He moved her that afternoon. The first thing she did was take a hot shower before wrapping herself in a warm, fluffy towel. She walked over to the large bank of windows and placed her hand against the glass, staring down at the city below her.

Natasha felt Loki's presence before she heard him…

Loki moved languidly behind her as he wrapped his arms around her waist. He breathed in the fresh fragrance of soap mixed with her own unique scent. He couldn't describe it exactly but it was pretty and sensual and all her. He began a series of slow, suckling kisses along her shoulder as she gazed out the window. "Did you enjoy your hot bath, little spider?"

Natasha's breath was stolen away when he his lips connected to her flesh. Her eyes slowly closed as she reached behind her, placing a hand on the back of his neck to keep his mouth against her sensitive shoulders and neck.

"Mmmmhmm" she moaned as her head dropped backwards slightly. She felt his hands undo the knot in her towel, letting it drop to her feet. She was fully exposed to him now, and she was thrilled by the thought.

"Loki…" she moaned softly. She loved saying his name that way…and she was pretty certain that he loved hearing it. "Take me…"

Loki wasted no time when her words reached his ears, lifting her into his arms he carried her toward the huge king size bed that adorned his bedroom chamber. In reality, it had been a mere five days since the first kiss they shared and yet the young god felt as if he had been waiting an eternity to make her his. He gazed down at her lying on the mattress as he slowly began to take off his clothes. As badly as he wanted her, he had no plans to rush this moment. She was a woman who should be savored.

He began moving his lips along her body. He had already memorized all of her sweet spots. He knew every which way to make her moan and writhe in the most delicious of ways. He kissed her passionately as his hand played between her legs. She was so wet and warm and ready for him. He could feel the pleasure building, her groans coming in ragged gasps as he shifted his fingers. Before he positioned himself and began sliding slowly inside of her.

Natasha bit her bottom lip as she desperately attempted to keep her eyes open at the sensation of him entering her. He felt so good…and she'd needed this since the very first time their lips met. She raised her legs around his waist as his pace slowly worked up to a steady, sensual rhythm.

Soon, her hips were rolling upwards to meet his eager thrusts as the sounds of their mating filled the air. It was heaven…and she couldn't help but caress and lightly scratch every bit of flesh she could get her hands on. Natasha snatched his lips down to hers for a heated kiss just as her body began to shudder and clench around his.

Just as she hit her peak, she heard him announce his own climax. She knew that her next move was risky, but it needed to be done…

"No! Loki! Not inside!" she cried, pushing him from atop her just as he came.

The young god was in a state of complete euphoria. Never had mating with a woman felt like this, it was as if she had been made for him. The perfect fit, the motion of their bodies in complete accord. When he felt her climax around him it was almost too much for him to bear. The way her body trembled beneath him and the glorious sounds of pleasure that were falling from her lips. He could feel his own peak thundering upon him quickly after.

Out of the blue, Natasha shoved him with all of her strength, pushing him off of her as his body spent itself against the sheets. He could barely breathe and his mind was still coming down from the fog that had overcome him at their joining. He lied there gaping at her for several seconds as his brain tried to process the words that she had shouted at him moments before.

"What in the name of Hel was that?" he seethed before he jumped from the bed, redressing himself with magic as he began to pace around his bedroom. "You tell me to take you and then you… What kind of games are you playing with me? I knew it… you little… That has been your point from the beginning hasn't it? See how much you can rile me up? Is that it?"

Loki brushed his fingers through his long, black hair as he strutted toward where she still lied on the bed. "You have no shame in using your body do you? Even if it's for nothing more than a practical joke."

Natasha sat up, quickly shaking her head. She was still flushed and panting from her recent orgasm as she pulled a blanket around her naked body.

His reaction wasn't all that surprising. In fact, she was surprised he hadn't thrown anything or tried to choke her.

"No, Loki…I'm not on birth control. It doesn't work on me…" she said, slowly standing up and cautiously approaching him. She needed him calm, so she gingerly walked toward him, placing a hand on his shoulder, "…I wasn't playing a trick on you. I was protecting myself. That's all…"

Loki flinched when the Black Widow placed her palm against his shoulder before taking a step backward so that her hand fell away. His dark emerald eyes narrowing as he observed the woman before him. So calm and reasonable but what else would he expect from her. He had dropped his guard around her. And in those moments during their coupling he had let himself feel without restriction. He had let go of his defenses. He had opened himself up to sentiment. He had made a mistake.

