CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
The news of Loki's return spread through Asgard like wildfire and by nightfall, everyone in the realm knew of the great hoax he and Odin pulled off, and why. People cheered, despite the deception and McKenna couldn’t stop smiling as they sat atop the dais in the dining hall that night. Now she knew why Odin kept urging her not to sell the house, or why he refused to remove Loki's chair in the dining hall. He knew his son would return.
McKenna skimmed her hand against the back of Loki's, letting it come to rest atop his, and she laced her fingers with his. She couldn’t help it. She had to keep touching him, had to convince herself this was her reality and not just some amazing, wonderful dream.
Loki eased his hand from beneath hers and shifted to catch hers once more. He smiled over at her as his thumb caressed hers and his lips brushed her ear as he leaned over to whisper, “I cannot wait to get you alone, love. We have much time to make up for.”
She shivered, her eyes closing briefly as she replied, “That we do, indeed.”
He squeezed her hand and sat upright as Odin rose from his chair and held up a hand for silence. It swept through the crowd as if he’d flicked a switch, and he cleared his throat to say, “By now, everyone is aware that Loki has returned to Asgard alive and well and in one piece, and he’s brought back both missing stones. You know of his deception and why it had to be done, and now we celebrate his return—to Asgard, but more importantly, to his wife McKenna and their children. They have suffered more greatly during this time than any one of us and I commend Princess McKenna on the way she conducted herself during this trying time.”
McKenna smiled and bobbed her head as the crowds cheered. Loki squeezed her hand again, pressing it into his thigh as Odin added, “And to celebrate, there will be a ball tomorrow evening, in honor of Loki's return.”
Thor leaned back in his chair and reached around to jab Loki in the shoulder. “You should die more often, brother.”
“Bite your tongue,” McKenna told him, only half-joking. “He should never, ever die again.”
“He doesn’t plan on it,” Loki broke in, squeezing her hand again. “At least not for a very long time.”
“Which puts my mind at ease,” she said.
He winked, then leaned over and everyone below them seemed to sigh as one as he brushed her lips with a kiss. His lips were so soft and warm, and she couldn’t help but sigh as the kiss deepened. Never again would she take even the most innocent of his kisses for granted.
His hand came up, his fingertips coming to rest on her jaw, and the tip of his tongue eased between her lips to tease hers. The sigh became a roar of approval and when Loki pulled back, his grin was full of mischief and his eyes were a swirl of aqua. “I love you, Midgardian,” he murmured, tracing the tip of his thumb along her bottom lip.
“I love you, too, Jötunn,” she said, unable to hold back her smile as she leaned her head against his shoulder. “I thought I would never feel one of your kisses again.”
“You never need worry about that, darling girl,” he murmured. “Never.”
For the first time in months, she was really, truly happy. Everything was as it should be once more.
***
After dinner, Loki gave her hand a gentle squeeze and leaned over to whisper, “Come with me, love. I feel this great need to have you all to myself.”
She smiled as she rose from her chair and they wound their way through the crowds, which took forever, since so many people were milling about, waiting to welcome Loki home. McKenna smiled up at him with each person who stopped them. She couldn’t stop looking at him, actually, as it was reaffirmation that he really had come home. And she was convinced she’d never seen him look so handsome. He’d changed into his formal armor (which made her wonder if he’d remembered his promise to let her undress him from it when he returned) and his hair was a little longer than normal, combed back and tamed relatively smooth.
The hand holding hers was cool, his thumb stroking along hers in a way that suggested it was habit. And when he glanced down and caught her gazing up at him, he winked and gave her hand a squeeze.
Finally, they were on the promenade, the sounds of the dining hall fading into the distance. It was a calm, balmy night, but there was a hint of a chill in the breeze. Autumn wasn’t far away.
“So, when Selig said he talked to you, he really was talking to you?”
“Yes and no. I was there, but I don’t know if he could see me. I had to keep quiet and keep mostly in shadow. If any of you found out…”
She sighed softly. “You should have told me you were doing this, Loki.”
“I wanted to, but Odin felt it better if you didn’t have to worry about slipping. It was important Thanos believed he’d killed me.” The moonlight trailed over his shoulders and when he stopped to look down at her, half his face was silver, the other half shadow. “I would never have put you through all this if I didn’t have to.”
