Warmth of his strong body and heavenly musk wrapped her into a safe little bubble where love and lust united just like the two of them, heart against heart, skin on skin, in the way Nature in her enticing wisdom had programmed them to do. She let go of control in his fervent embrace, her body and mind entwining with his, responding ever so ardently to his every single move. All it took was that mischievous twinkle in his emerald eyes and dimples conquering his cheeks, and she was all his again. He was the only man she had ever felt like this with, the only man she could have ever let his close.

"Say you belong to me."

His mere whisper was dominant, subjecting her to his will. His breaths hot on her neck as he was doing his wicked things to her and she was his willing victim. She pressed her face in his long raven hair against his neck and clutched onto him as if she'd been afraid to let go. He was so good. He was so good to her.

"I'm only yours."

She was so close to the climax and she could hear from his low groans of pleasure that he was racing to get there with her. Her arms wrapped around him and she held on him for dear life. This time she wasn't going to let him slip away.

No matter how hard she tried, the dream world fated and Emma woke up from a pool of sweat, alone in her own bed, still panting and moaning. Her body however continued from where the dream had left off and she felt her insides pulsing as if he had still been there making love to her, her sudden release forcing one more moan out of her before the reality had her fully back. She was feeling so damn hot (actually in both meanings) that she threw off her fluffy duvet and lied on the bed letting herself cool down and waiting her anxious breathing to settle.

She lied on her back and cupped her sweaty forehead with both hands, swallowing hard, lingering a moment longer in her fantasy. All it took was a tiny sparkle of mischievous smile in those emerald eyes and she was doomed, she admitted and bit her bottom lip.

"Oh Loki, what are you doing to me?" she whispered, staring up at the paneled ceiling, wishing he could have been there with her. Once he had been real to her and now all she had were these dreams.

The dream had felt so real, so vivid, like she had really been with him. It made her wonder again had they truly shared a connection through out her dream or was it happening only in her head. She had tasted the god of mischief once and even he was gone now, she knew he would never leave her in peace. It had been two months ago when he returned home, back to Asgard, giving his word that he would return to her. And two months she had been either seeing nightmares about SHIELD trying to catch her or dreaming about him. Her dreams were becoming more and more intense and driving her insane with the need of him.

She groaned in frustration and tossed in the bed. This wasn't who she was. She had been a reasonable, independent person before she met him. She had had a life of her own. Now, she hardly knew herself anymore. She was trying to rebuild her life again from the scraps he had left her with, living with her father whom she was just learning to know on an adult age. She was practically an outlaw, and hiding from SHIELD in Canada wasn't making anything easier.

She swung her legs off the bed, got up and walked out on the balcony that was accessible from her room and the next one. Her small frame met the cold mountain air as she stepped outside on barefoot, welcoming the frosty early November morning in all its freezing glory, wearing only a tank top and underwear shorts. A normal person would have slammed the door shut and snuggled back in the bed under covers. She however had learned to love the coldness, being able to adapt to it, even craving for it every now and then. It felt actually divinely good and she sucked in a deep breath, her toes sinking in the freshly fallen snow, without a trace of goosebumps on her skin.

Winter was finally coming. It was dark and the first snow was slowly falling down on the ground, small snowflakes floating and dancing their way down through the air. She kept following the snowflakes one at a time, loving the ones that landed on her face like small kisses from heaven.

"How are you doing up there, big guy?" she whispered, touching her heart and staring at the dark cloudy sky with a sad smile. It would have been easier to go on if her dreams wouldn't have constantly reminded her about Loki and how good it had been to be together.

She spared him a moment in her thoughts, watching down at the dark lake where water was still open, only the shorelines had begun freezing up.

She had woken up so early that she had plenty of time for her morning swim before breakfast and getting ready to work. With a challenging smile she swung herself over the balcony's railing and landed softly on the ground, agile like a cat. From there she ran down the stony stairs to the lake dock and jumped into the water head first, diving into the cold dark abyss of the lake. Thanks to her mutant abilities she could dive all the way to the other side of the lake without holding her breath like a mermaid. The coldness was nothing but a welcomed embrace and under the surface she was free from her troubles.

… …

Loki's eyes were blazing with wrath.

Another of the Einherjar guards kept shooting suspicious glances at the bleak prince as though he'd been afraid that the shackles around their silent captive would turn into serpents or something even worst. The Trickster had held back his mischievous side for so long that it was just the matter of time something would happen.

Loki rolled his eyes and let out an annoyed groan. The infernal clattering of the iron shackles around him was testing his nerves to the limits as two royal guards were stripping him from the heavy chains and manacles on the threshold of his quarters. As soon as they all were off, he didn't spare another glance at his royal babysitters but flounced into his chambers fuming, rubbing his freed, numb wrists.

"Enjoy the rest of your day, my lord," the older of the guards said to the prince before they closed the massive doors, closing him into his privacy.

