Riding The Storm (The Gods Made Me Do It Book 4)

by Lisa Oliver

  Chapter Twenty

  It took Thor about a week to realize he was happy – not in an adrenalin fueled way like he’d spent so much of his life before – but quietly content and happy. He and Orin had been to Jason and Lasse’s a few times to share a meal. Jason’s stomach had blown up almost overnight, so the two men couldn’t go out much on the human realm, and strenuous activities were out for Jason, at least in Lasse’s opinion. Thor made one teeny tiny mention over lunch one time about going white water rafting, so Jason and Orin could share the fun sitting down, and Lasse emptied a jug of water over his head.

  But apparently there were other things Thor could enjoy. An afternoon spent in Poseidon’s library with Artemas should have been mind-numbingly boring, but seeing his mate’s face light up as Artemas dragged out one scroll after another gave Thor a warm feeling in his belly. Carrying Orin strapped to his back, climbing the same peak he’d shared with Lasse and Jason just before they met, took on a special meaning with Orin curled up in his arms enjoying the view from the top. Simple things like having breakfast in bed, or playing with Orin’s cat form – Thor was like a kid with a new toy when Orin condescended to play with the yarn after all and ended up tangled in it.

  Or like now, dressed up and enjoying a late dinner out before going to a club. Orin looked totally different to the bookish geek he was before in his tight leather pants Thor magicked up for him, and his rainbow colored sequined top. Thor’s knuckles itched at the idea of fighting off drunks who were going to be besotted with his sexy mate. He couldn’t wait.

  “You’ve got that look in your eyes again,” Orin warned from across the table. “Who are you thinking of thumping this time?”

  “No one.” Thor managed an air of nonchalance even though he knew his mate wouldn’t be fooled. “I was just getting myself into protective mode seeing as you look absolutely fuckable. Every person who sees you at the club tonight is going to want to get their hands on you.”

  “So, you’ve dressed me up like a devil’s cupcake as bait, just so you can thump someone?” Orin’s peals of laughter warmed Thor’s heart. That was something else that made Thor feel good. Orin understood him and accepted him exactly the way he was. Because of that, Thor was happy to explore his quieter, kinder nature – something he didn’t know he had until Orin came onto the scene. He just hoped Orin realized he felt the same way, loved and accepted, especially with the threat of conversation with Cathair the only thorn in an otherwise perfect existence.

  But Thor wasn’t going to pressure his mate about that tonight. Not when Orin’s tongue was doing sexy things to the fork he was licking clean. If he didn’t want to know about his family background, Thor wasn’t going to complain. He much preferred the here and now, although he had a feeling Orin was teasing him with that damn fork on purpose.

  “Are you….” Thor cleared the thickening in his throat and tried again. Damn cock seemed to suck the blood right out of his brain. “Are you ready to head out sweetness, or did you want desert?”

  “We can have desert later, after some dancing maybe?” Thor felt Orin’s foot slide up his leg. “Did you know cats are naturally born graceful dancers?”

  “Nope.” Thor coughed when the word came out in a higher tone than he’d expected. “No, I didn’t know that, but I’m guessing I’m about to see that for myself. Shall we go?”

  The night air was warmer than usual, something Thor was pleased about because it meant Orin’s coat remained slung over his arm. The pavements were crowded, the early evening sessions of the movie theatres letting patrons out, while people waiting for the later sessions were trying to get in. Holding lightly to the top of Orin’s arm, Thor used his bulk and sheer demeaner to force people to move out of their way. Crying kids, harassed parents, young lovers too absorbed in each other to realize he was coming through made it difficult. They had just reached the fringes of the crowds, when Thor heard Orin’s name being called.

  “Orin, Orin Green, hold up.”

  “Jack?” Orin turned, and Thor almost lost his grip on him, settling for a protective hand over the back of his neck. Orin’s smile was wary. “Jack and Lucy, is it your date night?”

  “Finally, yes,” Jack said with a sigh. “What happened to you, man? One day you’re up in Foggerty’s office and the next, you don’t show up anymore. He didn’t fire you, did he?”

  Thor bristled at the sound of Foggerty’s name. “We had a difference of opinion,” Orin said quickly. “Then I met my partner, who travels a lot and going back to the library didn’t seem practical. Thor, this is Jack and Lucy. I worked with Jack at the Antiquities department.”

