Chapter 20: Dream

When Loki woke he was been staring at the back of her head. She was still curled up naked on the sheets the way her left her. He had fallen asleep only moments after his orgasm and it would seem she had too. Now he sat at his desk fully clothed his hand stroking his jaw and chin in deep thought as he watched her sleeping form. He moved a finger over his lips remembering how she tasted and then remembering her sounds of pleasure. The marriage was sealed now and though he would have once loathed the idea he now found himself unable to dislike her.

She was an extraordinary woman in more then one way. She was kind, caring, strong and even understanding. He'd done nothing to deserve her kind words toward him back when Shay had thought she was pregnant yet she spoke up for him all the same. He couldn't avoid her any longer. He knew this. This marriage was something he might have been forced into but now he hated the idea that one day she would grow old and die leaving him alone.

Her soft sigh told him she was waking. He stood from his desk and sat down on the edge of the bed his back to her. When he saw her eyes flutter open he turned his head from her too. "I don't deserve you." He began. "I've done nothing for you that's been kind, I've made you feel unloved and unworthy. I've treated you like trash and insulted you on many occasions with my shameless acts of sex with another when this marriage was not consummated. I allowed everyone to know of my dislike for you and you didn't do anything to deserve it." He turned to look at her now. She was looking up at him wide eyes her lips parted slightly. "I cannot take back those slights against you but I can promise that from this moment moving forward I will treat you as a wife should be treated. I will honor and respect you. There will be no other woman to warm my bed. You have only a short life and mine will be long and I fear that I will feel empty once you are gone. No woman has ever shown me such selflessness as you."

"Loki." His name sounded wonderful spoken as gently and as lovingly as she spoke it. She moved and knelt up. Her arms encircled his shoulders. "My life is not a short one but a long one as well. I hold longevity due to my strange birth." She told him and he froze.

"Why was I not told?" He said before he thought about it suddenly feeling angry.

"Odin wanted you to learn how to like or love me without that knowledge and after you had shown me no kindness I had no want to tell you." She replied and Loki could have smacked himself. Of course, why would she want to share anything about herself after everything he'd done.

"That was a stupid inquiry on my part." He said his hand coming up to touch her hand in front of his chest. "I meant what I said. For as long as I am married to you then to you I will be devoted too."

"But you do not love me." She commented but she didn't sound sad.

"I see you differently then I once did but I'm not sure love is something I'm capable of." He replied. "I've come to care about you." He told her.

"I understand that. Perhaps one day when you learn more about me you'll learn what love is. I don't think you're incapable of it. I just don't think you've allowed yourself to feel it before." Loki didn't respond. He wouldn't disagree. He turned placing one knee on the bed.

"Are you sore?" He asked her grinning.

"No. I've healed myself of any abrasions or soreness left behind from you fucking me." She said boldly. Loki looked to the ceiling.

"Healing...I am not going to ask I'll inquire later on the meaning. Right now all I want is to find solace in your passion once more." He kissed her before she could respond and moved her to lay back down before he started his second exploration of her body~~

Cephera woke with a shiver running over her. She was alone in bed and the sun was not fully up. Cephera sat up abruptly slightly panicked. Her heart pounding as she remembered her dream. Loki was no where to be seen which was unusual as she normally woke before him. Cephera quickly inspected herself and found she was indeed naked. She could remember getting ready for bed vividly and she remembered Loki coming in. Everything up until she woke and had that talk with him was clear in her mind. She moved from her spot and examined the blankets. Among them was a small stain of dried rusty color that was no doubt her blood. Even though she had been heavily lubricated it had been the first time being stretched and he had taken her very vigorously. The blood told her they had at least had sex. The conversation after and the second round of sex she assumed had been a dream.

She felt both relief and disappointment. She was happy they had actually had sex but disappointed that those words had not actually been spoken by him and she had woken alone. Thinking back she knew his words were most defiantly a dream as she had seen it all from his eyes not her own. She now wondered how he really felt waking that morning after what had transpired the night before.

Cephera got up from the bed and made her way to the bathroom. She drew another bath and sank into the warm waters content to just lay there until she turned wrinkly. She heard the room door open not long after and a sound of joy. Cephera turned her head and in came running her servant Ceres with the blankets in her hands. "My lady this is wonderful!" She said looking extremely cheerful and very enthusiastic. "Is it true? Did he? I mean..." She became flustered in her excitement forgetting her usual manners.

"He did." Cephera confirmed nodding feeling her happiness rub off and making her smile.

"The queen will be overjoyed." Ceres said bundling the blankets up to take with her. Cephera had almost forgotten the custom of hanging the sheets as proof of consummation and now she felt slightly embarrassed but Ceres was already gone. Cephera had forgotten how important the wedding night was for these people. They celebrated such unions with great enthusiasm.

XxX

Cephera had not arrived for breakfast letting the servants know she wished to be alone. Truthfully she didn't want to answer the questions she was sure would follow. She sat in the bedroom having her food alone and thinking. She spent her entire day there until daylight had begun to fade in the distance.

Cephera looked up from her spot sitting near the bedroom fireplace. Shay strutted into the room with a questioning look on her face. "What happened?" She asked. "I heard the news, everyone has heard the news but why are you in here looking so...lost." Shay was taking in Cephera's expression.

