Coffee and Books 1

Chapter 33

There is no way I can catch the God of Mischief, who runs down the stairs with an agility you would not suspect in such a tall man. He even cuts a corner by jumping over the railing to the other flight of stairs.

He's by the door to the hallway, waiting for me. "Took you long enough," he repeats my line from earlier.

I just roll my eyes and push past him into the hall. A glass door leads to the gym. To my right and left are doors to locker rooms, straight ahead is a big room with a mat like in a dojo. On the right side there are boxing bags hanging from the ceiling and I spot some weights in the corner. On the other side is another glass wall with doors, leading to a room with fitness equipment. I spot a couple of treadmills, bikes and some other cardio fitness equipment. There is a floor to ceiling window in the back wall and the treadmills are overlooking the city. Now that's what you call running with a view! It certainly beats the view I have in my gym.

Loki takes me to the middle of the mat and starts showing me some moves I can use in situations like last night. First, he teaches me how to block when someone tries to grab me. I'm not feeling that great, but I try my best. I think it's sweet that Loki wants to teach me how to defend myself. He really is taking this seriously, calling for my attention whenever my focus wanderers. And he takes care to avoid my recently injured shoulder as much as he can.

Next up is getting away from someone who grabs you from behind. Loki teaches me how to grab and twist a wrist, break free and twist the arm of my attacker to his back.

"Come on, Ylva, put some strength in it! You're not going to hurt me," he urges me on.

I try another couple of times, really putting my weight in, before putting my hands on my knees. "I need a break," I pant.

"Alright." Loki walks to the locker room and comes back with two bottles of water. He tosses me one and I just barely catch it.

"Whose gym is this?" I ask, wiping my mouth after drinking big gulps of water.

"S.H.I.E.L.D. uses it during the week. And we do, mostly on the weekends."

"It looks better than the gym I go to," I tell Loki, gesturing to the well equipped work out room around me.

"You work out? I couldn't tell," he smirks and I toss my empty bottle to his head in response. He easily steps aside, not blinking an eye.

God, the smile on that man! It's enough to make me weak in the knees. All this body to body contact is also just fuel for my imagination. He is teaching me how to fend him off, but there is a voice in the back of my head that is saying he can just have his way with me.

It's just a short break before Loki stands in front of me on the mat again. "Try to get on top of me," he orders me.

I blink, my brain going into overdrive. Did he just...?

"Come one, Ylva! Try to floor me," Loki repeats impatiently, not aware of the non-appropriate direction my thoughts have taken.
The next second I'm on my back myself, floored by Loki in one swift movement. He only holds back the moment before my head would have hit the mat, holding me by my left arm and my waist.
"Now you try," he says, pulling me to my feet again.

"Oy, Loki! I remember a time when you didn't have to tackle a lady to make her fall for you!" Thor's booming laughter fills the room. He and Heimdall come in, Thor carrying a big bag and Heimdall is holding two long leather sheaths.

"Are those swords?" I ask Loki curiously from behind his back. I'm half hidden behind him, as he didn't release my hand when he turned to face the newcomers.
He doesn't reply, he's too busy giving Thor the evil eye. I roll my eyes and tug on his hand. "Come on, I would think you are used to his stupid jokes after a thousand plus years," I whisper to the dark haired prince.