  “Thor?” Jack eyed Thor up and down. “Your mother must have had a sense of humor. I hope you’re treating this young man all right.”

  “It’s been a whirlwind romance, Thor swept me off my feet and I couldn’t be happier,” Orin interrupted any possible response Thor could come up with. “How are things at the library?”

  The question, while casual enough, was loaded and Thor knew it. But Orin seemed to relax as Jack gave a huge smile.

  “So much better since Foggerty’s gone. Did you see his obituary in the paper? Silly old fool was found soaking wet and delirious on the side of the Harlem river, must have been around the same time you met lover boy. George went up to see him at the hospital and said the guy was completely off his rocker, going on about gods and magic powers and all sorts of nonsense. Foggerty never went home again. Complications from pneumonia was the official cause of death, but he was ancient. With his temper I’m surprised his heart didn’t give out earlier.”

  That wasn’t my fault, Thor thought with an anxious gaze at the night sky. You heard him, that old bastard was well past it.

  Orin and Jack shared a few more pleasantries and then Lucy mentioned something about a baby sitter and they turned to leave. “Hey Orin, did you ever know what happened to that book Foggerty was going on about? Did he give it to you? I couldn’t find it in the library anywhere.”

  “Foggerty wouldn’t even show it to me,” Orin said, biting the side of his lip. “When I went up to see him, he just lectured me for half an hour and then kicked me out of his office. Maybe it fell in the river. He didn’t seem to want to let it out of his sight when I was there.”

  “You’re probably right,” Jack laughed. “Silly old fool. I thought he was going senile. Maybe he thought the book would give him eternal life or something. Never mind. Come by the library some time. One of the archeologists just brought in some scrolls they claim were found in a cave in Egypt. From what I’ve seen so far, they appear to be genuine.”

  “We’re heading out of the country, tomorrow,” Orin said with a sideways glance at Thor. “My partner has friends in Greece who’ve offered to let us stay for a while. Maybe when I get back.”

  “Oh, you’ve landed on your feet with this one. I could fancy a month or two in Greece myself. Have a great night.” Jack laughed and waved as he and Lucy hurried towards the nearest taxi.

  “That wasn’t my fault,” Thor muttered as they continued on their way. “I didn’t kill him.”

  “Did I say that you did?” Orin tucked his hand in the crook of Thor’s elbow, making him feel ten feet tall. “At least one threat against me is gone, and from the way Jack was talking, no one from the library or law enforcement are looking for me either. That’s a huge relief. Why are you so worried?”

  Thor leaned over, so he could whisper. “The Fates get really pissed off when a god takes a mortal life before his time. I don’t want them thinking I’m responsible.”

  “You’re not.” Orin’s defense of him was cute and fierce. “He should never have attacked me in the first place. But then, I did get to meet you because of it.”

  Yep, king of the fucking world. Nothing was going to spoil Thor’s night.

  /~/~/~/~/

  “We got thrown out.” Orin leaned against the wall, looking back at the entrance to the club they’d been in. A couple of evil looking bouncers were sti
ll scowling at the door. Orin was nearly pissing himself laughing. “I can’t believe it, in all my years, I’ve never been thrown out of anywhere.”

  “Stick with me, sweetness,” Thor wiped a smear of blood off his cheek. “It happens all the time but honestly, it wasn’t my fault.”

  “Not your fault?” Orin’s stomach was aching from laughing so hard. “You threw two men right across the bar, smashing all their bottles. I counted at least five broken tables on the way out and that’s without all the chairs now in pieces. For goodness sake, did you have to take on all six of them?”

  “They were being obnoxious and one of them hurt you.”

  Pushing himself off the wall, Orin went over and wrapped his arms around Thor’s waist. “Thor, babe, he only grabbed my ass. I doubt I’ll even have a bruise. There were men groping each other all over the place in there.”

  “He had no right to touch you.” Thor’s arms came around him holding him close. “No one has the right to touch you, but me.”

  “And you made that point abundantly clear.” Standing on tip toe, Orin brushed a kiss on Thor’s chin. “Thank you for defending my honor.”

