This story, it seems, may eventually become an "M" rating, and this chapter plays with that a bit...nothing terribly explicit, to be sure, but be forewarned.

Jane, in her reverie, as she readied herself for dinner, was mildly concerned about Frigga and Thor…she did care for them, and she didn't wish for them to be angry at her (Thor's hammer and Frigga's own magic notwithstanding). But her own heart would not be denied. She was in love with the dark sorcerer, with his mind, and his morbidity, his humor and his gaze…his hands…

Stop it, Jane.

She looked at herself in the glass. She didn't see a beauty in its reflection, but she was decidedly different. Her face was less youthful, her breasts more round…as though somehow, her realization of her love had matured her physically.

She went downstairs and into the garden where Loki sat waiting for her. She walked over, and he smiled at her.

"Where is everyone?" she asked.

"I don't care," he replied, but noting her glare, continued. "Thor and Odin are back on Jutenheim…there is much to be done, the final defenses waning…and Frigga is in her tapestry room weaving the future."

"Weaving the future?"

"She has the gift of foresight, one of the only powers she possesses that I do not, and she is likely concerned over the events of this morning."

Jane nodded. "Wow." And she recalled when Odin told her, upon their first meeting, that he had reason to believe that the Aesir would need to know of Midgard, for Asgard's problems might make their way to Earth in the foreseeable future. "Are you, Loki, the most powerful of sorcerers?" and she sipped her wine.

"I am," he replied simply.

"Yet you cannot see the future."

"We are playful, aren't we, elf…" he smirked. "No…and Frigga cannot "see" the future…she enjoys glimpses, as it were, and some come to pass, and some do not."

Jane nodded, she took a mouthful of her food. She was hungry, she hadn't eaten all day.

Loki leaned into the table. "Is everything to your liking?" he whispered.

"Yes," she said in a muffle, hindered by the food in her mouth. She laughed.

"Note the absence of your hated insects…"

"I did."

"Yet you dined enough outside with the wards…"

Jane shot him a look. "I never ate with them there…and at twilight the blood sucking insects are out, and those are the ones I despise."

"You care not for the sensation of something sucking on your skin?"

Her eyes widened at the innuendo. Should she play along? "I…well," and she dropped her eyes to her plate. "I suppose, in certain circumstances, it isn't so bad…but only if my blood isn't drained in the process."

"It is fortunate, then, that my hunger is not for your blood," and he smiled as her gaze found his face once more. He took a bite of food, and laughed. "Come now, Jane…you know me. What would you think of me if I wasn't playfully mischievous?"

And she returned the laughter. "I know…it's just…well, I suppose I feel a bit guilty at having you wait…of not knowing what it is that I'm really doing."

"You speak of your…bedroom prowess…for lack of a better term?"

"No. I speak of my future and what it holds…"

Loki's look descended. "You still think of leaving me?"

"No," she shot back. "No…but I don't know if we can stay, if we should leave…if I should go back to Earth…I've likely lost my job…it's been months."

"Your job?"

"Yes…how I obtain money…to live?" and she laughed.

"Ah…" and he took a long draught of wine. "You are…a scientist, is that right?"

"Yes."

"We haven't spoken much on that subject…"

Jane looked to the sky. It was turning a pale violet, with bits of soft red hues painted along its ceiling. "I study the sky."

Loki followed her gaze. "You have seen my library…"

"Yes," she replied, looking at him.

"I have many books on the wonder of Asgard's own sky."

"You have?!" she was gleeful in her response.

Loki laughed. "Yes…and you now have access to them all," he paused, and fixed his stare at her. "…and anything else in my chambers you might desire…"

Jane laughed in turn, and blushed a bit. "Well…that gives me much more license than I'm accustomed to."

"Does it indeed? Well…allow me, elf…" and he stood, and went to the other side of the table, pulling out her chair and leaned to her ear. "You may enjoy as much freedom in my chambers as you wish…you may come and go as you please, though, I shall like it infinitely more that you come more often than you go…" his breath was heavy against the curve of her ear. "…I can see to that as well…"

Jane coughed. He was rather naughty.

Loki laughed. "I suppose I am rather forward…" and he took her hand, leading her away from the table. "I had exercised much restraint with you before…I hope it isn't too off-putting…nor terribly untoward…"

"No, it's funny…I'm just not used to it," and she allowed him to lead her along the path of the garden. "Have you had many lovers, Loki?" she asked to his back, so she didn't notice the slight cringe in his features.

"I…" he paused. And they entered a clearing. "I have, yes."

Jane nodded. She hadn't…three, to be precise. "Oh."

He stopped and directed her inspection to the sky as he continued, "I had been known for my…ah…seductive abilities in my younger days…following my marriage, I was faithful, until Sigyn became intolerable. I did, I was unfaithful after I discovered that she was violently ill…" he paused. "I was never promiscuous, though, Jane, after my unfortunate marriage…I merely attempted to find release and comfort in my despair."

Jane looked at him and nodded.

"You should know, love, that I am fiercely loyal…that my love is steadfast, that I shall be true to you, for perpetuity…that who I was is not who I am…"

"Ok, Loki…you don't need to explain…"

"But I do," and he turned from her. "I spent nearly twenty years in that cell in the bowels of the palace for my crimes. And in that time, I knew every kind of torment a soul can experience. I finally, after so much time in solitude, came to realize that I would never be happy, and though Frigga visited and showed me kindness, it wasn't enough. I became nearly mad myself without the release of my magic…and because I resigned myself to the fate of an unhappy and tormented soul, I agreed to whatever Odin offered in exchange for my freedom and my power restoration," he paused and turned once more toward Jane. "I became soft, wanting the companionship of my false family. I became sensitive to the longing of love…and I wanted nothing more than to love my wife. But how could I? There was no kindness there, no understanding, no draw of kind between the two of us…" and he stepped nearer to Jane. "So I would leave, after a few years of a torment of a union…I would go to other realms to seek companionship, and true, sometimes they were of a sexual nature…" he dropped his eyes to the floor, and then took her hands in his own. "But I never loved, Jane. I never…not once in all of these many, empty years, have known love as I do now…"

Jane smiled at him.

