Author's Note:

This chapter is mostly erotic. The next chapter is a continuation of this one and contains one erotic scene and the lead-up to it. I did not want to uprate the entire fic, so this is the warning that you can skip straight to Chapter 49 if you do not wish to read this. It is not critical to the plot.

For those who do choose to read this, please give feedback- it is my first time writing erotica and I would appreciate any notes about if it worked or did not work.

Thank you.

It is getting late when Alexi suggests they leave and he invites Loki to stay at his apartment. Loki, feeling a little adventurous, agrees. He runs into Thor on the way to retrieve his coat.

"Leaving, Brother?"

"Yes. With Alexi."

"Oh?"

"Do not call on me early in the morning. You may not find me returned to my house."

"OH! Ho, ho, Brother, you have a late night planned?"

Loki grins, the colour rising to his cheeks, "Perhaps. But perhaps not. We shall see where things lead."

Thor cannot help but tease, "Do I need to give you a quick lesson on romance? I know you had little experience in Asgard."

Loki shoves him, playful, but slightly irked, "I know enough not to need your advice."

"Then I will leave you to your wooing. Carry on, and be sure to tell me about your night when you have recovered from it."

Loki rolls his eyes and leaves, "I should say the same for you." Thor laughs.

He meets Alexi at the door and hands him his coat, "Shall we?"

"Bundle up, buttercup, it's cold outside."

They step out into the drifting, swirling snow. Loki closes his eyes for a moment, enchanted by the sea of white.

"Come on. I'm freezing already." Alexi jogs to his car. Loki ambles after, his toes quickly aching from the cold, his fingers chilled even when stuffed deep in his pockets. He slips into the passenger seat and Alexi cranks the heater, "I don't know how you do it. I'm an ice cube."

"I am quite cold as well, but the snow is beautiful."

"What, no snow in Asgard?"

"There is, but not this early, nor this fluffy. And certainly not this much of it."

"Well it's a good thing I don't live far from here, because it's going to be slow going." The tires crunch against new snow. They creep quietly to the ragged apartment building that Alexi calls home, its facade even dingy under the fresh snowfall. The hallways are dim and cold, the green carpet faded where it is most heavily trafficked. Alexi leads the way up three flights of stairs and unlocks his apartment door. Inside is as different from the hallway as possible. The flat is small, only four rooms, and they are clean and minimally furnished. There are rag rugs on the bare wood floors and a large abstract painting above the couch. Loki takes off his shoes and coat and follows him to the dining room table, white with chrome trim. He makes coffee for the both of them and they sit and sip until Alexi breaks the silence.

"So...have you ever actually had sex before? You said courtship wasn't exactly full of alone time."

"Yes. I went out with Thor to battle. There were a few times I took a woman to bed."

"How many is a few?"

"Three."

"Only three? And never with someone you actually cared about?"

"Correct."

"Mmmm, so this is a special kind of deflowering."

Loki blushes, "I'm not exactly a novice..."

"No, but there's a difference when it's something special. Having had sex with prostitutes, boyfriends, girlfriends, and casual friends, I feel like I'm some kind of authority on this."

"Ah."

"You're nervous."

"A little."

"Don't worry. I'll take things slow."

"Thank you."

Alexi finishes his coffee and puts his mug in the sink; instead of sitting down, he stands behind Loki and begins gently kneading his shoulders, "Relax. I'm not going to push you into something you don't want. If you're not ready, just say something."

"I am willing to try."

"OK. Come on. Let's get you laying down so I can work some of this tension out better." He leads Loki to his bedroom, to crisp white sheets under a dark blue comforter. He peels back the blankets, "Will you let me undress you?" Loki nods and Alexi carefully unfastens the gown and pulls it over his head. He drapes it over the back of a chair and Loki stretches out on his stomach on the bed. Alexi stares for a moment, "This image, right here- pretty as a painting." Loki smiles. Alexi runs his hands along Loki's side, down to the curve of his hips, and up to his butt. Loki tenses. "Relax, you're OK. Just tell me if I go to far." He pours a little massage oil on his hands and warms it before kneading until the muscles relax a little. He works his way up Loki's back, slow spirals along his spine out to his sides, his hands warm and firm as they move towards his shoulders.

