The Raven

Twist of Fate - Chapter Twenty Six

At last, Loki heard her bedroom door open.
He had made no move to change out of his current attire, instead deciding to sit upon the sofa and await her return.
His gaze ran over her immediately. She had exchanged her stunning gown for an old t-shirt and pajama shorts. Still, he thought she was beautiful. - Of course, he proceeded to scold himself for thinking such a thing, everything within him fighting to silence this fantasy of his. But, that was besides the point. - The room was unnaturally quiet. Neither had minded the silence, until now. The only notable sound was that of crickets chirping, alongside the humming of appliances.
As she approached, he felt his body stiffen. As to why, he didn't know, nor did he care. His mind was occupied with more...important things. Namely, why he was suddenly frightened to even think of her bare skin. He did his best to force the thought aside, whilst she placed herself not far from him. He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Edith almost laughed. To think the silver tongued God of Mischief, himself, was at a loss for words!
After yet another horrid moment of silence, he finally found his words, "You know, I'm quite hurt you think so lowly of me. I'd like to believe it'd take over a year for them to capture me again,"
Edith arched a brow briefly, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips, "I doubt that. I likely could track you down in a week."
"A week? You wouldn't give me a month, at the very least, to prepare myself?" Loki mockingly scoffed, as if he were genuinely offended.
This little play of theirs was doing so little to lessen the tension. Both were overwhelmed with their own anxieties about the other; Edith, especially. She was mortified of this, and yet, she couldn't help but hunger for more. Her mind was a mess of 'what ifs', all of which she was certain wouldn't end well. Perhaps this feeling was...temporary?, she wondered. She hoped it would be, for her own heart's sake, selfish as it was.
The silence had reigned long enough, she decided. Her breath was shaky, and she simply abhorred it.
"I need to know...Why?" They weren't the best selection of words, perhaps - But how could she find any better, with him staring at her like that? The look in his icy blues, so strangely vulnerable.
He slid his tongue over his lips, tearing his gaze from hers, as if she would somehow be able to read his thoughts. "...I don't know," Was what he managed. It was...true, to a certain extent. Honesty was not something he was at all used to.
Edith's eyebrows furrowed. A mix of anger, confusion, and annoyance. "You-...You kissed me like that, and then you don't know why?" Her anger was evident, though she hadn't intended it to be.
The dark god's gaze was quick to return to her, "You returned it. Why?"
Fire. Blazing. Hot. Flaming. What other way was there to describe the other's gaze?
She stopped, realizing. She didn't know...Not precisely, anyhow. - As if sensing her thoughts, he nodded, "Exactly."
"How are you supposed to explain something you don't entirely understand?" Edith sighed.
He didn't answer. There was no answer, he thought. How did one even put into words all the things he was thinking?
"Tell me," He cautiously began, turning from her again. "No jests. - How do you view me?"
She paused, seeming confused, but in actuality, was irritated, "How do I view you?"
He grumbled, "How do you feel about me, Edith?"
The intensity in his eyes, the way she spoke her name...Her breath hitched, and damn it all, she caught herself staring at his lips. - He, of course, pretended, for her sake, that he didn't see this. - Fuck. How was she to answer this?...With honesty, she reminded herself. It's what she had always believed in.
"I...like you," She began, racing through the various hurdles in her mind. "I don't know exactly how to place it. But I like you. I enjoy your company, much more than I ever thought I would. - I feel...connected, or drawn to you. Like I can trust you."
He would be lying if he said this didn't...shock him, somewhere inside. He didn't think anyone had ever genuinely trusted him. - Of course, there was Thor. But Thor could be quite naive; Something Edith, he thought, could never be. She was far too intelligent, and quick to read people's actions. Perhaps this was why he had, had such difficulty reading her?
Carefully, he pondered his words. There was an open wound within him, that simply refused to allow him to admit what he truly felt, deep within.
"I feel the same," He spoke, slowly, still considering his words as he spoke. Again, he found himself to be surprised when Edith laughed. He instantly cocked a brow, "What?"
"Nothing. It's just-..." She took a moment to calm herself. "You say that as if you weren't the one who kissed me." The way he looked at her. She couldn't place it. It irked her.
"You returned it," Loki was swift to remind her.
"I did," She answered, albeit with slight hesitation.
There was silence between them for a while, as they stared at one another. However, neither realized they were drawing closer to one another. Not until their faces were inched from one another; Finding his breath to be shaky, Loki hesitated as he turned his head ever so slightly. Did he want this? Did she? So many questions ran rampant in his mind. They were all, however, silenced when their lips met, for the second time.
Intoxicating. Exhilarating. Blissful. Magnetized. There were so many words to describe this feeling, all of which neither could seem to find. Not that either were exactly interested in words at this moment....
Edith's fingers soon found their way into his hair, perhaps ruining it's perfect styling of the night. He hadn't a clue why, but this seemed to spark something in him. - The need for more. He was taken aback when she bit his lip, but oh, did he find himself loving it. For someone naturally cold to the touch, he had never felt so hot. Her free hand found it's way to the front of his shirt, tugging on it in a subconscious attempt to pull him closer.
The minute the kiss broke, leaving them gasping for air, he did not hesitate to meet her gaze.
"I adore you," The words were certainly ones he didn't expect, but they had come, rolling off his tongue as if they were simply meant to be.
She gave a huff of irritation, "Sometimes, I think you talk to much," With this, she grabbed his shirt again, and pulled him into her.
What had he expected? He didn't know, not in the slightest...But this was definitely a surprise. He didn't complain when she lied back, allowing him atop her. Instinctively, his wrapped his hand around her thigh, using the other to stabilize himself so he didn't collapse atop her much smaller figure.
"I think I'm in love with you," She suddenly announced, when their kiss was broken for a second time.
He couldn't help but smile; A genuine smile, something so very rare for him.
"I believe I'm past 'I think'," He admitted with a chuckle. He was briefly broken from their trance when he spoke. - It felt so strange to actually confesss to this deep ache within him, that he had tried so desperately to drown. However, his anxiety vanished when he met her gaze once again. Their lips met in a clash. This time, he let out an unexpected groan when she bit his lips. Deft hands made their way to the front of his blazer, unbuttoning it. In seconds, he had risen and thrown it to the ground. His tie was next to join it. - He soon found his own hand running up her body, and sliding beneath her shirt. She didn't stop him, but instead gasped when feeling his cold hand meet sensitive flesh.
He would have clearly been lying if he said he wasn't utterly shocked when she shoved him back onto the sofa, and proceeded to crawl into his lap. He watched, eyes wide, as she removed her shirt. Oh, now, he most certainly was staring. How could he not? He didn't look away until she forced him to, pushing up his chin so that she could kiss him. His breathing was frantic when she ripped open his shirt. - Something else that surprised him. - Edith hadn't a clue what she was doing, and yet she somehow did.
One last time, she broke their kiss, uttering such fateful words:
      "Take me to bed."
Oh, and how quick he was to oblige, holding her close as he stood, and made his way into her bedroom.
As he threw her onto the bed, he knew then, that this woman had him wrapped around her finger, and he found that he didn't mind. No, he was content with this strange twist of fate. To think, had he never encountered her, he'd likely be back on Asgard, rotting away in some filthy cell like a rat in a cage.
  Truly, what a twist of fate.....