"I have nothing left.

And all I feel is this cruel wanting."

Grace tugged at the hem of her sundress, looking herself over in the mirror of her bedroom. She glanced over at her alarm clock, realizing it was getting late and she needed to get going. She had never felt more stupid. Eira had volunteered to watch Aric for the night, but Grace was still worried about what Jim would say if he knew she was going to an art gallery with Loki.

His green eyes danced across her memory and she suppressed the warm pool of desire that always seemed to form when his face crossed her thoughts. It was something old to her, something she knew she recognized, but found herself unable to place exactly where it came from.

Her cell phone rang, and she picked it up to glance at the caller id. It was Jim. She inwardly cursed herself and her rotten luck before setting the phone back down and letting the voicemail pick up.

She slipped her one good white crocheted sweater over her bare arms as she put her phone in her purse. Aric was at Eira's house safe and sound, but why did Grace's heart speed up in anticipation?

*o*O*o*

By the time she pulled up in front of the art gallery, the sun had started to set. A very large crowd had formed, people milling in and out of the building in their nice dresses and dress shirts. Grace chewed on her lip, clutching her handbag to her chest as she looked over the heads of the people around her for Loki's dark one. She looked around for five minutes, searching for the pair of emerald green eyes…

"Are you lost, Grace?"

That voice… Her heart leapt to her throat as she turned around to see Loki, dark hair slicked back and emerald eyes dancing as he looked down at her. A green dress shirt was tucked into his black dress pants and she swallowed as she took his full appearance in. "I was," she admitted, looking down at her feet.

Cold, long fingers were under her chin in an instant, lifting her chin up to meet his gaze and she felt her heart do a little dance at his touch. "Well, I would say you are not any longer," he said under his breath, a smile tugging at his lips. His fingers left her chin and she felt herself wanting them back there. He was so tall… He could probably tuck her under his chin if he wanted to. She cursed herself for wanting him to try it, a feeling that was all too familiar.

She cleared her throat as she turned to the gallery she had wandered into. "Thank you for inviting me to this," she said shyly. "It really is quite…"

She had trailed off as her eyes lighted on a painting in particular that caught her eye. He followed her gaze, realizing that she had taken a special interest in a painting that was an almost exact replica of Asgard's gardens. He smiled, a truly happy smile, as he watched her take it in.

"Do you find this one appealing?" he asked quietly as they walked over to the tall painting together. Grace opened her mouth to speak, trying to form the words.

"It is… It's really beautiful."

"Aye," he agreed as he tucked his hands behind his back. "As if from a dream."

She snapped her head back to look at him. "I was just thinking that same thing," she said quietly.

Silver met emerald as he gazed down at her. She saw his gaze flicker to her lips for the briefest moment, and she turned away quickly to look back at the painting. He led the way around the room, pointing out paintings he liked. Grace often found herself agreeing. The way he spoke was intoxicating, his voice like velvet, seductive. But that hint of danger- or was it suspicion?- was still there, tugging at her thoughts as she moved through the crowd with him. She really shouldn't be there. This was just asking for trouble…

*o*O*o*

"Grace?" They had stopped in a rather deserted gallery, an older couple the only other people in the smaller room. It felt like mere minutes had passed, yet when Grace looked down at her watch she discovered that it was nine p.m. Where had the time gone? Her feet shifted uncomfortably on the hard wood floor before she met his gaze.

"Yes?"

Loki was looking down his nose at her, pale lips pressed into a thin line. His hand at his side was twitching a bit, like he wanted to extend it towards hers. "Thank you for meeting me here tonight."

She chewed her lower lip as she faced him. He was staring at her again, nothing but feeling in his gaze. "Thank you for inviting me," she squeaked. She felt like a bird in front of a snake's predatorial stare, paralyzed by something she had not felt in a long time. She grew rigid as his long fingers reached out to take her hand, but allowed him to all the same… and stared wide-eyed as he turned her palm down and brushed her knuckles quickly with his lips. She did not fail to notice the strange ring of string around his wrist, a vibrant green that matched his eyes.

She lowered her hand from his when he released it, but when he looked back up at her there was a hint of sadness in his eyes. "How do you not remember…" It was a question spoken under his breath, but it sounded like more of a statement. A statement that stuck out in her mind like a sore thumb. Remembering was something she had been trying very hard to do since she had met him. Her heart raced as she looked at him… perhaps this was it…

"What?"

