Chapter 20 –
She wandered down to the common area and ended up sitting with Steve. He acted weird until she forced him to reveal that he'd been watching a soap opera. Natasha guiltily admitted that she enjoyed that particular soap as well, so they sat down and watched together.
"Dada daw?" a little voice broke him from his thoughts as he gazed up from his sketchbook to find Eira wide awake and staring up at him, surrounded by her new plush friends.
"Yes, little one, I'm drawing you," Loki grinned as he stood up and moved to sit on the mattress, turning the book so that she could see the picture. "See the sweet little princess."
"I daw," Eira requested as she climbed up in to his lap. He handed her the pencil as she began to scribble along the paper. "I daw Dada." He stared down at the circles and wavy lines that she was making and chuckled softly.
"Good job, little one," Loki smiled as he brushed his lips along the top of her strawberry curls. "Well done."
Natasha glanced at the clock as Steve started another episode of the soap opera before politely dismissing herself to return to her apartment. She walked in to find Loki giving Eira her afternoon snack.
Her eyes connected with his before she smiled sweetly at her daughter, "Hi baby girl. What are you eating?"
"Dada apples," Eira smiled sweetly as she bit down on one of the slices that Loki had placed in front of her. "Mama eat?"
The young god ran his fingers along her curls as he stood next to her. "How would you like to go to the park when you're done?" He asked as she nodded a vigorous 'yes' while she continued to chew her piece of fruit.
"Mama come?" she asked with her mouth full. Natasha leaned down to kiss her cheek, "No, baby girl. You have fun with daddy. I'll be waiting for you when you get back. I'm going to make you macaroni and cheese for dinner."
They spent nearly an hour at the park and Eira didn't show any signs of tiring of the swings and slides. Asgard didn't have places like this for children and Loki was having fun with the new experience himself as he chased her around the playground for a game of tag. Walking her home on his shoulders as dinner time finally rolled around.
Natasha smiled as Eira sprinted into the room. She leaned down and picked her up, "Did you have fun at the park, little one?"
Eira nodded eagerly and pointed toward Loki, who was leaning against the counter, "Dad da got on swing!"
Natasha laughed, "He did? That must have been a sight to see…now, go wash your hands for dinner, ok?"
Once Eira rushed off to the bathroom, she looked at her husband, "I don't want us to not talk…it makes things weird…for us…and for her."
"I don't want that either," Loki replied simply as he moved to sit down at the table. His dark green eyes drifting towards the bathroom as he waited for their daughter to return. "So what would you like to talk about?"
"I don't know. I just don't want us to ignore each other when we're in the same room. That's stupid", she said as she put some macaroni and cheese into a bowl for Eira.
"Agreed," Loki responded as Eira came back into the room and climbed up in the chair next to him. "mmmmh doesn't this look delicious," he grinned mischievously as he reached for her bowl. "I'm starving."
"Dats mine Dada, you silly," she giggled as she took the bowl back.
Natasha chuckled softly, "I'll get daddy his own bowl so your food will be safe, little one…did you want some?"
"Yes, thank you," Loki smiled before turning his attention back to their daughter. "So what do you think about seeing if Uncle Steve wants to play a round of that candy game after dinner with us again? or that one with the slides, you liked that one didn't you, little one?"
"I won," she grinned with a mouthful of macaroni.
Natasha laughed and nodded, "I'm sure you did, baby girl. You're so intelligent."
"Intewwwigent?"
"Yes, sweetie. It's just another way to say smart…"
"That you are, princess, very intelligent… brilliant… in fact, little one, I think very soon it will be time to teach you your very first trick," Loki beamed as he moved his fingers slightly sending several bubbles to dance around her. "Perhaps, tomorrow."
"Yes, Dada!" Eira clapped happily before popping the bubbles with her fingers. "I wanna do."
Natasha smiled, "Finish your dinner, baby girl. Daddy's on bath duty so I'm sure he'll make more bubbles for you there."
That night after several rounds of board games and hide and seek. Loki brought her upstairs for her bath and then settled her into bed. He closed the adjoining door as he walked into their room. Natasha was combing her hair in front of the vanity as he moved further into the room.
