The next morning, Loki woke up just before the sunrise. He looked down and saw Ava still resting peacefully in his embrace. A smile crossed his lips as he thought about the fact that he wasn't going to have to leave her in just a few short hours. He kissed he forehead and she mumbled incoherently in her sleep and snuggled closer.
Loki chuckled lightly. He reached a hand up and caressed her cheek. Slowly the sun began to rise and fill the room with light. Loki loved the way the early morning sun set Ava's features aglow. Ava in the early morning light, resting her head on his chest, was a sight he would never tire of seeing. He gently kissed her forehead again.
Ava let out a contented sigh and slowly her eyes fluttered open. She smiled at him. "Good morning."
Loki smiled back at his love. "Good morning, my sleeping beauty." He replied, kissing her lips.
Ava gave a light chuckle. "I think you think too highly of my looks sometimes…I can't be beautiful this early in the morning."
"On the contrary." Loki replied. "I find you most beautiful in the mornings. I love watching you just before you wake up, the sun illuminating your skin and putting a glow in your hair. I especially love that I am the only one to see you like this."
Ava felt the blush creeping across her cheeks. She smiled at her Loki. "I like the way you put things."
Loki placed his fingers under her chin and brought her lips to his in a tender kiss. He broke the kiss after a few moments and began to caress her cheek and the side of her neck with his fingers. A wicked grin then appeared on his lips. "Hmm…" He murmured as if he were lost in thought.
Ava couldn't help but to grin back. "Just what are you thinking?"
"I was just thinking how we haven't made love in the morning yet." He answered, as he turned and pushed Ava back on the bed and climbed on top of her. He began passionately kissing her lips.
Ava wrapped her arms around Loki's neck and fisted her hands in his hair. Loki broke the kiss and began to trail his lips along her jaw, down the side of her neck and then down the exposed portion of her chest. His long graceful fingers quickly undid the belt that held her robe together. Ava undid Loki's belt. They finished removing each other's robes and cast them aside on the floor.
Loki wreaked havoc on Ava's body, making her tremble and moan with every touch of his hands and caress of his lips. He slid his hand between her thighs and brought her to the edge with just his finger. Just as she was about to topple over, he withdrew his finger, causing her to whimper. "Why did you stop?"
Loki chuckled. He then brought his lips back to hers and plunged inside of her, causing her to gasp and moan into the kiss. Ava wrapped her legs around Loki's waist and her fingernails dug into his back. Loki kissed the side of Ava's neck and on her shoulder. "Loki!" Ava cried out as she tumbled over the cliff of pleasure and dug her fingernails even deeper into his back.
"Ava." Loki growled, spurred on by her moans and nails clawing his back. He then lightly bit her shoulder as his own pleasure increased, taking him over the edge. After finishing, Loki stayed inside Ava for a moment and held her close to him. He kissed the top of her head. After a few moments, he withdrew and collapsed onto his back. He pulled Ava to him, wanting to continue to hold her.
Ava nestled into his embrace, resting her head on his chest. She placed a kiss on his chest. A satisfied smile came across her face. "I love you, Loki."
"I love you, Ava."
They stayed in the bed for a while longer before going and taking another bath. They washed up and ten dried before dressing for the day. Loki turned himself invisible and sneaked out to meet her in a meadow in the forest. Ava grabbed some food from the kitchen and used her magic to pack it away.
She then headed down to the stables and mounted her horse and road out to the meadow. Loki walked over and helped her down from her horse. Ava tied the horse to a tree before spreading out the food into a picnic for the two of them. They enjoyed the picnic and afterwards, lay back on the blanket, holding each other and talking. They read a couple of books and watched the clouds passing by overhead.
The sun was beginning to set when they returned to the palace, Loki turning invisible and sneaking off to Ava's chambers. Ava arrived at the stables and dismounted her horse. One of the guards approached her. "Princess Ava, the queen requests your presence in her chambers." He told her.
"Thank you." Ava replied. "You're dismissed."
The guard bowed politely before leaving. Ava put Midnight in her stall and then headed to her mother's chambers. She knocked on the door. "Come in." Her mother called from inside.
Ava opened the door and walked inside. "You wanted to see me, Mother?"
"Yes, shut the door behind you dear." Frigga replied.
Ava shut the door and then walked over to sit on the couch by her mother. "So, what is this about?"
"You've been going out on your own an awful lot here lately." Frigga said. "And Heimdall has been unable to see or hear you wherever it is you are going."
"I just want some privacy." Ava replied with a shrug.
Frigga looked at her daughter. "I know what you're up to."
Ava gulped, but kept her expression neutral. "And what do you think that it, Mother?"
"You're meeting a man." Frigga answered.
Ava did her best not to look guilty. She opened her mouth to protest, but he mother lifted her hand to silence her.
"I'm perfectly fine with you going to meet him, but your father and I would like to meet him." Frigga said. "He also needs to properly ask for our permission to court you. We will gladly give it to him."
"Even if he is not one of our warriors or of Asgardian nobility?" Ava asked.
"Even if he is a commoner, we will allow him to court you. Just as long as you are happy." Frigga answered. "When you go to see him tomorrow, invite him over for dinner…that is an order not a request."
"But he's so shy and…well I mean what's more intimidating than meeting you and the Allfather?" Ava replied.
Frigga gave her daughter a look. "You will have him here for dinner to meet the family and ask for our permission to court you properly."
"Yes, Mother." Ava answered with a sigh.
"You may go now."
Ava hugged her mother and then headed for her own chambers. She was trying to think of how to tell Loki this news and how she ould convince him to meet her parents. Oh gods, what am I to do? She thought as she reached her door.