Chapter 12
Thor paced the width of the garden, trying to keep his mind steady.
Imogen's words echoed in his head tormentingly. I love you. He knew he'd as good as confessed to her in the training room – albeit under her vixen tactics, but confessed never the less. And he'd not cared. He'd had her as if they shared the feeling, but now that it may not be such a delusion…
If she truly loved him, then what stopped them being together? Not just in body, but in soul. In love. Married even! What stood in their way if she wanted it too?
A smile blossomed on the gods face as he envisioned Imogen's curvy, lush body clothed in white, hair braided and flowered, every inch of her shining under the sun that hung in the sky as Thor waited to take her as her bride. Thor lifted his eyes to the sky as the dream filled his head, the same sunlight that bathed over him now echoed in his imaginary wedding.
The garden was deserted, as it always was. Quite a waste really. Every noble in Asgard had seen the orchard, and the flower beds, and the mighty oak on the hill… but the lake, on the very far and outreached land of the palace, was sorely neglected.
The water's surface shone in the sunlight, rippling lightly with the gentle spring breeze. The grass was soft and grown on the banks, and Thor looked on to the palace in the distance, hoping that soon, Imogen's slender form would emerge from the brilliant sunlight. For now, not a single figure graced the land around him. Thor wasn't sure to be glad about that or not.
Would she heed his message? Would she? Or would she leave him stood out here alone until the sun fell and he would have to concede defeat?
The god's heart was froze in his chest as he stood looking over his future kingdom, watching the sun grow lower in the sky. His armour glinted majestically in the sun's rays, truly making him a shining star of a god as he watched over his world.
His gaze grew heavy as he stared over the rooftops.
"You summoned me, my Lord?"
Thor span around back to the palace behind him, but found it shrunk behind Imogen's stunning form. She was dressed in the off-the-shoulder ivory coloured dress he'd asked for, the silky, material flowing from her body like water. Feminine loose curls of dark hair framed her face and hung to her waist line, emphasizing the slender pale hour-glass of her body against a curtain of raven black. Truly, she looked a goddess, a light smirk playing her lips, a subtle spark in her violet eyes.
Yet, it was not her full blaze. Thor's brow furrowed as he turned and stepped towards her. "You have never called me that before."
Imogen's bare shoulders bobbed in a shrug, gaze lowering.
Thor let himself cease his slow advance and just watched her, trying to decode her body language. There was something wrong. The Imogen he knew didn't lower her eyes from anyone. The Imogen he knew had never addressed him with anything but his name.
There was most definitely, something wrong. So he said as much: "What is it, Imogen?" he asked, in the deep, commanding voice he knew she loved so well.
He caught the familiar rush of vibrant purple that flashed through her orbs at his tone, unable to resist flickering up to him. And once their gazes met, he had her. He watched curiously as she drew in a deep breath, seeing something that bordered on fear smothering her violet orbs. She cleared her throat bracingly. "Thor," her voice sounded wary. "There's something I must tell you."
The god's mind was swamped with curiosity, pushing aside his worries firmly. What could she possibly say that would be bad? Thor had no doubt that she would not leave him, and what else did that leave?
Perhaps – his mind fluttered with excitement – she was going to confess her feelings. Properly. Not in the afterglow of lust.
A smile started to spread over the gods lips. He took a swaggering step forward, brimming with confidence and anticipation. He wanted to hear it from her lips, hear the words she'd teased from him so long ago. He wanted her to confess her love for him more than his heart could bear, nearly bursting with desire… but not yet.
"And there's something I must tell you." He said, cupping her shoulders with his large hands. This was the reason he'd brought her here after all. "Sit."
He guided Imogen to a soft patch of grass by the lakeside, so they were mere paces from the water's edge. She sat obediently and Thor knelt on one knee beside her. He caught her eyes flash with alarm and chuckled as she took in his stance. One day, he thought, but not this day.
