Natalia rolled onto her side and took in the sight of her sleeping husband. Her body ached from their fervent lovemaking and she wouldn't have it any other way. "Loki?" she asked. He shifted beneath the covers. "Loki…" Natalia lay back down and hugged him tightly.
"Yes?" he tiredly groaned.
"I think you forgot something last night," she teased.
Loki rolled onto his side and propped his head up on an elbow. "And what was that?" he pondered.
"The poem," she reminded him. "You promised to write me a poem…"
"Did you really think I forgot about that?" he smirked. "Well…"
Natalia eagerly watched as he left the bed to fetch something from his nightstand.
"Here we are," he droned. "A poem professing my love to the woman I call my wife."
In his clenched fist, Natalia could tell that he was holding something. "What is…?"
Loki unclenched his fist, showering the red-head with ripped up pieces of parchment. "You asked for a poem. Here it is," he bitterly informed her.
"This is…" Several pieces landed in Natalia's waiting hand. "Why is it ripped up?"
"I did it after I overheard about you and Clinton…"
Natalia felt tears forming in her eyes. She was able to make out bits of Loki's neat cursive on the shredded pieces. "I…I'm so sorry… Loki…"
"I couldn't stand the thought of having a whore as my Queen…"
"I thought we decided to leave this alone!" she stammered. "You said we'll kill Clint-isn't that enough for you? Loki, if I could erase it, I would! Please, just let it go!"
Loki opened his mouth to speak, but instead, he chose to let her words sink in. "Erase it…" he muttered. The cogs in Loki's twisted mind began to turn.
Natalia got up from their bed. "If you aren't going to believe that I love you, then I don't know how we're going to work, Loki!" she fumed, bending over to seize her nightgown. Her muscles felt sore from last night's fun. As much as Natalia enjoyed the sex, some trust between her and her husband would've been more enjoyable.
"No," Loki grinned, standing up on his knees and reaching for her hand. "Natalia, I love you with all my heart. Believe me, my darling, things between us will work…" Of this, Loki was sure.
She pulled her hand away. "You ripped up my poem. I've been waiting to hear it for weeks!" she sulked.
"Come here, Natalia," Loki beckoned, patting her spot on the mattress. "Do you really think that I would fail to remember a poem I penned myself?"
Her expression softened and she took a seat on the edge of the bed.
Loki reached for her hands and stared into her eyes, losing himself as he began to speak.
"My darling Natalia,
I never believed that love at first sight existed
Until I saw your face and my heart trembled.
Denounce me as a fool,
But my very being demands to love, and be loved by you
Until my dying breath.
Even then, I pray that death will fail to part us,
For I do not wish to spend even a second apart from you.
You, with your hair as beautiful as the sunset.
May our days be filled with a lifetime of joy
And may sorrow never come between us.
Happiness will be all we know of,
My darling Natalia."
Natalia watched him in awe as he recited his poem written just for her. "Loki," she breathed. "That was beautiful. Thank you!" She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply. "So beautiful."
"I am glad you liked it," he answered, running his fingers through her curly locks of red.
"Promise you'll recite it to me every night?" she winked.
"Anything for you, my darling," he promised.
Natalia crawled onto his lap and started grinding her hips against his. "How much time do you think we have until we're interrupted?" she whispered. Even after a night of rigorous sex, Natalia still wasn't satisfied.
"Not much," he shrugged. "We can always say we do not wish to be interrupted." Loki felt his lower member coming to life as his wife's wet folds rubbed against his length. "My God, Natalia!" he groaned. Her heat felt fantastic and his cock began to throb with need.
"Lie back," Natalia hoarsely instructed. She grabbed her husband's shoulders and helped pin him down against the bed.
Loki dad as he was told, feeling more aroused by the idea of having his wife dominate him. "You are so beautiful," he murmured, hands on her hips.
She smiled before sinking onto his length in one fluid motion. "Oh!" she whimpered as he stretched her out.
The prince laid back, eyes closed as he began moving his hips in time with hers. "My God, you feel amazing!"
Her nails clawed at his bare chest as she raised and lowered herself. "So do you!" she groaned. "I could make love to you forever." She picked up her pace, spreading her legs so his tip could repeatedly kiss the end of her. "Loki!" she gasped.
Loki's hands reached around her to grab her ass. "Don't stop, Natalia," he begged.
The princess bit down on her lip, fighting back moans as she took him faster and harder. She felt his hands begin to roam her body, only to stop at her breasts. "There!" she cried as his touch sent shocks throughout her body. "Oh, Loki!" Her legs trembled and ached beneath her, but she continued, desperate for the rippling sensation that only her orgasm could cause.
"You enjoy being touched here?" the prince wondered. He massaged her breasts, letting his thumbs trace circles against her nipples.
