Page 25 of Competing Against Thor

"No, it took me completely by surprise when I arrived for my interviews and was shuffled in here instead. It's a good thing I didn't take Danny's advice and blow them off."

I chuckled. "Danny certainly seems to have some ideas."

Her cheeks flushed pink. "About that..."

"There's nothing to explain," I said quickly, not wanting her to be uncomfortable.

"I was going to say that I'd have gone through with it if you had, so I'm grateful that you didn't," she admitted. "Not that I don't think you're hot. I do. Because you are."

I raised an eyebrow and leaned against the pillar at the entrance to my station. "You think I'm hot?"

"Oh don't give me that. You know you're hot." She gave me a look that certainly revealed what she thought of that.

"I've been told something along those lines before," I admitted.

"It's just, that wouldn't have been a good way for us to have sex for the first time."

"For the first time?" I echoed. It seemed she'd been thinking about this more than I realised.

She cleared her throat. "Forget I said that."

"I'd rather not. Though I can if you really want me to."

"I don't know what I want," she admitted. "You confuse me."

We were closer together than we should be, especially with the cameras around, though I should be able to ask Mel to make sure that they didn't show any of this part.

"What can I do to make myself less confusing?" I asked, barely resisting the urge to close the small remaining distance between us and kiss her. She looked perfect with her messy bun and casual clothing ready for work.

The timer ticked down above us, but neither of us paid any attention.

"Why would a god like you even be interested in a mortal?"

I shrugged. "I was mortal once. You're not so different to me."

"But isn't it tragic? If you're interested in a mortal, then you could fall for them, and then they'll die?"

"Not if they become immortal," I responded.

"I hate to break it to you, but most people don't have the time to go tracking down the Fountain of Youth or whatever it is in Norse mythology that means you stay young and attractive forever."

"It's apples," I responded. "But that's also just a myth. Immortality is actually very easy to get, all you have to do is get a god to give it to you."

"A specific god?"

"Anygod. I could make you immortal right here, right now."

"Would I feel any different?"

"Probably not, but I wouldn't take my word for it, a couple of thousand years is a long time to forget nuances."

Amusement danced over her face. "So what you're saying is that when you date a mortal, you're doing it with the idea that one day you might make them immortal?"

"I've never really thought about it," I admitted. "But I've also never had a reason to."

"Hmm."

There was a part of me that wanted to tell her whatever it was she wanted to hear, but I knew that wasn't right. She had to make up her own mind about what she wanted to happen between us. Though it was clear from the questions she was asking that she was thinking ofsomething, and that gave me hope that we could be something outside the studio.