"Any plans on how you would like to spend tomorrow?" Loki inquired as he sat down in a chair by the window.
Natasha shrugged slightly, "There a children's museum a few blocks from here. I think she'd like that, don't you?"
She stood up and sat beside him on the seat beside the window, "I hate when we're like this with each other."
"I don't like it either, pet," Loki sighed as he leaned back against the chair. "But a children's museum sounds like fun. I'm sure Eira will love it."
Natasha furrowed her eyebrows, "Are you being cold with me right now? Cause that's the vibe I'm getting and…last I checked you were the one in the wrong here."
"In the wrong about what exactly? Because I thought we settled that? You haven't exactly been the warmest of people," Loki stated simply. "I think we are pretty even on the cold front, darling."
Natasha let out an exasperated sigh as she leaned back, rubbing her temples, "Fine. Maybe we should just have really crazy make up sex."
Loki raised an eyebrow at her curiously, a wry smile forming against his lips as his dark emerald eyes sparkled up at her. "That sounds like an interesting plan, my pet," he mused in his sultry accent. "I'm very curious as to what you mean by crazy."
Natasha suddenly climbed onto his lap and ripped open his shirt before raking her fingernails down his chest and lightly slapping his face.
"We can get crazy…" she said with a dark smirk.
Loki fisted his hand in her hair before pulling her neck back forcefully, his lips descending on her skin, nipping and suckling along her throat. His other hand sliding up her nightgown to her most sensitive spot. "порядке мимо меня, Наталия. [alright by me, Natalia]" he breathed wantonly.
Natasha gasped as he suckled against the sensitive skin of her flesh. When he began stroking the bundle of nerves between her legs, she roughly pulled away and stood before stripping out of her nightgown. She walked over to the bed and lay down, spreading her legs, "You can't touch me like that yet…I want you to watch me…I want you to be so hard it hurts…"
"You want to tease me, is that it, my little spider?" He inquired, his dark green eyes gazing lustfully at her naked body. "You want to make me suffer before I can have you. Be careful, darling. два могут играть в эту игру.[two can play that game.]" A wicked smile ghosting along his lips as he moved closer to the bed.
Natasha spread her legs, giving him an obscenely delicious view of her glistening womanhood. She licked her fingertip before drawing a circle around one of her pert, pinkish-brown buds, then slowly allowed her hand to trail down her stomach to rest between her legs.
Loki lied down next to her on the bed, his head propped up against his elbow as his hand moved along her hip, trailing across her abdomen as his dark green eyes bore into her own. He glided his hand upward, cupping her achingly swollen breast.
Natasha playfully smacked his hand away, "Ah ah ah…I want you begging to touch me…"
She stared directly at him as one of her hands squeezed her breast while the other traveled between her legs. As she slipped a finger inside of herself, her eyes slowly rolled closed and her mouth fell open in pleasure.
"I don't beg," Loki rasped as he licked his lips expectantly, his eyes roaming over her luscious form, his own body twitching with desire. He grabbed her chin between his thumb and forefinger, before tilting her head upward and crushing his mouth to hers in a heated kiss.
Natasha drank in the sweetness of his mouth briefly before snatching away and laughing mischievously, "You don't beg? Not even for me?"
She moved her fingers faster inside of her and let out a soft, breathy moan against his lips as her body rolled upwards. She licked at his lips, "Could you imagine what it would be like if you never got to feel my hot, wet heat holding onto your throbbing shaft…the way it clenches down on you when I'm cumming and crying out your name…"
"You've always had a way with words, darling," Loki whispered seductively, his lips mere inches from her own, his hand moving tenderly up and down her side. "There's nothing quite as delicious as being inside of you, it's like you were made for me. But what about you, pet? Do those fingers of yours feel as good as I do… do they fill you to the hilt, press deep into your core until you don't know where you end and I begin."
Natasha pressed a brief, but hungry kiss against his lips before pulling away slightly, "Mmmm….you make a very convincing case, my love…but I feel like my case is stronger."
