TWO updates, to make up for none yesterday. Yay! Thanks to JaninaM8...she helped a lot with this chapter.
"No, Darcy, we didn't sleep together, Jesus," Jane was saying into the phone as she pulled the brush through her hair.
"What is wrong with you? He wants you, Jane. Can't you tell? Where are you going tonight?"
"Dunno…he didn't say," she hadn't told her about the kiss, just that she had slept in his bed, and that he was taking her to dinner.
It wasn't a date.
Nope, definitely not.
But, what if it was? What if he was trying to romance her? What would she do?
She would fuck him within an inch of his life.
No…no she wouldn't…she would respect the established boundaries, and enjoy their dinner friendship date.
"Well, if it's someplace romantic, text me."
What the hell was a dinner friendship date? "Ok, I'll text you," and she hung up.
Jane looked at her wardrobe.
She needed new clothes, she thought as she cocked her head at her closet, willing something sexier to materialize.
Sexier.
Stop it, Jane.
She pulled on some jeans and a brown silk top.
She thought that perhaps she'd wear some heels…jeans and heels looked good together. And Loki was tall, over six feet in height.
Oh my god. STOP IT.
Jane observed herself in the mirror.
She didn't look bad. The top dipped just a bit, and she put on a necklace.
Then she took it off.
She put on some lip gloss.
Yes…that was good.
Jane grabbed a sweater.
Why was she nervous?
Her heart was beating fast…calm down, Jane. It was just dinner.
Just dinner with her best friend.
The bell rang and she jumped.
She swallowed and attempted to steady herself.
She opened the door in a swift manner.
Loki stood there with a steady look, his chin was down, his eyes immediately finding hers, his hands folded behind his back.
And he was once again dressed all in black.
But his hair was different…it hung more to the sides of his face.
Jane liked it.
"Hey, Loki. You like black, huh?"
"Black," he began, raising his chin. "Is one of those colors which is complementary on nearly everyone. And I feel comfortable in it," he paused. "You look nice, Jane. Heels?" He looked at her feet and raised an eyebrow.
"Oh! Well, you didn't say where we were going…"
"La Lanterna Di Vittorio," and he pronounced it perfectly.
"What."
"Problem?"
Jane swallowed, then smirked. "Ah, no…it's just that…well, it…am I dressed ok?"
He stepped aside as she left the apartment. "We are dining outside, so I think that you should be fine."
"Ok," and she nodded.
They went to procure a taxi.
And in they went.
"Have you been to La Lanterna Di Vittorio before, Jane?"
"No, never. I've heard that it's great, though. Nice atmosphere."
"Yes, I rather liked the idea of outside dining, and this place was recommended," he said, as he looked out of the window.
It was also rated among some of the most romantic places in Manhattan. She wouldn't be texting Darcy.
"It is a lovely evening…" and it was, for the middle of October. It was Jane's favorite month. "I love October."
"Is that so?" and he looked at her.
"Yeah…the leaves, the air, the color…it forms a cornucopia of crisp warmth, if that makes sense."
"It does to me…" and he smiled.
Jane looked at her hands. She longed to touch his fingers, run her own over them, direct them to her body…
"Well, that's convenient," and she laughed.
They arrived, and followed the maitre de.
The place was gorgeous, colors abounded from low hanging glass lamps, there was exposed brick and stone, pendants of plants, and soft music. They were directed toward a back corner, and they sat.
"Wow, Loki. This is something," Jane smiled widely.
"Well, I wished to repay you for your fierce concern for me last evening…perhaps offer an apology as well for my rash behavior and equally rash reaction to what had occurred between us," he was looking at the menu.
Oh. That made sense. "It was nothing. I was happy to be there for you," and she hid her face behind the menu, attempting to mask the well of disappointment rising from her bowels.
Loki looked at her. "It wasn't, and it meant a great deal to me," he smiled, very genuinely, and regretted that she missed it, as she was staring at the menu.