"You have magic hands."

"I went to school for this, back before I was a guy. I was good."

"You still are."

"Mmmm, you think so?"

"Oh yes..." His words trail off as Alexi rubs the stiffness from his neck, inching his fingers up to the base of his skull. He starts back down and rubs arms and hands, then legs, down to feet and back up, slipping fingers between Loki's legs just an inch, testing to see what Loki will do. When he does not get a reaction, he gently rubs high on the inside of Loki's thighs and ends with his hands resting on Loki's butt.

"Could those magic fingers ease the tension from the other side?" He moves his hands back to allow Loki to turn over and starts at his shoulders, working down until his fingers linger on Loki's hips. He slides his hands along the tops of his thighs, then back up.

Loki props himself up on his elbows, "May I undress you?" Alexi nods. Loki is careful with the jacket, neatly folding it on the chair. As he concentrates on shirt buttons, Alexi kisses him lightly, teasing open Loki's lips. Loki fumbles with the buttons. Alexi untucks the shirttails and shrugs out of it as soon as it is loose. Loki has the trousers unfastened before the shirt hits the floor and he tugs them down. Bare skin. Warmth. An intimacy he craves. He presses his chest to Alexi's as they kiss. His hands run up his back and stop against the chest binder.

"Take it off me. I don't want fabric between us."

"Gladly."

Loki unfastens it and tosses it to the floor. Alexi pushes him back to the bed and Loki sits, pulling him down onto his lap, their kisses deep and slow. Alexi leans forward and Loki eases onto his back. Loki pauses for breath and then turns onto his side, Alexi's legs tangled with his.

Alexi slips his hands down Loki's chest, one hand coming to rest on his hip, the other inching into the crease of his leg, gently stroking the soft skin until, finding no resistance, he gently begins to knead what his hands have newly discovered. Loki softly moans as his erection stiffens in gentle hands. He opens his legs, turning again onto his back. Alexi licks below his jaw, eliciting a soft moan, and places a trail of fluttering kisses from chin to thigh. He drags his tongue up the hardened flesh, sucks for only a moment, and then stops, kissing his way back up to Loki's lips.

"You stopped..."

"I did. I want to give you an option."

"Of what?"

"Of how you want to tease me. Open the box on the nightstand." Loki does. In it, sitting in velvet, is a set of glimmering glass objects.

"What are these?"

"Sex toys. Dildos."

"They are beautiful. What is this little one?"

"A butt plug."

"Oh my."

"You haven't ever used any of this, have you?"

"No."

"Well the idea is pretty simple. Stick it where there's a place to. The glass warms to the touch and the weight is just fantastic. Try whatever you'd like." Loki selects a narrow glass wand and Alexi kisses him hard. He feels the cool glass slide along his side and around his back. Loki rests it between his cheeks to warm it. The cold is enticing and Alexi straddles him, lowering himself over his erection. Loki moans, drops the dildo, and runs his hands up Alexi's sides, his thumbs resting on nearly flat breasts, stroking nipples that he yearns to lick. Alexi arches, rocking slowly, and Loki pulls him down so his lips can satisfy their need. Alexi gasps and slows his motion to match the rhythm of his lover's mouth.

When he feels overwhelmed by the gentle sucking and flicking of his nipples, he sits up and Loki props himself up to meet his lips. Alexi reaches behind him, his hand stroking whatever he can touch- a thigh, delicate skin- and he tries to reach farther under. He finds the dildo and gently strokes the soft crease between Loki's leg and groin, inching back towards his butt. Loki stiffens. Alexi stops.

"No anal?"

"I don't think..."

