Chapter 48.
She lay on her side, her hands curled against her chest as she lay in the nude. She smiled, none of the long day showing on her and Loki wanted to keep her from all that would cause her distress. Her eyes glanced down his body, full of curiosity as he watched her. He gave her a soft caress, his fingers tracing over her stomach and hip ghost like and she shivered in delight. Her eyes fluttered from his manhood, blushing and she hid her face at being caught looking.
"Don't be shy Floria, I am for you to look at." He said softly and she blushed. She sat up on her hip, the moonlight casting a cold glow over her in stark contrast to the warm light of the fire behind her. Her hand touched his hip and she looked, her eyes widening in shy delight.
"I have never seen a man without his clothes before." She confessed and he savored her touch as her hand moved over him. His muscles tensed slightly and he let out a sigh at her attentions, his hand caressed her cheek gently and he sat up and kissed her. He took the delicate appendage in his, and she trembled a bit and he kissed away her fears as he guided her hand to him.
"I have never seen a woman a beautiful as you so clad." He said and she looked into his eyes, their foreheads joined together and he moved his hips against her touch.
"Am I that pleasing to you?" She asked and he hissed in pleasure. His breath caught and he kissed down her neck, taking her hand away from him and putting it over his heart.
"Do you feel how my heart races at your tender ministrations?" He asked and he pressed his hand between her breasts, her breath catching as he touched her.
"I do. It is like mine is and always will be." She said and he kissed her. He lay her back against the pillows, admiring the view of her and his fingers caressed over her collarbone.
"This throat that carries your lovely voice, these soft lips that form the words you speak." He said and his fingers touched her lips. "This beautiful mouth that only has kind and wise words to say from it."
She blushed, his hand tracing over her chest and caressing the skin of her breasts. Her breath caught as he kissed them both, her fingers gripping the sheets beneath her and she arched into him.
"This gentle heart, beating so quickly, I would free it to fly if it pleased you." He said and kissed her belly, his fingers making a circle around her naval. She blushed and he kissed lower, her hands winding into his hair as she whimpered.
"I could write epic sonnets about you, and they would all be the envy of the world." He said and held her to him. "I would drink from you lips and never be thirsty again, feed from the bounty of your heart and never starve. You are the life giving oasis in the middle of the barren desert, and I gladly rest in your soft embrace."
"Then show me how much life I am to you, for you are life itself to me." She said, kissing him and he lingered at her mouth. Her gasps became a symphony to his ears, and he lay between her legs and she wrapped him in her embrace. The night was theirs, and no one would steal a moment of it from them, his body the vessel to worship hers properly. Their sanctuary the very bed they lay on, her gasps filling to room and no one stealing their time away.
"My goddess, my Queen." He whispered to her and buried his heart into the fertile soil of hers.
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She woke the next morning wrapped in the blankets, Floria lifting her head softly and blinking as the sun filled the room through the window. Loki lay on his back next to her, her fingers giving him a gentle shake and he opened his eyes and smiled at her softly.
"Good morning my Heart." He said and she smiled at him. He took her and the blankets into his arms and held her, kissing her forehead and running his nose along hers.
"Good Morning Husband." She said and giggled. She couldn't get her hands free, but did not care at all. "I have a Garden Party this morning, Noble Ladies and tea, it sounds dreadfully boring."
"You should still go. You will be a Queen one day, and it is not good for a woman of your standing to ignore your obligations. I will be in Council for the morning, maybe I could rescue you from ennui and take you for a ride on Neverwhere later." He said and she smiled at him, kissing him back.
"I would like that, maybe we could race through the fields again." She said and he grinned at her.
"What man would I be if I did not thrill my Wife into laughter." He said and she laughed as her kissed her neck. She wiggled against him, trying to get free and he held tighter.
"If you keep that up, I shall be very late for the party." She said and he laughed into her throat. He lay her back, flipping his hair and letting out a playful huff.
"I suppose I must let you go then. It does pain me terribly, to see you dress and leave these chambers." He said and she laughed, her fingers playing with a bit of his hair.
