Thor felt as if he could keep kissing Loki for hours. What bliss this was! If he never moved again, he would die a happy man, resting here between Loki's thighs. Loki sighed, and Thor pulled back to smile at her. As much as he enjoyed kissing her, he was extremely curious about her reaction to what they had just done.

His smile immediately fell when he saw the tears on her face. That was not the reaction he had been expecting.

"Loki, what is it? Are you hurting?" He pulled out, probably too quickly as Loki hissed quietly. The small shake of her head was not enough to convince Thor. "Wait right here. I know what you need." He kissed her quickly and got up from the bed, striding nude into the washroom.

Loki's washroom was laid out similar to his own, he was pleased to see, with a bath that was plenty large enough. Often, when he was sore from practice or a skirmish, he would soak in his tub and it always helped. Thor turned on the steaming water and rifled through the bottles that lined the tub to find a nicely scented one to add to the tub.

Leaving the bath to fill, Thor returned to the room. The sight of Loki on the bed gave him pause. She had turned so she was laying on her side, facing away from the washroom. Thor's eyes wandered the graceful curve of her back, over her hips and down her long legs. Loki was breathtaking, there was really no other word for it. When he looked at her, he often forgot everything else, including breathing. Even now, though he had just found his release, the mere sight of her nude form on the bed caused a stirring in his loins. He repressed it though, for he knew she would be too sore to accept him again so soon.

It had been torture, keeping his hands away from her these past few weeks. But he'd done it. For her sake. Thor was bound and determined to prove to Loki that she was not just a conquest. That even from the beginning, his intentions had never been to bed her and leave her. Well, that wasn't true. He'd always intended on bedding her. It was the leaving that he knew he couldn't do. Especially now.

Loki stiffened visibly when the bed dipped as Thor crawled onto it. He frowned, but chose to ignore it. Instead he leaned over her and dropped small kisses down her side, from shoulder to the peak of her hip. He stopped there, sitting on his haunches and tugged at Loki's hip until she rolled over onto her back.

"Come. I have drawn us a bath," he said gently. Loki's cheeks were still damp with tears, and she said nothing when Thor gathered her into his arms and carried her to the bath. He climbed in and carefully lowered her into the water.

"Is it too hot?" Thor asked when Loki moaned as the water enveloped her.

Loki again shook her head.

"No, it feels wonderful."

Finally, something positive, Thor thought and smiled. He turned the faucets off as the tub was nearly full and settled himself in behind Loki. Moving her easily in the water, he pulled her so her so she was seated between his legs with her back resting against his chest. He could not see her face like this, but having her in his arms was worth it. Loki leaned her head back on his shoulder, and Thor crossed his arms over her, cradling her, once again content enough to never move again.

They relaxed quietly awhile, the only sounds in the room their breathing and the occasional soft splash of water as Loki trailed her hand through it. Thor watched the movement of her slender hand with as much fascination as she seemed to have for the water.

"Is this better? Has the pain lessened now?" Thor asked after some time had passed.

"Yes, thank you" Loki answered quietly.

The answer should have made Thor feel better, but it did not. Where Thor thought she would have been buoyant, Loki instead seemed as though she had a great burden holding her down. Since he had taken her, her answers had been complacent but her fire had dulled. Had he done this to her? Had he pushed her too far, too fast? Did she regret what they'd done?

"Was it that terrible, Loki?" Thor could not help the bitterness that seeped out. She had seemed to enjoy it before. Twice, in fact. What right did she have to be angry with him now?

Loki stiffened, and sat forward in the tub. Thor released her, allowing his arms to fall away as she brought her knees to her chest and hugged them. He did not like the stab of hurt that shot through his heart as she moved away from him and he fought the urge to pull her back to him. Still, he could not allow that much space between them. He sat up behind her and, moving her damp black hair to the side, he pressed a kiss to her shoulder.

"Loki?" he prodded gently. Her silence was unbearable now.

"No, Thor. It was not terrible." Came Loki's voice, still subdued. "It was not at all terrible."

