A peculiar, pleasant feeling overcame Loki as he hovered on the edges of a dream, a rush of heat and tension in his lower body. Whatever it was, it was lovely. He was pulled from sleep, though, as it increased to urgent bliss and he realized what was happening. He opened his eyes to see early morning light sliding in through the window of Darcy Lewis' bedroom. Looking down, he lifted the covers to see a lovely naked brunette, her mouth fastened around his cock, eagerly sucking. ''What are you doing?'' he asked.

She released him for a moment. ''Isn't it obvious?'' she asked with a raised eyebrow.

''Fine then, carry on.'' He wasn't going to argue.

Darcy had woken up feeling rather frisky—at first she'd contented herself with trailing her fingers along Loki's skin—it began innocently enough, the stroke of her fingers over the sculpted planes of his pale face, but then she drifted down his torso and then lower still. She liked this particular part. She wrapped her hand around it lightly, gently, then felt it begin to thicken and harden. She kept going, feeling his body shift, a light murmur escaping his lips.

Hands weren't good enough, anymore, she'd decided. She slid down and wrapped her lips around him, pulling the blankets up over her head, the warmth a juxtaposition to his cool skin against her tongue. Slow, and then more quickly, a changing rhythm. The muscles in the cavern of her throat relaxed, and took as much of that considerable length as she was able. It felt strangely good being filled like this, having him that deep. She felt an insistent throb between her legs, refusing to be ignored, and so she snaked her hand down, finding her clit. She moved, bobbing her head, sucking harder while she touched herself, amazed that giving a blow job could make her so wet. But really, she shouldn't be surprised at much, anymore.

That was when he'd woken too, lifted the covers and peered down at her. Now he reached and grabbed her hair. ''Wait,'' he said.

''What?''

''I want to taste you, too.''

Smiling, Darcy got up and situated her naked body over his so that they were in the 69 position. She slipped him back into her mouth and resumed her ministrations. Loki let out a small moan as his lips found her, she was silky and hot and drenched, absolutely delicious. He'd never get tired of her unique taste. She wriggled on top of him, rubbing her pussy against his mouth, urging him on. He flicked her harder with his tongue, sucking at that swollen little nub of flesh. Her body jolted and he felt her sigh. The vibration made his cock twitch, and then he lost control.

She knew when he was about to come. Darcy always knew. She was right on the edge herself, and then he did that thing, that thing that made shockwaves of bliss start in her clit and then radiate out. She could taste him on her tongue, then, felt spurt after spurt—he always came hard and there was always a lot. Something about the feeling, the way that it spilled into her mouth, it was exciting in a very primal way. She'd never liked swallowing before she met him; now she couldn't get enough, she wanted every drop.

When her legs stopped shaking, she climbed off of him and then turned herself around and curled up against his chest. ''Good morning,'' she told him with a cheeky smile.

''Indeed it is,'' he replied, voice slightly breathless.

Darcy yawned and stretched,''We should probably get ready,'' she said. ''We've gotta get to work.''

At this, Loki frowned deeply, almost scowling.

''What's that face for?'' she asked.

He rolled over and mumbled something unintelligible. She pounced on him, demanding, ''Hey, talk to me!''

Loki didn't want to tell her that it was because their assignment together was over and now his work would be meaningless and dreary again. All things considered, it shouldn't upset him that much—he was living with her after all, they got to spend a great deal of time together. But there had been something so electric that happened between them when they were partnered, it made him feel...alive. His mind worked more quickly, he was energized. He didn't hate his job, in fact, it felt like he was contributing something worthwhile. Now, she would be sent back downstairs to file papers and enter data and make charts and graphs and coffee. And he would go back to his indentured servitude.

Darcy decided to give up for now. ''Kay, well, when you want to talk about it, I'll listen,'' she said, patting him on the shoulder. ''I'm going to take a shower.''

For her part, she tried to remain in a positive mood as they went into work that day, though she too was quite anxious. As soon as they entered the building, Natasha Romanov appeared seemingly from thin air, the way she always did, to summon her and Loki to Nick Fury's office. Darcy sighed inwardly, assuming that this was to be some form of de-briefing before she was sent back downstairs.

''They're breaking up the band,'' she joked lamely, remembering a silly conversation they'd had about starting a two-piece band in which she would play the tambourine. Loki gave her a faint, tight smile in response. When they entered the Director's office, Fury motioned for them both to sit down. He eyed them for a long silent moment, then began. ''Dr. Foster has recently decided to remain in New Mexico for the time being. She feels that she is able to conduct some important research there, and I agree. She will still technically be a SHIELD employee and will periodically be in contact, sending us data.''

Darcy's heart turned over roughly. If Jane was staying in New Mexico, she would surely have to go there too, right? She was the scientists' assistant, she needed to be there to...assist.

''Ms. Lewis,'' Fury turned his eye to her, ''You have proven yourself to be quite competent during this last assignment. And frankly, you're the first person who has managed to work well with Loki. Dr. Foster did request for you to be transferred to New Mexico...a request which I have denied.''

She let out a breath and gave the director a look of astonishment. ''I've no idea why, but this partnership of yours,'' Fury continued, gesturing to the two of them, ''seems to be a good thing. You both think outside the box and bring something unique to the table,'' he admitted grudgingly. ''So, rather than separate you, I've decided that for the time being I want you and Loki to remain as partners, in our investigative division.''

''What is that?'' Darcy asked, still trying to wrap her mind around the fact that they weren't being split up. ''I mean, what sort of work will we be doing?''

