As the couple lay entwined in their bed the next morning, Bruce broke the silence by quietly asking, "It breaks my heart that you thought you were unworthy of my love, Loki. That I ever gave that impression."

Loki sighed, his hand running soothing patterns on Bruce's arm. "Bruce, it wasn't you…it was me. I understand how Bucky feels and why he feels unworthy of the wonder boys love. I was so terrified the night I confessed my feelings for you. I thought I was going to lose you. I had been in battle, suffered at the hands of my father but the thought of losing you as a friend and not having you return my affection terrified me."

Bruce nuzzled Loki's hair "Oh baby you are worthy of my love, now and forever." Bruce changed his position so he sat against the headboard and commanded Loki to undress himself. Loki raised his eyebrow not sure where this sudden change came from. "Do it baby, I want to show you how much you deserve my love; however, we can stop at any time just say the word." A faint dusting of red creeped across Loki's face and desire began to pool in his belly. Loki had always wanted to be dominated but they hadn't fully explored that part of their relationship. He shivered in excitement and expectation and quickly undressed.

"Lay down for me, baby," Bruce said, patting his lap. Loki did as he was told, laying across Bruce's lap; he had a vague idea of what was going to come and his cock started to swell in anticipation against Bruce's thigh. "I am thinking…twenty? For doubting yourself?"

Loki nodded. Bruce gave a light slap on Loki's thighs, causing him to shiver. "Vocalize baby, give me your permission."

"Yes, sir"

The first slap against his ass shocked Loki but he felt more prepared for the next two - one spank against each check of his ass; he could only imagine how red they were starting to turn and groaned. On instinct alone, Loki found himself counting the slaps, each one somehow harder than the last and exactly what he needed. When they finally reached twenty, Loki was sobbing from pain and desire and relief from the guilt he had been carrying. "Oh my god, more Bruce, please more! I need it."

"Shhh," Bruce soothed, running a gentle, soothing hand on Loki's ass and running up and down the man's back. "I think you've had quite enough already."

"But-"

"But nothing Loki," Bruce commanded in a soft tone, causing Loki to buck a little against Bruce's thigh. "We did the first part your way, now this next part will be my way." Loki found himself being turned over, lying supine on the bed with Bruce staring down at him adoringly. "Oh my beautiful baby, whatever shall I do with you? Besides love you of course," he said with a wink

Loki blushed, "A small part of me still thinks this is just a dream, and that I'll wake up back in that cave with the snake hovering over me. That I am unworthy of this love."

"Oh Loki, baby, you are worthy of the love that I bear for you. I will always love you," Bruce said, leaning in to press gentle kisses to Loki's stomach and chest. " You are such a good baby for me, Loki. Sweet and caring, always willing to lift me up when I'm tired or discouraged. Always willing to lend an ear and listen. Plus you're a brilliant cook." Bruce smirked, "And you're all mine." Bruce crawled over Loki, planting a sweet kiss on his lips. "You are always worthy of the love you receive. If anything, it is I who amazed that someone as perfect as you could love me"

"How can you say that?" Loki words barely more than a whisper.

"Because it's true, baby," Bruce soothed. "You and I have both suffered at the hands of monsters. We have moved mountains to become the men we are. Yet, deep in our sub consciousness we can still hear our bastard fathers whispering that we aren't worthy. But we are Loki, we are." Each sentence was punctuated with another kiss– to his forehead and his cheeks and the space right above his heart, ending with a kiss to his lips like a promise. "You've taken your punishment and you took it well baby. Now let me take care of you."

Loki couldn't find the words to protest - all coherent thoughts and words leaving his brain as Bruce wrapped his hand around Loki's cock. He stroked it slowly, lovingly, as if he were in awe that Loki was in his bed at all, which hardly seemed right, if anyone had the right to be awed, it was Loki. His eyes slipped shut in pleasure as Bruce picked up his speed, the soft click of the lube bottle opening the only warning Loki had before the cold gel joined the sensation of Bruce's hand.

Loki couldn't stop the soft moans that left his lips, not until Bruce kissed him again. "That's it, baby," Bruce purred, "You're so good for me."