She slowly took his hand and briefly placed it between her legs just to let him get a feel for how wet she was before yanking it away with a seductive chuckle.
"It might be, darling," Loki drawled as he pressed a soft kiss against the pulse point of her neck before sitting back up on the bed. "But I don't like your little game, pet, and I don't want to play it. It doesn't feel like you want to make up with me. It feels like you're just trying to punish me in a different way."
Natasha furrowed her eyebrows, "I wasn't trying to punish you, Loki. Honest. I thought it was sexy…I feel like I'm seriously the most turned on I've ever been…"
"Unfortunately, I cannot say the same, darling," Loki mused as he sat on the edge of the bed. "This wasn't what I had in mind."
Natasha laughed softly as she sat up, "Wow…that's how you're gonna be?"
"And what do you mean by that?" Loki replied as he turned his gaze back toward her.
"I think it's a tactic…I think you're trying to win this little game. I must say, it's brilliant, love…"
"Win it? This little game is over," Loki advised as he shook his head slightly. "I wasn't kidding. This feels like a power play for you. You don't want to make up. You just wanted to change the venue. Well, no thank you."
Natasha stood up and pulled on her robe, "Loki. I don't lie to you. That wasn't it. I was just trying to place a sexy little game, that's all."
"Well, then, since you're no longer mad at me and you want to make up," Loki mused as he walked toward her and pulled her into his arms, claiming her lips in a passionate kiss as he tugged her back to the bed.
Natasha kissed him back as they fell back onto the bed, "You drive me crazy, you know that?"
"I think you've told me once or twice, little spider," he quipped as he undid the tie of her robe, moving his lips along her skin, his hands on her naked flesh.
Natasha arched slightly against him and laughed softly as his lips roamed over her neck, "I love you so much…is it normal to want to spar with you one minute and want to fuck your brains out the next?"
"What fun is it to be normal, pet?" Loki grinned as he raised his head slightly to gaze into her soft blue eyes. "I love you, too, so much, darling. You're everything… you're my everything."
Natasha stared up into his eyes and smiled as she softly brushed his hair off of his forehead, "I love you too, Loki…you know you're my everything…I can't get enough of you…"
"I can't get enough of you either, my little spider." An impish smile settling along his lips. "May I have you? Will you let me? Please." His grin widening as his tongue brushed against her nipple, lashing into hardness as he suckled the delectable peak. His dark green eyes never leaving hers as he gazed at her wantonly. "Please… Natalia…I'm begging you… I'm desperate for you, darling." He moved his mouth downward as he licked and nibbled along her skin until he reached the apex of her legs, moving his tongue along the slick wet heat of her.
Natasha's breathing came in ragged gasps as she stared into his eyes. His intense gaze stayed fixed on hers as his tongue sought out every delicious slope of her body.
"Oh god…yes…yes…take me…please" she cried, equally desperate for him.
Loki dispensed the last of his clothes as he moved back up her body. He glided upward, deep inside her, moaning in pleasure as she sheathed him completely. "Valhalla," he gasped. "My Natalia… mine always."
Natasha moaned loudly as he entered her. Every time they made love, it was his initial thrust that always drove her crazy with lust. She loved it. Natasha claimed his lips in a frenzied kiss as he began moving within her, her body undulating in perfect harmony with his.
Loki lied there holding her tightly in his arms. The prospect of staying out of Odin's way did not really please him but he would keep his promises to his wife and brother. Thryheim was off limits and technically Odin was as well. But he knew there were other ways to reach his goals without playing tricks on the All-Father.
The young god pressed his lips against her forehead, his fingers tangled in her lush curls. "This is how it should always be with you content in my arms, my darling," he whispered in his sultry accent. "I love you very much, my little spider."
Natasha smiled and kissed him softly, "I love you, Loki…but you still drive me crazy."
She laughed softly, but fell silent upon hearing Eira call for her father from the next room.
"Poor darling must have had a nightmare. Go chase those monsters away, love."