"I will always come back, for I know you are here waiting for me." She said and he laughed, kissing her and holding her for a moment. He let her get up, laying back on the bed and watching her as she walked into the bathing chambers to ready herself for the day.
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"I honestly think my husband lacks both the skill and the vigor to properly satisfy a woman. I have to hide my exasperation at his attentions every time, and I cannot bear his flatulence afterwards." Lady Venn said, the other girls laughing. Floria blushed and sipped her tea, eating a small cake and giggled. The woman in the red gown made the sound with her mouth, mimicking her husband and the women howled with amusement. "Darling... thhb... you are amazing...thhb... I adore you...thhb."
"Mine is worse, I could promise you that." Yolanda said, gesturing to her growing belly. "I am amazed I did not fall asleep when this one was put in me. He was terribly dull, and did not care for me afterwards, he fell asleep and snored horribly."
"The Princess is the quietest so far, yet the one who giggles the most at our suffering." Lady Balmer said and Floria looked at her tea. "Does The Heir Apparent make you see stars with his attentions?"
"Ladies!" Queen Frigga laughed, coming to Floria's rescue. "I would be very angry if my Son did not make his Wife the happiest woman in all of Asgard."
"Then don't be angry My Queen, for he is such a kind and giving husband." Floria replied, the ladies looking at her and laughing.
"You must tell us then, how is it with him? You and I both married for love and must lord it over the other ladies, make them good and jealous." Lady Verr said, winking at her and Floria set her hands in her lap.
"He calls me his Goddess and begs to worship at my feet, and he showers me with gifts and kisses me often. This morning, he suprised me by filling my bath with lotus blossoms and extracts of lavender and jasmine that smelled so fragrant, I did not want to leave. And, I found a pearl and diamond bracelet in the center of one that magically bloomed before me as I bathed." Floria said and leaned close to all the ladies, showing them the delicate chain of gold adorning her wrist. Their eyes went wide at the surprise and all smiled at how lucky she was except for Yolanda. "He read to me when I could not sleep also, his voice soothing me when I was unwell. He is so very magical, it makes me feel like a true Goddess."
"That truly is love, so few of us Noblewomen are given that opportunity. I am truly jealous of you Princess Floria." Lady Balmer said, and Yolanda sat close to them. Frigga beamed with pride at how her son treated his wife, her eyes shining at how caring he was and had turned away from his darkness to embrace her love. Her Hope's coming true, and thanks to the girl who sat next to her now.
"You do know that will end, no romance is so enduring that it survives trials such as a child." Lady Yolanda said and sipped her tea. "Once you give him an heir, he will not pay as much attention to you. And one day, when you are proving to be ripe with his child, he will take a mistress and shower her with the affections he once gave you."
"Lady, do not accuse Loki of such things." Frigga said, frowning at the woman wept into her hands.
"Is that happening to you now?" Floria asked, taking her hand and Yolanda nodded with tears in her eyes. She sniffed, mentally carrying on with her deception to make herself a better friend to the girl she was working now to destroy.
"He takes her now, every night and has sent me in my own chambers. I hear them, and it tears me to pieces." She choked out and Floria leaned to hug the saddened woman. Her fingers worked quickly, opening the ring on her finger and slipping the potion her sister Amora made into her cup of tea. The potion that would drive her into the sick bed again, and ensure that she was thoroughly destroyed.
"I am so sorry for you Lady Yolanda. I know that we have had some differences, but do you think we could be friends?" Floria asked and she smiled at the little fool in front of her. She nodded, dabbing her eyes with a cloth and smiled.
"I would like that very much, you are so very sweet." She replied and watched as Floria sipped her tea again, her smile growing as she took the toxin into her body and mentally cheered. Soon, the girl would be gone as and she could place herself in line for the throne.
"Thank you, and I will pray tonight that your baby is healthy and loves you forever." Floria said and the Ladies around her clapped their hands in approval of her promise, their conversation returning to other things and the morning turning to afternoon.