Page 36 of The Heir
“It’s similar to what you call a social club in the Motherlands, but instead of being open all day, it’s open at night. People don’t play board games or sit around chatting in discussion groups. At a night club people come to drink alcohol, dance, and flirt.”
“Have you been to one?” I asked Freya, wondering why she hadn’t told me about such a place when we talked last night.
“Yes, but they wouldn’t let me dance with anyone but the Motlanders, Aubri, and them.” She gestured to the three large men in the cabin.
With indignation in my tone, I stated the obvious. “I’m telling you all three right now that I’m dancing with whomever I feel like.”
Indiana was quick to protest. “But, Linea, your father would blame us if something happened to you.”
“My dad knows better than to meddle in my life and I expect you all to follow his example. Aubri told me France is a safe place for a woman because men respect a no.”
Outside the large windows, trees turned to sky as the drone rose in height.
“It’s true that they respect a no, but they’re aggressive in the way they come on to you. It’s like something you have never tried before.” Indiana finished the last bite of his first muffin and reached for a second one.
“Indy, what do you mean when you say that they are aggressive?” I asked with a quick sideways glance to Thor. “Would they ask me if I want to be fucked hard and punishing?”
Freya gasped while Mason jerked back and sputtered, “They’d better fucking not, or I’ll punch their teeth out.”
Indiana shook his head. “I guess it could happen but usually they’re just very direct in asking you if you want sex.”
“As long as they respect a no, I don’t see the problem. Whatever happens will be an adventure and I’m excited to leave my comfort zone for a while.”
“Linea is interested in knowing if the French men are good lovers. She thinks Victor is sexy.”
Mason and Indiana laughed as if Thor had been joking, but Freya stopped peeling her orange and asked with concern in her tone. “Is that true?”
“Victor is handsome for sure. But let me repeat to make sure you all heard me correctly; I don’t want any of you to act as my protectors. I’ll make my own decisions like I’ve always done.”
The men exchanged glances and I could tell what they thought of me in that moment. They saw me as difficult and wondered if bringing me was a bad idea.
“I feel the same way,” Freya said. “It was fine when I was younger, but now I’m almost twenty-nine and don’t need or want babysitters. I know you men mean well, but I want my freedom to do as I please.”
“What the hell?” Thor’s eyes widened as he stared at his sister. “Are you planning to fuck a French man too?”
“Don’t be crude. Why don’t you worry about yourself and let me worry about me? No one would have a problem if you went home with some random French woman, so why is there a double standard?”
“Remember what we were told before our first summit,” Thor reminded Freya. “No fraternizing with the other delegations.”
Freya raised her brow. “It worked out well for Mason, didn’t it?”
Thor scoffed. “That’s different. Belle is on our side.”
“Well, there you have it, Freya,” I said in a mocking tone. “We can have sex with whomever we want to as long as we make sure that their political views fit with the ways of the Northlands.”
Freya played along and nodded. “Good to know.”
“You two are ridiculous,” Thor told us. “You’re not having sex with anyone this week so you can stop messing around.”
“Funny,” Freya mused. “I’m finding that there’s a rebellious side of me who grows defiant every time a man tries to control me.”
“Same.” I nodded. “I wasn’t actually planning to have sex on this trip, but now I’ll strongly consider it.”
Indiana spoke with food in his mouth. “You’re joking, right?”
I shrugged and dug into the small container of grapes and strawberries that I’d fished out of the fridge. Thor was looking at me. I could feel it, but I refused to meet his gaze. His question from our trip two weeks ago still hung in the air between us. I’d thought about the answer a lot.
In my fantasies I did enjoy him fucking me hard and punishing. In real life, however, there wasn’t enough trust or respect between us for that to ever happen.
