12. Chapter 12

Part of me thinks this is a dream and I'm going to wake up laughing. Von politely points out my parents' small-minded ideas.

He's lost his scowl and turned on a charm I didn't know he had. It's bizarre to be in his apartment with my parents. To be anywhere with my parents.

He makes my head spin. One minute he's kissing me as if I'm the best thing in the world, then he apologizes for it. As if I wasn't one hundred million percent on board with it. He ran and I don't chase, so this is the first time we're talking since the most sexual kiss I've ever had.

I haven't been able to get it out of my head. And the bastard is being all boyfriendy like he actually likes me. It's fucking with me.

Von chuckles even though I know he doesn't find my father's comment that America is the greatest country funny.

"It's so charming how Americans think the USA is a superior country. In reality, your education is subpar, and you trail the world in healthcare, infrastructure, and gun violence is out of control. Most of the world finds the audacity amusing."

"We saved your asses in the war," Dad argues indignantly.

"Yes, Richard, do your friends call you Dick?" Von asks, and I bite my tongue to keep the laughter in. "America had a major impact on the world wars, but do you realize that was almost eighty years ago? It is on-brand for America, but the rest of the world has moved on and is not resting on decades old accomplishments," he says with a smile and a conciliatory tone.

"Everyone would be better off if they lived by the bible," my mom chimes in.

"Everyone would be better off if they didn't use the bible to justify hate and bigotry. I find America's views on sex primitive. You are behind the modern world in basic human rights and decency." Von stands and towers over my father, who's sitting on the couch. "Would you like a drink before you and Alec settle your legal matter?"

Von is my hero right now. A goddamn Viking warrior facing down my father with grace.

My mother excuses herself to use the bathroom while my father organizes the papers from the envelope.

"Here's the paperwork from the property that your grandfather left you. You need to sign these to take ownership." He hands me a pen and points to the signature line.

I scan the paperwork, looking for an issue. I don't trust my parents, so I'm expecting to find out that I can own the property once I pay thousands of dollars in back taxes or something similar. The lawyer handling my grandfather's estate is a family friend, so I should have insisted on an impartial one. My grandfather wanted me to own the land, and I'm putting too much faith in his will.

I'm still reading when my mother sits back down next to my father. I'm sitting in a club chair and Von is perching on the arm as any good fake boyfriend would do.

"Just sign it already. Your sister deserves the land," my mother hisses.

My brows fly up as I digest her statement.

"I haven't gotten that far yet, Susan," my father scolds her. His icy demeanor is nothing new. "The other set of papers is to sign the property over to your sister."

"For free," I clarify, and Von's anger rises. For a man of few words, I can feel his emotions more than anyone else's. I'm nervous his forehead vein might burst with his fury.

"Of course," my mother says. "She has a family and we want to keep the land in the family. She can leave it to her kids."

"I'm not family?" They should have the guts to say it to my face.

My mother looks insulted. "She has kids, not toothbrushes and razors, living in sin."

I glance sideways at Von, wondering what's going on, but he throws an arm around my shoulder, kisses my hair, and says, "It's time for you to leave. Alec needs legal representation to look over the paperwork and weigh his options." He stands, pulling me up with him.

Von's long legs eat the distance to the door and he holds it open for them. My parents leave without a word to either of us.

If I had a fuck to give, I'd absolutely be embarrassed that Von has a knack for catching me at my worst moments.

Von slams the door and lets out a string of Swedish words that I can assume are vulgar from his tone and deep scowl. I'm standing alone in the middle of the room like it's an island. I'm frozen, but I can't stay here.

Von takes both of my hands in his. "Your parents are some of the worst people I've ever met, and I've met tons of skit fans. Sorry, assholes." He puts a slight bend in his knees so we're eye to eye. "For having terrible parents, you are so happy and normal."

"An act," I reply.

"Stop deflecting." Von squeezes my fingers, then lets go of my hand.

His ability to cut through my defenses is unnerving. "Thank you," I say, and it feels inadequate for what he did for me tonight. I bite back questions regarding our kiss because I need someone to care right now, and I'm worried he'll run again. Or toss me out on my ass.

"You don't need to thank me."

"I do. They forget I'm a person and not an abomination."

His beautiful face softens. "I meant everything I said about you. You're the type of person who will do anything for a friend. You thrive on caring for other people. But who cares for you?"

I'm struck silent.

"You're efforts help the lives of less fortunate people. I admire that."

"Careful, Viking, you're talking again as if you like me." I'm lightheaded as we laugh.

He gently pushes me back into the chair. "We need a drink." He sets a bottle of Akvavit on the coffee table and pours us each a shot. Von hands me one and holds his in the air. "Skal!" He knocks it back. I drink mine, swallowing hard so I don't cough.

"I hate them," I admit. "They're my parents, but I hate them." It's a relief to say it out loud.

Von pours us another shot. "Do not give your family that property. If your grandfather wanted them to have it, he would have given it to them." We clink glasses and down another shot.