"No… no, I don't believe you," the young god insisted. "You could have just told me that before. There are things that one can do to protect against that. I could have easily taken care of things if that were your worry."

Natasha had thought of this before. She'd created a perfect, heartfelt explanation that actually turned out to be true.

She stepped forward but looked hurt when he began to yet again accuse her of deceit. Natasha lowered her head, clenching the blanket around her, "I was caught up in the moment, Loki…and even if I wasn't, I didn't want there to be anything between us…"

Natasha placed a hand on his shoulder, insistently pulling him toward her as she wrapped her arms around his neck, "I wanted to feel you…just you…inside of me…"

She leaned up, claiming his lips for a sensuous kiss, "…you can't tell me it would have felt the same had there been a barrier between us…"

Loki closed his eyes at the feel of her lips, the lushness of her mouth; it was so easy to lose himself in the sensation. Her words sounded sincere and she had almost looked hurt that he didn't believe her. His hands moved of their own accord, resting against her hips as he kissed her back.

But then just as quickly he pushed her away. He felt too much for her. He couldn't see clearly and she was using that against him.

"You expect me to believe that?" Loki bit off angrily. "No, this is just another of your clever ruses. What did you think that if you bedded the tyrant that you could somehow get your way to freedom or maybe even rescue the rest of your number? What happened, agent Romanoff? You couldn't go through with it? That's it isn't it? You just couldn't stand having the monster inside of you for another second. You're freedom be damned."

That's not true!" she yelled, matching his volume and tone with a ferocity that actually surprised her. She glared at him, "Did you even LOOK at me when we were making love? Obviously not... because if you did, you would have seen the face of a woman in total ecstasy. There is no lie there. I wanted you…I still want you, despite the fact that your paranoia forces me to defend myself at every turn."

Natasha stared up at him with pleading eyes, "Please…how can I prove that I'm not lying? Tell me what you want from me…"

"What do I want from you? A few moments ago I thought I knew… now I'm not so sure," Loki divulged solemnly. He had been surprised by the emotion in her voice and the tender look in her eyes. He wanted to trust her. What had happened to him in the last five days? "Why is it so important for you that I believe you? There is sentiment in your words but is it for me? Or is it for your friends? Do you worry, little spider, that I might take my anger out on them?"

Loki could feel the emotion welling up within him. He wasn't use to it. And he didn't like it. He knew that for his own sanity he had to put an end to it. It was madness to let himself feel this way about her.

"Then let me assuage your fears, little spider," Loki grinned with a malevolent glare as he forced his cold veneer to settle back in place. "I have no intention of killing them. I never did. I want nothing more than for them to rot in their cells for the rest of their days. Aside from that I never give them a second thought. I never had any designs against your little circus boy. I have never been anywhere near the dungeons except to see you."

Loki moved across the room as he headed toward the doorway, stopping suddenly as he glanced back at the Black Widow. "I promised you warm water and a comfortable bed and believe it or not I can be a man of my word when the spirit moves me. I hope that everything is to your liking, little spider. If you'll excuse me, I have other places that I would rather be."

Natasha called his name once more, but he was already strutting out of the door, slamming it behind him. She put on one of the button down dress shirts from his closet, having to roll up the sleeves so that she wasn't swimming in them.

There was a guest room where she supposed he'd likely want her to sleep, so during his absence, she took advantage of her comfortable new bed and forced herself to rest so that she could think up appropriate damage control.

By the time he returned some hours later, Natasha had laid out the board game monopoly and some snacks on the floor in front of the televisions. She wanted him to know that she wouldn't use sexual manipulation at every turn. He needed to know that her interest in him extended beyond the bedroom.

She stood up slowly, slightly nervous as he narrowed his eyes, glancing between her and the set up she'd laid out on the floor.

Natasha quickly spoke up, "…I thought we could just…go back to this right now. Since you don't trust me. I want you to know that I enjoy spending time with you…and I appreciate you keeping your promise."

Loki strutted into his chambers. He had spent the last few hours occupying himself with as much tedious monotony as possible. The young god did everything he could to keep his mind from the woman that he had left in his rooms. But nothing had worked. She was always in the back of his thoughts. He felt like she was haunting him.

He wasn't sure what he had expected to find when he finally returned. But he hadn't been prepared for the sight that greeted him. Natasha stood in the living room wearing one of his shirts. It was big on her petite frame, more like a dress as his eyes roamed down her slender legs. Her strawberry curls were in a slight disarray and she had laid out some sort of board game along the floor.

