Chapter Seventeen-Fancy

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"And what way is that?" I reply with interest. The corner of his lips lift.

"Your captain." His eyes are searching mine as he says the words. Whether waiting for a reaction or wanting to receive one, I'm not sure. "You could have your way with him however you wanted whenever you wanted, but choose not to. I know why." He pauses to wait for me to ask him. I sigh.

"And why don't I, Loki?" I satisfy him by asking and he grins.

"Like so many things in life, half the fun is the chase and the willful surrender." He leans forward on the table and I'm thankful when James returns with a few other waiters with our food. Our table is soon covered along with two trays by our sides.

"Thank you. I'll wave when we're ready for you to come back." James nods and the people with him leave. I meet Loki's eyes and shake my head slightly. "It's not about the chase, Loki. I'm not hunting anyone." He leans forward again, hands searching the table while his eyes are on me. "It's about earning someone's trust, respect, and more if they want to give it." I tell him and reach for an absolutely sinful looking pasta dish, tugging a slice of chocolate cake towards me as well so Loki doesn't steal it. He surprisingly doesn't respond and instead drags a plate of risotto towards him.

"And how am I doing, dear?" I laugh and shake my head. He just won't quit.

"I like you, Loki, but you'll have to do better to earn my trust and respect," I tell him honestly and he smiles back at me with a shocking amount of sincerity.

"I consider it a challenge then, darling." He responds and my eyes roll. After that, it's relatively quiet as we make a point to try everything. The chocolate cake, the pasta, the lobster, the steak. Of course, we can't finish all of it so I send the rest back to the facility while Loki insists I take him to the nearest dress store.

"You're ravishing." He tells me as I shake my head and turn in the mirror.

"When would I ever wear this, Loki?" I ask, smoothing my hands over the smooth red clinging to my hips. It's a sheath dress that fits me like it's soaked, ending mid-calf and with a deep V showing off just enough of my tattoo to be enticing. Quarter sleeves give the illusion of modesty from the back but in all honesty, I love the damn thing. There's also a small part of me that wonders what Steve would do if he saw me in it.

Loki scoffs. "When you look as breathtaking as you do right now, you don't need a reason. Get it." He pushes and the woman assisting us nods approvingly at his world view. I look over at him on the lush, white couch and those bright green eyes shine with mischief. "Besides, I'd be happy to take you to any establishment that might be suitable for you to wear such flattering attire to." Loki encourages once again and it's hard keeping a smile off my face. I step off the platform and into the dressing room to slip the cream dress Loki made for me earlier back on. It seems to be completely corporeal. I lay the red dress over my arm and work my bottom lip over between my teeth. I open the curtain and step out to the rapt attention of Loki and the worker.

"Could I speak to your supervisor please?" I ask and she nods with furrowed brows before rushing off. Loki raises an eyebrow at me. "If I'm taking this then I'd like it to be out of the bosses' paycheck rather than hers." His face splits into a grin and he takes the red dress from me, laying it over another dark green dress on his arm. "After this, I want to treat you to my normal life," I tell him and he shrugs unconcernedly.

"Whatever you say, my dear." Loki relents as a man in a very expensive suit approaches.

"Hello, I'd like you to pay for both of these and bag them for me. Thank you." The man instantly takes them into his hands and we follow him to the front desk.

"Won't you admit that you had fun today, darling?" Loki whispers in my ear and I roll my eyes before accepting the bag from the supervisor and heading out.

"I admit I had fun. It's the first time I've felt...free... in a long time." I allow. "But that doesn't mean I'm going to continue this run with you. I'm done for today and ready for some sweatpants." Loki sighs at this as we walk down the sidewalk.

"Since you've admitted you enjoyed yourself, I'll release you to your...sweatpants." A soft laugh falls from my lips at the quizzical tone. "But I wish to make another stop." I groan as he turns in front of me so we stop. "Just wait here a moment, lovely?" He requests and I wave him off with a sigh. Turning, I face the fading sun as Loki does whatever the hell Loki does.

"Hey, lil mama!" I sigh when I hear a man call out and open my eyes to see a group of three men with sagging pants waltzing towards me. Ugh. "Whatcha say to comin' home with us? We'll treat you real nice." He entices as I stare with disdain.

"No," I respond instantly and cross my arms over my chest with my fingers tightening on my dress bag. The men frown and the two behind the front man pat his back in some form of encouragement.

"You sure about that, baby?" He asks and lifts his baggy sweatshirt to reveal a gun tucked into the waistband of his pants. No clue how it's staying there with how loose they are, but whatever. I'm about to tell him where he can put that when Loki returns.

"I think it would be best if you left." He says with a sharp edge in his voice, eyes affixed to the three men. "She's not to be trifled with." Eyes turn back to me when he grins and my eyes roll yet again.

"Just who the fuck do you think you are? Stepping in on me and my girl?"

"Your girl?" I repeat and Loki steps in front of me then jerks both hands back to reveal daggers shimmering into his hands. "Loki-" I disapprove.

"Anything else to say?" He questions before I step around him to face the three.

"Find the nearest police officer and tell him every crime you three have ever committed. Never catcall anyone again." I tell them and they stiffen, turning and walking back from where they came from. Spinning on my heel, I look back at Loki who disappears his knives and smiles at my firm face.

"They probably would have run before I killed them." He excuses his behavior and holds up a bag in front of my light frown. "I brought you something." His hand reaches down and pulls a book out from the bag.

"' How to Deal with the Psychopath in Your Life.'" I read and look back at him. "You got this...for me?" Loki shrugs with a small smirk on his face.

"Perhaps if you understand me better you will find me less...bothersome." He tells me self-deprecatingly and the shock keeps my scolding at bay. "I also got one by Shakespeare, I found I like his works. As well as another romantic novel that I figured you may enjoy." Loki shuts the bag and looks back at me before carefully putting the book in my hand away as well.

"Because that was so sweet, I'm not going to chastise you for almost killing people. I'm ready to head back." I wrap my arm around his and tug him after me on the sidewalk. "Thank you for today." His eyebrows pop up at my words. "As strange and slightly stressful as this was, I had a nice time getting out of my own head." Loki blinks as he absorbs this and a grin slowly blooms on my face. "And I'm also grateful that I get to see you ride in my purple van again." Dread creeps over his features and I laugh loudly, filling the street with the sound.

"You are...something else, Rea." He tells me softly and I sober slightly at his tone.

"Back at you." I relent and giggle as he sighs when we come to my van. Time to go home.

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