  “I’d do it again in a heartbeat. Besides, I paid for the damages, didn’t I?”

  “You did. I can’t imagine the bill for all that lot. So, tell me, will this happen every time we go out? You causing general mayhem wherever we go, I mean.”

  “Maybe not every time, but the chances of it happening increase when you’re dressed like that.” Thor unhooked one of Orin’s arms, and started leading him down the street. “I will not have you disrespected.”

  “Then you shouldn’t dress me like a candy cane people want to lick.” Twirling around, Orin stood in front of Thor, holding his arms up. “Pick me up, I want to kiss you as a way of thanking you for fighting to defend my person.”

  “You’re getting very demanding for a person of short stature.” Thor’s teeth gleamed in the overhead light. But he did as Orin asked, just as Orin knew he would. And as their lips met, and Orin felt his molecules disperse, he knew he was in for the perfect ending to a wonderful night.

  Chapter Twenty One

  A few weeks later

  “Where are we and what are we doing here?” Thor hated the hint of worry in his mate’s voice, and the guilt he was feeling left an unpleasant taste in his mouth. Lasse and Jason had already gone up to the house, leaving Thor to explain.

  “We’re at the Cloverleah pack, sweet one. It’s where Nereus and his mates live. They invited us for lunch.” Thor gave Orin’s hand a squeeze. “I know your cat can sense the wolves around, but everyone is paranormal here. They won’t give you any trouble.”

  “Then what’s he doing here?” Orin pointed to the large figure of Cathair lurking on the porch, shadowed by his mate.

  Thor moved so he was blocking Orin’s view, forcing his mate to focus on him. “Sweetness, if you don’t want to talk to him, you don’t have to, but at least hear what the elf has to say. I know I should have told you he’d be here, but Lasse kept hounding me, and honestly, you don’t have to say a damn word, but let the persistent elf say what he has to say and then we can forget about it, okay?”

  “I thought you said Nereus didn’t like you very much.”

  Thor hated how Orin’s head was down. He wanted to see those sea-green eyes. “Nereus has mellowed since he met his mates and so have I. Sweetness, please. I’m not setting you up to get hurt. I’ll be right by your side and Raff made cupcakes. He’d be so upset if we left without having a meal first. Wolves are really weird like that.”

  Ouch. Thor rethought his wish on wanting to see Orin’s eyes. The pain in them made him want to reach for his hammer. “What can Cathair possibly say that will take away the pain I felt living a life without a father? What possible excuse could he give for the way my father just ran out on us, or why when the elves did visit they made my mom cry. She didn’t deserve that. I didn’t deserve that. So, you tell me, what could that pompous ass say, to make all this better?”

  “Nothing at all.” Thor reached over and pulled Orin into his arms, holding him tight. “Nothing will ever take away the pain you’ve lived with all these years, no matter what reasons are given. But at least if you listen to Cathair, you’ll have answers.” Lifting Orin’s feet off the ground, Thor stared into eyes he loved so much. “This is the last hurdle, sweetness, the one thing you don’t have closure for. It’s one afternoon, just a few hours at most. We eat a meal, listen to him talk and then we can go home again, or anywhere else you want to go. Regardless of the outcome, at least you will know.”

  Orin gave a watery smile as he nodded. “I know you wouldn’t have brought me here unless it was important. What did Lasse threaten to tell me about you?”

  Thor’s cheeks were suddenly red hot. “You know me too well, sweetness. Let’s just say it involved two mer guards, a piece of bamboo as a snorkel, and a Kraken.”

  “You can’t breathe underwater.” Orin looked as though he was trying not to laugh.

  “I know that now,” Thor huffed. “But Jason wasn’t the only one who was curious about where a merman hides his dick. It wouldn’t have been so bad if that Kraken hadn’t grabbed hold of me as I was trying to swim back to Sei’s palace.”

  Orin’s giggle was like sunshine on a freezing day. “You never mentioned fighting a Kraken when you were listing your many triumphs.”

  “That’s because I didn’t beat him. Lasse had to come and save me. I couldn’t breathe,” Thor added as Orin laughed louder. “Damn thing had too many legs to hit with a hammer. Couldn’t get anywhere near his head.”

  “What happened to the mermen?” Orin wiped his eyes, still grinning madly. “Didn’t they save you?”