She was wearing a low rise top, and his glance stole at the slight cleavage afforded from it.
"Well, you don't need to apologize, we are passed it, remember?" but she smiled.
"How could I forget?"
And the server came, and Loki ordered a bottle of carmenere.
He then continued. "However, that doesn't mean that it didn't happen, nor that my guilt about it has abated."
"Stop, Loki. It's really fine."
The wine came, and was poured for Loki's approval.
He nodded, and the glasses were filled.
They enjoyed rather relaxed conversation until their dinners arrived.
"I'd like to spend some time with Darcy and Sam next week, if they are at all available," he said, biting into the mussels he ordered.
"What?" and Jane speared her lasagna.
"Yes…it would be nice to become more intimately acquainted with them."
Jane looked at him with a hint of surprise. "You liked them, then?"
"Of course. And I think I left a rather unfavorable opinion of myself last evening. I'd like to set it right."
"Oh…Ok."
"What?"
"Well, I didn't think that you'd thought much of them."
Loki laughed. "Why would you think such a thing?"
"Because you got shit faced and spent the majority of the time talking to the bar tender."
"Only because he was fascinating."
"Exactly…and Darcy and Sam didn't fascinate you."
He sat back and scrutinized her. "That is unfair."
"How?"
"I was new to the situation."
"So was Sam."
"And Sam and Darcy are dating."
"So what?" Jane was failing to see his point.
"Well, there is a certain comfort when one is romantically involved with someone. That is to say, You would be more accepting of Sam, since Darcy is intimate with him, whereas Darcy may not be as forgiving when offering opinions to you about me," that was an utter lie, but he needed to come up with something quickly.
"I…what? We have been friends longer than Darcy and Sam have been dating. I don't understand you."
Loki shrugged, and took another bite. "I'm merely explaining my thinking on the matter."
Jane laughed. "You are one of the oddest people I have ever met."
"And you willingly spend time with me, so what does that make you?"
"A glutton for punishment," and Jane giggled.
Dinner was over, and Loki looked at his phone. "Well, Jane, there is a jazz bar downstairs, and though I despise jazz, perhaps you'd care to indulge in some alcoholic libation."
"You want a drink?"
"Since you insist…"
He paid for the meal, and they headed downstairs.
It was rather dark, and Jane's eyes needed to adjust.
"Why don't you find us a table…I'll get our drinks?" Loki asked, and headed to the bar.
Jane went to a booth on the left side, and slid in.
She closed her eyes and listened to the soft saxophone playing in her ears. Why didn't he like jazz? It was so soothing…
When Jane opened her eyes, she saw that Loki was not sitting opposite her.
Jim was.
Jim…she hadn't seen him in years…
"Jim?"
"Hey, brown eyes…"
Ew. "Wow…how are you?"
"Great. How are you?"
"Um…I'm ok…" and she looked for Loki.
He was headed back, and saw Jim.
He approached the table, and placed Jane's vodka in front of her, and looked at Jim. "Hello," he said, not unpleasantly. The boyfriend from the airport.
"Hi. I'm Jim," and he offered Loki his hand.
"Pleasure. I'm Loki Laufeyson."
"Wow…that's quite a name."
"So I've been told," and he looked at Jane, and sat next to her.
"Jim…this is so weird…it's been so long," Jane began, a hint of discomfort in her voice.
"Well, yeah, I guess it has been…what have you been up to?"
"Um…I work at Stark Industries…I live in Chelsea…"
"Boyfriends?"
"Um, well…" and she felt Loki's thigh brush her own. "Yeah," and she looked at him.
"Oh… are you two together?"
"Two months," supplied Loki.
Jane's mouth fell a touch. She swallowed. "Heh…has it been two months already?"
"Darling, how could you forget?" and his gaze was steady on her face.
"I didn't…I've just had such fun…" and she smiled, pleased to be playing along.