Loki moved into the room quickly, his clothes returning magically the moment that he stepped foot on the floor. He opened the door to find her crying hysterically on her bed, her arms wrapped tightly around her new stuffed giraffe. He picked her up, enclosing his arms around her as he sat down in a chair in the corner of the room. "There, there, little one… I'm here, Eira. Your Daddy is here and you're safe. I will always be here when you need me. There's nothing to be afraid of, princess." He pressed his lips against her forehead as she whimpered softly. "Shall I tell you a story? or would you like a song, little one?"
"Sing Dada," she sniffled as she leaned her head against his chest. He tightened his embrace, resting his chin against her soft red curls as he began to sing her favorite lullaby.
Natasha pulled on her robe and slowly got up, walking to the door to watch them. She smiled as she leaned against the frame, listening as he sang their daughter a soft lullaby. It was so precious. It was no wonder she couldn't stay mad at him.
The next morning, Natasha woke up to find her husband and daughter in the common area kitchen with the rest of her former teammates and Pepper. They were making pancakes, but Bruce had burnt the first batch and had enlisted Loki's help in creating edible ones.
Loki tried to help make them the long way but gave up fairly quickly as he conjured pancakes for everyone. Eira sat in her high chair grinning happily as she clapped her hands.
"Dada make Mama," the little girl smiled widely. "Mama eat?"
"Yes, I know I'm cheating, my darling," Loki winked. "But it was unanimously decided that it was the best way to go." He pointed to the pile of inedible attempts at pancakes that flooded the garbage can.
Natasha sat next to Pepper and Tony as she cut up pancakes into small pieces for Eira, then glanced at the expectant couple with a smile.
"So, have you guys thought of any names?"
The question drew unanimous groan from Bruce and Steve. Natasha looked at the exasperated faces across the table before glancing at Tony and Pepper who were silently locked in a battle of wills.
"Uh…is this a sore spot?" she asked cautiously.
"No. It's not. It's just that I want our baby to have a unique name, like…River or Bell, or…Harmony", she said as she rubbed her belly.
Natasha raised a brow and nodded a bit as Tony shook his head and raised a hand, "In other words, she wants to name our kid like a hippie. I'd much rather name it after me. Anthony if it's a boy. Antonia if it's a girl."
"Narcissist" murmured Pepper. "Hippie" Tony murmured right back.
Natasha looked at Loki and laughed a little, glad they didn't have that problem when they were naming their daughter.
Bruce adjusted his glasses on his face, "If you two left your disagreements over your child's name between you, it would be fine, but Steve and I can't count the number of times we've been drawn into a vote to veto name suggestions."
Steve nodded in agreement, "You two have sucked all of the fun out of baby naming. If I ever have my own kids, I'm going to just draw names out of a bucket. Clint said he doesn't even want kids now because of you two."
Bruce glanced at his watch, "Speaking of which, his flight lands in an hour. I was going to go pick him up. He's bringing back a formula he confiscated from a military scientist in Bolivia…very exciting stuff. Thanks for the pancakes, Loki."
"Anytime," Loki nodded as he watched him leave the kitchen. The young god instantly bristled at the sound of the archer's name. He was the man that she had slept with when she had thought he was dead. Right or wrong, the idea made him seethe with jealousy. His dark green eyes moved toward Natasha and Eira as they finished the last of their breakfast.
Natasha finished cleaning Eira off and set her down on the floor. Steve smiled at her, "Loki, Nat, could I take her to the park?"
She glanced at Loki for joint approval before nodding, "Sure. I'll grab her jacket."
After Steve and Eira were gone, Natasha and Loki found themselves alone in their apartment.
"So…I guess time doesn't heal all wounds, huh?"
"What do you mean?" Loki puzzled as he sat down along a chair near the window and conjured his sketchpad into his lap. "I'm not sure which wounds you are referring to, darling."
"You know what I'm talking about. I could practically hear your muscles tense when Bruce mentioned Clint's name. We're married. We have a child together…yet you still bristle when his name is mentioned."
"What do you want me to say, pet," Loki remarked as he gazed up from his sketchbook. "I don't like him… I don't like that you were with him… and I have no desire to see him."
Natasha crossed her arms, "It's ancient history, Loki. Can I count on you to be civil?"
"Probably not," Loki smirked as he returned to his drawing. "It depends."
