Page 43 of The Heir
“If I wanted them, I’d be dancing with them.”
“They’re experienced and probably experts at sex.”
Thor’s fingers on the small of my back bored into my flesh as he pressed me closer to him. “You’re driving me fucking crazy, do you know that?”
“I’m not doing anything.”
“I know. But I can’t stop thinking about you. Did you put a curse on me like your mother did with your father?”
“She didn’t put a curse on him. He was just superstitious enough to believe she did.”
“Then why is this happening to me?” The music changed to a different song and it made people around us move to and from the dance floor.
I was hurt and provoked by his accusation. The pain of his insult came out in my cold tone of voice. “I’m sorry that being attracted to me feels like a curse to you. Maybe try a cold shower or give one of these French temptresses something to brag about. You heard Zola; they all want a piece of you.” Looking him dead in the eye I took a verbal punch at him. “I couldn’t care less who you sleep with, Thor. All I know is that when I have sex it will be with someone who actually likes me for more than my body and knows how lucky he is to be with me.”
“I didn’t mean it like that,” he said but by then I was already walking away from him.
CHAPTER 11
Triggers
Thor
One of the things that made the Blue Tower the most desirable building to live in was the rooftop terrace. I sat on top of the backrest of one of the benches that offered a view of Victory Park.
It was four in the morning and most of the delegation members had gone to bed while some of us had chosen to end the night up here.
I could hear laughter from a group across the rooftop, but I preferred to stay right here on this bench with Freya, who sat next to me.
“It’s crazy that they named the park after him,” I said, referring to Victory Park stretching below us.
“Yes. And that they gave him the penthouse apartment. No wonder he’s so full of himself.”
I turned my head to look at my sister. “Today, at the meeting when he neglected to even mention that you played a huge part in getting the species preservation program off the ground, why didn’t you want me to speak up?”
“Because I don’t like it when others speak for me.”
“But then why didn’t you stand up for yourself? Victor was being disrespectful.”
With her feet on the seat of the bench, Freya leaned forward and rested her elbows on her thighs. “Hmm. It wasn’t that big of a deal to me.”
“It should be. He wasn’t appreciative of everything you’ve done for him or the work you’re about to do for the French.”
“I can tell that it’s triggering to you, but don’t you think that’s because of your situation with Dad?”
“What do you mean?”
She shrugged. “You don’t feel appreciated by Dad and so you assume Victor’s rejection of me would hurt me as much as you’re hurting. Isn’t that pain the reason you left the Northlands in the first place?”
There was truth to that, so I admitted, “I suppose it was a combination of the pain of never feeling good enough and the constant pressure from Dad and the public.”
“That’s what I’m saying. Your reaction to Victor today wasn’t so much because of what he did but what it triggered in you. That’s why it was a bigger deal to you than me.”
“Fair enough, but how come you don’t get triggered? Victor was behaving like an ass to you. Usually, you don’t let him get away with that type of behavior.”
Freya sighed and pushed some of her long dark hair back. The temperature was comfortable, and the slight breeze up here felt soothing. “Victor has issues, Thor. You know that.”
“That’s not an excuse.”