Jim looked at the pair. "Well, you make a lovely couple…" and he held a touch of disappointment.
Loki's hand grasped Jane's.
Her heart stopped.
"I think so," Loki's voice fell a touch.
Jim nodded. "Your brown eyes, Jane…they are positively shimmering. You must be happy…recall our first date…?"
Jane swallowed. "Yeah…we went dancing…"
"And Van Morrison played, and we danced to our song. The dance that made it ours."
Loki's fingers tightened a touch, and his thigh pushed against Jane's.
"Brown Eyed Girl," Jane said.
"Yeah," Jim whispered.
Loki shifted. This wouldn't do. His hand left hers, and went to Jane's waist. He turned toward her, and he whispered in her ear, "I'm going to get rid of him, yes?"
Jane nodded.
"Please be prepared for anything…"
Jane swallowed.
He looked at Jim, and his mouth upturned. "Jane does enjoy dancing…especially in the rain, is that not so, love?"
"Oh, yes. In the rain…"
"And the way in which her clothes then cling to her frame…" his hand slid slowly from her waist, brushing the very top of her bottom gently, and rested on her thigh…his fingers squeezed it ever so slightly.
Jim couldn't see his hand, why was that necessary?
"Ah…" Jim began.
"She is like a nymph, her abandon liberating…she always lets go of any reservation while engaged thus," and he then turned toward her, his look was keen. "And I am invariably transfixed by her beauty when she is lost in her frolic…such like a child, but more like a woman…" and he leaned toward her, and his lips brushed her neck softly.
Jane thought that she might lose it. Her pulse was thrumming violently…and now Loki's mouth was on it, and he certainly would feel her response.
Oh, god. How humiliating!
But please, god, don't stop.
"Um…I'll leave you guys to it…" and Jim got up.
Loki was adept at dismissals, Jane thought.
But he wasn't stopping…had he not heard Jim?
His mouth traced along her neck, rising to her face…along her jawline…he was nearly at her mouth.
Jane pulled away.
"He's gone, Loki," she breathed.
His mouth was an inch from hers, his eyes lowered to Jane's in suggestive expectation.
Loki swallowed. "Right."
Was he going to kiss her…?
He pulled away himself.
His hand moved from her thigh.
He slid into the booth across from her, and took his drink.
"Well…I take it that was your ex-boyfriend, "J-the-lawyer-number-one'?"
"Yes."
"Yes…and you were rather taken with him."
"At the time," and Jane drank her vodka.
"Not still?"
"No."
"You seemed to be."
"I'm not…why?"
"I can't really explain it, but you seemed rather lost in your recollections of your first date with him," he supplied, and jealousy…the covetous emotion which issued during their conversation that prompted him to claim her thigh, to kiss her neck, welled inside of him. Her scent still lingered in his nose…he had been so close.
"Well, I had been in love with him."
Loki swallowed and nodded. It's fine, Loki. She has former lovers, just as he did…it shouldn't bother him.
But it did, and he resented it.
"He's fine enough, for a lawyer."
Jane laughed. "You don't like lawyers, huh?"
"They are utterly loathsome creatures who seek only to fill their wallets at the expense of society as a whole."
"Wow. That's a strong opinion."
"Necessarily severe."
Jane laughed. "Why?"
"Because, Jane, they are utter cads who mire the entire world with paranoia, with greed, with rage, and with a ridiculous amount of self preservation tendencies…unnecessary and useless…"
"Tell me how you really feel," and she downed her drink.
"I believe I just did."
"That was a joke…sarcasm? I think you're familiar with it?"
"Oh," and Loki smiled. "I'll need to aid you in that area as well…"
"As well?"
"Yes…not only are you terrible at getting rid of unwanted company, you also fail miserably at masking your arousal…" and he smirked at her.
Jane's blush was intense. "Shut up, Loki…"
And he laughed playfully.