"Just say no. If you don't want it, tell me. I'll stop. No means no...unless you're into that kind of kink, and then we need a safe word."

"No. No on both."

"OK." He puts the dildo on the nightstand, "You're tense again. Do you need to talk about something?"

"No. I've just...had an unpleasant experience. But do not let this ruin the night."

Alexi smiles, "Of course not. It's an opportunity to relax you all over again." He begins gently rocking his hips and then bends low to kiss under his jaw. Loki shudders, "That good?"

"Oh yes...don't stop."

"I don't plan on it." He pulls Loki up, "Sit." Alexi wraps his legs around his waist and Loki grabs his butt, "Mmmm, I like that." He resumes rocking against him, their lips meeting, panting, as their pace increases and Loki's fingers work their way down. One hand finds the soft folds he is sliding in and out of and he slowly eases a finger in as well, then a second.

Alexi's eyelids flutter and he gasps, "Fuck, that's good." He moves faster against him, harder and his breath is more ragged. Loki kisses him hard. Being able to evoke this reaction in someone is what he likes best about sex and what he has always looked forward to, nearly as much as his own release. He lays Alexi on his back and withdraws his finger, instead slipping the slender glass dildo in its place. Alexi grips the sheet as Loki eases into their rhythm. The dildo slips and he shoves his hand under himself to hold it in place, his other hand wrapped around Loki's neck, his fingers gripping his hair.

Loki speeds up, his eyes closing as he bends to kiss him. When he can no longer focus on his lips, he nuzzles them into his neck and pants in time with his thrusting. Alexi moans and whimpers. When Loki reaches climax, he groans, long and low, and then collapses, panting, against Alexi's chest.

"How close?"

"A few minutes. Please don't stop."

"I'm twitching and a bit over sensitive. May I continue another way?"

"Just stop talking and make me come."

Loki withdraws and draws out the dildo. He lays beside Alexi and slides his fingers down his stomach through the tuft of fluff and into the soft folds of skin slick from him. He slides his fingers into Alexi's body and holds them there for a moment, enjoying the warmth and intimacy, before drawing them out and back, regaining their slower tempo. Alexi's body responds, rocking against his hand, and he pants for lips to kiss. His hand reaches for Loki's, the other rests against the one between his legs, pressing fingers deeper, urging them faster. It is not long before Alexi quivers and arches, orgasming around Loki's fingers. Loki wants to continue stroking through it, but Alexi presses his hand deep and rubs himself until his legs clench closed and he is gasping for breath. Loki kisses his forehead.

"Oh fuck, Loki. That was good. Was it good for you?"

"Yes. Very much."

"Do you see what I mean about the difference?"

"Mmmm, yes. I do."

Alexi draws Loki's hand out from between his legs, "We should go clean up a bit."

"Perhaps."

"You don't want to move."

"No. Nor do I want to stop staring at your beautiful body here sprawled beside me on the rumpled sheets."

"You're so damn poetic! Thank you." He kisses Loki's nose, "But I really do want to wash. I'm feeling a bit sticky." Alexi stumbles out of bed, laughing, "Oh my god, you shagged my legs stupid! Hold me up, legs!"

Loki smiles and tries to stand, "Mine appear a bit more solid."

"You've had a few minutes to recover! I'm still twitching!" They stagger to the bathroom giggling and Alexi hands him a washcloth. They clean themselves and stumble back into bed, "Shit, I'm tired."

"As am I."

"Don't worry about me getting pregnant. Birth control is a thing here."

"To be honest, I hadn't considered it."

"Oh?"

"I consider you a man. Your anatomy did not change that."

Alexi cuddles up against him, smiling, "That's the best thing anybody's ever said to me after sex."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I'm super happy. Good night, Loki. Sweet dreams. And thank you." He reaches over to the nightstand and turns out the light. Loki feels Alexi's breathing slow and he knows he is asleep. He kisses his hair and shifts his weight a little.

"I think I love you, Alexi." He closes his eyes and joins him in dreaming.