~ Chapter 37 ~

"Are you not going to introduce us, Thor?" Sif asked as he looked at her friend with big innocent eyes. She too knew that Thor didn't want them here, and just that made it all so much better. They had worked their butts of and on top of that worried about him.

If he was going to get out of this mess engaged then they were entitled to being in the way.

Thor looked at Loki before pointing at each and everyone of his friends.

"That's Sif; Asgards best female warrior. That's Hogun. Next to him is Fandral. And the one eying our food is Volstagg." His finger going from face to face as he named them.

Hogun nodded his head while Fandral bowed in a mock gesture. Loki took it as if he were trying to make his status as a Prince of Jotunheim a joke. His eyes narrowed.

"It's an honor to meet you all." Loki answered as respectfully as he could.

"Like wise." Hogun said as Volstagg kept a close eye on the tray.

"So..." Fandral drawled. "Have you heard?" he asked like it was the question of the millennium.

Thor for his part wasn't sure what his friend were hinting toward because he had spent the last few days closed in a room, but Loki caught on without missing a beat.

"We talked with our fathers when I woke up." Thor caught on. "So... aye. We know."

"Any hard feelings or other about it?" he wiggled an eye brow.

Loki didn't want to dislike Thor's friends, but Fandral were seriously pissing him off. He had no idea how Asgard treated couples, but in in Jotunheim they were treated with respect. Not corny remarks or hints.

"Fandral." Thor asked, calling him on his behavior.

"Hey, hey. Keep it in your pants." Sif said with a grin. "After everything we've been through I think we deserve some information." she began to walk closer.

It was as if the room could feel Loki's displeasure because before anyone could react, a stream of water came down from the ceiling, hitting Fandral square on the head. The sudden contact made the man lose his footing and slipped on his butt.

Sif laughed out loud at her friend before the others joined in. Thor laughed too before looking at Loki beside him who looked stunned.

"Was that you?" he whispered with a nudge.

Loki were drawn out of his space and looked at Thor. "No. But it's what I wanted to do."

Thor broke out in a big grin of approval before going to rescue their food.

Some time later, Thor and Loki found themselves on one of the higher levels inside the baths. Steam rose from the water as Loki sat straddling Thor's legs, both relaxing against each other as they let the water work its magic on them.

Two level below were the other men, while Lady Sif had moved to a level higher than them.

"Thor?"

"Mmm?" came a luxurious answer.

"What do you think?"

"About what?"

"The future? Us? Everything?" he couldn't deny that he was somewhat nervous.

"What are you worried about?" Thor let a hand run up and down Loki's spine. He felt both the bones and markings under his touch.

"I don't know." Loki admitted in a low voice. "That I will not be able to fit in. That something will keep us apart." he paused to think more carefully. "There is no guarantee that Asgard will accept a Frost Giant on the throne, even as a spouse. Our realms are not exactly friends." He let his head rest against Thor's. "It's only been days since we first met under the ice. So much may have happened to us. Our adventure, our bonding, but to everyone else nothing has changed. Asgard is still a fiend to Jotunheim, and I don't know what Asgard thinks about us but it can't be nice. Asking them to accept us might be too much."

"Maybe." Thor said thoughtfully. "But I won't give them a chance to hurt you. I'm the rightful heir to the throne and you are my chosen husband. Maybe something more powerful than destiny has decided it and I will not let anyone take you away from me. Either we live together in Asgard or we will find another realm."

"Will you be able to do it?" Loki felt calm despite the severity of the subject. "Can you really leave everything behind? Your friends? Your family? Everything that you have ever known? I don't have any lingering attachment to Jotunheim. Except my closest family, no one ever accepted me. If I had entered the heat like all others then my worth might have been something since I were the heir after all, but that was long ago. Even if I were to go to the underworld, I would have no lingering feelings to my home."

Thor thought carefully in a long silence that Loki felt no need to rush. This was an important topic for them.

"It would be hard." Thor admitted finally. "To leave everything behind... I-I can't even begin to think what it would be like." his voice were infected with hurt at the idea and Loki could tell it would hurt his mate badly if they were not accepted in Asgard. "But I know that leaving you would kill me. I can no longer think about ruling if you are not by my side. It's impossible." he hugged Loki closer. "So I will fight. I will fight anyone who stands in our way."

Loki placed a kiss at the corner of Thor's mouth before he leaned back softly, undoing the Aesir's hold on him.

"This arranged marriage might be a blessing in disguise. We won't know what the future holds for us until we step into it. Maybe fearing things that has not happen, or will not happen, is a foolish thing and I'm only over thinking it. Let's make the most of our time together before we part way for a short time." His hand came up to touch Thor's face and stroked a thumb over the others lips as he smiled kindly.

"Aye." Thor agreed, feeling his heart flutter. "You are truly wise and speak words that reach the heart. I'm more happy than I can put into words myself that you will share my life." He lifted Loki by the hips to push him close, making the Jotun let out a purring sound at the new contact. "The thought that I will have to part with you for a month is heartbreaking and cruel, but to know you will be mine after that warms my heart."

The Frost Giant smiled wide. "Think about it." he felt giddy. "We may part in a few hours and will not see each other for a month, but after that we will be officially engaged, and one year later we will be married." his green eyes sparkled in the light.

"One year and one month." Thor repeated. "Seems too long." he grinned as he slowly rocked his hips. "But knowing that in one month I will be taking you to my bed and pleasure you, making you ride on waves of pleasure, and make you completely mine."

"Mmm." Loki moaned, he wrapped his arms around Thor's shoulders and matched the motion under him. "Why wait?" he leaned forward and let his breath brush against Thor's mouth. "You can have my right now. Make me scream your name as you claim me."

It actually sounded like a good idea and despite Thor's good intentions he felt his control slip. A finger wandered lower until he felt the top of Loki's buttocks and the moan he elicited. Their mutual interest grew between them and they were leaning closer for a kiss when-

"COME ON! There are others here that are trying to relax." a voice snapped them from their trance and back to reality. Thor's control came back and he could hear Loki curse under his breath as he glared up at Sif who were glaring down at them. "I don't mind you talking dirty to each other, but warn me before you are going to fuck each other because I don't want to be in the same room as you."

The lust had been transformed into embarrassment and irritation, and hadn't it been because of the heat from the water, Thor's blush would have been much more clear on his skin. Loki lumped forward in a defeated groan because he knew that his attempt had been ruined and Thor wouldn't let himself be manipulated that easily soon again.

TBC