Well good, Thor thought. She had enjoyed it. He had definitely enjoyed it. He looked forward to enjoying it many more times, as often as possible, for as long as possible. And it would be possible for a very long time, for who would stop him?

But why the melancholy then? Perhaps Loki was worried that the discomfort she felt would be present every time, Thor guessed.

"I know there was some pain. A necessary evil during your first time." Thor explained as he traced large fingers from her neck down her spine to where the water met her skin. A touch he hoped was soothing. "I tried to be as gentle as possible. I am truly sorry if I hurt you."

Loki sighed and the unhappiness apparent in it made Thor anxious. He had not felt this powerless and useless since Loki lay gray and unconscious in the healing room. The problems in his life had always been easily solved with his brawn, his strength and his hammer. This sort of delicate handling, the finesse Loki seemed to require of him, he was just no good at it.

"Please, Loki. Tell me what is upsetting you. I cannot bear to see you this way. If it hurt too much, we do not have to do it again." That was a lie, but Thor was desperate enough to say anything. If Loki wanted to wait, Thor would. Not indefinitely, he would surely wither and die if he could never have her again. But if she needed him to wait, as much as it would displease him, he would do it.

"Eager to push me away already, highness?" Loki sniped. "I had hoped to do well enough for at least a few performances."

Loki had intended her comment to get under Thor's skin, to irk him. But it was more telling than it was annoying. Suddenly, Thor knew why Loki was upset. He mentally kicked himself for not seeing it sooner. But this he could fix.

"Oh, Loki," he whispered, his hands on her shoulders, Loki shrugged in a half-hearted attempt to escape his touch, but he did not relent. Instead he nuzzled his face into her neck, taking the liberties he knew she wanted him to take.

"Why do you not believe me, when I say that you are mine?"

"My father gave me to you that day in Jotunheim. I do not doubt that." Loki said plainly, dismissing the obvious intent of his question. "But when one has so many possessions to play with, the they tend to lose their appeal quickly."

"You are not my toy, Loki." Thor growled, her constant debasement of her worth was tiring. "And your appeal will never diminish. When I say you are mine, I mean you are my friend. My companion. Now my lover, as well. I believe you want the same thing. At least I hope you do, because I do not intend to ever let you go."

Thor's words were met with silence. He gave her time to think, but after a few moments, he could bear it no longer.

"Do you not want the same thing?"

Loki said nothing for a few moments, then she tentatively reached up to take his hands from her shoulders and pull his arms around her once more. She leaned back, and Thor hugged her close to him and smiled into her neck. Her simple gesture was answer enough, and it sent Thor's spirits soaring.

"Good. It is settled. Let us be done with this melancholy."

Happily, he began the task of washing Loki and himself. It took a while, as he kept stopping to kiss, touch or simply stare at her. When she leaned her neck back so he could pour water onto her raven cascade of hair, the sight of her neck stretched so divinely was too tempting to resist. Especially with the vivid red bite mark that stood out starkly against her pale skin. His mark. His claim on that long lovely column. It stirred his possessiveness and he spent a long time lavishing more attention there until Loki giggled and squirmed away from him.

"Thor, stop! The marks will never fade if you keep that up!" Loki protested.

Thor hummed as he gathered her back into his arms, for that was exactly the plan. But he relented and finished washing her, then himself. The cooling water soon drove them from the tub, and much too soon, Thor found himself standing before a freshly cleaned, fully dressed Loki. He hadn't brought a change of clothes, so he'd only put his pants back on and now had to leave her to return to his room and dress for dinner.

"Join me in the dining hall tonight." Thor spoke into Loki's hair, for his face was buried in it as he embraced her.

"Thor..." Loki whined softly. "I am not sure I feel up to it."

Thor understood. The last time he'd talked her into joining him for a meal with his friends, Sif and Loki had butted heads. They had caused such a ruckus, Thor had a hard time controlling his temper with both women. He admitted that he'd yelled too harshly at Loki and spent the next day bending over backwards to please her, despite her assurances that she was not upset. Sif, on the other hand, had laughed in his face when he tried to apologize. Told him to get his balls back from Loki before he turned into a girl, reminding him why he liked her so much. Their friendship had always been an easy one. He held out hope that Loki's presence wouldn't change that.