"Depends on what?" she asked as she moved his sketch pad to sit on his lap.
"On how he looks at you," Loki stated simply as he ran his fingers through her long, red curls. "I don't like the thought of another man touching you. I don't care how long ago it was. You're mine."
Natasha leaned down to kiss him, "Looking is not touching, my love…and everyone knows that I'm yours. I can promise you that."
"Well, he better know it and he better keep his eyes to himself as well as his hands, I'm not in the mood to play nice." Loki snipped as he fisted his fingers in her hair, pulling her head back as he began devouring her throat greedily. "I don't want him near you. I hate that he ever was. Ты моя, Наталия [you're mine, Natalia]."
Natasha moaned and closed her eyes as she felt his lips hungrily suckle against her throat. She laughed softly, "You're going to leave marks…but something tells me that's the point…"
Loki was overcome with jealousy and a possessive need to claim her as he stood up from the chair and carried her toward the bed. It wasn't enough that he knew that she was his. He needed to feel it in every cell in his body. He needed that sensation that always came when they were together. The only thing that ever made the noise in his head go away completely, being one with her.
Natasha quickly unbuttoned his shirt before slowly sliding the fabric from his shoulders, her hands gently gliding over his skin as she hungrily kissed him. She wrapped her legs around him as she teasingly arched against him, pressing his prominent bulge against her core.
Loki gasped at the feel of her finger nails running along his skin, quickly ridding them of their clothes as he moved his lips along her satin-smooth flesh. "My Natalia," he whispered shallowly from his lungs as he filled her completely. "Say my name," he ordered as she arched to meet each possessive thrust. "Tell me who you belong to."
Natasha arched as her body jerked with his rough movements, "Oh god! Loki! I'm yours! All of me…everything that I am belongs to you, my love…oh god! Don't stop, please….yes…yours…my body belongs to you…"
Loki lied there in the afterglow of their lovemaking, sated and content. All the insecure voices fading away as he held her closely. But the peaceful feeling didn't last long as less than an hour later as they sat in the living room playing their daughters favorite board game, Bruce returned with Barton in tow. The young god's entire body stiffened immediately as the man entered the room.
Natasha felt her husband tense beside her and looked up from where she sat on the floor, coloring with Eira to see Clint. He spared Loki a glance, "Hello Loki…." then turned his gaze to Natasha and smiled slightly, "Hey Tasha…you look great…Eira's gotten big…"
She smiled a little and gently ran her hand over her daughter's head, "Hey Clint. Good to see you…yeah. She's growing like a weed."
Loki remained quiet as he scrutinized the archer's every move like a lion preparing to protect its territory. His body tensed but he did his best to appear relaxed as he continued to color with his daughter.
Clint noted the tension in the young god's frame when he didn't bother to mutter a greeting in response. It was obvious Loki wasn't interested in playing nice, "I am well aware that she's a married woman, Loki. Regardless of my personal opinions, which I am allowed to have, I wouldn't disrespect Tasha's wishes and I only wish the best for her. She happens to think that's you. That's all I need to know."
"Well, thank you for that little bit of information but I honestly could care less what you think," Loki remarked coldly without bothering to look up as he diligently colored a kangaroo alongside his daughter.
"Mo blue Dada!" Eira ordered with a big smile as she waved the crayon in his face.
Natasha sighed and glanced up at Clint before looking at Loki, "Can I speak to you alone for a minute? Steve…would you keep an eye on Eira? Baby girl, I'm going to borrow your daddy for one moment."
Loki followed her into the kitchen and took a seat near the window before gazing up at her curiously. "What is it, my little spider?"
"I'm starting to think you hate olive branches because you set every single one that is handed to you on fire."
"I'm not quite sure what you mean by that, darling," Loki mused. "Exactly how many olive branches have I set on fire? I have no interest in being friendly with your former partner."
"For starters, the one Odin tried to hand you…you keep starting shit with him for no reason. You know what? You should really start to put my involvement with Clint in perspective. My involvement with him was not nearly as long as my relationship with James and it wasn't as impactful as my marriage. Do you think you should be able to hold a never-ending grudge against every man who's touched me?"