As they strolled along the path, the soft rush of water grew and she knew, without being told, where they were going. “Don’t ever do it again.”
“I won’t.” He stopped once more, facing her and releasing her hand to catch her face in his palms. “Not ever. You have no idea how many times I saw you crying and would have given anything to wrap you in my arms and tell you everything was going to be all right.”
“Loki, it was hell. I never knew how difficult it would be until it happened and I feel like I’ve aged twenty years as a result.” She drew in a shaky breath, her eyes stinging once more, so she blinked and gazed out at the Asgard Sea in the distance. She could just make out the whitecaps beyond the Bifrost. The water was rougher than usual. A storm was coming their way.
When she was sure she could trust her eyes, she looked back up at him. “Who else knew?”
“Son of Coul.”
“What?”
“He knew. He was to make certain nothing happened to you on Midgard.”
“So… he and May coming by the house wasn’t a coincidence?”
Loki shook his head. “No. I’m sure Odin must have alerted him. Or Heimdall.”
She sighed. “You all need to stop spying on me.”
“Love, I knew what I was risking with me, I wasn’t about to risk you as well.”
“That wasn’t your decision to make.”
He smiled. “You’re right. But I’m a protective husband and I make no apologies for that. As I’ve told you before, I will never apologize for wanting to keep you safe.” His thumbs moved lightly along her cheekbones.
“Did I really see you last night?”
“See me?”
“I was walking back from the nursery and I’d swear I saw a flash of green rounding a corner ahead of me.” She let out a dry laugh. “I followed it, like an idiot, and there was no one there.”
“That wasn’t me.”
“I heard you sometimes as well.” She swallowed hard and looked up to find him gazing down with softly aqua eyes. “You have no idea how much it hurt, to think I heard your voice, only to find out I was all alone.”
“You were never alone, darling girl.” His voice dropped to a gravelly whisper. “There were nights when if you’d woken at the wrong time, you’d have seen me. I was there. I watched you cry yourself to sleep and wished more than anything I could come back and comfort you. I saw Selig and Aislinn creep into our bed in the middle of the night and you pull them tight, and wanted only to come home and assure you I was fine.”
He kissed her forehead. “The hardest thing I’ve ever done was watch you grieve for me, McKenna.”
“So don’t die on me again.”
“I won’t. At least, not any time soon.”
She managed to smile. “The letter was a nice touch.”
“The let—oh… right…” He smiled. “Actually, that was real. I wrote that the night I told you I was going to confront Thanos. Odin only spoke of his plan when we arrived here. We’d just finished discussing it the night you and I christened the throne.”
She burst out laughing, clapping a hand to her mouth as she stared up at him. “Really?” she asked when she peeled her hand back.
He grinned and nodded. “You missed Odin by a few minutes.”
“I didn’t realize his chambers were right behind that dais.” Her cheeks grew warm. “Do you suppose he heard us?”
Loki shrugged. “I neither know nor care. He hasn’t mentioned it and I’m certainly not about to, and every time I look at that throne, I’ll smile and everyone will wonder why.” He bent and brushed her lips with a kiss. “Everyone but you, that is.”
The heat in her face intensified. “Oh, God… that’s terrible.”
“No it isn't.” He nuzzled her gently. “It was some of the best sex we’ve ever had.”
“Has it ever been bad?”
“The night in the kitchen, when Selig interrupted.”
“That doesn’t count. You weren’t even all the way in when he started yelling.”
“It was uncomfortable enough to count.” His voice grew husky and she shivered as he gently nipped the side of her neck. “I’ve missed you, Midgardian. It’s been far too long.”
“Mmmm… that it has,” she whispered breathlessly, feeling the teasing flick of his tongue against where he’d just nipped. “God… I’ve missed this…”
He pulled back to smile at her. “So let’s continue on our way, shall we?”
His arm came about her shoulders and she curved against him as they resumed walking. They fit so perfectly together, as he was six foot two and she was barely five foot three on a good day. And a short while later, they came to the rocky outcropping that slowly morphed into the Sølvfoss.
For so many weeks, she avoided coming here, terrified the memories would destroy her. But now, as she stepped onto the warm golden sand, her heart felt as if it could actually take flight. She felt as if she could actually take flight.
She moved down to the water’s edge. It shone silver in the moonlight, calm and placid, looking like a giant mirror set against a ring of pearls as the rocks rose from the water in massive white peaks.
