MTL NOVEL Chapter 11: Chapter 10: Desert Nights and Golden Light
Chapter 10: Desert Nights and Golden Light
Darcy's POV –
Darcy had absolutely not planned on sleeping with a literal god tonight.
Then again, life had been weird lately.
Sitting across from Baldur in a half-empty diner in the middle of the New Mexico desert, she had quickly realized two things:
1. Baldur was unfairly attractive.
2. He knew exactly how attractive he was.
His golden eyes practically glowed under the dim neon lights, his smirk holding that irritating mix of confidence and charm that was straight out of a romance novel. And the way he leaned forward, elbows on the table, completely relaxed—like he was fully aware of how easy he could break the world if he wanted to, but chose to play nice instead?
Yeah. That was dangerous.
And Darcy Lewis was weak for bad decisions.
"So," she mused, tapping her spoon against the rim of her coffee cup. "What's it like, being a literal god?"
Baldur chuckled, swirling his drink. "Surprisingly tedious."
Darcy snorted. "Yeah, okay. Try being a broke intern in the middle of the desert."
He smirked. "Is that why you keep looking at me like I'm your next bad idea?"
Darcy choked on her coffee. "Wow. Cocky much?"
Baldur tilted his head, unapologetic. "Am I wrong?"
Darcy had two choices here.
1. Deny everything. Pretend she wasn't mentally undressing him every time he stretched just a little too much in that ridiculously well-fitted Asgardian tunic.
2. Own it.
She went with option two.
"Not even a little," she admitted, grinning.
Baldur laughed, deep and warm, like he actually hadn't expected her to say it. "I like you."
Darcy leaned forward, raising an eyebrow. "Yeah? You gonna do something about it, or are you just here to talk?"
His smirk widened. "That depends. Are you inviting me somewhere more interesting?"
Darcy had zero hesitation.
"Let's get out of here."
Baldur's POV –
Baldur didn't mean to end up in Darcy's motel room.
Okay, that was a lie.
He had absolutely meant it.
But still—how the hell did he get here?
Leaning against the headboard of the creaky motel bed, bare chest still flushed from the heat of what had just happened, Baldur ran a hand through his hair and exhaled slowly. Darcy lay beside him, one leg thrown lazily over his, a satisfied smirk on her lips as she traced small circles over his arm.
His body still buzzed.
It wasn't just the sex—though, wow, that had been something else. It was the feeling of being here, in Midgard, with people who weren't Asgardian, living in the story instead of just watching it unfold.
And that was what bothered him.
Because this wasn't the first time.
Since waking up in this world, Baldur had noticed something about himself.
He kept doing this.
Flirting. Sleeping around. Letting himself sink into the moment with people he had no intention of truly staying with.
It wasn't just about the thrill. It wasn't just about pleasure.
It was about proving something.
That he was here. That this was real.
Because sometimes, when he watched these people—these characters he had once only seen on a screen—something in the back of his mind whispered that none of this was real.
That he was just playing a role in a world that wasn't his.
And maybe, for a moment, pressing skin to skin with someone, feeling real, feeling wanted, feeling like he belonged in this world—maybe that helped drown out the voice that said he didn't.
Darcy shifted beside him, breaking his thoughts.
"Okay," she murmured, looking entirely too smug. "Not to brag, but I think I just rocked a god's world."
Baldur chuckled, rolling onto his side, propping himself up on one elbow. "I'd be lying if I said otherwise."
She grinned, stretching lazily. "I like you. You're fun."
Baldur smirked. "I aim to please."
She flicked his arm. "And cocky."
"You love it."
Darcy didn't deny it.
Instead, she exhaled, glancing at the ceiling. "You sticking around for a while, or is this a one-night divine experience kind of thing?"
Baldur hesitated.
He hadn't planned on staying long. He was here for the story, to see how things played out.
But for the first time, he realized…
He didn't know what he was doing anymore.
So he just grinned and ran a hand down her waist.
"I guess you'll have to find out."