''Essentially, when certain matters come to our attention, they go through a screening process, to determine whether they warrant our involvement,'' explained Fury. ''If it appears that they do, then they are passed along to the investigative division. Your job will be to dig deeper into these matters, evaluating risk level as well as suggesting—suggesting,'' he reiterated firmly, ''a course of action before passing the case along to the necessary personnel for closure or further review. You are working in an investigative capacity only.'' He seemed to feel the need to hammer this point home. ''You gather information and then you pass it up to us. You do not make any executive decisions. Is that clear?''

They both nodded. ''Good,'' he said, seeming satisfied. As satisfied as he could seem, anyhow. ''You start tomorrow. Temporarily, you're just going to have to use the same office you're in now. Due to renovations, we don't have another available right now. You are dismissed.'' Fury waved them away.

Darcy waited until they were safely out of the room and halfway down the hall before she pumped her fist in the air and allowed herself the satisfaction of a happy-dance. ''Yes! Dude, this is awesome!'' She grabbed Loki by the arm. ''See, everything worked out fine.''

It had, in fact. Loki was still trying to figure out exactly how. Good things didn't usually happen to him. Maybe she was changing his luck. Well, now that was a sentimental thought.

Though he remained outwardly stoic, Darcy knew that Loki was very pleased with the new arrangements. Since they had arrived home, he couldn't seem to keep his hands to himself. Normally, she wouldn't mind this at all, but there was one more conversation that she had to get through before the day was over, and she knew it might take a bit of energy.

The god stood behind her, kissing her neck while his hand searched eagerly up under her shirt. Darcy elbowed him in the ribs. ''Stop messing around,'' she chastised, even though she was melting beneath his touch. ''Jane's going to call me in a few minutes.''

''So? Jane can wait.''

''No, she can't, she's super busy.''

''Hmmm, but so are we,'' he said, easing down the zipper on her pants and sliding his fingers beneath her underwear. She buckled slightly. ''Oh, god.''

''Yes?'' he grinned, gently rubbing her clit. Just then the phone rang. Darcy groaned as she reached over and picked it up. ''Hey, Jane,'' she managed. Loki, however, was not deterred. He pulled his fingers away, leaving her feeling a mix of both relief and frustration. Then he slowly moved around the front of her. She definitely did not trust that look simmering in his eyes.

''Hey!'' replied the scientist, sounding quite full of caffeine, ''How are you? I can't believe that they're keeping you there! I mean, I know that it's a good opportunity and everything but I still worry. Not that I don't think that you're perfectly capable of handling yourself-''

By this point in Jane's rant, Loki had slid down onto his knees and was working Darcy's pants down over her hips. She shot him a warning look and he merely grinned at her again.

''—But it's a lot to take on. What exactly are you going to be doing, anyhow?''

Darcy stammered as his mouth found her. ''I, uh, investigative...whatnot.''

''Investigative whatnot?'' Jane echoed doubtfully.

''Yeah, uh, you know, we get cases and go out to the...'' He sucked at her clit then flicked it with his tongue. Bastard. ''—to where they are, and see what...needs to happen.'' I'm going to kill him, she thought to herself. But later. She couldn't help it, she bucked forward, pressing herself against him, urging him on.

''Uh-huh. And who is 'we'?''

''Me and...my partner.''

''Who is your partner?'' Jane asked cautiously, as if she were dreading the answer. ''You're not still working with Loki, are you? That was just a one-time thing, right?''

His tongue lapped at her opening, tasting her. Darcy clutched at his head, trying desperately to stay on her feet. She could feel an orgasm fast approaching and figured that she'd better wrap up this call as fast as possible.

''Look, it's kinda co—omplicated,'' her voice wavered as he discovered a particularly sensitive area, ''I'll tell you all about it, I promise, but I'm not really...feeling well right now.''

''Yeah, you do sound weird, but I just-''

''I'm gonna let you go, I'm sure that you're busy and I need to rest, I promise we'll talk soon, byee!'' Darcy spoke in a mad rush then hung up and tossed the phone aside, pulling on Loki's hair and grinding shamelessly on his lips. ''You're gonna pay for that,'' she hissed.

In reply, while steadying her with one arm, he pulled his mouth away and replaced his tongue with two of his fingers. ''Is that a threat?'' he asked, arching a brow.

''A promise,'' she told him.

''I don't think that you're in any position to be making threats, or promises for that matter. You're quite vulnerable right now,'' he said, stroking her slow, then quick-quick, then slow again.

''Oh, fuck,'' she groaned.

''That's my good girl,'' he praised in a low, dark voice. ''You're soaked. I can feel you, you're about to come all over my fingers.'' Darcy's eyes practically crossed as her muscles tensed. Then, maddeningly, he stopped, right when she was on the very edge of climax. Loki got up quickly and moved until he was sitting on the nearby couch, then grabbed her and brought her down across his knees. Her head roared as his palm made contact with her ass, the sting deliciously sweet, sending a jolt right to her aching pussy. One. Pure white heat seared through her as she was kept hanging on the periphery, her orgasm inches away. Darcy was learning to love this strange edge of pleasure-pain. She could feel wetness trickling down her thigh. Two. She was pushed even further, so close, but still not allowed to get there. Begging usually did the trick.

''Please, my lord, please let me come!'' Three.

''Do I have your full attention now?'' he asked roughly.

''Yes, my lord!''

''Who gives you what you need?''

''You, my lord,'' she gasped out. There was something so arousing about this sort of little game, she couldn't quite define exactly what it was, but it set her body on fire the same way it did his.

''That's right,'' he said, holding her still as he pushed three fingers deep inside of her, curling them at just the perfect angle. Darcy spasmed, waves of searing bliss pulsing. Yes, yes, yes, screamed her heart.

Loki gently stroked her back while she came down from it, and when she finally stilled he lifted her and she curled against him, sated. This has been a good day, she thought.