The Ties That Bind

by jackpittgregor

A continuation of the story of Natasha, Loki and Rowan set about five years after the events of This Too Shall Pass. Loki returns to his family after enduring yet another punishment from Odin for his continued schemes. He is intent on reclaiming his life in Asgard with his family at his side but outside forces and his wife's reservations are getting in the way.

11. Chapter 11

Chapter 11 –

The flicker of candlelight drew shadows across the wall as he stretched languidly for a moment before rising from the bed and retrieving his pants from the edge of the dresser. His eyebrows furrowed slightly when his gaze fell upon one of the silhouettes along the ceiling as he tried to discern what the outline reminded him of.

"You're leaving?" She asked incredulously as her dark green eyes narrowed in irritation.

"How observant of you, Lorelei," the young prince jibed as he finished buckling the belt of his pants and reached for his top that was lying crumpled on the floor.

"Where are you off to at this hour?" she probed as she watched him snap the clasps of his garment in place. "I had hoped you might spend the night."

"And since when do I tell you my business?" Loki snapped.

"I'm not just some girl that you picked up at one of your taverns," Lorelei countered angrily. "Is that where you're going? Did you see some little trinket chasing after your brother today that you want to seduce for your own?"

"Do you think because I've lain with you more than once that you have some sort of claim on me?" the mischievous prince rasped as he pulled on his boots. A devious smile appeared along his lips as he observed the outrage that descended over her face. How he loved to ruffle peoples feathers. "Eh heh heh heh," he needled as his grin grew wider. "Please tell me you're not as crazy as your sister." He moved his head out of the way quickly as the vase that she had thrown across the room whipped past him and smashed into pieces against the wall. "You are lucky your little tantrums amuse me and that you have awful aim."

"I don't know why I put up with you," she fumed as she rose from the bed and wrapped herself in her robe.

"Well if you can't answer that question for yourself," he mused while he adjusted the cuffs of his jacket along his wrists. "I certainly can't help you. Don't look so cross, my dear. We have fun, do we not?"

"Is that all I am to you? Fun?" She inquired as she moved closer to him, her hands running along the collar of his uniform. Her wide eyes stared up at him hopefully as she continued, "I thought we shared more than that." Loki exhaled audibly as his emerald eyes stared back at her coldly. If there was one thing that he couldn't stand, it was a clinging woman and this one was becoming much too possessive for his liking, no matter how desirable she may be.

"We share an interest in sorcery and an appreciation for each other's assets," he winked as he wrapped his hand around the back of her neck and kissed her roughly. "If that is not enough for you, pet, than just say the word and I shan't darken your door with my presence again." She turned from him abruptly as she moved toward her vanity and began to brush her long strawberry blonde hair, a scowl on her face as she gazed at him slightly through the reflection of the looking glass. Loki moved toward the door swiftly. Let her sulk for all he cared. There were plenty of pretty women for the taking and one was just as good as the next. Besides he had much more important uses for his time.

"I feel sorry for the woman that ever really loves you," she taunted as he placed his fingers along the doorknob. The young prince laughed heartily at the sound of her words as he pulled the door open before turning back toward her with a devilish grin.

"Eh heh heh heh, as do I," he chuckled as he closed the door behind him.

Loki exhaled audibly at the memory as he began to descend the boulder-strewn slope that led down to the sandy beach below. Things were so much simpler for him when he cared for no one but himself. Before the woman standing along the shoreline in front of him had taken hold of his heart. Simpler but empty, he thought soberly as he moved closer. Strange how the remembrance of Lorelei's words from so long ago seemed to haunt him now. He thought it was funny then, the idea that any maiden would be imprudent enough to love him. Let the poor fool to make such a mistake wallow in her misery. But at present there was nothing he dreaded more in all of the nine realms than the possibility that his wife might ever regret loving him.

"Where is Rowan?" Natasha inquired without turning even the slightest fraction in his direction as he closed the final bit of distance between them. Her voice was cold and without feeling. It was just her way, he knew, how she dealt with her emotions. It was no reflection on what she really felt for him. Still, he would never be able to get her to see reason if her walls remained up.

"She is with my mother," he told her as he brushed his fingers through the long, red curls that flowed down her back before settling on one lush ringlet that he began to twirl languidly. The feel of the soft tresses always soothed him. He wished she would turn and face him but she remained with her back to him as she gazed out at the horizon. "I told her that she could stay there this evening. Since it is the last day before we leave she wanted to spend as much time with her grandmother that she could."