Loki turned his gaze towards the entrance way to his bedroom. As he debated simply walking inside without another word. He should just send her back to her cell and be done with it, he mused to himself. He sighed slightly as he brought his attention back to her. Her dark blue eyes gazing up at him. She looked a touch nervous and expectant. Was this more of her tricks? The longer he stared into those sapphire orbs the harder it was for him to cut himself off from the sentiments that had begun to bubble up inside of him for her.

He needed to send her back to her cell. He would be a fool to do anything else. The young god repeated the words to himself over and over before opening his mouth to inform her of his decision.

"What is the point of that game you have there?" Loki inquired instead. He took a cautious step nearer to her as he gazed down at the board game. "Those look like little houses?"

Natasha smiled a little, relieved that he didn't just storm past her to head to his room. He'd seen his gaze flicker in the direction of his bedroom and knew for a moment that she might lose him.

She knelt down on the floor in front of the board game, "This is a game all about money and acquiring real estate. You have to learn how to manage your finances while also building up a real estate portfolio. Properties on the board are color coded, and vary in value as you move along the board…like this one. Baltic Avenue is the cheapest and has the lowest property value, but Boardwalk is the most expensive."

Natasha continued to explain the rules of the game and could tell that he seemed interested. After a complete rundown of all things monopoly, they started playing. She was concerned he was going to make the classic rookie mistake of purchasing every property he landed on, but he practiced restraint, going about the acquisition of his properties in a slow, methodical way.

Toward the end of the game, Natasha was glaring over her property cards, trying to figure out how to pay him rent for landing on his hotel-covered Marvin Gardens…

"You're too good at this…" she said with a smirk. She slowly nibbled on a Twizzler before pouting up at him, "I can't afford the rent! How am I supposed to pay?!"

Loki realized very quickly that he rather liked this little mortal game that she had laid out before him. Nearly his entire kingdom was adorned with the large red hotels as she called them and he still had piles of these flimsy colored bills at his disposal. Natasha, on the other hand, had nothing but a few white and green pieces of paper left in her hands. The young god couldn't help the megawatt grin that lit up his face when he saw that she had landed on one of his most prestigious properties.

His eyes lifted from the board at the sound of her voice. She was chewing languidly on one of those strawberry ropes that she loved so much. Loki had to admit that they were quite tasty. He also couldn't deny that he enjoyed her company. Or the fact that she looked incredibly sexy wearing his clothes. His gaze lingered along her lips and before he could stop himself he had leaned closer to her.

"May I have a taste?" he requested impishly. She extended the red candy in her hand toward him. His sparkling emerald eyes gazing down at it for a moment before he raised them slowly back to her own. He completed the distance between them and captured her lips in a greedy kiss.

Natasha moaned against his lips as she dropped the candy in favor of wrapping her arms around his neck before she straddled his lap. She felt his hands roam up her hips as she rolled her hips against his, her own fingers slipping beneath his tunic to softly graze over his torso.

She soon abandoned his lips and turned her attention to his neck, trailing suckling kisses down his jaw line to his Adam's apple. She gave him a firm bite before licking the skin and continuing her journey to his ear.

"You taste pretty good yourself…" she whispered hotly against the shell of his ear as she ground herself against him.

Loki felt as if he had died and gone to Valhalla when she slid forward and straddled his lap. He could feel the growing ache of his arousal as she moved her body so erotically against him, her lips trailing a path along his neck and ear in such a delicious way that it was sending his body into a tailspin. He wanted her. His entire being ached for her.

He claimed her mouth once more as his hands slid beneath the material of the shirt she wore to cup her swollen breasts. "You're like candy, little spider," he whispered against her lips. "The sweetest thing I've ever tasted."

Natasha nipped at his lips as her body shuddered against his in desperate need. A whimper escaped her as she felt the hard line of his body press against her core through the thin fabric of her panties.

"You feel so good…I can't get enough…" she panted against his mouth before once again devouring his lips for a feverish, passionate kiss.

Natasha only released his lips to yank his tunic off over his head, and then promptly claimed his mouth again. "Loki…" she practically whined. "I need you inside of me…" The last words were barely above a whisper as she caught his lip in a soft bite.

Loki groaned as she tugged on his lip with her teeth before kissing him once more. Hearing those words from her mouth made him harden even more. As he grinded his hips upward, desperate for the friction. He could think of little else then his desire to fill her up. "I want you," he moaned as he tightened his grip on her hips. "I ache for you, Natalia. I want to make you mine."

