Page 31 of Valkyrie Confused

“We’re supposed to wait to get seated.” Pan bounces on the balls of his feet beside me, occasionally greeting people. Shoulders back, chin high, and a semi-smile on his lips, he acts like he owns the place. Why is he so happy to be here?

Of course.He’s feeding off the energy around us. Hel,Isniff desire pouring across the room, as a stunning woman on high heels and little clothing swishes her way onto the stage.

Pan follows her with his gaze. “Do you feel the lust? It’s intoxicating.”

I grunt. I don’t feel it the way he does, but I can tell when he’s aroused, and my dick jumps in response. He promised, back when, never to use his power on me unless I asked him to. He never promised not to use it on others in my presence. “Are you messing with them? About to whip up an orgy?” How would I feel about that?

He shakes his head. “I’m not messing with Frey’s territory. On principle, and because I like the guy from what little I’ve seen of him. I’m just enjoying the ambience.”

Casually slipping in the fact that he’s only seen little of Freyr. Nice. “I didn’t think you ever denied yourself pleasure,” I say.

He tilts his head to study me. His pupils are blown. He’s drunk on lust. Flaring his nostrils, he says, “I’ve been denying myself too long.”

Does he mean since he and I parted ways? My heart beats faster, thudding against my ribs. Or that’s the music, reverberating through my chest.

“Scarlett has repeatedly turned me down, and there’s been nobody else since she and her pert round ass walked into my life,” he says almost wistfully.

My heart constricts. I don’t want to hear how he lusts after someone who isn’t me. And yet, I ask, “What is it about her?” She’s attractive, but to the point that he’d swear off sex for weeks?

How long did it take him to fuck someone else after I left him to go fight in Odin’s name?

He shrugs. “She’s gorgeous. Smart. She has a sharp tongue and is constantly aroused around me, and yet she won’t give in to my advances. And today, I found out she thought I was gay this whole time.”

“Sounds like you need to rethink your advances.”

He sways in place. “Or I need to fuck someone else, to get her out of my system.”

That cuts deep. He fucked me, and it didn’t work.

“Then choose someone,” I growl. “Who’d turn you down?”

“Her. You. Anyone who matters.” He almost whispers the words, his expression darkening for a ghost of a moment before his usual cheer kicks in again. “Your gloominess has rubbed off on me. I need a drink.” His eyes are clear now. He’s gotten a hold over the haze of lust that clouded them before.

The single male heading our way would stand out even if he weren’t as big as me. My spine stiffens even before his face registers, which takes longer than it should, perhaps because I don’t remember ever seeing him smile.

Fenrir smiling?What exactly are they serving here?

“Well, look what the goat dragged in,” he says in the Old Tongue and pats Pan in the back.

Pan rolls his eyes, but he doesn’t seem annoyed by the jibe. If anything, the two seem friendly.

Have they fucked?

I need to stop wondering that about everyone Pan talks to, but knowing him, it’s a possibility.

“Fenrir.” I nod curtly, watching his face for signs of imminent attack.

When he holds out his hand, I almost swat it before I realize he’s going for a handshake, and then reluctantly shake it.

“Welcome to NEON.” He’s switched to English. “Are you here for drinks, or would you like something to eat?”

“I’m dying for a cheese-and-bacon burger,” Pan says.

I don’t feel like making any choices tonight. “Same.”

“And some wine,” Pan adds.

Fen grimaces. “Won’t beer pair better with the burgers?”

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