"I'm supposed to believe that you intend on leaving in the morning?" his wife remarked wryly as she finally twisted to face him. The movement of her body forced him to let go of the strand of hair that he had been looping around his finger nevertheless he was grateful to be able to look into her bright blue eyes.

"What else would I do?" the young prince inquired as he reached for a new curl to play with. His dark green eyes searching hers, she was still annoyed with him obviously. He didn't need to delve into their bond to tell him that.

"Hide the Tesseract or perhaps threaten Heimdall within an inch of his life if he even thinks to send Rowan and I anywhere." The black widow mused.

"Yes, but if I did either of those things you would know that I was behind it and you would be angry with me," Loki divulged as his mouth upturned in a sideways smile. "And you know how I hate it when my little spider is upset with me."

"I'm sure the god of mischief could come up with more elaborate plans to get what he wanted," she snipped as she brushed his hand away and began walking along the beach. "Why aren't you livid?" Natasha prodded as she stopped in her tracks and turned toward him heatedly. "What are you up to? Or are you just so full of yourself that you think that you have the final word on the subject?"

"I gather this is about Shield?" The last word rolled off his tongue like a dagger. He hated the agency for many reasons not the least of which was that it employed the insipid archer in its ranks. He was determined to keep his family from returning to that useless realm and he was certain that he had been making great strides in procuring her acquiescence before that damned message arrived. The fact that they disrupted his plans on getting her to agree to stay here indefinitely was just one more thing to add to the long list of grievances that he held with the organization. He tried to swallow the fury that was threatening to rise to the surface at the mere mention of its name. He did not want to fight with her. An argument was not going to get him what he sought. He needed a different tactic. "You wish to assist them in their investigation of this company? I did not mean to be so unsympathetic earlier. I understand your desire to help these girls. To do for them what you were unable to do for yourself."

Her sapphire eyes observed him thoughtfully before she finally spoke. "Don't try and manipulate me, Loki. I don't like it."

"I'm being sincere," he protested as he thought hard on his next words. He was walking a slippery slope and he needed to plan his strategy very carefully. "I'm not trying to manipulate you. I only wish for you to know that I understand your feelings on the matter even if I don't agree."

"Do you now?" She replied cynically as her eyebrow rose in disbelief.

"Rowan looks so much like you," Loki continued. "The thought of you, no bigger than her... no family… no one to protect you. I wish I could find each and every single one of them who had even the slightest involvement and watch them writhe in the torment that they so richly deserve for what was done to you. Say the word and I would gladly take care of this Gynacon in their stead."

"That's not what I want," She acknowledged and for the first time since Heimdall had interrupted their outing he could see the warmth return to her eyes as she regarded him. "I'm not looking to even the score. It's not about vengeance, Loki. It's about protecting the innocent."

"I cannot share in your sentiment, my little spider," he admitted honestly. "I care not what happens to any of those mortals that inhabit Midgard whether they are innocents or the vilest of criminals makes no difference." He threaded his hands through her hair and gently lifted her head to his as he looked deeply into her eyes. Her lush mouth relaxed from the frown that she had greeted him with and her face softened. "You and Rowan are all that matters to me. More than anything I want to make you both happy and I want to keep you both safe." He leaned closer, his face mere inches from hers. Then he kissed her softly, sensually before he straightened. He took a faint step backward as he let his fingers linger along her cheek. He smiled at the slightly unfocused look of her sapphire eyes. "And I know that you wish the same things for me." He let his hand fall to his side as she blinked up at him curiously. "Tell me, my darling," he began cautiously. "What course of action do you believe would serve our family best?"

Natasha made a small sound of amusement as she folded her arms over her chest. "Reverse psychology, is that what this is?"

"It's a simple question," he went on. Loki studied her face, looking for a sign to help guide him in his next words. He didn't want to push her too far and cause her to become cold and distant again. He wanted to talk to his wife, not the black widow. "We need to do what is best for our family, yes? Returning to Midgard, you joining in this investigation, are these things in our bests interests?"

"Shall I answer the way you would?" Natasha raised her chin defiantly but her voice was soft and tempered with emotion. "Thinking only of the best possible scenarios where I get everything I want. A quick and speedy reconnaissance, the criminals locked away and dealt with, the missing girls returned to their families and a happy home life for the three of us. No, you want me to think of all the variables and all that could go wrong. You are only asking me that question because you know that I couldn't possibly say yes."