His hand reached within his armour to pluck the note he had concealed within his breastplate and tugged it free, careful not to snag it in any way on the metal. Imogen's orbs followed the yellow parchment uncertainly, though her eyes widened slightly when she caught her name written on the back in tall scrawling handwriting.
Her mouth parted. "Hey, that's-"
"For you, yes." Thor smiled, wider. He bowed the parchment in indication for her to take her letter. Imogen's hands snatched for it instantly, and she wasted no time ripping it open. "I prevented it from reaching you… because I wanted to be there when you found out the good news."
"Good news…" Imogen murmured distant mindedly as her eyes scoured greedily over the parchment, drinking in the words.
Thor's grin was aching his cheeks by the time Imogen's jaw fell open and a smile blossomed over her lips, reading the lines that he'd been waiting for her to reach. The bright spark of happiness exploded in her eyes.
Then she let out a squeal of excitement and threw her arms around the god suddenly, Thor lurching back from the sudden, unexpected impact. His back thudded willingly onto the grass, hand finding the small of Imogen's back to hold her to him as her body lay flush over his, arms hugging tightly around his neck.
"Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!" Imogen spilled frantically in his ear. The note lay forgotten on the grass, but Thor didn't need to read it to remember what it had told Imogen – her mother was well. She was cured. "I am forever in your debt for this."
Her head pulled back to plant a firm kiss on his cheek.
Thor's hand caught her there and held her, possessive instincts taking over. She'd gotten too close; it was her fault. Thor was a tolerant man but… his hand cupped the side of her head and guided her mouth to mash with his, devouring her lips hungrily. Imogen returned it fervently, body rubbing up against his eagerly. Her earlier shyness was gone – Thor had his vixen back. Her hand found his breastplate and rested over his heart and Thor knew she was searching for his heartbeat.
With a clang of armour and a summon of Mjolnir, she had it, palm pressing against the warmth of his shirt.
Thor's hammer fell from his hand with a metallic thud as he rolled them over and ravished her neck, hips grinding between her parted legs. Her fingers found his hair and her back arched for him with a throaty moan.
Her body never stopped moving against him. "Thor, there's…" her voice sounded breathless. Thor smirked against her skin as his finger teased the front of her dress lower down her chest. "There's something I have to tell you."
"Later." He sighed huskily against her collar bone, accidentally tearing the sleeve of her dress around her upper arm with a loud rip.
It gave him a new idea.
He straightened up and sat back on his heels, depriving Imogen of his contact solidly. The rapid rise and fall of her chest, the blazing, hungry look in her eyes confirmed she wanted it back just as much as he did. He'd shredded her will, and she his.
Forcing back the urge to just ravish her where she was was a painful task, but one Thor forced himself to do; the promise of what lay ahead if he did spurred him on.
Thor offered down his hand.
"Come on." He smiled, sending her a lustful flash of teeth. Imogen shifted bluntly, lips pouting and let her fingers slide into his. Thor eased her up smoothly by her hand, including enough strength to have her thud flush with his chest. His arm loped around her, sealing her body upright with his. His spare hand crept between them and hooked a gentle finger under her chin, lifting her burning eyes to his, seeing the sparked lust swirling in her orbs. "Come to the water with me."
Imogen's eyes flashed with alarm and Thor's grin widened, raising himself to his feet and hauling her with him. "What?!"
Her hand tugged against his as he stepped towards the water's edge, but Thor's grip was inescapable, her struggling futile. Thor stepped closer and closer to the lake and Imogen had nowhere else to go but to follow him. She struggled wildly, even more desperate as Thor's boot dropped into the water.
"I'm not going into the water!" she hissed, though the moment the words left her Thor turned in the water and grinned. His hand tugged hers and she fell against his chest with a splash. Her mouth dropped in a gasp, feeling the cool droplets clinging her skirt to her lower calves. "You brought me out here to swim?"
