Several weeks passed. Loki and Astrid stole whatever moments they could. Sometimes they made love, sometimes it was only long enough to kiss. It didn't matter how long they were together, Astrid anticipated each moment.
The downside through all of it was that she had to make sure that Thor never became suspicious. She tried to avoid physical contact when Loki was around, but Thor was usually hands-on.
One night as they lay in bed, Thor wrapped his arm around her waist from behind and kissed her neck.
"Thor, we need sleep."
"Will you never return my affections?"
"I am tired. Can we not have this discussion now?"
"It is the only time I am alone with you lately. I feel like we have taken a step back. Have I done something to upset you?"
"No."
"Then, what? You withdraw from my kisses. You remove my hand when I try to touch you."
"You know I am not ready."
"But you were trying. You let me kiss you, hold you. Now..."
His voice trailed off with a sigh.
"I have asked you before, but it is worth asking again. Do you love another?"
"If I said that I do, would it change anything?"
"No. You are my wife."
"Then why bother to ask such a question?"
"You are cross."
"I am tired."
Thor leaned over and kissed her cheek.
"Then, sleep, my love."
He turned so that his back was to her, and she soon heard his gentle snoring. Astrid couldn't fall asleep, so she went to the library to sit and read for a while.
She found Loki there, reading in one of the oversized chairs. He looked up as she walked toward him and he smiled.
"Astrid, darling-"
He stopped talking when Astrid straddled him and slammed her lips against his. Without hesitation, he threw his book to the floor and wrapped his arms around her.
"This is an unexpected pleasure," he said when they broke for air.
"Very much."
Astrid pulled at the ties on Loki's pants. Loki ran his hands through her hair, then moved to untie the laces at the bosom of her night dress. When her breasts were unveiled, Loki latched his lips onto one of them and palmed the other. He groaned against her flesh when her hand finally wrapped around his freed length.
They worked each other that way, with hands and lips, until Astrid couldn't take it anymore. She lowered herself onto his length and began to rock back and forth. Loki groaned and stared at their hips joining before his eyes connected with hers.
Astrid kissed his neck before their eyes connected again.
"Make me forget everything but you," she whispered.
Loki cupped her face in his hands. "You will have to be quiet. We don't want to draw attention to ourselves."
"I will do my best, but I make no promises."
Astrid smiled, and it made Loki grin. He planted his feet flat on the floor and shifted Astrid in his lap so he could better grip her hips. He thrust up into her and she fought back a loud moan.
She met each thrust by pushing herself down onto him, driving him deeper. A cry slipped past Astrid's lips, and Loki clamped a hand over her mouth. She whimpered into his palm as he pounded into her. Loki clenched his jaw to stop the loud noise that wanted to escape.
Astrid spasmed around Loki as the pleasure washed over her, still trying to meet his thrusts until he joined her and they both went limp. His hands roamed over her back while she kissed his neck.
He pulled her back and kissed her forehead before relacing her gown. She returned the favor by tying his pants.
"Did you know I was here?" Loki asked.
"No. I could not sleep. I was coming to read."
"Happy coincidence," he said with a smile.
"Very happy."
She lay against him and buried her face in his neck.
"I love you," she said with a sigh.
"I love you, my darling."
"Take me away from here."
"I know that is not what you truly want. You would miss your parents, and you would carry guilt over him."
"I am only happy in your arms. Every other moment is a burden."
"Then let us not speak of it while we are together."
"What happened to your plan?"
"It is forming. A few minor details to work out."
"And we will be together?"
"If all goes accordingly."
Astrid ran a hand down his chest.
"Just hold me for a while."
"Gladly," he said as he wrapped his arms tighter around her.
They stayed there for a long while before they kissed goodnight.
Astrid slipped back into bed, and drifted to sleep with the feel of Loki all over her.
Several days passed, and Thor seemed to be giving Astrid space again. He didn't try to cuddle her at night, and his kisses only ever met her cheek. She was relieved at the change, until the night he arrived back at their room drunk after a late night out.
Astrid was lying in bed when Thor slammed the door closed. She sat up with a start.
"You will wake the entire wing of the palace," he said.
"I only wanted to wake you." He leaned over and kissed her on the lips.
"I was already awake. And you are drunk."
"Just a little."
Thor pushed her back to lie on the bed and lay himself on top of her as he kissed her neck.
"What are you doing?" She pushed at his shoulders.
"Finally making love to my wife."
"Not like this," she said, still shoving.
Thor pulled back. "No. You are right." He stood and pulled her with him.
"Let me go!"
Thor pulled her toward a chair. He sat down and pulled her into his lap so that she straddled him. One arm held her tight around her waist as his other hand unlaced the bosom of her gown. She slapped at his shoulders and hands.
"Stop!"
"What? Is this not how you like it? Is this not how you fucked my brother?"
Astrid froze and Thor grabbed her wrists. She stared at him, not quite registering the words he had spoken.
"Are you insane?" she finally asked.
"I followed you to the library that night. You seemed genuinely surprised to find him there, so I know the meeting was not planned. Yet you went to him as a lover you had been to before, and he accepted you the same."
"You watched us?"
"I watched just long enough to know that my brother knows my wife more intimately than I know her."
Thor stood, and Astrid fell to the floor. He paced with his fists clenched.
"You rejected my affections, your husband, and let my brother seduce you."
"That is not how it happened."
"You left my bed to be with him."
"No."
"How many times?"
"Would you listen? Loki and I-"
"Do not dare speak his name to me! I saw you with my own eyes. Were it not for the scandal I would bring this betrayal before the Allfather."
Astrid finally stood. "What will you do?"
"I will do nothing. This embarrassment will remain secret. You will tell him it is over."
"What you are asking-"
"I am not asking." He walked toward the door, but stopped and turned back to her. "And I suppose I will do something. I will make sure you are never alone with him again. And on the night of my coronation, I will have you as my wife. I have lost my patience, and you have lost your right to refuse me."
He left the room and slammed the door behind him. Astrid sat on the edge of the bed and cried. From the day she confessed her love to Loki her life had taken a bad turn, and it was just getting worse. She quickly tightened the laces of her dress, then ran from the room. She went straight for Loki's chambers, and was only slightly surprised to find Thor inside. He and Loki stood toe-to-toe, and they both looked at her when she entered.
"I should have known you would run to him," Thor said.
"Of course she came to me, you giant oaf!" Loki bit back.
"You told me to tell him," Astrid added.
"And you just could not wait. Well, I decided to confront the traitor myself."
"Thor," Astrid said, "you have this all wrong. Loki and I-"
"Do not tell me what I saw! I know what I saw!"
"Yes, you saw it, but you are wrong about the intentions! Neither of us wanted to betray you."
Thor pointed a finger in Loki's face. "You stay away from her. Am I clear? She will be under constant guard. You will never have one second of her alone."
He grabbed Astrid's arm and pulled her behind him as he stormed out, but Loki grabbed her other arm to stop him.
"You cannot man handle her like you do everything else. She is not your property."
Thor shoved Loki away from her. "Touch her again, and my first act as King will be to banish you to a barren realm."
Loki made a move to throw a punch, but Astrid yelled for him to stop.
"No, Loki. Let me go."
Loki relaxed his arm and stared at Thor.
"You are lucky she holds sway over me."
Thor took Astrid's hand and pulled her from the room. Loki ran a hand through his hair. The anger inside of him built and mixed with the jealousy and a feeling of helplessness until he threw the punch he wanted to throw at Thor. His magic would repair the hole in the door tomorrow.