"Yes!" she exhaled with a long moan. With every pump, she came closer and closer to her release. "Oh, Loki!" She chanted his name like a prayer as she rocked her hips, refusing to stop until her body shuddered from a powerful orgasm.
Loki came shortly after he felt her walls clench him tightly. "Natalia!" he cried, desperately holding onto her.
She rolled her hips, laughing breathlessly as she stared down at her husband. This was the way she imagined her marriage. In this moment, everything was perfect. Natalia soon collapsed onto her side and drifted off to sleep while Loki stroked her hair.
A knock at the door ended the couples' first night alone together. "My Lady?" Sif announced. "Breakfast will be served shortly. We must have you ready."
Natalia bolted upright and grabbed the nightgown she had thrown to the foot of the bed. She wondered if Sif felt as awkward as she did now that the room no longer belonged to just her. "Come in," she announced once she had gotten out of bed and had straightened out the edge of her nightdress.
Loki stood on the other side of the four poster bed, hidden from view. Sif stepped into the room, accompanied by Loki's servant. "Well," Sif said softly. "How was it?" she wondered with a smirk.
"None of your business," Natalia warned her, unable to fight back a smirk. As Sif assisted the princess in getting dressed for the day, two more women allowed themselves in to strip the bed of it sheets. Natalia noticed the patch of dried blood and knew that her and Loki's mission was accomplished. Starting today, she was officially carrying Loki's baby. In short time, Natalia knew that the news would soon be made public for all to know.
After breakfast with the family, Loki needed a word with the King in private.
"How are things between you and your new wife?" Odin wondered with a smile. "I trust you are working to produce an heir…"
"Yes," Loki answered, not bothering to point out that the child wouldn't be related to Odin, let alone himself. "This regards Clinton Barton," he began, hands clasped behind his back. "I need him removed from our home immediately."
"He has already taken up residence in the town inn. Is that not enough?" Odin prodded. "Why is it that you disfavor him so, Loki?"
"I wish to never see him anywhere near Natalia," he warned the old man. "I've learned that he harbors feelings for my wife-why taunt the poor man with something he can't have?"
Odin sighed and lowered his eye. "I will do my best to keep him away, then. I cannot make any promises, though, Loki."
"Thank you, Father," Loki told the man with a forced smile. He turned and walked away in preparation for his next order of business. The prince made his way out to the gardens where he found Natalia and her handmaiden setting up an easel before the white blossom tree. He wished to wave to her, but it was best that she didn't notice him. Loki sighed and turned a corner. Once alone, he vanished, taking himself into the heart of the forest. The prince stood surrounded by a circle of trees and raised a hand high up into the air. A faint green light emanated from his palm and shot up into the sky, past the thickets of leaves and branches. He stared up towards the sky, observing the way the faintest rays of sunlight filtered through the leaves. Loki had never attempted to summon a witch before, but he was curious to test his limits. He needed the help more than ever, especially now that he had an even better scheme to rid Natalia of her Barton problem.
"You summoned me?" A voice called out from behind the prince.
Loki turned and saw a brunette witch with chocolate-coloured eyes. "Jane Foster?" he assumed. "The… good witch? My Brother and wife have referred to you as that."
"Is that what I'm being called?" she grinned. "It's better than being compared to all the red-eyes, but I prefer to be called Jane."
"You may call me 'my Lord,' 'my Prince…'" A knowing look in the woman's eyes told Loki that the woman knew who he was. As future King, Loki expected to be treated with respect. Not only that, but he deserved to be listened to by his willing servant. "I have brought you here to assist me," he began.
"That I can do, my Lord," Jane nodded.
"How confident are you in erasing memories?" he asked. "Might I add, very specific memories…"
Jane nodded again. "I can help with that. Is this for your sake?"
"My wife," he corrected. "I would do it myself, however, being a novice, I cannot risk having her accidentally forget something important."
"A wise decision," the brunette assured him. "I can perform it tonight, if you like. The spell works best when one is asleep. What is it you would like for her to forget?"
"A man," he sourly remarked.
Jane didn't like the idea of meddling with a woman's heart, but if a man of royalty was requesting it… "How about you tell me everything now. I wouldn't like keeping you awake tonight awaiting my arrival, my Lord."
Loki paced a bit, thinking of small details that he wished to fix. "Clinton Barton. I wish for her to forget any encounter they ever had. To Natalia, he is merely a witch hunter." Forgetting any encounters would mean forgetting any romance between them, the baby included. Loki would have her fooled into thinking the child was actually his. She would no longer harbor any guilt whatsoever. "Also, I would like for her to forget any time I was cruel to her…" He paused. "I acted coldly this morning, as well as on our wedding day… Have her remember it as a happy day, and an intimate night where I read her a poem…" Loki reached into his pocket where he kept the poem he had written for her neatly folded up without a single tear. The power of magic…
Jane thoughtfully observed the man. He seemed to quite distraught about this 'Clinton' character. "And you? Wouldn't you be happier forgetting this man, too?"
