Alexandra woke the next morning to warm sunlight filtering through sheer curtains on the floor-to-ceiling windows of her room. She lay on her side for a while, remembering the kiss between her and Loki and the conversation that had led to it. She was surprised that he trusted her so much. Her trust in him baffled her even more. She felt completely safe with this man - no, not man, legend - who she knew had killed and would easily kill again. She knew the basics of the stories. Thor was the hero. Loki, the villain. And it was easy to see that to be the case, considering all that Loki had done and was still doing. Yet, there was something in him, something in his past, that made her sympathetic toward him. The vision of his torture, and seeing his wounds, let her know he had been through something horrible. Alexandra had a feeling he was still bound to his torturer, and she was sure there was something from before he endured those physical scars, something involving his family, that spurred his anger.

She rolled over onto her back and stretched. When she turned her head away from the window, she sat up straight with a gasp. A woman sat in a chair in the corner, just staring at her.

"Who are you?"

"Loki asked me to keep an eye on you. Is there anything you need now that you are awake?"

Alexandra noticed the woman's bright blue eyes. "No, just... can you sit in the living room, please?"

"I was told to keep an eye on you."

"Just while I get dressed. I'll be out in a few minutes."

The woman nodded and closed the door behind her as she left the room. Alexandra sighed and squeezed the bridge of her nose. She opened the closet to find more clothes than she brought from Germany. A note was taped to the inside of the door.

"I heard you were not pleased with all of the dresses. My apologies.

- Your King"

She smiled as she folded the note and went through the clothes. There were pants and capris in different colors, and different kinds of tops. He was trying to please her, and it just made her want to please him more. She found a light day dress that she hadn't worn yet. The dark green would perfectly complement the tunic he always wore.

When she went into the living room, the woman was sitting there waiting for her. She stood when Alexandra entered.

"Would you like breakfast, Miss?"

"No, thank you. I'd like to do it myself."

Alexandra searched the kitchen to see what she had to work with. It was fully stocked, so she pulled out a skillet and got to work. She glanced over at the entryway and saw the woman standing there, just staring at her.

"Is there something I can get for you," Alexandra asked.

"I'm here to serve you."

"I don't need a servant."

Alexandra tried to ignore the woman staring at her as she ate breakfast. She was washing dishes, the woman once again in the entryway, when Loki came into the apartment. He pushed the woman out of the way and stood next to Alexandra.

"Did you sleep well, my pet?"

Alexandra looked up at him. "Make her go away."

"What?"

"She's done nothing but stare at me. She was watching me sleep. Make her go away."

"Permanently?"

Alexandra's eyes widened. "No! Just... send her away. Give her another job."

Loki grinned and told the woman to report underground for a new assignment. She nodded and left.

"I'm sorry," Loki said as he turned back to her. "They sometimes take me too literally."

"It was creepy."

"And I found her just for you. I thought you would like her."

"For me?"

"Yes. I had no women in my charge. But I had business to tend to this morning, and I didn't want to wake you, so I found her."

"My King-"

"Her husband works for me willingly. She needed a bit more convincing."

"I don't need a servant."

"She was meant to look after you. To make sure you were safe."

"Don't you have guards for that?"

"Trust those brutes with my willing pet? I think not."

He reached out and stroked her cheek. Her eyes fluttered closed.

"And you do deserve a servant," he said.

She opened her eyes and looked into his. "A servant does not need a servant."

"You are not a servant. You, Alexandra, are my willing subject. In the same way that a queen is subject to her king."

Alexandra's mouth opened in surprise. She felt Loki's hand grasp the back of her neck.

"Do you remember last night," he asked as he leaned closer.

"Yes, My King."

"May I?"

"I'm yours, My King."

Loki softly pressed his lips to her, but the kiss soon took on a life of its own. Alexandra wrapped her arms around his waist, running her hands up and down his back. Loki buried a hand in her hair. Their tongues tangled, but Alexandra let him have complete control. He pulled away suddenly, and both of them fought for breath. Loki mouthed at her jaw and down her neck.