My grandfather was a safe place for me growing up. I'd go to his house after school and he never missed any of my hockey games. He was lonely after my grandmother died but never grilled me about why I hated sleepovers or didn't have a girlfriend. He made me believe I was enough—vastly different from my parents.

"You're right," I agree and take a third shot.

"If you could do anything with the land, what would you do?" Von's gaze pierces me and it's hard to focus on his words and not his gorgeous face.

"Well I sure as hell wouldn't give it to the sister who outed me to my parents and seemed happy when they shunned me." The liquid swirls in my glass as I twist my wrist. "Honestly, I'd want a place similar to The Q so kids like me would have a safe place to go and understand that their bible spewing parents aren't right." This land could be my way of giving back to a community that needs so much help. An answer to so many problems.

"Cheers to that." Von holds up another shot.

An hour later, I stumble into the bathroom and burst out laughing. "Von, you're an evil genius," I call out. Von has two different razors on the sink with two toothbrushes. He arranged it to give the impression I spend the night here often. I'm surprised my mother didn't pull holy water out of her purse to bless the place. She probably thought it was a lost cause.

After I use the bathroom, I steady myself by sitting on his bed. The room is messier than the last time I was here. Von leans on the doorframe.

He's the sexiest thing I've ever seen.

"You cannot handle your alcohol." Von's eyes twinkle, or maybe it's a trick of light.

"I didn't eat my dinner." I lean back, trying to act casual, not drunk. "Did you mess up your room for my parents?"

Von sits next to me. "I picture you throwing clothes around your room, and your parents could not recognize your clothes." He motions to the jeans, hoodie, and T-shirt on the floor.

"You're extra." My smile is so wide it might split my face.

"You're welcome." He bumps my shoulder and my arms collapse so I'm lying flat on my back.

"Can we stream something so I have time to sober up?" I turn my face, afraid all the thoughts in my head will scare him away. I hate when he avoids me, and I refuse to give him a reason to kick me out.

He drags me out to the couch, and we sit so close I lean into him. He's warm and steady.

A man I know I can count on. I sigh, letting go of the tension of the night, and soak in Von's closeness. My eyes grow heavy and my head falls onto his shoulder.

Butterflies by Abe Parker

I wake up in the pitch-dark, covered with a blanket. I search blindly for my phone but can't find it. My brain is working at a snail's speed and on the verge of a hangover.

I should go home.

I remember taking my phone out of my pocket in the bathroom.

There's a light under his bedroom door, and I knock quietly.

Von calls, "Come in," and he's propped up on top of the covers reading. His hair is piled up in a topknot, his gray sweats mold to his legs, and I drag my eyes away from his bulge.

Suddenly, reading tops my list of erotic fantasies.

"Are you okay?" Von asks since I've been standing mute in the doorway.

"Do you mind?" I point to the bathroom.

Von motions for me to go ahead and I use the bathroom, but my phone isn't where I thought I left it.

"Hey, do…" I freeze with the door halfway open. Von is topless, shedding his sweats. "Sorry." I slam the door so he doesn't see my instant hard-on. Our kiss still confuses me. He ran away and I can't expect him to be a one-off fuck.

Von chuckles on the other side of the door. Tonight, the man has been a friend and a godsend to put up with my parents. It's inappropriate to repay him by drooling over his body because he can obviously resist mine.

"You saw me the other day. I didn't think it would bother you." Von opens the door, still in his underwear.

"Are you trying to kill me?" I'm tired and my brain can't find its filter as my eyes drink in his smooth skin and muscles. I'm a man, not a saint.

"Americans really are sexually repressed. I'm not sure what to do with you." Von sighs. He steps back and leans against his dresser. I get a peek of a tattoo on his shoulder and I'm dying to know what it is.

"Anything you want," I say, and it's not a pickup line or flirting. It's the truth.

"The things that come out of that mouth of yours." He stalks toward me and pins me against the wall with our foreheads touching. He's no twink that I can toss around. I've never been with someone as physically strong as Von.

My entire body's ravenous to press against him and make him forget the reasons he thinks sex with me is a bad idea.

Why I think it's a bad idea.

His body is incredible. He has to be an athlete. His muscles haven't been sculpted in the gym a few times a week. His body has been honed by hours and hours of hard work and punishing workouts. And I'm preoccupied with the punishing workout I can give him. But I can't be the only one who wants it. Von has made it clear he doesn't.

His breath hitches as his eyes close and we taste the air between us. When his eyes pop open, they're blue fire, and I know this man could burn me alive, but I don't care.

"I am desperate to kiss you." The admission sounds dragged from the depth of his soul. "I'm sorry I didn't ask last time. That's not who I am—forcing myself on you."

I'm frozen with indecision. I'm fearful he'll regret me or change his mind. He can't want me after my breakdown and meeting my parents. But I'm not thinking with the right head, so I say, "Don't ever apologize for the kiss I was dying for."

"I don't understand you." He presses his head harder against mine.

A laugh tumbles out of me. "Viking, you're the most confusing person I've ever met."

He's such a contradiction and I'm obsessed.