Page 111 of Thor

I untied the bow carefully, setting the silver ribbon aside. The pink paper came away to reveal a velvet jewelry box. My heart hammered against my ribs as I opened it.

Inside, nestled on white satin, lay a delicate collar made of emerald ribbon—the exact shade of my lingerie, of the suit I'd worn today. A small silver heart pendant hung from the front, catching the light as I lifted it from the box. The pendant was engraved with a tiny crown on one side and my initials on the other.

"It's beautiful," I breathed, running my finger along the soft ribbon.

"You don't have to wear it," Thor said quickly, his voice rougher than usual. He sat up beside me, the blankets pooling around his waist. "But I wanted something that could represent both sides of you. Something beautiful and precious, but also a symbol of belonging."

I looked up at him, seeing past the tattoos and scars to the vulnerability beneath. This massive, dangerous man, feared by rivals, respected by his brothers, was nervous about my reaction to his gift.

"The emerald is for the professional you," he continued, words coming faster now. "The woman who commands rooms and takes no shit. The ribbon is soft, like your Little side. The heart . . ." He paused, swallowing hard. "That's mine. If you want it to be."

Tears welled in my eyes, blurring the fairy lights into starbursts above us. "Thor," I whispered, his name catching on the lump in my throat.

His hand covered mine where I held the collar, his callused palm warm against my fingers. "If it's too much—"

"It's perfect," I interrupted. I held his gaze as I lifted the collar to my throat, my hands trembling slightly. "Will you put it on me, Daddy?"

The words were barely audible, but Thor's sharp intake of breath proved he'd heard. The naked want in his eyes made heat pool low in my belly. He took the collar from my shaking hands, his movements suddenly reverent.

"Turn around," he instructed, voice husky.

I shifted, presenting my back to him, gathering my damp copper hair and lifting it off my neck. The position left me feeling exposed, vulnerable—my naked back to his chest, the towel forgotten somewhere in the blankets.

Thor's fingers brushed my nape as he brought the ribbon around my throat. The touch was feather-light, but it sent shivers cascading down my spine. The ribbon settled against my skin, cool and soft. Thor's breath warmed my shoulder as he worked the delicate clasp at the back, his fingers brushing my pulse points.

"There," he murmured, pressing a kiss to the sensitive spot where my neck met my shoulder.

I turned to face him again, hand rising to touch the ribbon at my throat. The silver heart pendant rested in the hollow between my collarbones. I felt different wearing it—owned and protected, but also powerful. Like I finally had permission to be all of myself.

"How does it feel?" Thor asked, watching me carefully.

"Like belonging," I answered honestly.

Something fierce and tender flashed across his face. His hand came up to cup my cheek, thumb brushing my lower lip. "We belong together.”

"Thank you," I whispered, leaning into his touch.

Thor's eyes dropped to the collar, then lower, taking in my naked body with unconcealed hunger. "It suits you," he said, voice dropping to a growl. "Both sides of you."

I felt exposed under his gaze, but not uncomfortable. Never uncomfortable with Thor. His appreciation was honest, respectful even in its raw desire. I watched his face, fascinated by the play of emotions – tenderness warring with lust, protective instinct battling with baser needs.

"My beautiful girl," he murmured against my hair. "My perfect, precious girl."

Thor braced himself on one elbow beside my head, his other hand cupping my face with surprising tenderness. His thumb traced my cheekbone, eyes searching mine for any hesitation. Finding none, he lowered his mouth to mine.

The kiss started gentle—a question, an offering. Then something broke loose between us. My fingers tangled in his blond hair, pulling him closer as his tongue slipped past my lips. The kiss deepened, grew hungrier. Thor's hand moved from my face to my throat, not pressing, just resting above the emerald ribbon. The weight of it made me gasp into his mouth.

He pulled back just enough to look at me, his pupils so dilated the blue of his iris was nearly invisible. "Good?" he asked, his voice a graveled rumble.

"Yes," I breathed, arching up to recapture his lips.

Thor responded with a growl that vibrated through my chest. His kiss turned demanding, claiming. I yielded to it, opening for him, letting him set the pace. His beard scratched pleasantly against my skin, the slight pain heightening every sensation.

His hand left my throat, trailing down my body. Callused fingertips traced patterns on my skin that left me shivering – across my collarbone, down the slope of my breast, circling but never touching my nipple. The teasing was exquisite torture. Each path his fingers traveled left nerve endings firing in their wake, my skin hypersensitive to his touch.

I could smell the lingering scent of lavender from the bath, mingled now with the muskier scent of arousal. The blankets beneath me were soft against my back, a cocoon of comfort even as desire sharpened to a keen edge.

Thor broke the kiss to trace his lips along my jaw, down my neck, careful not to disturb the ribbon collar. His teeth grazed my earlobe, sending a jolt of electricity straight to my core. "Daddy’s in control now, sweetheart."

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