Unforgotten

Chapter 9

I woke with the sun shining gently on my face through the curtains. I blinked a couple of times, then glance over at the clock, which read 7:30 a.m. I felt Loki's soft breathing against my hair, and tried to slide out of his arms gently so as not to wake him. Pulling on my clothes from the night before, I stopped in the bathroom to glance at my reflection. I tried pulling my hair into a ponytail, then shake my head and decide it best to leave it down, suddenly noticing the subtle bruise Loki left on my collarbone the night before. Grinning slightly, I tried to cover it with my shirt and hair. I knew my aunt and uncle would not be impressed with that.

    I quietly closed the door behind me and padded down the hall, headed for the kitchen, where I could smell breakfast already underway.

    "Good morning," I said cheerfully to Steve and Natasha as I grabbed a mug and filled it full of water, before sticking it in the microwave to warm it for tea. "Can I steal some of this bacon?"

    "Help yourself," Steve said, waving an arm toward the pan, and I grabbed two pieces, put them on a piece of paper towel, and stuck a piece of toast in the toaster. "You missed kick boxing this morning." I felt my face flush. I had promised Steve and Natasha before Christmas that I would start a kickboxing regiment with them every other morning, and with Loki coming home, I had completely forgotten.

    "I'm sorry, guys, I forgot," I shrugged, sitting down with my food across from Natasha.

    "Huh – I see you got a pre-workout in already anyway. You're a little – bruised." Natasha said carefully, cocking her head at me. I glared at her.

    "Bruised? What happened?" Steve stepped forward to look at me, and his eyes widened when he spotted my collarbone.

    "Paige –"

    "Yes, she was busy," I suddenly felt cool lips on my neck and heard Loki's voice behind me, both of which made me smile. "You may blame me." I turned and looked up at him, seeing him grin down at me.

    "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you," I murmured, and he shook his head, heading for the kitchen. I turned back to my other companions, Steve trying to avoid eye contact with me, and Natasha waving a finger at me with a wicked smile.

"Completely inappropriate." I heard Steve mutter, and I tried to ignore him, but I couldn't help but blush. Thankfully, I heard the microwave ding, and I gladly rose out of my chair to grab my hot water.

    "Darling, please don't tell me you are making tea this way," Loki scolded me gently, taking the mug from me and pouring my hot water down the sink. I rolled my eyes as he began filling the kettle before setting it on the stove to boil. "What am I going to do with you?" He grabbed me by the waist and pulled me close, kissing me deeply. I didn't resist.

    "I see you've returned, Mischief," I heard my Uncle Tony's flat voice, and I broke our kiss, my cheeks flushing again. "Let's keep the kitchen PG, shall we?" Tony pushed past us to go to the refrigerator to pour a glass of juice. "Good morning honey." He kissed my cheek as he passed by again to find a seat at the table. Loki motioned for me to go sit, and he grabbed a piece of bacon to eat as the kettle began to whistle.

    "What are everyone's plans for the day?" Natasha asked nonchalantly, as Tony opened the newspaper. Loki brought a mug of tea over to me, and motioned for me to stand, so he could sit, then pulled me down into his lap. I could see Tony roll his eyes behind the paper.

    "Just going for a run this morning," Steve responded. "I think Sam's going to join me at some point."

    "I've got some work to catch up on," I said, after chewing a piece of toast. "I have a wedding to shoot next weekend, so I need to go check out the venue sometime this week." Loki glanced at me and I smiled at him.