"Bruce-" Loki started to protest only for Bruce to squeeze his cock, sending sparks of pleasure through him. "Please…"

"Shh, baby, just be patient. I am almost there." Loki was unsure what Bruce meant, not until he felt Bruce lift off his lap before settling himself onto Loki's cock. A guttural, almost feral moan erupted from Loki as his hands immediately bracketed Bruce's hips.

"That's it, baby," Bruce moaned, "just like that."

Loki's hips bucked up instinctively to meet Bruce's pace as he rode Loki. The pace was slow, almost meditative, and seeping with care and affection. Loki couldn't help but think of their first night together, after they had confessed their feelings and had spent the night in each other's arms gently kissing and exploring each other's bodies. Gods above Bruce had such a natural, instinctive way of making Loki's life brighter. He never expected to have someone like Bruce in his life, in all honestly he never felt worthy of it but now here they were, Bruce riding Loki like he was something precious. Loki let the insecurities wash away like the tide.

"You're so good for me, baby," Bruce panted out, picking up the pace ever so slightly. "You let me take care of you, even when you thought you weren't worth it. Trusting me to know how to take care of you, because we do, baby. We know how to take care of each other."

Without permission, Loki found himself cumming, moans echoing through the room as he painted Bruce's insides white. He expected Bruce to scold him, since he was the one in control today, instead Bruce praised him. "Oh, baby, look at you. So beautiful when you cum especially when it's my words that make you lose control." Bruce stayed seated on Loki's cock and he could feel his cock twitch in interest.

Carefully and slowly, Bruce removed one of Loki's hands from his hips, bringing it instead to his cock. Bruce made for quite a sight about him, head thrown back in pleasure as he warmed Loki's cock and let Loki jerk him off. This moment was seared in Loki's mind, and he wanted so badly to be painted in Bruce's cum. With that mental image, Loki quickened his pace, drawing louder moans and praises from Bruce's lips until finally - beautifully - he came, cum splattering over Loki's chest as he leaned close, letting the cum hit his chin and cheeks.

"You wanted to make a mess, didn't you baby?" Bruce panted. "You did so good for me, Loki. My baby, my most trusted friend, my love." Bruce leaned down and kissed again, uncaring of the cum being smeared into his skin and on his lips.

Eventually (and far too soon if you asked Loki) Bruce eased himself off Loki's cock and dragged him into the shower ("After all, your cafe opens a few hours and we can't be covered in cum!"). With the same love and care as when he was riding Loki, Bruce cleaned him up, pressing kisses to every part of Loki's skin as he went. Bruce washed Loki's hair reveling in the contented noises Loki made as he did. When they finished, they went back into the bedroom where they stripped the sheets and quickly replaced them. When they were both clean, they sat back on the bed cuddling once again.

"I love you so much baby," Bruce breathed, "That's why it hurt so badly last night when you said that about yourself in front of Bucky. Please never forget that I love you."

Loki pressed a gentle kiss to Bruce's jaw, "I know Bruce. I know. Sometimes I just have to be reminded." Loki could feel the smirk as Bruce responded, "Well it's a good thing I'll be here to remind you of that - as often as you need." Loki snuggled in closer and let out a contented sigh. They laid there for a few minutes before Bruce gave a light smack causing Loki to twitch as Bruce's hand made contact with his sore ass, "Sadist," Loki muttered.

"You love me for it though," Bruce replied, "Come on it's time to get over toOttalauss. I know that Bucky, Hel and Natasha are already there and I would prefer not to be tortured for not getting you there on time."

The soft opening of Ottalauss was a raving success. Loki had managed to invite many influential food and restaurant critics, with their spouses, to the event as well as world renowned chefs. As word spread, and the reviews poured in Ottalauss became a staple in the top 10 restaurants to visit in New York City for years to come. Loki, while incredibly proud of his accomplishments, kept on his toes by improving his recipes as well as looking for new dishes to put on the menu. He even started to write a cookbook with Natasha that would eventually be sold in the cafe.

While rocketing to success with Ottalauss, Loki told himself that he had to maintain a personal life as well. He would be damned if he lost the love of his life simply because his ego was stroked by the adulation he received. He knew it would be all too easy to give into the old Loki who thrived on glory, praise and worship