Rain rain, go away...
Actually, today I was kind of okay with the rain. It was an icky Wednesday. Cloudy and chilly. The wind tapped on the living room window.
I had the apartment all to myself, so I had the corner lights on, giving the room my favorite golden glow. It was warm and comforting. Snuggly, if you will. I had my radio playing lovely classical music, and I was in the kitchen fixing myself a bowl of rocky road ice cream.
"Bring two spoons!"
Wait...
What the fudge...?
I had to lean on the counter and breathe in and out a few times before sticking my head around the corner into the living room.
Guess which long-legged mofo was lounging on my couch? Damn. Maybe I should have put down traps to keep him out. He had his feet on my coffee table, hands behind his head, and his eyes were closed. I think the music and rain had put him into a drowsy state of compliance. Not enough to keep him from wanting my ice cream, I guess.
'Well,' I thought to myself as I dug whipped cream out of my fridge.
'I've got two options: I can throw him out and keep the ice cream to myself. Or I can let him stay, miss out on some ice cream, but maybe get some stories out of him.'
Damn.
Sorry ice cream. I guess I was going to have to share.
He wasn't getting a cherry, though. That was my line.
I carted the bowl into the living room and waved his spoon in front of his face. He snatched it from my hand without even opening his eyes.
"How did you get in here, anyway?" I asked.
"The door"
"It's locked"
The corners of his mouth inched up and he opened one eye.
"I suppose you will have to accept 'magic' as an explanation then, darling." he said, scooping out a spoonful from my bowl.
"So what brings you to my humble quarters in the middle of a rainstorm?" I asked, settling on the couch next to him and snagging a scoop of treats with the cherry on it before he could see it.
He was massaging his temples with his fingers after his first bite. Hahaha. Brainfreeze, jerk.
"I was hoping to convince you to come with me this afternoon. There is a library in the city that might be home to one of the four books I need to take back."
"Geez. You couldn't show up just to spend time with me?"
He smiled at me while he scooped more ice cream.
"You just don't want to go out in the rain." he teased.
Touché.
"Can't we just stay in today and eat popcorn and watch a movie?" I asked. So sue me, I was whining. I didn't want to go out and chase stuff today. I just wanted a nap. Or two naps.
Loki stood up, taking the bowl from my hands. He took it into the kitchen and I heard the freezer door open and shut.
When he came around the corner, he went right to my back door and slid open the glass, gesturing for me to follow him.
Ughhhh.
I hauled my ass up off the couch, stepping out onto my balcony with him. He shut the door behind us and we stood at the railing, looking out at the rain. It was cold, and I started to shiver a little. Loki put his arm around my shoulders.
"I know that I've been running you ragged these past few weeks," he said, quietly. "I never expected that I would have to rely on anyone but myself. But you have been very cooperative. And I am thankful."
He looked down at me. I knew that if I met his gaze, I would either start laughing or crying. Better play the safety card and just keep looking forward.
That jerk knew exactly what was going through my head. He chuckled and squeezed my shoulders tighter.
"Now go on inside. Fetch yourself a coat. You're coming with me."
"HEY. What if I don't wanna go?"
"Then I will be forced to take you by force"
Be still, my heart.
...
"WHERE THE FLYING FUDGE MONKEYS DID YOU GET A CAR?"
I was standing, jaw dropped into the wet street, in front of a dark blue, sleek, sexy sports car. Loki was holding the passenger door open for me.
"Rachael, it is raining. Get in now."
"Fine fine, but seriously where did you HOLY CRAP IS THIS LEATHER?"
He shut the door and went around to slide behind the drivers seat. I was petting the inside dashboard, and he was shaking his head. I guess I'm amusing.
"Loki, did you steal this car?"
"Not necessarily."
"What the frack does that mean?"
"No one stopped me from taking it and no one is looking for it."
Right. Yeah. That is totally legal.
"How did you learn how to drive, anyway?"
Putting the sex-mobile into gear, he pulled out of the parking spot with ease.
"I have picked up quite a few skills in my time here. It isn't exactly a difficult thing to learn. Which is surprising, considering how bad you are at it."
"YEAH, WELL YOU'RE WET."
There was something oddly sexual about the way his long fingers were wrapped around the gear shift. Damn...