Natasha reached down and grabbed the waistband of her panties before ripping them clean off her body. She kissed his lips hungrily as she moved her hands between them, swiftly unbuttoning and unzipping his pants.

She slipped a hand inside of his trousers, gingerly wrapping her fingers around his member. Natasha gasped against his lips as she felt his grip on her waist tighten. She canted her hips forward, slowly guiding herself down onto his length.

Her eyes slowly drifted closed as she relished the feel of him seated fully inside of her, staying perfectly still as she rested her forehead against his. She was already panting.

"Don't cum inside…" she whispered before she slowly began rolling her hips in torturous circles against him.

The sensation of being inside of her was overwhelming. He was certain that he would have agreed to anything at the moment. His mind was utterly useless. She was clinging to him, riding him, driving him harder into her with every move of her hips. He pressed up into her, matching her movements. Their bodies trembling in equal fervor. He buried his face in her neck, nipping and licking at her skin. His head tilted back, the sound of his name as her body clenched around him was too much.

"It's… It's… you have to stop." Was all he could sputter as he lifted her off him before his body stiffened in release. He collapsed against the floor as he stared up at the ceiling above him. What was he doing? What was happening between them? His mind was a flurry of thoughts as he tried very hard to capture his breath.

They eventually moved to the bed, where they treated each other to another round of very passionate sex. Again, she has to move off of him at the cusp of his release, and she began to wonder if that didn't bother him as much as she initially thought it would.

That was the last thing she had to dangle in front of his face. Her body…to completely be his to do with as he pleased. Right now, he was getting it on her terms.

Natasha curled into his side and fell asleep, but sometime in the middle of the night, she woke up screaming. She'd had one of her horrific nightmares, and for a brief moment, as she sat up in bed, she thought that she was still in it. She scrambled clean across the bed, hitting the floor before crawling into a corner. She sat there, hugging her knees to her chest as her entire body trembled and quaked in fear.

Loki bolted upright in the bed. The sound of her screams and a loud thud had woken him from his slumber. A sleep that he still was very unaccustomed to even indulging in at all. She was curled up in the corner of his room, hugging her knees to her chest as she rocked back and forth.

The young god moved toward her swiftly. As he cautiously sat down next to and attempted to put his arm around her. "It's okay, little spider, I'm here."

Natasha blinked her eyes hard before she finally recognized her surroundings. She looked at him and immediately collapsed against his chest, her breath coming in ragged pants against his chest as she clutched onto him. She whimpered softly as his arms encircled her. No one has ever been there to comfort her through these dreams and her exhausted mind welcomed this.

She slowly calmed before lifting her head to look up into his eyes. She suddenly felt embarrassed by her humiliating show of weakness and fear, "I'm sorry…I didn't mean to scare you. This happens sometimes…I don't have to sleep in here anymore if you don't want me to. I know this probably disturbed you. I can go if you want."

"Little spider, I never sleep," Loki admitted as he wrapped his fingers around a curl of her hair, twisting it slowly between his fingers in a soothing gesture. "In fact this is only the second evening in years that I've actually had a peaceful slumber. And both times were when you were lying next to me so if you happen to disturb me occasionally I will still be getting more rest than I would without you."

Natasha nodded slowly and breathed out, a small smile quirking at her lips, "Still…I can't imagine that screaming is how you want to be woken up…"

They climbed back into bed, and Natasha stared up at the ceiling for a long time before whispering, "I know Barton's told you about all the stuff I did…did he tell you about my family?…did he tell you about Rose?"

"Yes, he told me everything he knew about you," Loki whispered solemnly. As he tried to push down the annoyance that filled him at the mention of the archer. He knew she had only agreed to spend time with him in her efforts to keep Barton safe. She cared for him. It was probably the only genuine emotion that he had ever garnered from her. The fact of which made him very jealous of her former partner. "Is that what you were dreaming of?" He turned to face her as he propped his head against his elbow. "I'm sorry for your loss, little spider. I doubt you believe me but I truly am."

Natasha swallowed hard and nodded slowly, "I dream about that…and all of the innocent lives I've taken. Well, I guess Rose was one in the same." She closed her eyes tight and sighed, "Thank you…"

This wasn't a part of her meticulous plan. Her, seeking comfort from him in the middle of the night and talking about her most painful memories wasn't part of the deal…but right now, as she nuzzled against his chest, she couldn't bring herself to care.