Loki hesitated. "Tampering with her memories cannot be done without cost. I will carry the burden of remembering…" He lowered his eyes.
"My Lord," Jane interrupted. "I can erase all the ways this man has wronged you. So long as Natalia never looks him in the eyes, all will work out."
"I…" This would make for a new beginning, a happy marriage. No, the child wouldn't be his, but Loki would believe that it was… The choice was difficult, but Loki longed to make amends with his wife. "Yes. That would be greatly appreciated. Have me forget every way Clinton Barton has wronged my wife… That is all."
"I will do that, my Lord," she nodded. "In return… will you tell your brother Thor that I am thinking of him?" Her cheeks turned pink at the mentioning of the man.
Loki smiled at the woman. "I will do you even better. Come to dinner tonight. Do not reveal who you truly are, though… My parents may question you…"
"Thor simply knows me as Jane Foster and nothing more," she smiled. "Although, after our last encounter in the woods together…"
"He and my wife believe you to be a good witch. Tell me, how is that possible?"
"Not all witches are evil," Jane said matter-of-factly. "Like myself, you are a good man, Prince Loki. Don't stray from that path."
Loki nodded, listening to the sound of leaves blowing in the wind during a moment of silence. "Thank you."
After embarrassing Thor at dinner with a surprise guest, Loki rushed his wife into their bedroom. At first, Natalia showed more interest in conversing with Jane, until Loki told her that he was in the mood for more fun. Making love easily became a new favourite activity between the couple. Following a rough, passionate round of kissing and flesh hitting against flesh that ended with them sharing an orgasm, the two laid in bed, catching their breath.
"I saw you out in the garden today. Painting, I assume?" Loki asked, marveling at his red-headed queen.
"Yes. Your Mother has been getting me into the arts as of late."
"I would love to see your paintings," he smiled, playing with one of Natalia's loose curls.
"I'm not that good," Natalia admitted with a breathless laugh. "It's better than the needle pointing, though. I'd much rather go horseback riding, practice archery…" She felt Loki subtlety pull on her hair. "Or using a blade. Something less lady-like…"
"Mother does know her way with a knife," he promised her. "I highly doubt she will give you lessons unless you are in private."
"You really think so?" she beamed. "I'd like to learn."
"And why is that?" Loki pondered.
Natalia leaned in to give him a soft kiss. "To defend my home if it is ever necessary. I have a family to protect."
"Know that I will always be here to protect you," Loki promised.
She nodded, kissing his jaw. "But I can't always be your damsel in distress," she teased.
"The Mighty Natalia," he mused with a light-hearted chuckle. "Rest now, my darling," he told her. Come morning, the two would be a changed couple. More importantly, they would finally have the happiness Loki felt that their marriage deserved.
Loki wasn't sure why, but the next morning, he felt like a much happier man. Was it because he was waking up to his wife, or was it something different? He couldn't remember the last time he had felt this at ease. Gazing at his sleeping bride, she was the only one that mattered. Not even his books of witchcraft could come close to her. Power, his true parentage-none of that mattered to him anymore. There was only Natalia.
The princess opened an eye after having the feeling that she was being watched. "Loki," she beamed. Her husband was the most amazing thing to ever happen to her. After all the misfortune in her life, she was finally getting the happiness she deserved.
"My darling," he murmured, kissing her full lips. "I love you."
"I love you more," she answered, hands exploring his chest. "Loki?" she quietly asked.
"Yes, Natalia?" he absently placed a row of kisses along her jaw.
She let her fingers intertwine with his raven hair. "If I tell you something silly, will you promise not to laugh?"
"If it's silly, then I will have no choice but to laugh," he smirked. "Tell me what is on your mind," he beckoned, gazing into her eyes.
"I feel like…" she paused, smiling as her eyes met with her husband's. "I feel like our first time making love was successful. Even if it was two nights ago…" She smiled, biting on her lower lip.
"What do you mean?" he prodded, curious.
"Just a gut feeling…" she shrugged. "That there will be an heir to your name," she whispered into his ear.
Loki's eyes widened at the notion. "Do you really think so?" he asked, staring at his wife with child-like eyes.
"I hope so," she admitted. "You told me you want children…"
The prince laughed and kissed her deeply. "I would like nothing more," he answered after forcing their lips apart. "A baby…" he exhaled. "Natalia, you never cease in making me a happy man."
A/N: Thanks so much to all my reviewers! And thanks for reading/following/faving!
Forgive my failed attempt at writing a love poem .