Thank you to the readers that review! It is because of you that I even continue to write this. You make it worth while and so much more fun. And as always, I only own my OC. Enjoy!
As soon as the door is closed, Thorin is upon me. His lips crash onto mine. It has only been a day but oh how I missed him. My hands find their favorite spot to be, under his hair at his hairline, able to pull him closer to me. His hands go to my waist and he pulls me in closer to him until our bodies are flush against each other. I can't keep the moan to myself and it makes itself known. This must effect Thorin greatly because next thing I know, he is backing me up until my back hits the nearest wall. It didn't hurt, him cushioning my back with his hands at the last moment. But his hands go right back to my waist, then down to my hips.
"Thorin…" My voice is breathy. A low growl comes from him in response. It is incredibly hot and I know that this will continue to the point of no return if it isn't stopped now.
"Thorin, wait. Stop." I can't believe I was even able to say it. It felt so good I never wanted it to stop. But I know it must, deep down in my heart I know.
It takes a moment but he takes a step back, his hands never leave my body though.
"I am so sorry. I should have never let you go." He speaks before I can say anything. It totally and completely stops my train of thought and what I was going to say.
"What?" I ask dumbly.
"I was wrong to want to send you away. And now you have found my father and my grandfather. I can never show you how much your absence hurt me but I can try my best to make it up to you. I know you were deeply hurt by this and I am so sorry." He apologizes. It is an excellent apology as well.
"Thorin, thank you. But you forget, we are no longer betrothed. You cannot do such things now." I tell him, hurting to say it but it is true. He releases my body and steps back as if I burned him.
"You are right. I gave you up when I sent you away. Please, let me make it up to you. Let me win you back." Thorin begs. I can't believe I am hearing this.
"Does this mean I can stay?" I ask. He nods.
"Okay. But I have conditions." I say, feeling brave. He raises an eyebrow at this and I feel I might have asked too much.
"What are your conditions?" He asks, sounding more curious than willing to give in to my conditions.
"As I am a single woman, I want to be courted." I state my first condition. He bursts into laughter. I give him a soft glare and he quiets down and allows me to continue.
"And as a single woman, I will continue to work. You may not want me to but I want to. I will pull my weight in this group. Finally, don't you ever think you can send me away again." I tell him. He nods.
"I accept these terms. But I have some of my own." He says. I motion for him to continue on.
"First, you will allow no other to court you. That is something only I can do." I smile at this first condition. I nod and then he continues.
"You are allowed to work, but it will be at the master's home with Dis." He tells me. I don't mind this and nod in agreement.
"Third, you give me one last kiss before I start to properly court you." He says strongly. I can't help but laugh at this last one. He could demand just about anything and he wants one kiss.
"Done." I agree. He comes to me, this time slowly, anticipation makes me shiver. His touch sends me into a near frenzy but I am able to stay calm on the outside.
He brings his lips to mine. The kiss is soft but full of passion. I try to memorize how he tastes and how his lips feel on mine. I know it will be some time before this happens again.
And then it is over. He pulls away from me.
"Alvina, can you tell me something before we go back down there?" He asks.
"Of course." I steady my breathing.
"How did you know my father and grandfather were alive?" He asks of me.
"It was just a feeling I had. I think I knew but didn't realize I had seen them escape the mountain. The trauma blinding me from fully realizing all I saw." I tell him honestly. He seems to understand what I mean by this.
"May I ask one more question?" He asks. I nod again.
"Why did you not tell me you thought they still lived? You told Dis and Balin but not me." He says sounding hurt.
"I was told it would be best to keep it from you. That it was not possible they still lived anyway. I didn't want to break your focus. You were doing such great things here. I didn't want to be the reason our hard work went to waste." I tell him being one hundred percent honest.
"Oh, Alvina." He says and goes to touch me but he drops his hand back to his side after a moment of thought. I give him a forced smile. Oh how I wish I had just taken him back. But he needed to know I wasn't so easy. I wouldn't be pushed around and then, when he thought I was worth it, get everything back as if nothing happened.
"Will you join me for supper tonight? A first date of sorts?" He asks me suddenly. I can't help but get a big goofy grin on my face.
"I would love that." I accept. He extends his hand to me and I take it. He brings my hand to his lips and I feel butterflies in my stomach.
"Until tonight. And Alvina, thank you for a second chance." He says before leaving. I assume to either go back to his family or back to his job at the blacksmith.
Meanwhile, I need to see if I can get my old job back. So I head over to the master's home.
Supper time comes and I meet Thorin at a table he seems to have taken for just us. It is in the back of the dining hall and in a corner. Intimate and very charming.
"Hello, Thorin." I greet as I go to the table. He stands from his spot and comes around to pull my chair out for me. I sit and he helps me push it in before going back to his spot.
"You look beautiful, Alvina. I hope you don't mind but I ordered our food." He says. And as if on cue, it is delivered to our table. We eat and talk about nothing and everything. It was a wonderful first date. It ended with him walking me to our old room.
"I will be rooming with my family now. If you need anything, do not be shy. I am in the room right next door." He says before grabbing my hand softly and placing another kiss upon it.
"Sleep well, Alvina."
"Sleep well, Thorin."