"Idiotic oaf!" Loki hissed through gritted teeth as he marched forward, the tail of his long black coat floating after him.

Enjoy his day? As if there was anything enjoyable in his day, or any days in his imprisonment. Well yes, it could have been a lot worse. He could have been locked up into the dungeon instead but it wouldn't have made much of a difference, now would it? He was locked up in his own quarters like a grounded child and in those rare occasions he was allowed to leave he was chained, guarded and walked out like a dog in a leash. It was humiliating. It was more than that. If before Asgardians used to compare him to his brother and see him as less or hardly see him at all, now they fell silent on sight of him and stared at him warily and suspiciously. Sometimes he had picked up even mocking glances towards him. He didn't deserve it. Those people had no idea what he had done, what he had sacrificed for the Nine Realms. What they saw was just a disgraced shadow of a prince they once knew. It was all so wrong.

His downgraded status showed on his outlooks as well as he was stripped the right to carry any sign of his royal symbols such as his weapons, cape, helmet or any piece of his armor. Even so he didn't appear any less princely with his less formal but decorative attire with his trademark colors of black and green.

His long legs carried him straight into this bed chamber and on his way a silver wine pitcher got a share of his rage as he slammed it off the table that held his freshly served dinner. The red wine smeared the antechamber's stony wall and floor but the mess was someone else's problem, not his. Only a glimpse of the red wine running along the wall reminded him of the mortals' blood he once spilled and it made him sick with a pang of remorse.

While pacing anxiously a circle in his chamber, he peeled off his coat and tossed it on the bed, and carried on to the balcony. He needed some fresh air because everything was starting to feel so damn suffocating. In the past two months, some of his few joys in life had been his trusted books, playing board games with Frigga, Thor's visits and following the rebuild of the Rainbow Bridge and Himinbjorg; the Bifrost observatory. The Rainbow Bridge was fixed but the rise of the golden observatory was taking painfully long time. Only the foundations of Himinbjorg were done and it looked like the construction hadn't made much progress during that day.

That observation made him groan upset and he leaned on the stony railing, his gaze dropping down and head sinking between his shoulders. How much longer he would have to wait before he could return to his love one?

Even he physically couldn't reach Emma, his thoughts always found they way to his Valkyrie, imagining her being there by his side where she belonged to; her arms wrapping around his waist as she presses her small body against him. The sweet scent of her curly, silky hair caressing his senses. A pair of sky blue eyes that could see into his soul with that disarming warmth and flirt of a smile. And how could he ever forget her luscious lips worshiping him in so many different ways…

"What ever that wine did to you I am sure it had it coming."

Frigga's gently sarcastic tone pulled him back from his reverie and he took a moment to compose himself before turning with a questioning frown.

Her slender fingers crossed like a saint, she accompanied him on the balcony and gave him a small smile. "You left the court with such hurry that one could have assumed that your precious books were on fire."

Loki breathed in, clearly still frustrated. "You heard what he answered to my plea," he groaned, his hands rising in the air and he walked impatiently on the balcony doing a small circle. "I have done everything Odin asked but my punishment continues... for how long? Years? Decades? Centuries even? I do not know what he wants from me."

"You crimes were severe, Loki. It took a lot of courage to admit your wrongs, but no one said this was going to be easy," Frigga said with motherly concern, following him with her gaze. "I have done everything in my powers to make you comfortable."

"I know!" he groaned and then repeated it more tenderly, "I know."

She had been his most dedicated defender all this time. Even when others in court questioned his motives and judged his deeds in the official hearing a few weeks ago, she stood up for him. He'd admired her craftiness and how she subtly outwitted the court and challenged Odin himself to pass judgment to warrior three, lady Sif and even to Heimdall for disobeying their regent ruler's orders and questioned their loyalty to Asgard.

Loki could still hear her words, "Why should Loki alone carry the consequences of his actions when there are others who broke the command of their king regent under the pain of treason? This is a question of loyalty, yes? Which Loki proved by returning the Tesseract with the cost of his own life."

On that day always-so-diplomatic-and-calm queen Frigga silenced the court and wiped the smirks from the warrior three and lady Sif's faces.

Truly, those traitors should have seen their own faces. Obviously they remained unpunished but they haven't dared to gloat at him anymore. Norns bless the queen! Loki thought gratefully.

Frigga granted him a tiny moment and then said, "You must stay strong. He is testing you. Promise me you won't do anything foolish that would send you straight into that dreadful dungeon."

Loki stopped pacing and looked at her, his expression softening. His mouth opened before he spoke as though thinking it over again what he was about to say. She knew him better than anyone. There was no reason to lie. "I am grateful for your concern, Mother… even sometimes I feel I do not quite deserve it."

Frigga stepped closer and offered her hand to him and he took it. "Do not say that. You have done well. You have made me proud. I only wish you would find more sun in your life."

