The dream felt intensely real. Loki came to Astrid, and they made love. She felt his hands in places he had never touched, and his arms wrapped around her when they lay still after. His hand rubbed up and down her arm as it lay draped across his body. It was that sensation that woke her. That felt just a little too real.

Astrid's eyes slowly opened, and her surroundings came back to her. It was Thor's hand that rubbed her arm. It was his body she lay so close to with her arm over. She started to pull it off, but Thor gently grabbed her wrist.

"Please don't. You cannot imagine the joy I felt waking up to you this way." His hand raked through her hair, and his chest rose and fell with a deep sigh. "Though, I dare not think we ended up this way intentionally."

"I am sorry. I do not know how I-"

"You seemed to be having a fitful sleep. I felt you turn a few times, and when you arrived at this position I put my arm around you. You settled."

"I cannot deny that you have always been a comfort to me."

Thor shifted himself down and onto his side, but made sure to keep Astrid in his arms. He smiled at her before lowering his lips to her neck. Despite herself, Astrid moaned, which only encouraged Thor. She felt his tongue on her skin and she gripped his arm.

She was still caught somewhere in her dream of Loki. Her body still tingled with the sensation of his imagined touch, and Thor was reigniting it. His hand slid across her face, down her neck to her chest. He gently squeezed her breast pulling another moan from her.

Good morning, my love - she heard Loki in her head.

Her entire body froze, and she began to push at Thor's shoulder.

"Thor... stop."

He pulled back without hesitation. "Is something wrong?"

She stared into his eyes a moment, searching for an excuse.

"I... I am..."

"You are still not ready," he said softly.

Astrid shook her head. "I am sorry."

"You have no reason to be. In fact, I see this morning as progress. I will not give up, my sweet Astrid. I will win your heart."

He kissed her forehead and got out of bed. He quickly dressed and told Astrid he would see her in the dining hall for breakfast.

Astrid sat next to Thor at the table, and while they were alone he couldn't keep his hands, or his lips, to himself. He mouthed at Astrid's neck as he had done in the bed that morning. She closed her eyes and leaned into him. Anger rose up inside her that she enjoyed the feeling, yet she couldn't pull away.

"You two need to keep this behavior behind closed doors."

Astrid's eyes flew open to find Loki standing across the table. She wanted to fade out of sight; away from the guilt she felt under his gaze.

"Sorry, brother," Thor said, "but it is hard to keep your hands from a beautiful woman, is it not?"

"This is true."

Loki sat and they all ate and talked, though Astrid kept mostly quiet.

"Thor," Loki said, "I have a free day today, and I realize that I have not spent any time with my sister-in-law since before I was away. I was wondering if you would be wiling to part with her for the day."

"I suppose I have occupied most of her time these past few weeks. I have some things to tend to. Father asked just yesterday when I would be getting back to training." He looked at Astrid. "Is it all right with you?"

"Yes. Things have to get back to normal some time."

"Unfortunately, that is true. Very well, Loki. She is yours for the day."

"Excellent," Loki said with a grin. "How does a ride trough the country sound?"

"It sounds lovely."

"Very well. I will make sure the horses are ready. Join me at the stables in a few minutes?"

"I will be there."

Loki nodded and left the dining hall.

"I suppose I cannot keep you all to myself," Thor said.

"I suppose not."

"May I have a kiss to sustain me through the day?"

Astrid smiled and leaned in for a quick kiss, but Thor grabbed her waist and pulled her against him. His hand moved to her thigh and traveled over the light, flowing fabric of her dress. When his fingers brushed higher she pulled away.

"Thor..."

"Forgive me." Thor rested his forehead against Astrid's. "The longing to call you my wife in every way has clouded my vow of patience."

"You have been very patient, and I do love you for that."

Thor pulled back and looked into her eyes. "Then I shall continue in my patience."

Loki was waiting for Astrid outside of the stables. He was already mounted on his horse, and had the reins of hers in his hand. Astrid climbed up and he smiled at her.

"Shall we race?"

"Racing is not very ladylike," she said.

"Neither was your display with my brother at breakfast," he whispered so that only she could hear.

Astrid felt a rush of embarrassment, then anger settled in.

"Fine," she said as snapped her reins.

Her horse took off and Loki followed. His horse quickly overtook hers, and he made his way toward the forest that housed his hidden place. When they reached their tree, they slid from their horses. Neither bothered to tie them to the tree.

"How dare you!" Astrid said.

"How dare I? Do you have any idea what it is like to walk into a room and find your brother attached to the neck of the woman you love?"

"What was I to do?"

"Push him away!"

"I could not do that!"

"No? Because he is your husband?"

"That is exactly the reason!"

"It is a convenient reason."

