Page 59 of The Heir
“Is there a problem?”
After taking a large sip from her glass of wine, Zola muttered, “Hmm… Last year when we went to the Motherlands, there was a magical night where we all swam naked in the ocean.”
I’d just drunk from my strawberry lemonade and got it in the wrong pipe. Coughing, I asked, “Excuse me?”
Slapping my back, Zola watched me with concern. “Are you all right?”
“Yes, but did you say that you all swam naked? The Northlanders too?”
“Oui.Or maybe a few of the men were too shy. But I definitely remember Aubri, Indiana, and Freya in the water.”
Wondering why Freya hadn’t told me about such a night, my gaze found my friend by the large window in a conversation with Holly, Victor, and Thor. “I’m shocked. But okay, if you say it happened, I trust that it did.”
Once again, Zola’s gaze was glued to Victor. “That night I made out with Victor in the water, but we never got to finish what we started before he broke it off.”
“Broke off your relationship?”
Zola wrinkled her nose again. “Relationships are forbidden. I’m talking about sex. I’ve wanted to sleep with Victor since I was fifteen and that night, I got close.” Biting her lip, she smiled. “That man is so insanely sexy.”
Angling my head, I tried to see him through her eyes. He was handsome for sure, but nothing about him excited me the way Thor did.
Zola looked thoughtful as she sat toying with one of her many necklaces. With her head turned in Victor’s direction, she sighed. “When he speaks it’s with such confidence, and look at his hands. Aren’t they perfect?”
“His hands… hmm, yes I suppose they are nice.” My gaze drifted from Victor to Thor instead, studying his hands, arms, strong shoulders, and the ears that I always found cute on him.
“I’m hoping to finish what we started one day.” Zola spoke next to me, forcing me to stop admiring Thor’s physique and listen to her. Just as I was about to answer, Victor looked over and must have seen Zola and me looking in his direction because he frowned and shifted his balance before reengaging himself in the discussion with Thor, Freya, and Holly.
“Did he say why he didn’t want to go all the way?” I asked Zola.
“No. It’s happened to me twice. First with Thor and then Victor.”
That last piece of information made me stare at her and without realizing the volume of my voice, I exclaimed, “You slept with Thor?”
The room immediately turned silent as everyone turned to us.
“Uhm…” Zola stiffened, her eyes darting around before she broke into a fake laugh. To our audience she said, “It’s just a misunderstanding. Don’t mind us.”
Thor wasn’t having it and came over. “What are you telling Linea about me?”
“Nothing. Just that you rejected me once.” Her last sentence came out in a hushed voice.
Thor’s face relaxed a little. “Good.”
“Why did you?” This time my question was at a normal volume and I was relieved that the people around us had resumed their conversation.
Thor rubbed his neck. “I prefer not to answer that.”
“Maybe I’m not his type,” Zola said.
Victor, who had moved to stand next to Thor, scoffed out loud. “I doubt that’s the problem. Nmen have sex with robots so I’m sure any woman would be an upgrade.”
“Victor, be nice, can’t you see poor Zola looks mortified to be put on the spot like this?” Freya, who had come to sit beside me on the armrest of the couch, pointed out.
“Tsk. As if Zola would care what Thor thinks when she has all us French men to play with!”
“Except you rejected her too,” I told him with a hard glare.
“Ehh…” Zola moved to the edge of the seat. “Excusez-moi,but I need to use the bathroom.”