Her body melted into Thor's, as if the water had washed away her resistance. She was wet anyway, the chill prickling her skin and Thor – as always – practically glowed with warmth. Her palms flattened against his broad chest, feeling his strong heartbeat beneath the muscle. She sighed into the heat, letting his body heat engulf her as his arms wrapped around her. Imogen could feel his arousal pressing against her belly.
Thor's hands wound round to the backs of her shoulder blades and gripped tight. Imogen's eyes sharpened, glimpsing his wolfish grin and the plan he was forming behind it.
Her eyes widened. "No-"
Thor plunged her down with him into the water, emerging them both down to their necks. Imogen yelped. The water clung her clothes to her body, drilling in a cold that made her shiver. Her hands wound round to the back of Thor's body of their own accord, hugging him close, searching out his body heat to warm her.
"Y-you heathen!" she cursed through shuddering teeth, fingers clinging to his shirt. It peeled to his chest, and she couldn't get a grip.
Thor chuckled, and let his hands run. They felt the thin material of her dress hugging her luscious figure, cupping her waist, her hips, running up and down her body just to feel her. Then his hands firmed at her hips and hoisted her up. Her legs wrapped around his waist, feeling the heat of his burgeoning manhood try to press through the tangling wet mess of her dress, covering her core.
Her open mouth hovered in front of Thor's.
"I brought you here for a reason, Imogen." Thor sighed, his hot breath washing over her face, sending goose bumps across her skin. "You now have a choice."
His hands sealed her thighs around his waist as he waded through the water back to the bank, droplets raining down from their bodies to the grass below.
Thor eased Imogen gently down onto her back to lie down in the pasture, sure to keep her knees either side of his hips. She released a sighing breath as Thor covered her body with his, his large strong hand kneading firmly at her breast through the sodden material.
His loins raged for her. The dress, wet and see though, revealed everything to him, bearing every curve, every smooth line of her body. It was all his to marvel at. Her breasts were firm through the dress, her nipples hardened by the chilled water and standing proudly against the confining, clingy material. Thor wanted to drop his mouth to them, but his lips smothered hers instead as his hips ground against her core, earning a mewl of pleasure from her. His tongue forced her lips apart and delved deep, exploring the wondrous cavern of her mouth. She was his to adore, and he cherished her in every way possible.
Her fingers lifted his shirt, resting over the warm muscles of his pecs and feeling them flex beneath her touch. Such power behind them, she thought breathlessly. Her demonstrated that power as he yet again attacked her dress, tearing a slit up the side to open up her core to him when the wet material shrouded it from his view.
His hands plastered either side of her thighs before trailing up to cup her backside, lifting her hips to grind into them more solidly. He needed her now, teeth growling against the skin of her neck.
"Wait!"
Thor reluctantly paused at Imogen's frantic, sudden request, forcing himself to ease up off her a bit so she could tell him why the hell she wanted him to stop!
"I can't go back to the palace with grass stains down my back." Imogen breathed, eyelashes batting with her half lidded eyes. Thor could feel the space between her legs calling him to take her. "People would talk…"
The god pulled himself back for barely a second as he hands fought to get a grip on the slippery material coating her legs. He growled in frustration, his fingers firm against her almost fully revealed body but grasped no grip on the sodden dress. Maybe the lake hadn't been a great idea after all. His teeth bared angrily and his patience snapped, settling for purely ripping the garment to shreds.
A part of him knew that he'd just defeated the point of needing the clothes gone in the first place, but he hardly cared as Imogen's naked body was revealed to him, open and ready for the taking.
Her arms drew him back and her mouth crashed with his in a haze of tongue and teeth. The animalistic tearing of the dress simply did it for her.
Thor's hand found her breast, kneading it firmly in his strong palm and drawing blissful sighs from Imogen's lips. Her knees fastened around his waist, lifting her hips to meet his as he rubbed himself needily against her, trying to resist submitting to his most basic instincts in the middle of a field. A part of him knew though, that there was no going back now.