"Then we are in agreement?" he inquired, trying to hold back the smugness from his voice. "Your withdrawal from Shield still stands?" He reached out to touch her hand but she snatched her arm back as if she'd been burned. "Why are you still so annoyed with me?"

"This isn't the part where you get to pat yourself on the back for getting everything you want," she scolded. "I still intend to go home tomorrow."

"You didn't answer my question," he insisted. "Why are you angry with me?" There was more to it than just their earlier argument.

Natasha reached into the pocket of her sweater and pulled out a small round sphere. The strange marbled piece seemed to glow in her palm as she extended her hand out toward him.

"Where did you get that?" He felt stunned, almost numb as he gazed at the sage, blue ball held so loosely in her grip.

"Admittedly, I don't know much of anything about magic," She quipped as she continued to stretch her arm out to him. Her bright blue eyes were scrutinizing him intently as she spoke. "But I have a feeling this is very potent. I'm rather surprised that you didn't realize that I was holding it."

"It's the Moebius stone. Someone has placed a cloaking spell over it to hide its magical properties," he remarked as he continued to stare at it dumfounded. "Natasha, where did you get it?"

"Someone… really, Loki? Is that what you are going to go with?" she jested but her voice held no mirth as she stared at him aloofly.

"Answer me already," he snapped. He instantly regretted his harsh tone. She hadn't really done anything to earn his ire. Besides, he was beginning to feel quite certain what her answer would be. "How did you come upon this stone and why are you carrying it with you?"

"Right where you left it," Natasha divulged slowly. "In the bottom drawer of our nightstand. I was feeling a little chill and I remembered I had left some sweaters there. We didn't take much with us when we left for earth."

"Natasha that is not mine." The young prince declared. As he tried to imagine who would hide such a formidable artifact in his chambers. It was obviously meant to bring suspicion onto him but for what purpose. "That is very powerful. It was made to manipulate time. Here give it to me."

"Is this what you were looking for when you set off the alarms to the weapons vault?" she probed.

"I told you I have not been anywhere near that vault since we've been here," Loki bit off angrily. He hated the obvious mistrust that was in her eyes. "Besides, that is not one of Odin's treasures. It has never resided in his precious vault. Now, give it to me, Natasha."

"I don't think so." Natasha lowered her gaze and brought the stone closer to her so that her hand rested against her chest. "I think Odin would be a better choice."

"Have you lost that much faith in me?" Loki couldn't keep the exasperation from his voice. "Someone hid that in our room. Most likely the same person that attempted to get in the vault and orchestrated the attempt to free Skurge. Give it to me. I want to see if I can break the cloaking spell." She remained motionless as she stared up at him. It broke his heart to see the suspicion in her gaze. "Please, my little spider, trust me," he pleaded as he held out his hand. She regarded him for a second more before she placed it in his outstretched palm. Loki turned the stone in his hand as he explored the mystical shroud that covered it. It was a very simple spell, not very intricate at all. It would be easy enough for him to breach. Why would anyone want to put something so strong in magic within his grasp? Quite a risk to take for nothing more than the hopes of getting him in trouble. Unless it wasn't meant to be found. Were they planning to enact a spell on him and his family with it? Too many questions and no way to get any answers. There was only one thing for him to do. He began the spell instantly as he inverted weaves around the small sphere and sent it off to an enchanted hiding place.

"What did you do with it?" his wife gasped as she watched it disappear. "You asked me to trust you and then you do that?"

"I've hidden it away for safety," the young prince soothed. "It is too powerful to risk it falling into the wrong hands."

"Then give it to Odin," Natasha reasoned, the fury in her voice was near to bursting.

"So he can put it in his flimsy little vault, the very place that someone attempted to break into barely a day ago." The mischievous prince rebutted as he tried to allay her doubts. "If Odin was told about the Moebius stone being found in our bed chamber the only thing it would accomplish would be for him to mistrust me even more than he already does. He would be of no help to us."

"Then tell Thor," she contended, her face set in a scowl. "He would believe you."

"It is best to keep this between us for now," Loki reflected. "Let whoever planted it wonder what happened to it. Perhaps the confusion might cause them to make a slip."

"You have an answer for everything," She snapped as she turned from him abruptly. "I'm going to Thor."