The sad look in his eyes dimmed as he looked back up to her gaze, a hand covering his mouth as his head reeled with the scent of her skin. "Nothing," he said quietly. He looked up, taking in the people through the doorway in the other room. Many were gathering their jackets as the gallery prepared to close for the evening. "It is getting late," he said after a moment of awkward silence. He started walking and Grace followed.

Grace pursed her lips, her face falling as she realized that he was not going to say anything more. "I suppose so," she said after another moment. They had made it to the coat rack by now and Loki grabbed her white sweater from the mix. He held it up for her to put on and she turned slowly, the sweater material gliding on over her arms as he helped her into it.

"Did you drive yourself or did you call a cab?" he said quietly, tenderly. She was growing weak in the knees under his gaze and she realized she could feel the warmth of his body for he was standing so close to her. Her nose was a mere six inches from his chest… If she were to stand on her tip toes, she might be able to- No. She would not kiss him. She barely knew him, after all, and Jim deserved better than that.

"I…" God, he was so close… and his scent… "Yes," she said as she stepped back from him, taking a hold of her thoughts and stepping away from him. "I am parked across the street. There weren't any spots left in this lot…" Why was she talking about the parking here?!

He smiled wryly. "I will walk you out," he replied evenly.

"No," she blurted out, kicking herself for her lack of tact. He raised an eyebrow at that. "I mean…. I can make it to my car safely."

He had fallen into step with her as they turned to leave the gallery completely. "Yes, I know that," he replied evenly as he slipped his own jacket on over his dress shirt, straightening the lapels as they made it to the door. Before she could reach it to open it for herself, his hand had shot out, taking the handle of the door and holding it open for her.

"So I shall be safe, thank you for your trouble," she said quietly, firmly. She feared what she might do if he stayed with her alone for any amount of time now. This attraction scared her. Not the intensity of it, but the sheer lack of foundation it was based on.

She took off at a brisk pace down the sidewalk after bidding him goodnight, the feel of his warm lips on her hand burned like a brand into her memory. It was a moment or two later that she realized he was following her out. She had made it to the edge of the sidewalk, just about to step off into the road to cross the street, when she turned around to see him. "So you are following me rather than walking me to my car?" she asked, still irritated, but not with him. With herself.

His lips tilted up in a half smirk. "Perhaps I am parked over there as well, Miss Donovan."

She furrowed her brow as she studied him. "Well then, goodnight." She did not miss the way his face fell when she showed she clearly had no intention of waiting for him to catch up.

She had been so involved with the idea of the man behind her, that she had missed the oncoming traffic that was coming her way. A speeding car's headlights were all she saw before she felt a strong grip wrap around her wrist, pulling her out of harm's way and into the chest of the owner.

*o*O*o*

"Gods, Grace," Loki's voice was all she could comprehend as she stared into a green dress shirt and black coat. "Are you alright?" Strong arms were around her, the owner's chin resting on her head as his breath cascaded over her. Her eyes were wide as she nodded, the weight of his chin restricting her movement a tad. Rain had begun to fall in large droplets as she pulled her head away from his chest. She looked up at him, her breasts undeniably against him as they had been that day in the library.

She couldn't fight what happened next, even if she had wanted to. He brushed her hair from her eyes, looking down at her with nothing but… love? It was the only way she could describe it. The hand that had pushed her hair out of the way cupped her cheek, his thumb gliding over her lower lip lovingly.

And then he had pressed his lips to hers and her whole world fell to nothing.

She opened her eyes briefly before she tore away from him. "No," she said quietly. "You know I have a boyfriend. This is not fair to him."

Loki took her hand again, looking her dead in the eyes. "Grace, forgive me. Did you not like it though? Did you not feel anything?"

If the heat in her cheeks was any indication of what she felt, she was most definitely sure she had felt something. "I- well..."

A smile was playing across Loki's lips as he watched her struggle with what she wanted to say. "I quite enjoyed it," he whispered as he took her face in his hands again. The street was deserted, the gallery-goers all heading to their cars in the other lot. His breath ghosted across her lips before he let her face go. "Be safe, Grace," he said quietly. She looked at him a moment longer, flustered, before she turned to go to her car. This time, Loki did not follow her.

That night, Grace's dreams got very interesting.

Ok, so I hope this little chapter made up for such a long wait, guys. I have next chapter almost entirely planned out so it should be up soon.

Sheesh, what kind of dreams could Grace be having? ;)

Leave me a note! They seriously motivate me to crank out chapters for you lovely people…

~Sirius