Loki and Holly spent much of their time apart. He had shown her the library, where she had selected a book then disappeared to read on her own for a while. He would leave her alone until lunchtime, when he located her halfway through the day to give her a plate of fruit and cheese.

"Are you enjoying yourself?" he teased, sitting next to her.

"I am. Thank you." She smiled, putting her book down. Holly knew that he was treating her this way to get a positive answer out of her. She could not allow herself to be swayed by his charming ways. She wasn't even sure how sincere his statement had been just a few days before.

"Loki!" She heard off in the distance. Holly tore her gaze from his and turned it towards a young woman hurrying towards them. Loki stood, looking completely exasperated.

"Loki, who-" Holly started quietly, cut off by the woman who literally jumped at him. There was a small pang of jealousy that hit her… and that sold it for her right there. She had to have Loki. She had to be with him, at least to make these feelings of jealousy subside and for him not to force himself upon her.

Without a word, Loki took off with the young woman, leaving Holly sitting with her back against the pillar.

She felt like such a helpless woman at that point. She felt forgotten, unimportant. The tears began to fall, forcing her to abandon her book and plate of lunch, hurrying to hide somewhere she wouldn't be found by him.

Holly stood on a hidden balcony, willing her tears away. She had cried far too long over men. She was being far too girly about this. She didn't need his attention. She needed to get home and get away.

"Where have you been?" Loki asked angrily, startling her. "I've had servants running around like mad looking for you."

"I wanted to be left alone." She said quietly, her voice shaky.

"Why?" he demanded, spinning her to face him.

"I've gone on far too long dealing with men who use me then throw me to the curb. Of course it looks like you're doing the same to me!" she lost her temper, yelling at him.

"What are you talking about?!" his voice boomed back at her.

"That woman from earlier, Loki. You had come to sit with me! You just up and left and I-I…" she trailed off, looking away.

"You what?" he said, voice authoritative and demanding. Holly decided to just get to the point.

"If I say yes… are you going to do that to me every time a woman calls your name?" she said quietly, turning towards him. "You say that you want me, but I'm starting to doubt that, Loki."

"Of course not. I was merely getting rid of her. When I returned, you were gone." He told her. "And I still do want you. Badly."

"Why should I trust you?" she said quietly, tears in her eyes.

"Why shouldn't you trust me?" he twisted her words just slightly, tipping his head to the side. Loki stepped towards her.

"Maybe because you took me from my home planet to spite The Avengers?" she offered, raising an eyebrow. Her face was pained, her mind wrestling with her heart.

"It wasn't just because of that." He whispered, his hand gently running along the side of her neck and sliding back into her hair. "I found you incredibly intelligent and strong… and that's more than I think of most Midgardian women." The moonlight made her skin so pale, so beautiful. Her brown eyes searched his face, pleading for him to give her anything telling her that he was lying. "Your beauty is indescribable." Loki whispered as he caressed the back of her neck with his fingers. His long fingers gently ran over cheek, then gently across her lips. "I'm attracted to you, Holly. I want you. I have wanted you since you flipped me onto my back in the middle of that city." He explained gently.

"I… I…" she stuttered, her hand going to her head as she processed this new information. Slowly, she pulled away from him and settled herself at the railing of the balcony. Loki slowly followed, standing behind her as she took deep breaths. His hands settled on the railing, either side of her body.

"Give in." he whispered in her ear. "Lean back, relax, let your body melt into mine. Let me make you feel like a queen." Holly's jaw went slack as his hands crept closer to hers. He intertwined their fingers and stepped closer, her body molding against his. "I know you want me. Do not pretend that you don't."

"Loki," she breathed, leaning her head back against her shoulder. With a small smile, he lowered his mouth to her neck, tasting her skin.

"Let go." He whispered, gently pulling the fabric of her dress away from her shoulder. Holly sighed as placed kisses slow along her shoulder. "Do you want this?" he paused, squeezing her hand. "Do you want me?"

"Yes," she whispered back, spinning in his arms to look him in the eyes. Loki took that moment to capture her lips with his, leaning her back against the balcony railing. She gasped, her hands sliding to his chest and grasping his clothing. He slid his hands to her lower back, pulling her against him roughly.

"Where do you want me to take you?" he whispered, lowering his lips to her jawline.

"Your bed." She whispered back. Before she had time to think, Loki lifted by the thighs to straddle him, carrying her back into his chambers. As he carried her, Holly placed kisses down the side of his face, trailing them to the corner of his mouth. He laid her down on the bed, her red hair sprawling out across the green and black covers. Loki stood above her, shedding his helmet to the table beside the bed. Holly's breathing accelerated as he reached down and unbuttoned her bodice. His fingers gently pushed her skirts down her legs, pooling them on the floor. "It's hardly fair that you still have all your clothes on." She whispered, propping herself up on her elbows.

"Then take them off." He said quietly, raising an eyebrow. Holly sat all the way up, pulling him closer by the hips. Reaching up, she detached his shoulder pads and let them fall to the floor with a small thud. His cape fluttered to the floor with her dress. Carefully, she took his armor off, setting it with his helmet. Loki helped her, peeling his shirt over his head to reveal his pale, toned body. She took a deep breath, hand reaching out to touch his now bare chest. He placed his hand over hers, guiding it down to the waistband of his pants. Holly looked up at him, hesitant to proceed. "Go on," he encouraged. She pushed his trousers down over his hips, watching as Loki slowly crawled onto the bed. The trousers fell to the floor and he was on top of her, nude as can be. He dipped his head and began to place kisses along her collarbone.

"Loki," she whispered, pulling on his arms. He obliged, crawling further up her body and kissing her lips deeply. His hand gently slid to her side, caressing her skin as he made his way to her chest. Holly's hands held his face, giving slow, passionate kisses. "Wait," she stopped him, receiving an icy glare from the man on top of her.

"Don't stop me and for the love of gods, do not say that we aren't doing this tonight." He growled.

"I wasn't going to stop you… I just need a bit of… reassurance." She said, biting her bottom lip.

"Keep biting the bottom lip and I will take you now." He muttered. "What reassurance do you need?"

"You're positive you want to do this?" she questioned, face wrinkled with worry.

"Oh, my pet. I do not believe I have ever wanted anything more." Loki assured her, "Now, are you ready?"

"Yes." She nodded. Immediately after, she cried out as he entered her slowly.