"I want you at my side when I take ownership of this world."

Alexandra froze, and Loki pulled back, but he kept his hand on her face.

"Do you object?"

"I... I don't know what to say."

"Say yes."

"Why me? I'm sure there are tons of women who are better suited to rule next to a King than I am."

"And I wouldn't trust them half as far as I could throw them. You have earned my trust and my gratitude."

Alexandra lowered her eyes. "Is that all it is? Trust and gratitude?"

Loki lifted her chin and waited until she looked into his eyes. "I think you know that it's more. You captured my attention with your loyalty, and held it with your beauty. So much so that the thought of one of my men alone in here with you drove me to jealousy. You have bewitched me, and I know not how."

Alexandra ran her fingers over the front of his tunic. "My head is screaming at me to run away from you and this whole thing, but I look at you, and..."

"Bewitched," Loki whispered with a grin.

"That's a good word for it. I can't explain why I'm so drawn to you. But when you kiss me..." She threaded her fingers into his long hair, "everything else goes away."

"Do you trust me, Alexandra?"

"With my life."

"Will you stand at my side?"

Alexandra hesitated a moment. This decision was a life-changer.

"Think carefully. Once you are mine, I will never release you."

"Yes," she answered. "I'm yours, My King."

"For the rest of your life," he whispered as he kissed her again.

The thought made Alexandra shiver. She wondered how long that would be if Loki failed. But the thought was fleeting as he kissed her deeply. He pulled her body close to his, and she moaned into his mouth. He picked her up and pulled her legs around his waist as he carried her to the couch. He sat with her straddling his lap, never breaking their kiss. His hands slid up her thighs beneath her dress, and squeezed. Alexandra's hands roamed frantically over his chest until she pulled back.

"How do I get this off," she asked.

Loki laughed. "So eager, my pet."

"It's like you said last night... I crave my king."

He grabbed her wrists and stilled her hands. Alexandra stared at him, confused by his stopping her. He leaned in and laid a soft kiss to her lips, then whispered against them.

"Say my name."

She smiled against his lips and whispered, "Loki."

He growled as he wrapped his arms around her and thrust his hips up into her.

"Again."

"Loki."

He gently dragged his teeth over her neck before he licked and sucked the skin. Alexandra smiled.

"Are you marking me, My King?"

Loki bit a little harder and thrust his hips toward her again.

"My name," he growled.

Alexandra gasped, then moaned. "Loki."

"Again," he whispered.

She grabbed his face and looked into his eyes. She slowly ground her hips into his and whispered his name against his lips.

Loki grabbed her hips and dug his fingers into her flesh through the thin fabric of her dress. He slid his tongue past her lips and kissed her so hard that she was forced to lean back. He pushed her dress up around her waist and slipped his fingers into the back band of her underwear, making her moan.

The door to the apartment opened suddenly, and the guard came inside.

"Sir, Barton needs to see you."

Loki pulled Alexandra's dress down and held her close as he hid her with a mirage.

"Out!"

"But, sir-"

"Get out, imbicile!"

The guard backed out of the apartment and shut the door. Loki removed the mirage and almost threw Alexandra onto the sofa as he stood.

"That moron has just forfeited his life."

"Or you can let him live and we could, I don't know, lock the door."

Loki turned to her, angry at her casual tone until he saw the grin on her kiss-swollen lips.

"Is all human life really so precious to you?"

"Everyone is special."

"Everyone? If everyone is special, then no one is special."

"Some are more special than others in the grand scheme of things, but that doesn't make anyone less special as an individual."

"That sounds like optimistic drivel."

"Okay then," she said as she stood. "How about this..." She walked over to him and held his hand in hers against her chest. "You don't always have to exert your power over someone's life by taking it. Sparing it can be just as effective, if not more."

She gently kissed his lips, and he groaned.

"Fine. He lives. Let's go see what Barton wants."

"Both of us?"

"Yes. You haven't been exposed to the cube or my scepter for some time now. Perhaps it won't be so bad."

He took her hand and they left the apartment.