Loki came up silently behind her, slipping his arms about her waist to pull her back into his chest. Her hair, left loose for the night, was swept to one side and her eyelids drooped as he bent and kissed the slope of her neck.
Kiss.
Nip.
Flick.
She melted against him, her hands coming down to curve about his.
Kiss
Nip.
Flick.
His breath was warm against her skin as he moved down, tugging the collar of her cranberry colored blouse to the side. Then, he eased his hands from beneath hers and one by one, undid the buttons to part her blouse.
She caught her bottom lip between her teeth as he swept the silk wide and eased it over her shoulders. It spilled from her like water, and his hands skimmed up over her belly, coming up to cup both breasts at the same time.
“Oh, love,” his voice was heated whisper, husky and deep, “I’ve missed you.”
She reveled in the feel of his hands on her body, so certain she’d never be able to feel it again, and her back arched of its own as she whispered, “I’ve missed you even more, Jötunn.”
He kissed across her right shoulder, pulling one hand away from her. A flick of his wrist, and her bra unhooked and he skimmed his hands along her arms to ease down the straps and push it away.
“Oh!” She couldn’t hold back her gasp as his hands slide back along her ribs, around to cup her breasts again. His thumbs swept around her nipples in slow, teasing circles that sent ripples of pleasure floating through her.
“So beautiful,” he whispered as she sank into him, draping her arms over his shoulders, her fingers twisting in his hair. With each wonderful pass, her breath hitched and her blood warmed. Dear God… she wanted him with a fury she hadn’t felt in a long time, but at the same time, she didn’t want to rush. Not now.
He slid one hand down along her belly and he worked open the button on her black linen pants. The fine material simply spilled from her body, leaving her in only her black thong. “Lacy bits,” he whispered, easing his hand beneath the triangle of black lace, “I do so love the lacy bits.”
“Loki… you promised I—” She sucked in a sharp breath as his fingers slid through her curls and into the ache between her thighs.
“I know,” he whispered back, his fingers moving in a lazy circle around her sweet spot. “And you will… but right now I need to reacquaint myself with you, darling girl. Then it will be your turn.”
She bit down on her bottom lip as he slipped a finger inside her and did something magical. Fire shot through her, twisting and spiraling through her like a flaming ribbon. Loki groaned low in his throat as her hips moved with him. “Oh… McKenna… what you do to me, darling girl…”
His caresses came slow and sweet, her desire for him growing with each stroke, heating up with each teasing thrust. The fire filled her with the sweetest of aches and he drew her to the very edge of bliss.
Then he pulled back.
“Loki…”
He eased his fingers free and caught her in his arms to sweep her up. His lips met hers with heat and smoke and when he pressed her down onto her back, it was onto a soft blanket.
“My love…” he murmured, kissing his way down her neck. He was in no hurry, taking his time to nibble, to nuzzle, to taste her with each kiss. He moved down along her breastbone, pausing to tease first one nipple, than the other.
His lips grazed her belly.
Kiss.
Nip.
Flick.
Her fingers sank into his hair, reveling in the softness before twisting to hold on as he kissed over her hipbone.
Her mind went blank at the first silken stroke of his tongue against her, her hips snapping up to meet him. Oh, dear God, it felt so amazing… She couldn’t hold back her breathless moan of pleasure.
He sped up. He slowed down. He went left, than right, and then did a lazy circle that had her crying, “Loki!” as her back bowed.
He went from gentle to sensual, from slow to fast, and pleasure rose in a mighty wave that threatened to sweep her out to sea. He brought her to the very edge, held her there until her body throbbed with the need for release, and then he let the wave crest.
“Oh… Loki…” Everything inside her rolled over, pleasure erupting to spill through her in a white-hot wave of bliss. It was hot and powerful, wonderful and wild, and when he brought her back to earth, she thought she might have actually died herself.
He came back up to cover her, his lips finding hers in a deep kiss that left her head spinning. “Midgardian…” he whispered.
“Loki… oh god… that…that was amazing.”
He smiled, propping himself on his elbows above her. “You’re welcome, love.”
She gazed up at him and smiled back. “You’ll get yours.”
“I’ve missed you.”
“So tell me how I get you out of this and you can stop missing me.”