Loki grabbed her forcibly by the arm and spun her back to face him. The thought of her going to his brother over him ignited a deep seeded jealousy that he had almost forgotten existed. "You could have gone to him already or taken it straight to Odin but you didn't because in your heart you know that you can trust me above all others."

"Maybe once but I'm not so sure about that anymore," she shot back icily. He put a hand out and touched her cheek, marveling at the softness of her skin, the slight tremor in her body that his nearness evoked. Not for the first time that evening he pondered how uncomplicated things use to be. If this had been some other women he wouldn't have given a second thought to that look in her eyes. In some cases he would have even been pleased at being the cause of the obvious anger and distress that he found there. The only thing that would have mattered was getting what he wanted. What he wanted and everyone else be damned. Now, his heart ached at the sight in front of him. He would do anything to bring a smile to her face and joy back into her eyes. He took his hand away slowly leaving it with his palm upturned in front of her. With a quick incantation he brought the stone forward so that it lied in his hand.

"Go ahead," he whispered as he released his grip on her arm. "Take it to him." Natasha put her hand out gingerly, her fingers nearly touching the glowing sphere before she stopped suddenly and put her arm back to her side.

"I can't." She gritted her teeth, her hands balling into fists as they rested against her legs. He wasn't sure if she was angry at him or herself. "Get rid of it, Loki." She sauntered back towards the shoreline before dropping to the ground in a huff as she crossed her arms around her knees and stared out at the water once more. He made the stone dissipate into thin air before strutting towards her and sitting down at her side.

"What made you change your mind, my darling?" he asked her. Her face was as still as stone as she continued to stare at the tide rolling into the shore. A smile ghosted across her lips but not one of joy, one of bitterness. Her eyes were dark and fiery as she turned her head to face him.

"It's simple enough, my heart is louder than my head," she jibed resentfully. She may be angry but she loved him, he thought optimistically and that was all that mattered. He pressed his mouth to hers and tasted her lips, teasing her with the tip of his tongue. Once he began kissing her, he couldn't stop. He could feel her body melt instinctively at his touch.

"You are my heart," he whispered against her lips between kisses. "The very best part of me, my little spider." Her arms encircled his neck, pulling him closer as he lowered her body into the sand. The soft moans escaping her lips drove him crazy. He was ravenous for the feel of her legs wrapping themselves around his body. The sudden sounds of conversation and laughter startled them from their revelry as she moved away from him and stood up. He could see a small group of soldiers who were ambling along the boardwalk. Loki rose reluctantly as he held out his hand, a mischievous grin plastered on his face.

"Shall we return to our chambers to finish our… talk," he smiled.

"No," Natasha replied soberly. "If Rowan is staying at the Royal palace tonight than so should we. I don't like the idea of being so far away from her with someone walking around this planet with a grudge against you."

"Then the Royal Palace it is, my darling," the young prince beamed approvingly as he took her hand in his. "We can inform the Queen of our sleeping arrangements for this evening and then resume our… discussion."

Loki closed the door behind him as he watched her walk slowly across the sitting room floor until she stood in front of the entranceway to the bedroom chamber. It had felt like an eternity since he had held her in his arms though he knew it had been barely twenty minutes.

"These are the same rooms that we stayed in before you had the castle built," Natasha reflected as she ran her hand along the edge of one of the many chairs that adorned the apartment. He closed the distance between them swiftly as he wrapped his arms around her, walking her through the doorway as he crushed his mouth to hers. He was consumed by his desire for her. He skimmed his fingers along the sides of her body as they inched closer to the bed. His hands slid under her blouse and over her luscious ripe breasts. He knew he would never get enough of her, no matter how many times they were together this way his hunger never ebbed. A knocking sound on the outer room door interrupted them again and he groaned audibly as he disentangled himself from her reluctantly.

"Just like the old days," she smiled as she followed behind him towards the front room.

"You may enter," he called out as he leaned against the threshold of their bedroom. The door opened and two servants entered carrying several large trays between them. "What is this?"

"Her majesty, the Queen has ordered dinner be brought to your rooms." The first woman said nervously. "If it pleases, your royal highness," she bowed or at least as much of a bow which was possible while holding large trays covered in food. Loki waved his hand dismissively.

"There is a table in the master suite set it up there," he ordered regally as he moved away from the entranceway to give them room to pass.

"Loki," Natasha admonished in hushed tones.