Loki pointed the car in the direction of the city. We motored down the highway, the rain smacking against the windshield. My forehead was pressed against the window, and I was falling asleep. He had the radio on, playing the same music I had on in my apartment. The notes were lulling me into a drowsy haze, and I kinda missed my ice cream.
I wanted to be on my couch, wrapped in my fluffy blanket with my pillow, a bowl of popcorn near my hand. I wanted to have Loki run his fingers through my hair while I fell asleep, rain noises in the background...
"Rachael, wake up. We're here."
"Ughhhh."
"Charming."
We were in the parking lot of the uptown library, and Loki was at my door, holding it open for me with his hand outstretched to help me out.
"No. Let me go back to sleep."
"Do not make me haul you out myself"
"Don't threaten me with a good time and not deliver, sir"
Unclipping my seat belt, I let him help me out of the sex car.
We made our way through the front doors, shaking off the rain.
"One of your books is here?" I asked, lowering my voice to the socially acceptable library volume.
Loki was looking around, interested. I don't blame him. This branch was the oldest in the city. Heavy on the dark woods and globe lamps.
"I think so" he murmured.
Great. Looking for one old book among thousands. This was going to be a fun afternoon.
"Should we split up?" I asked, looking up at him.
"That does seem like a good strategy, " he agreed. "You take the left staircase, and I will take the right."
An hour later, I was up to my elbows in old books that hadn't been dusted in about...oh, I don't know...a THOUSAND years. I had gone through about fifty shelves.
Ughh. This sucked. Out of all the things I could be doing today, I was stuck in this icky dusty back corner of this junky old library with no hot men to look at.
I decided to take out my frustration by landing a kick on one of the shelves. It made me feel a little better...until one of the upper shelves gave way, dumping about six heavy volumes all around me. One clonked me on the side of my head and knocked me to the ground with a yelp.
I was dazed for a second, butt on the floor, the book in my lap, and birdies flying in circles around my noggin.
"Owww..."
Great. That was going to leave a nice lump.
I was about to extract my revenge by throwing the book that hit me, but I hesitated as I was winding up my throwing arm.
That vine pattern looked very familiar...
HOLY MOTHER OF GOD
Damn, I had some awesome luck! This had to be Loki's book! It was bigger than the other one we had found, but this one felt just like the other. Warm, and kind of sunshiny. Like it was happy to see me! Just like the other one!
I hauled myself up and scurried towards the end of the aisle to find Loki, only to be knocked to the ground again after running right into someone coming around the corner.
"What the fuu-"
I was cut off from my brilliant curse by my assailant grabbing my arm and jerking me upright.
"Hey! Let go!" I cried, trying to shake the man loose. But he had a death grip on my arm.
"Give me the book little girl." he growled, shaking me hard like a dog with a toy.
The terror had already kicked in. Was this the guy who capped the owner of the first bookstore Loki took me to?
Fuck, I wasn't waiting to find out.
"Here you go!"
I used all my strength and the weight of the book to collide it against the side of his head. Don't judge me, but I was pretty surprised that I managed to knock him down. Then my brain said 'RUN, STUPID!' and I took off, the book tight against my chest.
I went racing down the stairs, right past Loki, who was on his way up.
"What in the world-?" he started, but I kept running.
"GET IN THE CAR, WE GOTTA GO!"
There was no mistaking the panic in my voice, and he was behind me in a second. We flew out the front doors and raced to the car. I threw myself face first into the warm leather seat and Loki dove behind the wheel.
We peeled out of the lot and it took about five minutes for my heart rate to get below stroke level.
"What in the world happened?" he asked me. He had his composure back, but his hair was disheveled and his eyes were still a little wide.
"Some creep tried to take it"
"Take what?"
"This" I said, pulling the book out from under my jacket.
"You found the book!"
"Yeah and I didn't know I was in danger of being kidnapped for it" I said, stroking the cover. Stupid book. Worth too much trouble. Even though I kind of felt attached...
"Once again you go above and beyond my expectations" Loki said, taking his eyes off the road for a second to give me a blinding smile. But his eyes were still a little concerned.
"Did he hurt you?"
"He grabbed my arm a little tight, but I think he's going to be in more pain that I am." I said, kinda feeling like Supergirl.
Over my dead body was anyone else going to get this book.
Oh geez, I hope that wasn't a possibility.
"Where are we going now?" I asked him.
"Home, " he said. "Out of the rain. I owe you a bowl of that popcorn that you love so much."
I was in love.