Imogen whined for him, her hands clawing at his trousers in her sudden desperation to have him with her, filling her. Thor reluctantly withdrew his hand from her breast to aid her. This broken pace frustrated him, but everything felt well again as soon as he was kissing Imogen again, this time hovering his naked body over her, divested of his shirt and trousers. The fresh spring air sharpened his senses. He was sensitive to every inch of Imogen's body against his, but most of all her hot center pressed against his all too ready manhood.
His hand gripped at her hip to hold her still beneath him and he peeled his mouth off of hers to release her moans as he slid home. Smoothly, gently – taking her in the most gentlemanly, considerate way he had so far.
There was no heavy thrusting this time. Only pure, tender emotion.
Thor lowered his upper body to press firmly against Imogen's listening her heart racing against his, her shallow breaths in his ear.
His lips grazed over the shell of her ear adoringly. "I love you." He breathed shamelessly. If he was ever to confess her own feelings, she had to know his. "I love you, Imogen."
He knew he was cheating slightly as he circled his hips, drawing new, incredible sensations from her body. But he couldn't help it. This woman was simply irresistible to him; his teeth nipped at her neck lightly, and she arched to give him better access.
Her hands gripped at his shoulders as he moved slowly and deeply within her, sighs moaning and uneven. "Thor, I…" her thoughts were driven from her head as he kissed up and down her neck – something he knew she absolutely loved! No!, she scolded herself, focus. Her teeth gritted in persistence. "Thor, there's something I… something I need to tell you."
Thor's hand found her breast again, fingers playing with the sensitive tip as his hips drove forward. "Then tell me." He breathed, struggling to compose himself as Imogen's tight heat gripped him, blood pulsing so clearly through his body.
Imogen's nails were like little daggers in his back as her body lifted from the ground at his thrusts, prying new depths from her. Her mouth fell open, eyes rolling closed.
She could hardly remember her own name, let alone what she needed to tell him! Her hips rolled insistently, his wide girth filling her deliciously. Her lips moaned desperately at the precious friction her movements granted her, drawing a ragged breath from Thor.
"I…" a particularly deep thrust had her core pulsing with desire, and she couldn't believe how absolutely turned on she was. Already, she could feel the mindlessness of orgasm creep over her, holding her over oblivion. A broken breath left her lips and she let Thor reach new depths within her, the slow pace only making it more intimate, more intense. "Oh gods!"
Imogen started to lose it, her hips bucking, ignoring the slow, torturous pace that Thor set. Thor obliged her, letting himself plunge to intimate depths in her body.
The strangled cry was torn from her throat with a feminine whine, her release shuddering through her so she trembled in Thor's arms. Thor's breath left him in ragged bursts as he increased his speed, Imogen's core clenching around him bringing him closer to his own release.
Imogen relaxed in his arms, a contented sigh leaving her lips. Thor soon felt her body tense though. He pushed it aside for a second, chasing down his own pleasure.
"Thor, I need to tell you something." Her voice was rushed and hurried, as if she was forcing the words out fast before she cowered out.
Thor's hips plowed into her, his gut clenching. This is it, he thought with excitement, heat flooding through his loins.
"I'm pregnant."
What?!
Thor's mind exploded along with his body. Stars danced in front of his eyes, torn between his ecstasy and… the other thing. His seed shot deep into Imogen's body, thrusting deep inside her and holding himself there as he emptied himself within her.
His jaw fell from the intensity, losing himself in the warm cavern of her body while her words flittered through his mind, dreamy and hazing in his post release state: pregnant… Imogen was pregnant.
His breaths was uneven as he lowered his eyes to hers, seeing the anxiety and apprehension in her violet orbs. This woman was pregnant. The god's throat ran dry. "Mine?" he croaked, needing to know. Of course it's yours!, a voice condemned in his head, you're the one who's been lying with her every night for the last few weeks!
Imogen's nod confirmed it.