"Oh," the young prince winked. "You may set it on that table there… please." He grinned mischievously as he closed the distance between him and his wife once more. "Was that nice enough for you, my darling?" he bantered playfully.

"Your manners still need a little work," She ribbed as her eyes sparkled up at him. He loved seeing her happy and knowing he was the cause of her joy made it all the more wonderful.

"Eh heh heh heh, then I shall work doubly hard to achieve the best manners possible," he chuckled as he took her hand in his. "After all, you are my wife. The only woman I will ever love. You are the Queen of my heart." He grinned as he knelt down in front of her, his emerald eyes filled with devotion. "I'm yours to command." The sound of porcelain breaking into a thousand pieces reminded him of the servants that were still in the room. He whipped his head in the direction of the noise to see what they had broken as he stood up from the floor.

"Idony, are you daft? Keep your eyes on what you are doing," the one woman seethed under her breath to her younger counterpart as they crouched over the floor picking up the broken shards and bits of food that were strewn about the room. They placed the debris onto one of the silver trays that they had arrived with. The young woman had daggers in her eyes as she stared up at the elderly maiden, her long brown hair pulled back in an intricate braid. She brushed a few stray strands of hair from her forehead in a huff as she picked up the last few pieces of glass from the tiled floor. It was obvious she didn't like being talked to that way.

"We are so sorry for our clumsiness, your royal highness," the elder servant beseeched as she continued to clean up hurriedly. Her small grey bun was beginning to unravel in her mad haste to return the floor to its immaculate state. But she didn't seem to notice in the meticulousness of her work. "We will get a fresh plate to replace it at once. Apologize, Idony."

"Don't be silly," Natasha told her. "There is more than enough to eat. It was an accident. Don't worry about it."

"Thank you, your royal highness, I'm very sorry. It was my fault," Idony apologized as she bowed her head and made her way out of the room. The elderly servant followed behind her swiftly. Loki sat down on the mattress as he heard the door of the sitting room click shut. He watched as his wife walked over to the table and picked up a piece of fruit.

"I think my mother needs to hire new help," he mused as his eyes lingered on the swell of her breasts beneath the fitted blouse she wore. "How does one miss the table when you are standing a mere inch away from it?"

"She was probably distracted by you," Natasha reasoned as she took another bite. "I bet they don't often see an Asgardian prince kneeling in front of a puny mortal. Besides, I've caught that one staring at you before rather lustfully," she informed him, a slight twinge of displeasure in her voice. "You never noticed?" Her eyes widening in curiosity as she gazed up at him.

"Lust is only of any interest to me when it's yours," he answered truthfully. "Speaking of which, what are you doing all the way over there?"

"Shouldn't we talk about what happened earlier? We need to figure out who is behind it," she began. He jumped up from his place at the sound of her words and rushed forward, grabbing her around the waist and lifting her over his shoulder in one fell swoop. "Loki!" she squealed as he brought her back towards the bed and tossed her onto the mattress.

"I'm not waiting another second," he intoned wickedly as he began unbuckling the clasps of his garments.

"You're not?" she teased as she stretched out languidly on the bed. Her sapphire eyes beckoned him to her with a provocative glance from beneath her long red lashes. "Then why are you wasting time undressing yourself?"

"Eh heh heh heh heh," he laughed as he stopped in mid-motion and crawled over her, his leather top dangling half opened. "You are very wise, my little spider. What would I do without you?" In less than a heartbeat, he cast the spell and their clothes evaporated. She grabbed him by the neck drawing him down for a scorching kiss. Their need to be one again overwhelmed them both. His hands cherished her body, stroking her hair, caressing her back. She was so beautiful and all his. With the tip of his tongue he licked her throat up and down, then her breasts as her nipples swelled so temptingly for his enjoyment. Her moans grew louder, shamelessly animalistic as he buried himself inside of her again and again. She tunneled her hands through his hair pulling him closer, digging her nails into his flesh. He welcomed the lust-filled pain of it. She cried his name over and over as she reached her climax bringing him with her. He held her close, absorbing every breath, every shudder that flowed through her body. They both lied there motionless, their bodies entwined while their heartbeats thudded against each other.

"Loki," she murmured breathlessly as she lifted her finger tips to trace his mouth. "Making love with you is heavenly. It's beyond heaven." He held her closer, kissing her softly.

