Loki and Astrid made love over and over there in their hidden place until the sun went down, and they knew they had to return to the palace. Thor would be waiting. That fact hung heavy around them as they watched the sunset. Loki lay on his back with Astrid curled up against him. Her head rested against his shoulder as his arm circled around her. Her legs tangled with his. Nothing but Loki's tunic covered them, draped across their hips to keep away the coolness in the air. They became quiet, neither of them wanting to say what needed to be said.
When Loki felt a wetness on his skin he turned his head and lifted Astrid's face.
"Why the tears, darling?"
"You know why. Today was so wonderful, and now I have to go back to-"
Loki put two firm fingers to her lips. "Not his name. Not while we are together like this."
Astrid nodded and continued when Loki removed his fingers. "It does not change the fact that I have to return and pretend that I am not in love with you."
"I will find ways to be with you."
"I doubt we will get an opportunity like today any time soon."
"I believe you are right."
Astrid propped herself up on her elbow. "How do we do this?"
"Our times together will be short. We will have to make the most of them."
"I just see no way for this to work without us getting caught."
"Do you trust me?"
"Of course I do."
"Then worry no more. I will make sure we are together."
Loki rolled Astrid onto her back and buried his face between her breasts. He inhaled deeply and kissed his way up her neck to her lips before he stared into her eyes.
"I have centuries left to live," he said, "and not one year is worth living if I cannot have you."
Astrid smiled. "You were willing to keep your love quiet when you thought I was in love with him."
"Because I thought you would be happy. That was all I wanted. Now that I know you love me as I love you, I will never let you go. As long as you love me, you are mine. No one else's. I was not kidding about the jealousy I feel for you."
"I love no one but you, Loki."
"I know, darling. I just may need a reminder when I see you... pretending with him."
"Just tell me how to remind you, and I will."
He kissed her gently, then pulled away with a sigh.
"We should go."
Astrid whimpered, but Loki stood before she could protest further. He handed Astrid her dress before he dressed himself. He left the blanket to remove later. After one last, lingering kiss they climbed onto their horses and rode back to the palace.
They arrived in time for dinner. Astrid took her place beside Thor, who leaned in for a kiss. Loki, seeing the exchange from where he stopped to speak with one of Thor's warrior friends, decided to pass on the meal. He walked past the table toward the corridor, and almost didn't stop when Thor called after him.
"Are you not joining us, brother?"
"Not tonight. It's back to training tomorrow, so I intend to enjoy these last few hours of rest in quiet solitude. Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Loki," Astrid said. "Thank you for the lovely day."
Loki smiled and gave a slight bow. "Quite welcome."
That night, to avoid raising any suspicion, Astrid snuggled against Thor in bed. His deep, contented sigh was hard to ignore. Guilt ran through her. She never asked to be married to Thor, and still she felt like she was betraying him.
As horrible as that made her feel, she knew the one person she couldn't betray was Loki. So, she made sure that Thor kept his hands in respectable places. If Thor objected, he kept it to himself.
Loki kept his distance over the next few days. Between training and other duties he was busy, and Astrid had her hands full with meetings that Frigga insisted she attend. They barely spoke more than a hello as they passed each other.
When the ball was announced, Loki knew it would be an opportunity. As people ate and drank, Loki slipped away from the crowd and down the corridor. He knew there would be guards along the way because of the party, so he cloaked himself, making his way to his chambers, unseen.
Astrid heard his voice in her head. - Come to me, darling.
Loki had managed to speak with her before the ball, so she knew exactly where to go. She glanced toward Thor, who was across the room. She politely ended her conversation with a foreign dignitary, and cautiously slipped down the corridor. Loki had promised to blind the guards to her passing, but she felt exposed as she walked right by them. They never even glanced her way.
The moment she slipped into Loki's room, he grabbed her arm and pulled her against him into a kiss. He backed her further into the room, then against the wall. His breathing was already harsh with want. He rolled his hips against hers. Astrid gasped into his mouth, and Loki growled.
He broke the kiss as he fumbled with the ties of his pants, but he kept his face close to hers, kissing her cheeks.
"I love you," he whispered.
"I love you."
Astrid lifted the skirt of her dress as Loki pulled his pants down enough to free himself. He lifted her, and she wrapped her legs around his waist as he pushed into her.
Loki stilled, barely grinding his hips against hers as he pressed her back against the wall. He remembered her words about their love turning into frenzied, lust-filled trysts, and forced himself to slow down and savor the moment. He brushed the tips of his fingers through the hair at her temple and kissed her, soft and slow. Astrid wrapped her arms around his shoulders. One of her hands was at his neck, raking her fingers through his hair.
"Loki," she said against his lips.
"Yes, my love?"
"Take me."
He pulled his hips back, then trust them gently forward. The motion pulled a moan from Astrid.
"Like this, darling?"
"Yes."
He repeated the movement.
"We fit together so perfectly," he whispered.
"Perfect."
Loki began to move faster, and Astrid moaned. Loki's hand traveled down her body, stopping for a moment to palm and squeeze her breast before gripping her bare thigh. His fingers dug into her flesh as his hips ground into her.
Loki pulled her earlobe between his teeth and groaned into her ear. "You are mine."
"Yours... I am yours."
Loki let out a guttural scream into Astrid's neck as she tightened around him and pulled him over the edge with her. Her legs fell limp, and Loki placed her back on her feet, though he held her tight around her waist. They kissed deeply, and Astrid's hands found Loki's bare bottom.
"It is truly a shame you have to cover your perfect body," she said with a smile.
"The same could be said of you."
"Though I would want no one else to see it." She squeezed his rear before her hand fell away, and Loki pulled up his pants. "You are not the only one who knows jealousy," she said.
"When have you ever had cause to be jealous?"
"Have you not seen the way women look at you? The young, handsome Prince with the sharp mind and the silver tongue? They would fall at your feet if you asked them to."
"I see no woman but you. I never have."
With a hand to his face, Astrid placed a light kiss to Loki's lips.
"I love you," she said. "More than you could possibly imagine."
Loki smiled and righted the fabric of Astrid's dress.
"We need to get back," he said. "You go back the way you came. I will shield you through the corridors. I will go another way to the library. Someone will eventually look for me and find me there alone."
Back in the ballroom, Astrid found Thor and hooked her hand over his arm.
"There you are!" Thor put his hand on hers. "I was beginning to think you abandoned me."
"I just stepped out for a moment, but I've been mingling, as Frigga is teaching me."
"Then you have an excellent teacher."
"I have no doubts there. I love your mother."
Just before the party ended, Astrid saw Loki walking back into the room. His eyes found hers, and he smiled.
I love you, darling. -she heard in her head.