Still, he missed the festive atmosphere that good food, good friends and good mead brought about. He wanted to share that with Loki. And showing up with Loki on his arm would send the right message to Fandral, whom he still intended to confront about his presence in Loki's room. But not tonight.

"It will be fine. You'll see. I will go change and we will go together. For some reason, I'm famished." With a wink, he kissed her quickly and left before she could argue.

-oooooooo-

-oooooooo-

Loki watched Thor leave with a mix of emotions swirling inside her. Contentment, first and foremost, for Thor had greatly put her mind at ease. He did want her. There was still so much to talk about, so many fears that still lingered, but for now, it was enough.

Unfortunately, Thor's idea to go to the dining hall doused her happiness with more than a mild dread. Did she really feel up to seeing Thor's friends? The last time she'd been in the dining hall, well, it hadn't ended well. No one knew it, certainly not Thor, but Sif came very close to being permanently disfigured that day. If he hadn't have stepped in when he did, Loki's temper would have flared out of control. What if it happened again? Hopefully Sif had learned her lesson, and would not provoke her in front of everyone.

Loki wandered over to her vanity and sat in the chair in front of the mirror. While she still missed her Jotun skin, these Aesir features no longer felt so alien. Thor enjoyed her like this. More than he enjoyed Sif, she thought, but then paused. Actually, Loki didn't know the extent of Thor's relationship with Sif. Had they been together before? Sif certainly wanted it now, that much was obvious to everyone. Well, except Thor. Not the time to worry about it now, though, and she pushed the thought to the back of her mind. She'd ask him later.

Turning her head to the side, Loki inspected the mark on her neck in the mirror. Proof that Thor enjoyed her like this. She grinned. Rummaging around in the small basket on the vanity, she found a set of pretty silver combs and proceeded to pin her wavy black hair up.

Let Sif eat her heart out.

She stood when she heard the knock at the door. The thought of Fandral flashed through her head, and her heart raced for a second until Thor walked into the room. Loki masked her sigh of relief by standing up, and turning to face Thor. He smiled brightly as he came to her.

His blue eyes danced as he cupped her cheek with one hand, then let it trail down her bare neck.

"You look lovely with your hair up, Loki. I should give you cause to do it more often." Thor grinned, running his thumb over the mark on her neck. Loki turned her head away demurely, suppressing her own smug smile.

Thor folded her arm around his and led her out the door to the dining hall. Though they encountered no one in the corridors, the din of a large crowd could be heard coming from the room long before they actually reached it. Loki's steps slowed almost unconsciously. She was a solitary creature, after all. Much more comfortable alone than in a large group of people, especially strangers. And everyone was a stranger in this place.

Thor must have noticed her slowed pace, or perhaps the expression on her face, for he stopped suddenly, and pulled Loki into a small alcove. There, in the shadows, he held her close and kissed her.

"You will be fine Loki. I promise," he whispered.

"Do not make promises you cannot keep." Loki retorted, her anxiety making her grumpy. She appreciated Thor's effort to calm her, but they did not help. They would not. She was nervous, but Loki was determined to do this. She didn't need his platitudes.

"If you behave, they will behave. Keep your temper in check and you will be fine." Thor said gently, with a hand on Loki's cheek.

"My temper!?" Loki hissed. "You keep your friends in check, and they will be fine!" She stepped away from Thor, and with anger now bolstering her confidence, she walked with her head held high to the doorway and waited for Thor to catch up. When he did, he mouthed an "I am sorry" at her. Loki ignored it. She understood well enough by now that Thor's mouth sometimes worked faster than his brain, and that he perhaps had not realized what he'd said. Still, she decided to let him stew on it a bit. Silently, she took his arm once more and followed him into the room.

The crowd did seem daunting, but both her ire and the fact that no one really paid them much mind eased Loki's anxiety. Other than an initial curious once-over at the prince's companion, nearly everyone returned to their casks and their food. Thor greeted those who said hello and introduced Loki to a few people, calling her his friend. At this point, "friend" felt like a slight, but again, Loki said nothing. She really had no better suggestion, as they had yet to qualify their relationship in that way.

