Tabula Rasa (Unlike Loki: Book Two)

Chapter 30

(Anna)

I slept against Loki's bare chest that night.

It was the best I had slept in years.

*********

We woke up to the sound of someone beating on our door.

Loki groaned and stumbled out of the bed, pushing the sheets off. He was in nothing but his boxers. I pulled the sheets up to my chest, as I was in nothing at all. I rubbed the grogginess out of my eyes and sat up.

Loki threw open the door.

It was By.

I felt my cheeks redden unconciously.

"Can I help you?" Loki said calmly, his voice raspy.

"May I speak to you, your Majesty?" By asked, looking straight at me with cold eyes and ignoring Loki all together. His face was covered with loathing and jealousy when he noticed I was naked. And, not that it was any of his business, but Loki and I hadn't even done anything but slept.

"Whatever you need to say, you can say it in front of the King as well." Loki said, his voice clearing.

By shot his head to look at Loki, his whole face seeming to darken. "You are not the King. The King died and left Asgard to a young girl who had no idea what she was doing, and with no one to guide her." By spat, staring Loki down.

And that's when Loki punched him in the face.

By slammed into the ground, his nose bleeding profusely. I groaned, not able to do much of anything. Loki bent over By, leaning his face down to him. "I am very much alive and you should do well to remember that, fool. You may have slept with the love of my life when I was away, but that game is over now. She belongs to me and is under my protection. I love her more than you ever could. And don't you dare speak against me. You have no idea what happened, what I, she, WE went through." Loki was shaking. I was about to get out of the bed, regardless of my lack of clothes. "She had plenty of guidance, I made sure of it. And she is a born leader, so do not speak against her either. And don't you DARE call her a girl. She was a woman long before you came to manhood, peasant."

Loki backed away and shut the door on By, hitting his head intentionally.

He stared at the door for a moment before turning back around. I faintly saw traces of blue on his skin, obvious that he was out of practice of hiding his frost giant background. He climbed into bed and went under the covers, facing away from me.

I slowly reached my hand out and ran my fingers along his back. "Loki?" I said softly.

He rolled over, and pulled me to him, snuggling against me. He folded himself into me, his head curled against my chest. He wanted ME to comfort HIM.

I ran my fingers through his hair, feeling his cool breath against my naked skin. I breathed him in, and hummed a random tune.

"I've really screwed everything up. My entire life, just fucked up."

My heart hurt for him. "Shh." I smoothed his hair out. "Don't talk like that. Just because you've made some mistakes, doesn't mean you've ruined your life. You saved me. In more ways than one. You created a beautiful child who loves you. You're a wonderful father and lover or whatever we are. I love you. No one has the life they imagine. I sure as hell don't. And that's okay. Because I'm happy where I've ended up."

He looked up at me, smiling slightly. He rolled over, pulling me on top of me in a tangle of bodies and sheets. I laughed, looking into his eyes as my legs tangled with his.

"You truly are amazing, you know that, right?" He asked, picking his head up to kiss me quickly.

I kissed him back, giggling. "I try." I said, dramatically.

"Never leave me." He told me, suddenly serious.

"Same to you, bucko." I smiled, trying to lighten the mood. I didn't want to think about how deeply depressed I had been for the past five years.

He rolled over again, tangling us in the sheets even more, and put himself on top of me. He smiled brightly and leaned down, finally letting me get a long taste of his lips. He began to push the sheets away, so that there was nothing but us and the sound of our breathing. He laid himself against me, his weight heavy and comforting. He kissed me deeply and passionately, trying to make up for missed time. His hands moved all over my body, touching me, making me groan with delight.

I put my legs around him, unable to stand it any longer. I wanted him, and all of him. I wanted his body and his mind and his breath and his eyes. All of him, every bit. He slid off his boxers in a fluid motion. We continued to kiss feverishly, our bodies already hot. I felt him against me, and it wasn't long before I felt him slide into me.

He was larger than I remembered. And so much better.

We moved against each other, in a natural rhythm, our breaths matching. I held on to him tightly. Never had I had this intense of a feeling in my entire life. Each touch with him was new and intoxicating, the dial turned up another notch. He began to move against me faster, looking into my eyes, as I moaned his name softly.

And then the doorway blew open, exploding inward with an intense, hot, blue light.