The Sweetest Rose-LokixOC

Chapter 41

Morning light spilled across the bed through a narrow gap in the burgundy brocade curtains rousing Loki. His arms tightened reflexively around Cassandra as he came fully awake. Nuzzling her hair, Loki rested his chin on her shoulder, pulling her snug against his body content to hold her while he allowed his thoughts to drift aimlessly.

None of the usual morning-after regrets swam to the surface as they often did when he took a lover. In Asgard Loki could never afford for any woman to get too close for many reasons. Mainly, he never connected with anyone beyond a superficial level.

Cassandra was different. Rough around the edges, careless with her speech, but utterly kind and loyal to a fault. He loved how fearlessly she spoke her mind and challenged anyone who she believed to be wrong whether billionaire or god.

Loki didn't understand her fascination with dusty human relics but he adored the glow in her gaze when she talked about her career. What would it be like to have that kind of passion and direction? Loki had always coasted by on his rank, never striving to rise above it.

Loki was once a king. Now only a prince. Strangely, the loss of power did not bother him anymore. It was almost a relief to be free of the burden and pressure of leadership.

He smiled faintly to himself, an invisible weight lifting off his chest. Perhaps he had grown some after all.

Cassandra continued to sleep soundly, snoring softly in his ear. Her legs tangled with Loki's beneath the covers, her body small and delicate compared to his.

She certain put him through his paces last night. He thought dryly, stroking a hand over her hip, her silken skin deliciously soft against his palm.

His hand curled around her calf as that strange warm feeling swelled within him again. Loki was completely awed he was permitted to touch this gorgeous woman. A self-proclaimed hedonist he'd known plenty of pleasure in his life, but nothing compared with what he experienced with Cassandra in a scant few hours. Her boldness and tenacity, her infectious joy.

For all his vaunted experience, nothing had prepared him for the mortal who blew into his life with the force of a hurricane sweeping him along in her wake.

Loki's phone buzzed on the nightstand, scattering his thoughts. Frowning, he curled around Cassandra more tightly ignoring the buzzing piece of human technology. No doubt someone was in a crisis. He wasn't willing to allow the problems to come flooding in yet.

Cassandra snorted, smacked her lips and snuggled closer to him, her cheek smooshed against his forearm.

Loki bit his lip to keep from chuckling as she settled warm against his side. She was so adorable.

A few minutes later someone knocked at the door. Cursing mentally, Loki carefully disentangled himself from Cassandra swinging his legs over the edge of the bed.

Loki shrugged into his hotel issued robe and padded across the room to answer the door.

A fair-haired man dressed in a dark navy suit and purple tie, lowered his hand, looking abashed once he saw Loki's furious expression. "I apologize for the disturbance, sir. I brought the breakfast you ordered."

A silver cart with covered dishes peeked out from behind the man.

Loki frowned. "I didn't order any breakfast."

"Ah, just one moment." The man raised a finger and then shifted some items on the cart, producing a sheet of ivory cardstock embellished with gold writing. "Ms. Pierce put in the order at 6 PM, the previous evening."

That was shortly after their arrival at the hotel.

"It is recommended a guest put in an early request if they wish for a special item to be prepared." The employee explained, his blue eyes darting to Cassandra's sleeping figure on the bed and lingered. She had shifted in her sleep, the blanket slipping to expose her bare shoulders.