The strength left Thor's arms and he tumbled onto his shoulder beside her, breath leaving him in a rush. He stared up at the blue skies blankly.
"You said I had a choice…" Imogen's voice wafted warily in his ear. There was no warmth of her skin to match it though; she wouldn't even touch him, Thor realized with stunned disbelief… "I think that's been taken away from me now."
The god jerked straight back upright, a flare of rage fuelling his body as he turned to face her. Imogen had nudged herself up to her elbows cautiously, eyes following his every move avidly. They hadn't lost their defiant streak though. Thor recognized that. She would stand no chance against him if he attacked her but her pride was held up higher – if she would go down, she would go down fighting. It was the same mentality Thor held, the one every warrior in Asgard held.
Not that he would ever attack her. Never. His gaze wondered down to her stomach, imagining what was inside it, hidden beneath the skin. She looked the same, not even a trace of a bump yet!
"Why?" he demanded harshly, fists clenching. "I would not have you banished from the palace for bearing my child."
Imogen's eyes blazed back at him. "But I would." She refuted. "I would not bear the shame. My parents would know of our agreement and the least I can do is walk away with my dignity, so I can tell them before rumour does. You have no right to take that away from me."
"Dignity…" Thor threw his head back with a humourless laugh before he snapped it back to her boldly. He stood and crossed to where his cape lay abandoned on the grass, picking it up and throwing it unceremoniously at Imogen. She scrambled with it to cover herself, and Thor watched her over his shoulder, pulling his still damp trousers back on his person. "Perhaps you think too much of your dignity."
Pride and dignity… Thor's undoing; the only things that stopped Imogen from loving him openly, from casting aside what would become of her reputation for the sake of her pure happiness.
Thor watched her sit upright, molding the crimson cape around her delicate form. Her creamy legs folded underneath her, shielding the last of her modesty.
Her eyes blazed defiantly.
A heavy sigh left Thor's lips and his will with it. He turned on his heel and strode back to her, dropping to one knee and lacing his hands through her hair in one fluid movement. His hands held her still, forced to look into the sincere, strong depths of his eyes.
"Damn you, Imogen…" he breathed, feeling his heart race in his chest. His eyes washed over her perfect porcelain features, looking as delicately crafted as if she were a doll. His orbs washed with softness the more he drank her in. "How can you be so blind?"
Her fingers hooked on his wrists, and Thor noted with satisfaction how the cape dipped slightly around her cleavage. "Me blind?" she challenged. "You're the one who is to become king and yet you think it's acceptable to be childrearing with a servant girl-"
"You're not just a servant girl, and you know it!"
Thor's harsh tone silenced her and he watched the unnatural submission creep into her eyes. He regretted it now. His hands stroked through her locks and he softened his hold, easing her forward to rest her head over his chest, so her ear pressed over his heart. He knew she liked listening to his heartbeat. She released a long held breath over his body and he shuddered from it, kissing into her hair.
His arms cradled her as if she were a child. "You're not a servant to me." He breathed, feeling his heart crack as he spilled its contents free. "You've been much more than that for a very long time. And I think you know it."
"I know it." Imogen sighed softly. "I believe it." He felt her gulp against him, and closed his eyes against the words he didn't want to hear: "But you know I can't accept it."
His throat clotted with his own emotion. "Imogen please…" She couldn't be saying this. It was cruel to torment him with threats of her leaving. "Just minutes ago nothing could tear us apart." His hand wound from her shoulders to between them and he felt Imogen stiffen as he pressed his palm against her stomach. "This," he pressed firmer for emphasis, "Should not change anything."
"But it does, and it changes everything." Imogen pulled back out of his arms and hugged Thor's cape around her. She looked so vulnerable, so defenseless. Thor watched her with a breaking heart, watched the defiant tears slip down her cheeks as she stared at the grass beside him. "When a mistress falls with child another takes her place. That is how it is – how it has always been." She gulped, her voice holding a fragility that truly scared the god. "Things cannot change for one girl. It's over."
