I apologize.”

“No,” she said firmly.

His brow creased. “No?”

“No!” she said more forcefully. “I don’t want you to apologize.”