Heaven Sent (Loki/Asgard Fanfiction - Aislinn's Story)

Chapter Thirteen

It had been a few years since Aislinn was last in northern New Jersey. Although her parents still owned the house in Hunterdon, they were rarely there and when they did come to Midgard, she usually remained in Asgard.

Branchburg was about half an hour south of where she'd spent part of her childhood and Longacre Court wasn't far off Route 202 North. She smiled as she turned onto Willow Court and entered the townhouse complex. It was an older development, judging by the full-grown oaks and maples lining the sidewalks. But it was also a younger development, with many units having toys and bicycles and the like scattered in front of the units.

According to her GPS, Longacre Court was the second left off Willow and as the street sign came into view, her stomach did a funny little flutter, one she hadn't felt in a long time, and her heartbeat quickened. And when she made the left and caught sight of Steve's black Denali, her mouth went dry, so she picked up the bottle of water in the beverage holder and took a long swallow.

There were two empty parking spaces, one on either side of the Denali. One said visitor, but one had the unit number 84-C, so she eased her Jetta into that slot and killed the engine.

The units were built in the Colonial design, with stone facing and low porches and as she eased out of her car, two little boys went rocketing by on scooters. Her heart beat hard and fast against her ribs as if she hadn't seen Steve in weeks instead of hours, and as she stepped up to the front door, her pulse pounded through her temples with such force, it actually made her wince.

She pressed the doorbell, swallowing hard when footsteps drew near. The inside door opened and Steve smiled down at her. "Hey, beautiful. I was beginning to get worried."

"There was an accident on Eighteen."

He held open the door. "Come on in and let me know if it's too cold in here for you. I was running around like a madman trying to get all the dustbunnies so you didn't choke on them and sweating my ass off in the process."

She smiled. "Cold is fine, actually. I'm not a big fan of the heat and New Jersey summers are the worst."

"I take it Asgard isn't so hot?"

Inside was refreshingly cold, a far cry from the sticky humidity of a late July afternoon. Shaking her head, she said, "It's not that it isn't hot, but there's no humidity."

"I like the sound of that."

The door banged shut and he closed the inside one before catching her around the waist to pull her to his chest. "No bag?"

"Silly." She wiggled her fingers and her duffel appeared at her feet. "I'm feeling a little lazy."

"I could get used to this." He grinned down at her. "There's something to be said for having a goddess for a girlfriend."

She rolled her eyes. "Demigoddess and don't even think about it. I suspect you're using me for my magic and I'll turn you into a frog."

"Honey, sometimes I think I'm already the frog."

He couldn't possibly. He had to know how hot he was, had to know that women stared after him when he passed by them. She'd seen it for herself on the boardwalk, in restaurants, everywhere. How was it he didn't see it?

"Even so."

He shook his head. "You need to learn when I'm kidding. While this magic thing is nice, I'm really only in it for your body."

She made a face at him and wiggled her fingers in his direction. "Keep it up, funny boy, and we'll see how you look croaking."

He held up both hands in a gesture of surrender. "Don't shoot, honey. I'm only teasing, although," he winked, "I do wonder just what else you can do with it."