His laugh rolled across the water and he pushed himself up off her, then caught her by the hand to draw her up alongside him. Guiding her hand to the left side of the gold piece across his chest, he whispered, “It’s actually much simpler than it seems. Here, there’s a small tab, you need only push it in.”
She did, pinching her finger in the process, but it loosened the bar, which he then shifted to the side. Beneath it were two buttons. She eased them through their holes and he smiled as he caught her hands again to guide lower.
“Unbuckle this.” He gestured to the cross-strap that went from his left hip to his right shoulder. “And those three straps there. And now lift this,” he pointed to the small leather flap halfway down his belly. “And that loosens the rest.”
The top portion of his tunic fell open and he smiled down at her as she gingerly eased it over his shoulders. “This is a lot of work, you know.”
He smiled. “I know. Why do you think this is the first time you’re the one doing this?” He bent and kissed her lightly. “Fortunately for you, love, I am horny enough that it will take me no time to be ready for you.”
She couldn’t help but laugh. The word horny always made her chuckle, but it sounded even funnier when he said it. “Is that so?”
“Dear gods, yes.”
The tunic hit the sand, leaving him clad only in leather leggings that she had already mastered the art of unlacing. But before doing that, she curved her hand against him, smiling as he sucked in a sharp breath. He had nothing to worry about. He was definitely ready for her.
He arched into her touch, a smile tugging at his lips, his eyes now mere slits. “Oh, darling girl… the way you tease me…”
“Should I stop?”
His smile widened. “Not unless you want me to just throw you down and take you.”
“Well, that does sound good, but it’s not really fair to you.” She tugged at the laces and when they opened, eased her hand beneath the leather.
That was the only part of his body that rarely felt cool. He was hot and hard and smooth and when she stroked him lightly, a muscle bulged in his jaw and breath leaked through his clenched teeth.
He opened his eyes and the grin he offered was sinful and mischievous. “On your knees, Midgardian,” he growled with a wink.
A shiver raced along her spine as she sank to her knees and tugged open his leggings. A moment later, his hands sank into her hair as her lips closed about him. He trembled against her, his voice low and hoarse as he whispered, “McKenna…” and arched into her.
She teased him. She tasted him. She treated him to pressure and sensation until his breathing grew ragged and his body tensed against her. His hands tightened in her hair, his hips arching to meet her as he breathed, “Oh, darling girl… that feels so good…”
Then suddenly, he grabbed her under the arms and yanked her up to meet his fiery kiss. He maneuvered her onto her back and surged up between her thighs to thrust hard inside her. Rising onto his forearms, he thrust swift and sharp, murmuring, “I’m too close, love…”
She pressed her knees into his sides, her hips moving in time with his thrust. “It’s okay, Loki… oh, God… this feels amazing…”
“McKenna!” His thrusts took on a new urgency, hard and furious. His eyes closed, the muscle in his jaw bulged, the tension swirled through his entire body and then—
“Loki!” She threw her head back as he came and it set off a chain reaction that had her sinking her fingernails into his shoulders, crushing her knees into his ribs, and making her entire body tighten about him as he triggered another fiery climax for her.
“Oh… oh, McKenna…” His voice grew raw as he fought to breathe, his body trembling with such fury, she couldn’t help but wrap her arms about him and hold him tight against her. “Oh… dear gods, love… oh… oh holy hell…”
She smiled at the awe in his voice, lifting a trembling hand to stroke his hair over his left ear. “Oh, holy hell, indeed,” she whispered with a chuckle. “Are you all right?”
“No…” He swore softly and moved his hips again, which set off another ripple of pleasure through her. “I think I might die…”
“Don’t even joke about that.”
“Love, I feel like I’ve just lost my virginity again.” His forehead thunked against her breast, his breathing ragged and fierce. “Actually, this was even quicker than that.”
She smiled. “I don’t know if I should be flattered or insulted.”
He let out a breathless laugh. “Flattered. I just couldn’t control myself. It’s been what? Two months?”
“Something like that.” She stroked his hair with a gentle hand, smoothing it back over his ear. “I never thought I’d see the day when you lost that amazing control of yours.”
He chuckled again. “It will come back, you’ll see.”
She sighed, smiling as a comfortable silence fell over them. Loki's eyes shut, his head remained on her breast and she was perfectly content to lay like that, entangled with him, forever.