"More pleasurable than anything Valhalla could ever have to offer," he gave her a sideways grin as he relished the feel of her fingers roaming up and down his chest. He played gently with a strand of her hair while he watched her eyelids flutter and grow heavy as she lied there peacefully at his side. This is the way it should always be, he thought to himself as she snuggled closer in her sleep. He lay there contentedly listening to the sound of her breathing and watching her tranquil visage as she slept. Her silken tresses rubbed gently against his chin as he inhaled her fragrance. He breathed in greedily as he drank in her scent, the feel of her body, and the sound of her murmured sighs as she cuddled against him. A part of him still felt like he needed to make up for lost time as he held her tightly. All those months apart. Regrettably, he knew that he couldn't waste the opportunity that her slumber provided. There were things he needed to take care of. He lifted her arm gently as he moved away from her body. She stirred for a moment, a sleepy kittenish noise leaving her lips as she turned over in her sleep which made him smile. He raised his long, slender fingers in the air and with a slight flick of his wrist they were both dressed in their sleeping attire. Loki glided his hand lightly across the silken gown as he remained seated next to her on the bed. "Every good thing in my life I have because of you, my little spider." He whispered to her sleeping form before placing a tender kiss along her cheek. He stood up from the mattress as he walked quietly into the sitting room, making sure not to wake her as he shut the bedroom door. Loki held both of his hands out before him and began the incantation as a slight mist started to swirl across his palms. The vapor grew thicker and thicker with every word of his spell until it dissipated revealing a small living picture that seemed to come alive in his hands. He had hoped to convince her to stay without the use of tricks but desperate times called for desperate measures. He could not bear to be apart from her ever again. He realized now that he had become complacent during their years in Asgard. He had been so accustomed to having her by his side, of having her all to himself without any interference from Shield or that bloody archer that he had become too confident that nothing could ever take her from him. Then with a few words from the All-Father's lips he had been ripped from them. All those agonizing months that he was separated from his wife and daughter. It might be too soon to enact any sort of revenge but when the time was right Loki would make him pay for every single second that he was kept from them, every single solitary second. A wicked smile bloomed upon the young god's face as he watched the large figure of a man take his usual place along the edge of the broken bridge. He had used this ploy once before when Odin had thought him binded by those pathetic little golden trinkets they had placed upon his wrists. He reached out with his mind as he concentrated on the small vision of Heimdall before him. It was time for the gatekeeper to see what he wanted him to see.

The mischievous prince felt her moving closer long before he heard the soft twist of the door knob. Natasha gazed at him suspiciously as he leaned back in the chair seemingly busy reading a book that he held in his hands.

"Why are you out here?" she prodded as she remained standing in the doorway. Her long red curls falling in disarray around her as one thin strap of her dark green nightgown fell haphazardly along her shoulder. Loki bid the book to disappear as he focused his attention on the beautiful woman standing in front of him.

"I have been contemplating my next move," he answered truthfully. "I did not want to disturb your sleep."

"Your next move concerning what exactly?" Natasha prompted as she took a faint step into the room.

"This stone being hidden in our rooms is quite puzzling," he divulged as he purposefully side-stepped her question. "It is too powerful a tool for someone to just toss aside in the hopes of gaining me yet another chastisement. I'm afraid they were planning on using it but for what purpose? It is quite the conundrum."

"Well, whatever their reasons," the Black Widow remarked coolly. "It is obvious someone is unhappy that you are here. So it's a good thing that we will be returning to Earth in the morning."

"I would be lying if I said that I shared your sentiment." He held out his arm and motioned for her to come closer. "But wherever we reside, my little spider, this conjuror, whoever they may be, will not be a problem for us." She wrapped her arms around his neck as she planted herself in his lap. He grinned widely as he ran his hand teasingly along her thigh.

"Have you told me everything?" she inquired as she kissed him along the side of his neck and then his chin. Her bright blue eyes boring down into his as she examined him thoroughly. The fingers of her right hand moving lazily down his bare chest. "I don't think I can handle any more surprises," she murmured against his mouth before she brushed her lips across his. She had the sweetest lips, the sweetest everything he thought as he enjoyed the feel of her body wiggling around his lap.

"Shall we go back to bed, my darling?" he breathed. There was a slight flicker of disappointment in her eyes and he knew that she was aware that he hadn't answered her question. He framed her face with his hands as he leaned forward. Loki crushed his lips to hers for a long, greedy kiss hoping to assuage her doubts. He didn't want to keep anything from her but some things could not be helped.