A Royal Arrangement

Chapter 14

- Loki's Pov -

It was late in the evening and no matter how many times I tossed and turned; I could not sleep. My thoughts kept dragging me back to the conversation with Vesper in the drawing room. Maybe I had acted too hastily? She tried to hand me an olive branch, but like the stubborn man I had become, I had bluntly refused it without hearing her out. An action which I regret now. I always thought of myself as a clever man. I was always able to talk myself in or out of trouble. But there were times when my pride overtook my rational thinking, and this occasion was certainly one of them. I could kick myself. I was an idiot, Vesper was trying here, and I had completely thrown her under the carriage.

I then heard crying. I got up and rushed towards her door and started knocking.
"Vesper?"
"Go away. Please." she requested whispering, trying to muffle her sobs in the process. I continued to knock, now even more hastily. I had to do something to make things right between us. I pressed my forehead against the dark wood.
"May I please see you for a moment?" I don't care that I sounded a touch desperate. I was. As she opened the door for me, my heart sank. Vesper stood before me with swollen eyes from crying and sniffed a couple of times.
"What do you want?"
"Please. Forgive me. It was not kind of me to disregard you like that. I should not have spoken to you in that manner, I apologize. I really do want to listen to you and work on our relationship, so I suggest we discuss this matter again... Perhaps in the morning?" I suggested. Vesper took her time to answer but eventually did by nodding meekly.
"Okay..."
"Great. then, uhm, sleep well," I said with a little smile. I didn't mean to do it, but I bent over to give her a peck on her forehead before I realised my mistake "I didn't mean to do that. Well, I did but... I... I should respect your-" Vesper cut me off by wrapping her arms around me.
"It is alright... Don't worry," Vesper said while in my arms and I melted in her touch. All I could think right now was how good it felt to hold her. I just want to hold her for the rest of my life... If she'd let me "I'm sorry too... about early," she admitted after a little while.
"Don't worry, it's alright," I repeated her words whereupon both of us pulled back and looked at each other for a moment and I smiled at her. My lips descended on hers. I could hear fireworks as I kissed her wildly.

- Vesper's Pov -

Fireworks as he started to caress my arms, I submitted to him. To this feeling, to whatever this was between them. I didn't know it was. I just knew these feelings were strong. It was like there was a magnet pulling us towards each other. It scared me. I was scared to get hurt. And that made it difficult for Loki to get close to me. Because of Dimitri, I was scared to get my heart ripped out of my chest again. But I knew Loki wasn't like him. Loki was an entirely different person. I knew I would struggle with marriage. My parents hated each other and were only together because of my siblings so I didn't know how to be a wife. I didn't know how to love.

After letting go and giving myself to Loki. He picked me up in his arms and we made love for most of the night. It was almost as if we couldn't get enough of each other. I lay in his arms. sweaty and contented. I took a deep breath.
"Loki... I... I don't want to get hurt again. I don't think I can take my heart being..." I didn't complete the sentence, but hopefully, he got what I was referring to "I know it isn't fair to you, but I think it is why I have tried to keep my distance even though it... is hard for me to do so.." I admitted "It's just... I don't know how a relationship works. The only long-lasting relation I had known of was my parents and... well, you've seen them together. Hardly role models,"
"Hardly. But should it not be up to you to break that mould?" Loki whispered, wiping some hair from my face.
"I know... I just don't know how to. I just don't want to be like my mother," Loki cupped my cheek.
"Vesper, I will always be the first to tell you that you will never be like her. You are kind and she is cruel. How you came from her is beyond me." Loki smiled.

- Loki's Pov -

Upon hearing Vesper's admission, her previous behaviour became more understandable to me. It was apparent that her past experiences had caused her to be hesitant and guarded with her heart. Given the breach of trust she had endured, it was only logical that she would be apprehensive about investing too much in another relationship. However, her confession also revealed that my feelings were not one-sided, which was a huge relief. It meant that we could build our relationship on mutual feelings and trust, which was a solid foundation to start with.

I knew that I couldn't change what had happened in her past, but I wanted to be there for her. So, I lifted her chin and looked deep into her eyes, hoping to convey my support and understanding. I wanted her to know that I was there for her and that she could trust me with her heart. I hoped that with time, we could build a strong and loving relationship, despite the wounds of the past.
"Vesper, I'm not going to hurt you. I promise I won't but you must trust me. Will you?" I whispered to her.
"I will..." she stated, and a smile broke out across my face.
"Vesper..." I said shortly after and she glanced at me in anticipation "I think I am falling in love with you," I admitted. It was the oddest thing, this woman I had never known before, that had come into my life like a whirlwind, uprooting everything but by the gods, I was thankful for it. I had not forgotten about Sigyn completely but the more time I was spending in the company of Vesper, the fainter the memory of my former love became.
"Then you should know that I am falling in love with you too," she softly confessed. The revelation filled my heart with a sheer sense of joy and happiness and for the umpteenth time that night; leaned down to kiss her.