Chapter 3
Time blurred. Seconds blended into minutes. Minutes blurred into hours and vice versa. In the end Jane didn't know how long she spent with her hands on the gorgeous man with his arms around her – all she knew was that it wasn't enough. It could have been days Jane smiled up at him with a drink infused confidence and she wouldn't have cared.
And Thor didn't seem to either. The lopsided smirk that gleamed with an arrogance Jane just found incredibly sexy never left his lips, matched with sparkled with mischief as they watched her.
The bottle was long gone; the clear liquid now burned through their blood stream, kicking up the confidence of every body part it flowed through. Hips swayed. Eyes sparkled. Grins lured. And minds stayed blissfully oblivious to any of it being anything other than perfectly normal.
Thor couldn't deny it – he was fascinated. Jane Foster was something new to him, a sort of girl he had never experienced before. She'd blushed! He reckoned that was what had sealed it. As soon as that adorable flash of colour had hit her cheeks, he had been entranced. He didn't know many girls that blushed. Most of them he encountered were shameless with forwardness. But that shy flush … oh, it massaged Thor's ego in ways no mere compliment could.
Thor's hands had managed to slip round to her back, encasing Jane in a surrounding barrier of muscle. She seemed more than willing to be his prisoner. Her own hands were straying from his arms, palms flattening over his broad chest and shoulders.
This girl… where did Thor even begin? He couldn't believe he'd never been interested in her before! Everything about her was just incredible: her luscious pink lips and seductive brown orbs, slim knockout body and – damn it, Thor thought with an impressed growl – she was smart. Beauty and brains. Jane was quite literally the complete package of a girl.
He started to question why the hell she was still with him rather than the other way around! Thor wasn't going to waste a moment of this opportunity.
Thor dipped his head down low and placed his lips by her ear. Her body stilled to listen. "Boyfriend?" He asked through his tone, voice lower and huskier than he'd intended it to be. "I need to know if I should expect a challenger."
His conscience spoke. It was the last scrap of morality the alcohol haze would allow through before sensible thought was blotted out for instinct. Even he, as a man, could appreciate the out of order-ness of dancing with a taken girl, despite his drunkenness.
Jane giggled, the sound music to Thor's ears. "No, no boyfriend." She affirmed, unknowingly sparking Thor's confidence afresh – no boyfriend, no rules.
Her eyes were glittering as Thor pulled back.
She was single… were the men of this university blind or something? It was the only conclusion Thor could come up with that a girl as stunning as Jane went unclaimed.
His grin spread arrogantly. "Would you like one?"
Sober, he would be mortified. Had he not chivalrously asked her if she was taken just moments ago? And now he was shamelessly going in for the kill. A part of him was shaking its head at his forwardness, but Thor paid it no heed. Didn't ask, didn't get, right? Thor often tangled with girls that were half as pretty as Jane yet had more than twice her confidence and self-assuredness, but none of them had intrigued him as much as this little scientist did.
A smirk pricked at Jane's lips. "I hardly know you." The shy caution crept back into her voice, but it wasn't enough to stop. To pull her hands away. To leave his arms. To stop smiling up at the glow in Thor's eyes. Those orbs were really just incredible; so clear, so piercing.
The shrug lifted the muscular expanse of his shoulders, stomping down Jane's shy side in a heartbeat. She'd been hanging out with Darcy too much, she thought breathlessly to herself, trying to keep her eyes above his broad, muscular torso. She was normally strong and disciplined, above such things like guys and parties. But whether the booze or her friend had been her undoing – if it wasn't the man's charm itself! – her gaze crept lower and lower, stealing tempted, imagining glances of where her hands lay.
Thor leaned in close, grin swathed with confidence. "Now you have the chance." His hot breath washed over her cheek, and Jane would have squirmed at the alcohol taste in the air had it not consumed her too.
That accent … oh, where did Jane even begin? Every sound and syllable so clear and pristine, so crisp and cut – it was just divine. The English accent was definitely a keeper. And the tone he used, the perfect combination of strength and softness made her understand just how girl's hearts could melt in their chests at his words. She could listen to him talk all day.
His hand ran coolly through his blond hair as he straightened back again, brushing the overhanging strands from his light eyes. They weren't discouraged in the slightest. "Or perhaps I can get to know you in return."
The breath that left Jane was shuddering.
He was flirting with her. Thor Odinson was flirting with Jane Foster – in what universe did that happen?!
Her eyes suddenly went as round and innocent as Bambi, gleaming up at the most perfect excuse for a man she'd ever laid eyes on. He could have any girl on campus he wanted – and God only knew he had! – and he was interested in her? She could hardly take it in, even with her drink induced state.