"Yes. As do I," Loki admitted whispering and cast one more sorrowful glance at the construction of the golden observatory, hoping it to be his ticket one day back to his love. "At least I still have you to bring light into my sorry, dormant life," he said, holding his mother's hand on his arm as they walked together back inside down the stony steps.

Frigga gave him a tiny, sorry laugh. "My darling boy, I would tell you to go out more often if that would be an option right now."

Loki rolled his eyes subtly. "Evidently I would finally be the center of attention. Thor should be worried. My shackles are a grand head-turner."

Frigga squeezed his hand with a loving smile. "You have grown as a man and trust me; it has not gone unnoted among the young maidens in court. Many speak of your unselfish act of valor in Midgard. And from the careless whispers of my ladies-in-waiting they are beginning to warm to you," she said teasingly.

Loki shot her a curious glance, his dark eyebrows rising. He might have even flushed but thanks to his Jotun inheritance it didn't happen easily. "Don't!" he warned gently, his face returning to a charming, sardonic frown. "It has been inconvenient enough to my guards to keep shooing my admirers out day and night. Maybe I should try to see this punishment as a blessing instead."

Frigga watched him as he supposedly-carelessly focused on his books on the table, turning his back on her, clearly avoiding the subject that troubled him the most. She had tried to engage him into that conversation a few times before without success but she couldn't watch him suffer alone any longer.

"I think we both know it is not your punishment that bothers you. It is about her, isn't it?" she asked compassionately. "That young mortal. Emma Morgan."

Loki dropped his hand on a pile of books and heaved an audible sigh, his long fingers caressing the leather covers of an old book. That name got him off guard and his shoulders sunk and he turned at Frigga as though in slow motion, his sad eyes meeting hers. He had almost forgotten that Frigga saw her once. And Frigga was good of seeing with more than eyes.

"You miss her?" she asked nearly whispering and after a hesitating moment he could only nod. She responded to it with a sympathetic smile. "There was time when you used to tell me everything that troubled you. Am I not worthy of your trust anymore?"

"That is not fair," Loki murmured with a suffering look and sat on the edge of his table, wrapping his arms around his chest. "You said the word; she is a mortal. Her life may very well be over before I walk free again. So, there is no point…"

"I am sorry but I do not recall ever teaching you to give up," she reproached tenderly and leaned against the table next to him, leaning her shoulder against his broad one, her hand squeezing his crossed arm. "Tell me about her. She must be quite something for a mortal for capturing my son's heart."

They looked at each other sideways and a small smile finally manifested on his lips as he thought about his Emma, emotions suddenly sparkling in his eyes. But he faltered. "It is complicated," he whispered awkwardly.

"Well, what do you know, I have all the time in the world." Frigga's gentle smile encouraged him to continue.

His smile grew a bit bringing out his dimples. "She is, ah… She is fun to be with. She can make me laugh," he said like it would have been a huge revelation.

"Fun is good."

Loki still felt awkward to continue but did so anyway. "She is beautiful and warm and wise for someone of her age. Life has treated her unfairly but yet she shows compassion towards others. She is surprisingly brave and challenged me from the very beginning."

His voice became more vivid and his folded arms relaxed as though he'd been letting his guards down. "Sometimes she speaks her mind quite frankly and I do not understand half of her silly phrases but…" Then he fell silent realizing he was talking as if she'd still been there in his life and his gaze dropped down.

"When I was with her it felt like we shared a connection. I know we are from two different worlds but somehow she felt like… home. She saw me the way I am, Jotun and all, and she accepted me unconditionally. She loved my tricks and I loved her smile. I cannot explain why but through her eyes I saw myself the way I want to be. She never judged me by my past mistakes but saw me worthy to…" He swallowed and said softly, "To her I was a king."

Frigga had never heard him speaking like that about anyone (except maybe the members of their family) and she stared at his handsome, sorrowful profile stunned by his affectionate tone. "You love this girl?"

Loki stared back at her, his eyes filling, and his arms unfolded. "I miss her, Mother. I miss her so much that it hurts."

Frigga's hand settled on his. "It is all right. Missing her only shows that she has touched your life in a special way…"

"No." He took a shivering breath, his eyes wandering without focus and he was back on his feet again. "I vowed to return to her and she promised me to wait. But she does not even know I am still alive. And there are people in Midgard who wants to hurt her because of me." He turned to her with a begging look. "What good am I if I cannot keep my word? Now that you know, I would ask your help."

Frigga looked very sorry and worried. "You know your father has forbidden you to make any contact outside the palace. And defying him…"

"I would march alone into Jotunheim if that would bring her back to me," he declared cutting off her warning and begged then with a sincere voice. "Please, just let me see her. That is all I ask."

... ...

Thanks for reading and welcome to the sequel of Cruelly, Madly, Divinely. If you haven't yet read it, you may want to take a quick look at it. It would be easier to understand what's going on here.

And please do tell what you think. I'm always thankful for your reviews.