Page 54 of Thor

Through the doorway, I could see the conversation between Mandy and Mia had grown more animated. Mandy's professional reserve had dissolved completely—her hands moved expressively as she spoke, her posture more relaxed. Diesel had inched even closer, now practically draped across her feet like a living security blanket.

"Looks like Mia's magic worked," Duke observed.

I grunted in agreement. Mia had a gift for putting people at ease—especially those who shared her specific needs. It made her invaluable to the club in ways that went beyond her official role as Duke's partner.

"They're ready for us," Duke said, nodding toward the women. Mia had caught his eye through the doorway and given a subtle signal. "Let's not keep them waiting."

We moved back into the lounge, and I immediately noticed the change in Mandy. The tension had drained from her shoulders, and though nervousness still flickered in her eyes, it was tempered by something new—confidence, perhaps, or at least the beginning of it.

"Everything good?" I asked, moving to her side.

Mandy's smile was genuine as she looked up at me. "Yeah. Mia's been . . . enlightening."

Mia grinned, a mischievous expression that made Duke raise an eyebrow. "Just girl talk," she said innocently.

"Which means I'll hear all about it later," Duke replied dryly, but the affection in his voice was unmistakable.

Diesel remained firmly planted at Mandy's feet, making no move to return to Mia's side. The dog's loyalty shift wasn't lost on anyone in the room.

"I think you've been replaced," Duke teased Mia gently.

Mia shrugged, unbothered. "He knows who needs him most at any given moment. It's why he's such a good boy." At those last words, her voice shifted slightly—higher, softer—revealing a glimpse of her Little side that she normally kept private around others.

Mandy's eyes widened fractionally at the change, then softened with understanding.

"Ready to move to the conference room?" I asked, offering my hand to Mandy.

She nodded, taking my hand and allowing me to help her up. Our fingers remained intertwined as we moved back to the more formal space, a physical connection that grounded us both.

Duke and Mia followed, with Diesel padding after us, his nails clicking softly on the hardwood floor.

I took my place beside Mandy, while Duke and Mia sat across from us. Duke took the lead, his presence naturally commanding even in this intimate setting. But his voice was gentler than the one he used in church meetings or business negotiations.

"Before we get into specifics," he began, "I want to clarify the purpose of what we're doing here. This contract isn't legally binding. It's not about ownership or control in the way outsiders might think."

Mandy nodded, her professional side engaging with the contractual aspect. "It's a mutual agreement of expectations and boundaries."

"Exactly," Duke affirmed. "It's about trust. About making explicit what's often left implicit in other relationships."

I watched Mandy absorb this, her analytical mind visibly processing. Her fingers tapped lightly on the table's surface—a habit I'd noticed when she was thinking deeply.

"The document itself matters," Mia added softly. "But what really counts is the conversation that creates it. The honesty required to say 'this is what I need' and 'this is what I can give.'"

Mandy's gaze shifted to me, searching my face for something. Whatever she found there seemed to reassure her, because she straightened in her chair, shoulders squaring with newfound determination.

"I'm ready," she said, her voice steady despite the vulnerability of the moment.

Pride swelled in my chest—not the possessive kind, but admiration for her courage. Few people would have the strength to lay themselves bare this way, especially with witnesses present.

"We'll go through each section," I explained, pulling the contract toward us. "Add what's important, remove what doesn't work, modify anything that needs changing."

Duke nodded. "And at any point, if you need a break or have questions—about anything—you say so. This isn't a race."

"Remember," Mia said, reaching across to briefly touch Mandy's hand, "this is meant to be a living document. It can evolve as your relationship does."

Mandy took a deep breath and released it slowly. "Okay. Let's do this."

I opened the folder containing the contract draft, revealing the first page with its formal heading: "Relationship Agreement between Thor Eriksson and Amanda Wright." The title was deliberately neutral—nothing that would immediately reveal its true nature to anyone who might accidentally see it.

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