Then the music track changed and the matter was shoved from her mind violently. The grin spread on her face: "I love this song!"
Thor was forced to surrender his arms from around her as the tune washed over them both, Jane's hands rising to clap together in time with the beat. Her head tipped back, letting her brown hair cascade behind her shoulders. Her hips moved in deliberate bursts to the tune.
Thor smirked, moving with her. She did astrophysics, right? – how could someone who studied something like that be so… wow? Her lips moulded around the words of the song thought the volume drowned out her voice. It didn't matter. Thor knew the song, knew exactly what she was saying even if he wasn't the direct subject of it anymore.
The provocative words matched with the glint in her eye – oh, how could Thor resist? Jane wouldn't look twice at him in her right mind. Thor was going to make the most of this night while he had her.
The grin on his face held as his eyes wondered.
"…with my fingers through your hair…"
What would Jane's hair feel like?, he wondered in his head. Soft, surely. Locks that glossy had to be. His fingers twitched.
The chorus kicked in and Thor jumped to the beat with Jane, knocking the thoughts from his head. He let himself go, grinning with a seductive mix of pure energy and confidence. Jane smiled back, oblivious to the appreciative thoughts rumbling through Thor's brain.
Thor was having fun. Jane shot back his grin with equal measure, entrancing him in ways above her neckline. That was usually very rare – and yet Jane did it so effortlessly! How did she do that?, Thor wondered in awe. He soon found himself less concerned with answer, as long as she didn't stop. How on earth was she interested in him?! He wasn't smart, hardly the type of guy he'd thought she'd go for, even if he did have the looks of the man she deserved. Yet she was dancing with him. Drank with him. Smiled at him as if he were the only guy in the world.
Thor wasn't complaining.
Right, he thought decisively. Playing it safe was over. He never did do things very subtly. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity and he was sure he wouldn't get a chance like this again. Let's have some fun.
"I said no more sailors and no more soldiers, with your name in a heart tattooed upon their shoulders."
Thor tapped his shoulder playfully at the same time Jane formed a heart over her chest with her fingers and thumbs, sparkling eyes meeting teasingly.
When had she gotten close again? He batted the pointless firmly away when Jane accidentally knocked her hip against his. She was close – that was all that mattered. Thor resisted the urge to put his arms round her and bring her ever nearer, a new idea forming in his mind as he anticipated the next few lyrics.
The clapping formed the main beat of the song, and Thor's eyes sparkled with mischief. He gathered up Jane's fingers in his.
"My first kiss went a little like this."
Thor mouthed along with the words, making sure Jane saw every silent syllable from his lips as he lifted her captured hand from her side. Inside his head, Thor shrugged. If he couldn't keep her, maybe the best he could do was leave a good impression. It might score him some brownie points with Jane in the future. If he made a good impression, if she had a good time with him and decided she liked him… well, maybe Jane would let him see more of her, even if it wasn't in the way Thor would prefer.
He was pretty sure he would settle for just a small wave across the cafeteria if it meant she continued to notice him in the future!
In perfect time with the hit of the beat, Thor lifted Jane's small hand to his face and pressed a firm, chaste kiss to her knuckles. His grin glittered down at her, her fingers melting from his as a feminine voice sung the next lyrics.
Jane mimicked him, mouthing the words silently as they played, eyes sparkling at him with teasing glee: "Well, my first kiss went a little like this."
Thor had half a second to decide – see what she would do of her own accord or press for himself? In a moment of blind, hasty selfishness he went for the latter. She'd mouthed the words back, hadn't she? He was confident she'd play along; he leant down to Jane's height, turning his head to the side. His finger tapped on his cheek challengingly.
He might never get a chance like this again with Jane. Once sober she'd probably realise just how beyond him she really was and Thor's chances would be blown. For now though …she smirked before leaning forward, pecking a firm kiss to his rough cheek in time with the music.
Thor knew a second hit was to come, one he'd missed with her before. He would not make that mistake again. He hovered in place.
Jane didn't move, her lips still mere millimetres from his cheek as the beat drew ever nearer. Her hand lifted to his hair, fingers lacing into his blond locks of their own accord to make sure he stayed still. Her heart was thumping – she'd just kissed Thor Odinson! And she got to do it all over again. The thought screamed excitedly though her head, but on the outside she stayed calm, fighting the urge to bite her lip in pure anticipation.
She wasn't the only one. Thor's heart was pounding in his chest at the feel of Jane's soft lips pressing against his rough cheek, unable to stop the smile that spread on his face. Not a grin, not a smirk – a smile. So innocent even Thor was suspicious of it!