Astrid wanted to scream, but a part of her still felt the guilt of enjoying the physical contact with Thor. She turned away from him to collect herself.

"Okay," she said softly, "this is getting us nowhere." She turned to face him again. "This could very well end whatever feelings you have for me... but I have to tell you this. It hurts me to think I am hiding something from you."

"You love him."

"No! Just... let me get this out."

Loki nodded and she took a deep breath.

"This morning, I woke up in Thor's arms. I tried to pull away, but he asked me not to, and he started kissing my neck and..."

"Did you stop him?"

"Eventually."

"Then what are you hiding?"

"The truth is that I was enjoying it."

Loki clenched both his fists and his jaw.

"But it is not that simple. Please, let me finish, and then you can get angry."

When Loki said nothing, she continued.

"I was having this incredible dream about you. We were together... intimately. It felt so real, and it was so amazing. And when Thor started kissing me I was still kind of feeling-"

Astrid stopped when she realized that Loki was laughing.

"What could possibly be funny about this?"

"Realizing that I am responsible for my own torment."

"What?"

"I am the cause of that dream."

"Yes, I know."

"No, darling. I put those images into your head. Not too differently than how I speak to you."

"You did what?"

"I wanted you to see how I imagined us together. I wanted to know that you were thinking about me." He took her hand in his and held it against his chest. "I had no idea the trouble it would cause. So, it seems I should be apologizing for driving you deeper into the arms of my brother."

"You are not solely at fault in this situation. Dream or no dream, I did-"

"Stop." Loki covered her mouth with his hand. "You have no idea the jealous rage that is coursing through me. If you agree to forgive, then so do I."

Astrid nodded. Loki removed his hand and wrapped his arms around Astrid's waist. For the first time, she looked around her. There was a large blanket laid open across the grass in the shade.

"When did you lay out the blanket?" she asked.

"I came out here before breakfast in hopes that I could get you alone. You asked for more time to enjoy us together. We have all day in a place where no one will find us."

Astrid shook her head and clutched Loki's tunic.

"I am miserable, Loki. I just want to be with you, out in the open. No sneaking around."

"We will, darling. Until then, we need to make the most of what time we have together."

Loki brushed a strand of hair from her face, then brushed it all back over her shoulder. His fingers trailed down her neck, and his eyes followed. He stared at the spot for a long while.

"His lips were here," he said finally.

"Loki-"

"Where else?"

"Do not do this to yourself."

"Where else were his lips?"

"No place else."

"Truly?"

"Truly."

Loki kissed the other side of her neck. "Where has he touched you?"

"Loki-"

"Where?"

Astrid took Loki's hand and placed it on her breast. She watched his jaw clench.

"Where else?"

She took his hand again and turned a bit as she placed it on the top of her thigh so that his fingers brushed the inside as Thor's had done.

"Did he touch-"

"No."

"You did not let me finish."

"You do not have to. I stopped him."

Loki led her onto the blanket and slowly knelt in front of her. He ran his hands up and down her thighs, and kissed her stomach. Astrid sucked in a breath and held it.

"Where would you like me to touch you?" Loki asked.

She knelt down in front of Loki.

"Everywhere."

Loki slowly drew her lips to his.

"Are you mine?"

"Yes."

"Do you belong to anyone else?"

"Only you."

Loki kissed her and lowered her to lie on her back. His hand traveled down to her legs and began to draw up the bottom of her dress. Once it was high enough, he reached beneath it and let his hand glide up the inside of her thigh until his fingers brushed over her center.

"No one else is to touch you here," he said into her mouth.

"No one else."

He slipped his hand into her undergarments, and his fingers explored her flesh. Her hips bucked at the sensation, and Loki smiled into the kiss. She gripped his arm as the heat built up inside of her.

She whined when he removed his hand and sat up.

"No worries, my darling. We need to get this dress off."

Astrid helped Loki remove her dress and undergarments, then he slowly removed his clothes while his eyes slid over her body. Loki lay on top of Astrid and ran a hand through her hair.

"You are the most beautiful woman I have ever met, in all the Nine Realms."

He pushed inside of her with a few gentle thrusts, each one sending a ripple of pleasure through Astrid. She wrapped her legs around his waist and met his thrusts. The sounds of nature mingled with moans and heavy breathing. The two stared into each other's eyes as they made love, until Loki's rhythm began to falter. He lowered his head and drew one of her nipples into his mouth. When Astrid moaned, Loki lost all sense of control. He thrust harder and faster until Astrid's whole body shook, and her legs clamped tighter around him, and he soon was trembling with her.

He didn't move for a long while. They lay there, joined together, kissing through their heavy breathing. Hands roamed and groped.

When Loki finally rolled onto his back he pulled Astrid close to his side.

"I love you, Loki."

"I love you, my darling."