"Nothing's wrong I just..." Cephera had been sitting there for hours staring into the flames trying to gather together how she felt. "It just, it happened so fast and I just don't know how I feel about it." Cephera replied her hand resting in her bangs and tugging in a frustrated manner. "He came in out of the blue and it was passionate, desperate, fulfilling, exciting, and so many more words that elude me right now..."

"But?" Shay questioned sitting on the floor next to the princess.

"But then it was over and we both fell asleep. I dreamt of him waking with me. Apologizing for how he had treated me and making wonderful promises to me. I woke from that dream and when I realized that the talk didn't happen I felt disappointed." Cephera frowned. "I guess I just expected it to be different in its aftermath. I felt his emotion and his need. I know he wanted me but I think I expected to much afterward and when my expectations weren't met when I woke alone I just couldn't be happy with the nights events." Cephera closed her eyes her palm covering them.

"Cephera, this is a step in the right direction. It probably took a lot for Loki to have come to you at all. Those things you were hoping to hear might be too much to ask right now." Shay said pulling the girls hand from her face. "The Queen said he went to Thor this morning and asked Thor to ride with him for a hunt. I think he needed to get away from the palace before all the talk about your union started. Wait to see what he says tonight when he returns." Shay pushed back Cephera's hair and cupped her face like Cephera had once done to her. "Things can only get better from here."

Cephera knew Shay was saying what she believed to be true and what would cheer her up but Cephera was very aware that things could also turn bad. Loki could very well regret taking her after all. She was almost afraid to see him that night. She feared rejection.

"I have something for you." Shay pulled out a small vial. "It's a remedy to prevent pregnancy. Until you and Loki are ready I think he'd prefer you take it." Cephera took the potion. This she could understand and accepted easily. "Take it always within 24 hours of coupling with him whether he comes inside you or not."

"How do I get more?" Cephera said swallowing down the tasteless liquid.

"I'll show you how it's made." Shay assured her smiling at her.

(Loki)

Loki returned when most everyone had gone to bed. He swiftly moved through the hallways toward his chambers where his wife would either be asleep or waiting for him. He expected she'd be waiting after not seeing him after their night together. Loki had time to think of what happened and he didn't regret it. He thought he would but he didn't. In fact he couldn't wait to see her so that he could enjoy her company again.

He entered his room and his eyes fell first on the bed that was empty, the blankets smooth and untouched. His head swivelled at the rustle to his right and saw Cephera standing from her spot near the fireplace. She was alone and looking worried and yet hopeful. Loki should have stayed with her that morning but he had needed to think. He could only imagine what she had been thinking all day long.

Loki placed a half smile on his lips to ease her worry and approached her. "Wife." He said eyeing her look.

"Husband." She replied. She was clearly wanting to say something but she seemed unable to form the words. Loki was up to her now and he allowed the back of his fingers to graze her cheek pushing away the hair that hung there and placing it behind her ear. "My apologies for leaving you this morning without speaking with you. I have been thinking about us and have concluded that last night was the right thing to do." He saw her take in a deep breath. Before she could speak Loki leaned down and sealed his lips over hers. She responded with a clear excitement her arms wrapping around his neck and one of her hands in the hair at the base of his neck. "I want to have you again, may I enjoy my wife?" He asked her not wanting to waste any time with other words. He just needed to know she wanted him to.

"You may." She said breathlessly. Loki didn't move her to the bed like he should. Instead he kissed her and moved her back until she came up short on the fireplaces mantle. She gasped on contact but didn't break his hold over her. Loki ravished her until they both lay on the rug below just next to the fire. Both of them panting in a sweaty naked mess. Her legs entangled in his as he lavished kisses along her jaw as he lay partially over her. One of his hands cradling the back of her head and the other tickling up her hip.

I never imagined that this story would get this much attention and love! You guys have no idea how stoked I am! Thanks so much.

Remember any review no matter how small brings me motivation and happiness!

- Vulcaniumx: haha. No waiting he's determined to at least claim her in that manner.

- Bo (Ghost): haha. I'm glad you're enjoying it! Haha Loki and Fandral secret Bromance waiting to happen.

- Gfor098: hahaha. We're all thinking the same thing.

- 88 Dragon 06: nope not wasting time with Loki. He does what he wants. Haha.

- Female Wraith: haha humping like bunnies...probably.

- Twifan 1987: haha he will learn all that in time. Trust me. There is a lesson to be learned here.

- Novexus Prime: haha your turn? Sure. As for release of sexual tension sure of other still lingering tension not so much.

- Kurai Tenshi 015: haha would I be evil enough to make it a dream? (Sly look)

- Stephanie D (guest): everyone loves sexy time!

- Akera Writer of the Night: *evil laughter*

- Loki's Dreamer: haha. I know the smut was well missed. I missed it too! But worth the wait. ;P

- Kate Skates 24: oh the day after. That awkward WTF moment.

- Doctor Loki Love: haha 19 days for use was months for poor Cephera! Glad to have finally gotten to this chapter.

- Strange Love 9: admitted it? Admitted he likes her and wants her yes, loves her? Not quite.

- Exploding Sushi 15: I will always continue my darling. ;)

- Nightmare of Cat: wahoo messy sheets.

- Guest: Loki will always have his ass like moments.

- Miss Padawan: I love you too! Happy you enjoyed the sex! And good for the *raises eyebrow* happy. Lol

- Poodle Warriors: and how did you like the next day?

- Carlos Diaz III: thank you!

- Reneemm: I love a possessive Loki!

- Katarina Lillis: yay. Moving forward!