Page 48 of The Champion
Now that Freya and I got the sort of attention from each other that we had always longed for, we didn’t fight much. At least not in private.
Publicly we held up the façade and maybe that’s why Zola offered her help after the meeting when I was on my way home.
“Victor, wait up.”
I slowed my step for her to catch up to me. Zola was the youngest member of Parliament and she had been supportive of my suggestions at the meeting today.
“Are you okay?”
Her concern made me frown. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
“You seem… well, angry or irritated, so I figured it’s getting to you that Freya is staying at your place. I know Celeste feels bad that you’re stuck with the Northlander.”
I kept walking. “It’s okay.”
“No, it’s not. We all know that you and Freya don’t get along, so it’s unfair to you. How about I take her for a week and then maybe Isaac or Simon could help as well?”
“Zola, it’s fine. Freya shouldn’t have to bounce around like that. She’s comfortable at my place and we get along.”
“You do?” The surprise in her tone was expected. “Okay, but if you don’t want to ask Freya to leave, and she’s getting on your nerves, you’re welcome to spend a few nights at my place.”
“Thank you but that won’t be necessary.”
Zola and I walked together back to the Blue Tower and took an elevator going up. When she got out on her floor, she repeated her offer,
“I mean it. Come see me if you need a break. I’ll be good to you.” She said the last sentence in a flirtatious manner, but I had zero desire in sleeping with her. In fact, I hadn’t felt attracted to other women for a long time. It was like my brain was stuck on Freya and wanted her above anyone else.
I missed Freya and felt disappointed when I walked into my apartment and found that she wasn’t home yet. The emptiness when she didn’t respond to my calling her name hit me like a sound wave to my chest. Shocked by the strong physical reaction, I walked to the large panorama windows and placed a hand against them for support.
Down below me was Victory Park with hundreds of people walking around. From this distance I couldn’t see their faces, but it didn’t matter. I already knew that none of those people got me like Freya did. They admired me and wanted to be my friend, but few dared disagree with me to my face and none of them were as loyal and dedicated as Freya.
It wasn’t in our nature as French people to be exclusive with anyone and yet, lately, I loved it when she whispered in my ear that I was the only man she ever wanted to sleep with. With a groan, I brushed my hands through my hair. It was unnatural and wrong for me to feel this way. Freya wasn’t mine and I wasn’t hers.
Backing up, I plunked down on my couch and sat staring into empty space for what felt like hours until Freya’s voice sounded.
“Hey, I’m back. How was the meeting?”
I had been so deep in depressive thoughts about the loneliness I would soon face again that finding my voice took a moment.
“The parliament will approve the trade agreement we made with the Northlands. You’ll have your land down south.”
“Great.” Freya seemed happy and untroubled when she crawled up onto my lap and kissed me. “Guess what?”
“I would rather that you tell me.”
“The Polo family wants to have dinner with us tonight. I told them they could come here and see your beautiful apartment.”
Her closeness felt as lovely as cold water on a hot summer day. The way she weaved her fingers behind my neck and nuzzled my nose made me lock my arms around her tight and whisper words I never thought I would say to any woman. “I missed you today.”
“You missed me? Aww, that’s sweet.” Freya kissed the tip of my nose. “I missed you too.”
The burning question was right on the tip of my tongue but asking it would make me sound like a jealous person and I couldn’t do that.
“Did you miss having sex with me or was it my amazing hugs?”
I squeezed her tighter and placed my ear against her chest. “Both.”
We sat for a long moment in a tender hug with my brain screaming that I could have sex with every woman in France and never experience emotions this strong. It was absurd that I could think that way.