He continued. "But you've changed…I see it in your face, it's aged, somehow…knowledge of who I am has altered you…" and his hand touched her cheek.

A tear fell from her eye. "Maybe," she whispered. "But I don't regret it…" and she stepped away. "I…have not that kind of experience, Loki…but it's strange…I feel as though I've been chasing you all my life…" and she thought of Charlie, the first boy she had ever kissed. He looked remarkably like Loki. And she thought of how her boyfriends were always lacking, they were too like her in some ways, and not enough in others. She turned toward him, standing a few feet away now. "I am not that experienced in these things…be it sexual or romantic. And I may need…time…help…something…"

A smirk played upon his features. "I can teach the tutor…it would be…a pleasure…" and he laughed. "But do not concern yourself over such things, love…I love you, and that, truly, is all that matters. Whatever you offer me I shall be delighted beyond measure to receive."

Jane laughed. "I am a bit nervous at the prospect…"

He went to her. "And that makes it all the more an enthralling notion for me…" and he leaned in and kissed her mouth.

And it was Jane who deepened it now, and she wrapped her hands around his neck, pulling him toward her…his hands caressed her back, and lower…hugging her flush with his body…

"Jane…" he said, pulling her away. "…if you wish to wait, we must stop…"

"Ok," she breathed. She stepped away from his embrace. This might be more difficult for her than she imagined. "I…" and she thought of a concern she had had a few weeks ago. "Um…" she turned away to hide her embarrassment. "Sex is possible, right? Between us?"

"Pardon?"

"I mean…I'm human, and you're…not."

He giggled a touch. "I assure you, Jane. Sexual intercourse is quite possible between us."

She turned back toward him. "Have you…had sex with a human before?"

"I have. Once."

"Oh," she didn't hide her disappointment well.

"But Thor is much more experienced with your race than I."

"Thor?"

"Yes…blonde, muscular fellow…rather tall, but not as tall as most think…" he smiled at her.

"Loki!" and she laughed. "Thor has had…trysts…with many humans?"

"Many isn't an ample word…" he replied. "The fortunate thing about his…experiences…is that as an Aesir, he cannot impregnate another race."

"Can you?"

"No."

"Oh."

He looked at her crookedly. "You desire to have children, elf? We can arrange that, if you like…"

"No!" she replied with feeling. "At least…not yet…"

He nodded. "Shall we go in, then? Has the air been sufficient for your hungry lungs?"

"Yes," and she took his proffered hand.

They walked inside without speaking further.

Loki stopped and looked down at Jane. "I have a fantastic notion…"

"Have you?" she said with doubt.

His eyebrow cocked a bit. "Yes…what do you say…" and he leaned down, kissing her neck. "We retire to my chambers, and I read to you by the fire…wine shall be sipped…and…well…perhaps honey drinks of other sorts may be enjoyed…" he lifted his face from her to ascertain her reaction.

Jane's eyes were closed, her breath labored. "No…I'd rather you tell me a story…than read."

He smiled. "Can you be transported?"

Jane nodded.

She hung herself against him as they materialized in his room…he placed his hand on her forehead…hushed her gasp…and led her to a chair.

Loki handed her the usual liquid that quelled her discomfort, and he sat in the chair opposite her.

"What sort of story would you care to hear?"

"Oh…I dunno…maybe a tale about one of your exploits in another realm?"

He nodded. "On Vanaheim, where the Light Elves dwell, there is a custom…one must, if one desires counsel with the elder, pen a poem…it is a silly practice, but one which demands its heed. The light there is forever a soft glow…it bends in the thick of the atmosphere, and so, when I went there, some five hundred years ago on Odin's orders, I decided to describe the air to the elder in my offering.

He was an ancient elf, and his eyes were murky with age…I thought that he would likely not care about any old thing that I gave, so my attempt was rudimentary and not well thought. The elder did not care for it at all, and demanded that I rescript my attempt. I did, and with more feeling…

"Time treads with padded feet

and without a fear of sulking age

and without the moisture laden field

I advance with song and rusted sight

so hesitant the creep of air

the press of rife liquid on skin

heavy and viscid it seeps

But the glow sets movement, however gradual she is

and I bend in the heat."

The elf was more pleased with this; so pleased, in fact, that the poem now resides on a wall in a far corner of the royal palace."

"Your poem hangs on a wall in a palace in Vanaheim?"

"No…it is carved there."

"CARVED."

"Indeed…etched…inscribed…"

"Loki! I know what carved means!" she laughed, then put her face in her hands. "YOU SAID you weren't a poet!"

He looked at her quizzically. "I am not."

"But…your poem…it's been permanently inscribed in a fucking palace."

Loki appeared as though he had no idea the source of her anxiety. "What…?"

"I LET YOU READ MY STUPID STUFF."

He laughed heartily. "Oh, Jane…come now…I've had many years to cultivate any talent I may have…I daresay it pales in comparison to many…but I enjoyed your reflections…it allowed me a better understanding of you."

"Jesus," was her reply. She shook her head. "Well…it's done anyway. Now you know how badly I suck."

At this, he grinned. "I know nothing of the sort…however…I'd like to become more intimately acquainted with that particular conceit…"

She blushed. "Shut up, Loki."

And he laughed.