Thor's teeth ground together and his hands reached again, tangling in her hair and dragging her closer to him. "It's not over." He growled possessively, Imogen's hands finding his shoulders to push him back. "You will stay with me and have our child here."
"And what then?" her eyes blazed. "Your name and mine forever cast down in shame? All because you fell in love with a commoner."
Thor's heart twanged. "Yes." He breathed, pressing his mouth urgently to hers as if that was the only thing he could do to change her mind. "I love you and I'm not afraid to admit it. Not to anyone. I'll tell all of Asgard if I have to."
He knew he didn't imagine the pressure of Imogen's lips pressing back against his, but it was over all too quickly. "And I love you…"
Thor's heart leapt instinctively, but a little part of him died at her words. He wanted to hear them, sure, but… like this? No, not like this.
"But this is the end."
"Please Imogen." He'd beg if he had to. He would do anything, fingers scrambling to touch every inch of her he could in case he never could again. "I want to be a father. I want you to stay by my side. We can be together if only you'd let us."
His hand wound round from her hair down to her cheek and his heart leapt with hope when she covered it with her fingers. Her eyes screwed shut. "You would do that for me?" she breathed, spare fingers raking through his hair. "You would just … forget you were the prince and have a child with your mistress?"
"Yes." Thor breathed in a heartbeat, firming it with a kiss to her mouth.
"Then you're an idiot."
"That may be so, but as long as I am your idiot I don't care."
A disbelieving smile crossed Imogen's lips and Thor started to see her cracking, though the tears had long stopped. It was the same problem as before resurfacing – afraid of caring. Afraid of losing. Just like she had been with her mother. Thor had pieced it together long ago. Coming to the palace had given her work but at the same time it had given her sanctuary: given her distance from the heartbreak should the worst happen.
And now she was willing to run again, rather him lose her than her lose him. Thor understood. Didn't mean he was going to let it happen though.
He leaned forward to press a tender kiss to her cheek, letting raw sincerity take over. "You are my everything." He breathed. "You and this baby. I would fight to the ends of the nine realms for you. Simple tradition will be easy."
A sad smile flickered over Imogen's lips and she hiccupped, her tears from earlier backfiring. "You're a fool. You know that?"
A real smile stretched on Thor's lips and he grazed his mouth over hers, tasting her acceptance. It warmed his soul to the core. "As long as you'll still have me…"
Imogen's head nodded, bobbing frantically. Her lips relaxed into a smile and she grinned weakly, letting herself breath a chuckle against her god. She loped her arms around his neck and drew him in for a deep kiss, letting her tongue massage softly with his.
Thor grinned with triumph.
His heart felt like it would burst at the seams as Imogen let his arms envelope her, leaning her back into the embrace as he kissed her deeper, more passionate. He let himself get drowned in her senses, surrendering himself to the woman that had captured his heart. She would stay? Had she affirmed?
"Say it." Thor breathed against her mouth. "Please. I need to hear you say it." His heart could not be settled until he heard it from her own lips, so there was no room for error.
Imogen smiled against his lips. "I won't leave you. I'll stay."
She barely had time to draw breath before Thor's hand reached for Mjolnir while his arm firmed around her body, crushing her to his chest. The objection died in her throat as the rush of air hit her. She gasped – they were flying! Imogen's heart hammered in her chest at the light, weightlessness that engulfed her, cape flapping wildly around her body as they soared through the air.
They crossed the vast space of the palace gardens in a matter of seconds. Imogen's hands clawed at Thor as they flew closer to the palace and their altitude climbed.
Her knees were weak as Thor touched ground again on the balcony of his room, dropping to a kneel as Imogen slid weakly to the floor. Her hand covered her frantic heart as she fought to get her breath back, simply whisked away by the fact she'd flown!
She felt Thor's chuckle more than she heard it as he pressed a kiss to her temple, fingers lingering tenderly in her hair. "My Queen."