Finally, they made their way to where Thor's friends sat.

"Who is this?" Volstagg jested loudly. Loki suspected he'd had as much mead as food tucked away in that substantial gut. "Finally decided to share your lady with the rest of us?" He stood up and very unceremoniously shoved some people and their dishes down the table so Thor and Loki would have room to sit. He gestured to Loki. "Please, my lady, sit. Drink with us!"

"Thank you, Volstagg." she laughed. His gregariousness was nearly impossible to resist, and Loki found herself grinning as she sat on the bench next to him. She tried her best to smile pleasantly at the others and ignored Fandral's clandestine wink.

Thor took the seat beside her, he put one arm around her waist, and the other grabbed the cask of mead that was placed in front of him and began to swig it. There were piles of food on the center of the tables. The norm for Asgardian feasts, apparently, though it was more food that Loki was used to seeing. Her eyes went big as, suddenly starving, she pondered what to eat first.

The meal went fairly smoothly, surprisingly. Both Sif and Fandral behaved. Thor included Loki in his conversation whenever possible, as did Volstagg, who seemed an endless fount of curiosity about her. Even Hogun spoke to her a few times. However, as the food was put away, the drink was not. Loki had tried the mead, but she did not care much for it. Not nearly as much as Thor did, or the others. They all continued to drink, and the more they did, the louder and more obnoxious they became.

Loki was ready to leave when Thor began to kiss her neck and run his hand up her leg, in plain sight of everyone. He reeked of mead and his hands were heavy, clumsy. This was not what Loki wanted. She was more exasperated than angry, though. She knew Thor meant no harm. He should be allowed to enjoy drinking with his friends. It's just that she felt no need to be a part of it. His behavior was embarrassing her, and she knew her patience with him would wear out quickly if she stayed.

"I am going back to my room, Thor." she whispered, once again removing his hand from her leg.

"Loki, stay!" he whined at full volume. "We have only just begun!" Wet, sloppy kisses were left along her cheek and she moved her head away.

"I am tired, Thor. I wish to lay down." She tried to maintain a smile, in spite of her growing irritation. "You stay and have fun with your friends."

"No, no, I will go with you. I wish to lay down with you, too." He pawed at her.

The thought of this Thor, drunk and bumbling, doing to her what they had done earlier made Loki's stomach sour. "You stay. Please. I am just going to sleep." She stood up from the table and said half-hearted goodbyes to the others. Sif spoke to her then, her first words to Loki all evening.

"Stop by the kitchens and get some ice for that bruise on your neck. That should help it fade." She smirked at Loki, then shrugged. "Marks like that seem to be all the rage around here. It seems like I see them everywhere I go." Sif's words stung, but Loki knew her words stemmed from jealousy. And Sif's own drunkenness prevented her from hiding it as well as she had been.

Loki's hand touched her neck as she glared at Sif. "I am quite fond of it, actually. Perhaps you will wear one some day, though no doubt, it will be a poor imitation."

"Loki..." Thor said in a warning tone. That he said her name instead of Sif's made her more angry than his inebriation did.

"Goodnight, Thor." Loki said as she tried to pull her hands from Thor's grasp. He had stood to see her off, but he hadn't moved from the table.

"I will surely die without you, Loki. I hope you know that. You've condemned me." He looked down into her eyes with his own bloodshot ones. "I love you so much, and I will wither away more and more with every second you are away from me."

Hot tears pricked Loki's eyes. His words sounded so heartfelt, and were exactly what she had been longing to hear from him. But not like this. She managed to yank her hands from Thor's and rushed out of the hall without looking back.

Thor was too drunk to notice that he was not the only one who watched Loki leave. And as the mead continued to flow, as they returned to their boisterous conversations, no one noticed when Fandral silently slipped out the same door Loki had taken.

Yes, I am a mean, mean author for this terrible cliffhanger. I'd apologize, but I'm evil, and I enjoy torturing you.

HUGE THANK YOU to all my reviewers, favoriters, followers, readers. All of you! You are all so awesome. :D