Chapter 2

Sif stood at the windows in the warrior's private gathering room that over looked the front court yards of the palace, the sun had just started to set over Asgard, casting a golden glow. She had never felt more unsettled in her entire life, and it was all because of that damn dream of Loki. It had been weeks since and she had not had another, but it still lingered in her thoughts. Thankfully it had not yet affected her fighting skills, but she had no idea on how to deal with these new feelings. Was her mother right, was she unnatural? Most women her age had married and had at least one child, Sif had never been interested in any of that.

This was the first time that she had found herself attracted to someone. She found herself studying him when he was the same room with her; of course it was when he was not looking. She finally admitted to herself Loki was an attractive man. He was tall, lean, and strong, his black hair shone with the slightest tint of red when in sunlight, his pale green eyes were mesmerizing.

She was not the first woman to find the younger prince attractive, she had heard the rumors of him and the Lady Sigyn when she was younger, if there was any truth they almost eloped, but for whatever reason she married someone else.

If truth be told it was not his looks that were the problem, it was that he was Loki Silver Tongue, the Prince of Mischief and Lies. He had never used his power of persuasion on her specifically, but she knew of the trouble he had convinced Thor to get into when they were younger, but he had also used his abilities to get them out of the thrashing that they had so deserved. As he had gotten older his ability to use words of flattery had made him a valuable part of his father's court, participating in negations and general goodwill with the other realms.

Sif was so lost in her thoughts that she did notice Loki's presence until he cleared his throat to get her attention. She turned her dark head towards where he was leaning casually against the door frame. Instantly her heart beat increased and her stomach got tight. He was handsome in his semi-formal green, black and gold attire. "I'm sorry Prince Loki, I did not notice you there," she said softly.

He pushed his back away from the door frame and walked further into the room, stopping between Sif and the door, her only exit.

"There is nothing to apologize for. The courtyards are very lovely at this time of the day," he said gently, fixating his eyes on hers.

"Yes they are, so I will let you enjoy them as well. Have a good evening."

Sif attempted to leave the room, but Loki did not move aside to let her pass, instead he stood his ground and asked, "Have I offended you some way Lady Sif?"

"No," she said simply, trying to ignore just how close they were standing to each other. Prior to her dream she had no problems being in close proximity, but in the last few weeks her nerves felt electrified when they were in a short distance of each other.

"Something has changed between us, and I cannot figure out what."

"I really do not know what you speak of," she lied, now wanting Loki to know just how much her feelings had changed, and that just being near him was torture.

"Do not lie to me. You keep your distance, but at the same time you are always watching me. It seems like you are nervous to be around me."

Sif's cheeks went hot, her palms started sweating, and it felt hard to breathe. She lowered her gaze to his lips, and all of a sudden her desire to feel his lips on hers became too much. She closed the small space between them; she reached up and pressed her lips against his.

His mouth and body remained still as she felt her own lips tremble upon his. She had been kissed a few times in her life, but they had been by brave young men when she was younger or drunken buffoons in her more recent years, but all in all she was very naive when it came to the actual mechanics of it.

Those thoughts caused Sif to withdraw her mouth from his. She attempted to apologize but before she could even open her mouth to speak his hands grabbed her upper arms and pulled her into him, and his mouth claimed her own. All thoughts left her head at that moment. Her eyes closed and she leaned her body into his.

Loki's mouth was gentle and soft, he took his time. She soften into his embrace and he ran his tongue along her lower lip, her mouth open slightly, and he slid his tongue between her lips. His tongue flicked at hers, tentatively she flickered her back. That was all the encouragement he needed, he pressed his mouth closer and suckle at her tongue. Sif moaned in pleasure, the odd flip-flop in her stomach and the tightening between her legs returned with a vengeance.

Then as quickly as it began it ended, he pulled her away from him, for a moment she felt disoriented as fresh air played across her face. She opened her eyes to find him staring at her, his eyes now a bright emerald-green, "Someone is coming," he said gruffly, but his hands remained on her arms, holding her still, "Just know this Lady Sif. This is far from over." Loki turned and walked away from her, exiting the room just as Hogan entered.