Chapter 129
Layla's POV
I sat there, staring into Thor’s intense eyes, my heart pounding so loud I was sure he could hear it over the crackling of the dying fire. The glow of the flames painted his face in warm oranges and reds, making his sharp jawline look even more defined. My own face felt hot, burning, and I couldn’t tell if it was from the heat of the fire or the weight of his words. How could it be autumn, with the crisp night air all around us, and yet I felt like I was overheating, like my skin might catch fire any second?
“Layla,” Thor’s voice pulled me out of my spiraling thoughts. He stood up, brushing ash off his hands, and extended one to me. “Come on. Let’s get out of this chill.”
I took his hand, feeling the rough calluses against my softer palm, and let him pull me to my feet. My legs wobbled a little, not just from sitting so long, but from everything he’d just said. Sharing me? Loving me enough to compromise? My mind was a mess, tangled with hope and fear and something I didn’t dare name. As we walked toward his car parked a little ways off, the gravel crunching under our boots, I kept stealing glances at him. His face was unreadable now, but his grip on my hand was firm, almost protective.
When we reached the car, Thor opened the back door and, without a word, scooped me up into his arms like I weighed nothing. I gasped, my hands instinctively grabbing at his shoulders. “Thor, what are you—”
“You’re shivering,” he cut me off, his voice low and steady as he climbed into the back seat with me still in his arms. He settled me down gently, then reached over to adjust the seats, reclining them until they lay almost flat. I watched, heart racing, as he pulled a soft wool blanket from the trunk and spread it over the seats. “There. Now my Layla won’t be cold.”
My breath caught at the way he said ‘my Layla.’ It was possessive, tender, and it made my chest ache in a way I couldn’t explain. I wanted to say something, anything, but my throat felt tight. Instead, I just watched as he leaned over me, his broad frame blocking out the dim light from the fire outside. The heat from his body was overwhelming, mixing with the smoky scent of the campfire still clinging to his jacket.
“Thor,” I finally managed, my voice barely above a whisper as he hovered over me, his hands braced on either side of my shoulders. “You know I’m still carrying Kael’s baby.”
His eyes softened, but there was a flicker of something else there too—pain, maybe, or determination. “I know. Two months along, right? It should be stable now.” He shifted closer, his voice dropping even lower. “Don’t worry, Layla. I’m not gonna push you into anything. I just want to make you feel good. Just a little comfort, that’s all.”
My stomach flipped at his words, a mix of nerves and anticipation rushing through me. I didn’t know how to respond, so I just nodded, my hands clutching the edges of the blanket as he slowly started to undo the buttons of my oversized flannel shirt. His fingers were careful, deliberate, brushing against my skin with every move. Each touch sent a jolt through me, making me hyperaware of how close he was, how warm his breath felt against my collarbone. When he had the shirt open, he pulled the wool blanket tighter around us, cocooning us in its softness.
“What about Ruby and Hunter?” I asked, my voice shaky as I glanced toward the window, half-expecting to see them walking back.
“Don’t worry about them,” Thor murmured, his lips curling into a small, reassuring smile as he tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear. “They’ve probably wandered off far enough by now.”
I swallowed hard, trying to steady my breathing as his hands slid down to rest on my hips. Then, slowly, almost reverently, he leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to my stomach. My face burned with embarrassment, and I squirmed under him, not used to this kind of tenderness. “Thor, you don’t have to—”
“I want to,” he interrupted, his voice firm but soft as he looked up at me, his dark eyes holding mine. “You’re beautiful, Layla. Every part of you. Let me show you that.”
I bit my lip, torn between shyness and the warmth spreading through me at his words. His hands were warm against my skin as he kissed lower, his stubble scratching lightly against my belly. The sensation made me shiver, and I couldn’t help the small sound that escaped my lips. He paused, glancing up at me with a question in his eyes, and I nodded, giving him silent permission.
Thor’s movements were slow, careful, as he slid my leggings down just enough, his hands steady and warm against my thighs. The cool air hit my skin, but the blanket and his body heat kept me from feeling cold. My heart was racing so fast I thought it might burst as he lowered his head again, his lips brushing against the sensitive skin just below my navel. I gasped, my hands instinctively reaching for him, fingers tangling in his messy brown hair.
“Relax,” he whispered, his breath hot against me, sending shivers down my spine. “Just let me take care of you.”
I tried to, but every touch, every kiss, made it harder to think. His mouth moved lower, finding the most intimate parts of me, and I couldn’t hold back the soft cry that slipped out. My grip on his hair tightened as waves of pleasure started to build, my body reacting to him in ways I hadn’t expected. His hands held my hips steady, keeping me in place as he worked, his focus entirely on me, on making me feel good.
“Thor,” I breathed, my voice trembling as the tension inside me coiled tighter and tighter. He didn’t stop, didn’t even slow down, and I felt myself losing control, the world narrowing to just this moment, just him. My breath came in short, ragged gasps, and then it hit me—a rush of pure, overwhelming pleasure that made my whole body arch against him. I cried out, my fingers pulling at his hair as I rode out the high, my mind blank except for the feel of him against me.
When it was over, I lay there, panting, my body still tingling as Thor lifted his head. His lips were shiny, his eyes dark with something I couldn’t quite read as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. He crawled back up to lie beside me, pulling the blanket over us both as he tucked me against his chest. His heartbeat was strong under my ear, a steady rhythm that grounded me as I tried to catch my breath.
“You okay?” he asked quietly, his hand rubbing slow circles on my back through the blanket.
I nodded against him, my face still hot with a mix of afterglow and embarrassment. “Yeah. I’m… I’m good.”
He chuckled softly, the sound vibrating through his chest. “Good. That’s all I wanted.”
I tilted my head to look at him, my mind still reeling from everything—his earlier confession, the way he’d just made me feel, the fact that I was still carrying Kael’s child while lying here with him. Guilt started to creep in, cold and heavy, but before it could take hold, Thor’s hand cupped my cheek, his thumb brushing against my skin.
“Don’t overthink it,” he said, his voice gentle but firm as he looked into my eyes. “I meant what I said earlier. I’m here for you, however you need me to be. No pressure, no rush.”
Tears stung my eyes at his kindness, at how much he was willing to give even when I was such a mess. “I don’t deserve you,” I whispered, my voice cracking.
His jaw tightened, and he shook his head. “Don’t say that. You deserve everything, Layla. And I’m gonna keep proving that to you, no matter how long it takes.”