  “Fucking assholes didn’t want to hurt him because he’s Sei’s pet. They swum off and left me to it.”

  “Okay.” Orin’s breath hitched, and he wiped his hand over his face again. “Okay, I can do this. If you can face a Kraken while holding your breath under water, I can face Cathair. But you have to tell me that whole story in a lot more detail when we get home. Kiss me quick and let’s get this over and done with. The whole pack isn’t going to be at this lunch, is it?”

  “Nope.” Thor leaned forward and pecked Orin on the nose. “Just Nereus and his mates, and Cathair and Marius. You can meet the whole pack another time.” He licked the tip of Orin’s nose. “Don’t ask me to kiss you properly, either, because you know damn well I seem to automatically materialize us both to our bedroom when I do. I can’t help myself.”

  “Fine.” Orin heaved out a long sigh that was definitely fake. “Let’s hear what the high poohbah elf has got to say and then you’d better kiss me. And those cupcakes had better be chocolate. Jason will eat them all if they’re made with anything else.”

  “Double chocolate with chocolate chips,” Thor promised, feeling slightly relieved Orin didn’t press for more details about his embarrassing story right now. Hopefully, he could distract his mate from asking when they were alone.

  /~/~/~/~/

  Over the past month Orin had gotten to know his mate well, and he knew Thor wouldn’t have brought him to Cloverleah unless Lasse had some leverage over him. Lasse was canny like that and Jason wasn’t much better. But then, Orin did feel a bit guilty refusing to see Cathair for so long. Lasse had been texting him every day, asking, begging, pleading for him to talk to the annoying elf. Orin had skipped out on Cathair twice now, and it was time to face the music.

  Lunch was fun at least. Raff was an amazing cook. The table was piled high with meats of all kinds, salads, pasta side dishes and plenty of cupcakes. Orin slipped a few pieces of food to Killer, one of Raff’s tiny dogs, under the table, hoping no one would notice. Killer and his mate Cutie Pie seemed to have taken a liking to him, although Killer growled and snarled at Thor who glared at him. The pup was very loud and didn’t seem to care most of the people present could step on him and probably not notice. Orin’s cat seemed more curious than upset by Kill
er’s presence and after lunch, when they retired to the living room, he was happy to make a space for Killer on his lap. Much to Thor’s dismay.

  “He does that.” Raff grinned. “Killer’s not keen on the alpha types in the pack, but he’s a real sweetheart with us smaller mates.”

  “Did you hear Killer got another pair of Kane’s boots this morning?” Teilo, Raff’s other mate had a deep chuckle. “We could hear him cursing up a storm all the way over at the enforcer house.”

  “That’s why I don’t have a problem with you wearing your boots in the house.” Raff’s face was bright red. “Killer seems to have a thing for boots.”

  “Only the left ones, precious.” Nereus put down a large tray on the coffee table. “What beats me, with all the super noses there are in the pack, is why no one can find where Killer hides his stash. There must be a whole mountain of left boots hidden away somewhere on this land, but no one has found them yet.”

  Orin looked down at Killer’s cute little face. He seemed so innocent until he snapped at Thor who tried to stroke him. Thor grumbled under his breath and settled for resting his arm over Orin’s shoulder, something Orin felt was quietly funny. But he didn’t say anything. Poor Raff looked embarrassed enough. The other pups, there were four of them, were resting under the chairs, snoring their heads off and oblivious to Killer’s antics.

  “Orin.” He looked up as he heard Cathair say his name. “I know this must be really difficult for you and I promise, I don’t want to upset you. But as the ruler of the elven realm, I feel responsible for the bad way you’ve been treated by our kind before. Can you tell me anything you know about the elves who visited you and your mother when you were young?”

  “There’s nothing more to tell.” Orin shrugged. “As far as I know, the elves only visited my mom twice. One was the uncle whose magical signature I recognized in the spell book. I don’t know what was said that time, but my mom kicked him out of the house. The other time three officious looking guys told me to go outside and play when they arrived. I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but when they left Mom was crying at the kitchen table. It wasn’t until I was older, and my magic manifested, that I asked about my dad, and she just told me I would never meet him and that was that. I haven’t seen an elf since, until that intruder came after the book.”