"Can't I decide who I like or don't like? Who I want to forgive? Whose olive branch I want to accept?" Loki exasperated as he leaned back in his chair. "I think I've been fairly good considering. You don't see my hands wrapped around his neck or anything do you." He winked with a slight smirk along his lips. "I think you should be applauding me for showing restraint, eh heh. Come on, my little spider. I don't want to argue with you."
Natasha uncrossed her arms and sighed, "I suppose you're right. You are allowed to decide who you do and don't like. That's your right…I just want you to be civil…please?"
She sat on his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck as she kissed his cheek, "I'm not even asking you to be nice. I am simply asking for tolerance."
"I was going for ignoring him, my little spider," Loki quipped with a sideways smile as he ran his hand along her thigh, his other pressed gently against the small of her back. "You know.. pretending he wasn't in the room… eh heh heh heh but he wouldn't shut up." He inclined his head slightly placing a sensual kiss along the pulse point of her throat.
Natasha moaned in approval when his lips connected to her favorite spot. She smirked and shook her head before looking down into his eyes, "You both are going to run into each other a few times…maybe he's trying to dispel the tension. You're a god so it doesn't bother you as much. We're mere mortals. Tension and awkwardness make us squirm."
"I know better ways to make you squirm," Loki teased against her skin as he continued to lavish her neck with succulent kisses, his hand moving beneath her blouse, moving languidly up her spine.
Natasha gasped and…like he said she would, squirmed beneath his attentive, seductive touch. Her eyes started to roll closed, but she grabbed his hand and giggled, "Loki! People are in the next room! They could walk in at any moment!"
"Where's your sense of adventure, darling?" Loki whispered seductively. His fingers drawing slow circles along her thigh.
Natasha looked around and stood before quickly undoing her jeans and sliding them off of her hips. She bent over the counter, "You better make this quick and quiet…"
Loki chuckled softly as he quickly positioned himself behind her. "Eh heh, I am to please, my little spider."
Natasha let out a harsh, but quiet moan as he sheathed himself inside of her. She kept her eyes on the door as he began thrusting in and out while her hands gripped onto the edge of the counter she was bent over.
She had to fight to keep her eyes open as he drove into her over and over. The pleasure was almost too much.
Loki bit down on his lip to stifle his moans as his strokes increased. The feel of her around him was divine, he could never get enough of her as they quickly reached their peak. "Valhalla.. my little spider," the young god whispered against her neck. "I love you."
Natasha had to bite her fist in an effort to keep from moaning too loud when she reached her climax. She panted softly as she straightened and quickly pulled up her jeans before turning around to kiss his lips, "I love you too…you naughty thing."
"Hasn't that always been your favorite thing about me?" Loki smirked as he brushed his fingers along her strawberry curls. "не так ли мой озорной природе, что привлекло ваше внимание, Наталия [Was it not my mischievous nature that caught your eye, Natalia]."
Natasha laughed and pressed a kiss to his lips, "Yes…your mischievous nature and your unparalleled ability to wet my panties with a mere glance."
"I remember that tubby old man you were pretending to fawn over, my little spider" Loki smirked. "From the first moment I saw you… I had to have you. I could think of nothing else."
Natasha smirked, "I couldn't take my eyes off of you…those beautiful eyes…my love…"
Loki lifted her hand to his lips kissing it softly before pressing it to his heart. "We will have to continue this discussion this evening when we are alone and I can take my time with you," he winked.
They made their way back into the living room where Eira quickly toddled toward them with her coloring book in her hands.
"Dada look!" the little girl beams as she held her picture up toward him. He picked her up swiftly and smiled.
"Well done, little one, it is beautiful," the young god advised. He glanced around the room and noticed that except for Steve it was empty. He was relieved but he knew the archer was still lurking around here somewhere. "Shall we go to the park?"
Natasha nodded as she watched Loki lift their daughter into his arms. She stepped closer, placing her arm around his waist and running her hand along her daughters curls. Loki was right, life with the God of Mischief might be exasperating at times but she wouldn't want him any other way.