And he had every right to be as his instincts plucked new thoughts into his head. Jane Foster had kissed him once already – albeit on the cheek – and her fingers were in his hair, her body close. Thor would be an idiot if he didn't take this chance. At least that's what he told himself. Impulse twitched in his neck.
A voice screamed in his head not to do it; that it was a mistake and he'd regret it in the morning. He had milliseconds to decide, Jane's lips already puckering and moving in.
Her eyes were shut. Go on, a voice encouraged in his head, what have you got to lose? Pride was the worst thing he could come up with. A slap, never seeing Jane look at him without contempt in her eyes… but was it worth it for this one moment?
Something in his brain nodded furiously.
This would be the knife edge – risking everything so far to hold onto it for longer or to lose it all in a heartbeat. It'd either be a great success or a great resounding failure.
Did he really want to risk that? He'd already made so much progress with Jane tonight. His heart thudded with the rush to decide. He could blow it all…
Then the beat clashed with Jane's approaching lips and instinct decided for him – what the hell!
Thor's head turned sharply at the very last second. Jane's lips bumped his. The sports star dove his fingers to her hair, holding her head as gently as he could as he pressed his lips against hers, just waiting for the inevitable realisation of what had happened to tear Jane away from him. His hand found her hip, trying to cling onto the moment for a touch longer. Earlier lyrics flashed through his head as he stole his kiss – "Lips like liquorish, tongue like candy." She tasted so sweet, even in that fleeting second Thor noticed it.
Reality crashed back all too soon.
If his eyes were open he was sure he would see Jane's snap open wide – if the hand that had once been in his hair that now pushed against his chest so suggested. Her head jerked back and away with her body, but met the large hands that barred her escape.
Thor let his eyes open again as the pressure of Jane's lips left him; she was breathing heavy, eyes looking strangely focussed and sober for how drunk Thor knew she must be. Hell, they both were – Thor had just kissed her hadn't he! And he was sure Jane would never have danced with him like this in her right mind.
He was all too aware of her hands pressing against his chest. Her eyes darkened slightly and Thor felt his heart plummet.
The gamble hadn't paid off.
Thor braced himself for the impact of her palm against the cheek she'd so recently cherished. He'd risked it all and lost it all.
His conscience started to chip, sobering him up fast; maybe he had gone too far after all. He should have left thing as they were, on good terms – maybe even enough for her to want to meet and talk with him outside the confines of drunken parties! Only now that hope was dashed, obliterated by his own selfish eagerness.
Thor cursed himself. He could have just settled, could he? And now he would have Jane floating in his head and her taste on his tongue.
His tongue flittered out before he could help himself, tasting what was left of her on his lips. Her lip gloss, tangled with the strong infectious taste of the alcohol was just intoxicating – he would not be forgetting that in a hurry!
His orbs darkened with want as he watched her, her taste in his mouth. It wasn't fair, Thor wanted to growl in frustration – he wasn't used to rejection. He could feel Jane holding the breath in her lungs, resisting, her orbs torn with battling emotions Thor didn't dare name for fear of mourning what he'd missed out on.
But his doubting thoughts were soon silenced as if he'd never had them: the air left Jane in a slow, heavy sigh, eyes meeting his fully. They were smouldering.
The beat of the music thundered back in a rush.
Thor endorsed it.
Their lips met in mutual yearning. Eyes fluttering shut against the desires they'd held captive for so long and that they now surrendered to. Mouths moved, tongues tasted, kissing fiercely as if the other was they very air they needed to breathe.
"She won't ever get enough, once she gets a little touch."
Jane's hands sank against his chest rather than pushed, and Thor's delved into her soft hair once again. And then in a second, he was everywhere. He loped an arm around her waist while one hand stayed lost in her locks – threading, tugging. Their tongues battled for heated supremacy.
Thor cast caution aside – how could he have thought he'd ever regret this? Jane's body pressed against his as the kiss deepened, hasty and hungry, fuelled on by the pulse of the music, and Thor knew this was something he'd remember until his dying day.
His hand found her neck and tipped her head back, Jane's gasp granting him power over her tongue as the move caught her off guard. She was soon back though. Her small hands distracted him, one minute lost in his hair and the next tugging at his shirt, nails always finding ways to clip to his skin in ways that only sensitized him to her further. Her lips pressed against his, tongue manoeuvring to gain ground.
Thor grinned eagerly against her mouth as the rest of the world melted away from them, lost in each other's embrace: so not her first kiss!
