In Little Ways

Chapter 8

The ride home was quiet with the girls asleep in the back seats, but Lia was painfully aware of every breath Tom took. He had grabbed her hand softly in his own and was running his thumb over her knuckles slowly, sending jolts of excitement through her.

"Do you want me to drop you and the girls off at the apartment? We could go back to my place if you'd like. The girls can have their own room." He suddenly spoke, looking over at her as they pulled to a stop-sign. Lia looked at him, noting the darkened color of his eyes. She suppressed a shiver that tried to run through her as she nodded.

"Let's go to your place." She said, watching him smirk wickedly.

"Alright love. Then I can promise that you won't be sleeping much." He purred, giving her hand a squeeze in promise. Lia shivered then, gasping softly at his promise.

"Mommy? Where are we going?" Lia turned, seeing Bec sitting up, rubbing her eyes sleepily.

"Hi baby. We are going to have a sleepover with Tom. He has a room that the two of you can sleep in. Go back to sleep, okay?" She whispered, smiling lovingly. Bec smiled and muttered a tired 'okay' before snuggling back down with her sister and promptly falling back asleep.

"Cecilia. I want you to know, I don't want to force you into anything. I won't do anything without your permission." Tom said, the lust in his eyes shining beside utter sincerity. Lia squeezed his hand, smiling as her heart squeezed in her chest.

"I will tell you when I'm uncomfortable Tom. But I trust you." She whispered, leaning over to place a kiss to his cheek as he chuckled, letting out a sigh of relief.

"Oh good. I was scared that you would tell me no and I would have to take care of myself. This way I don't have to sleep on the couch tonight. Because I only have one spare bedroom and it's only a full. Mine is a king."

Lia smiled and rolled her eyes at this playful tone, trying to calm her racing heartbeat at the unsaid words between them.

"Why would a single man such as yourself need a king sized bed?" She asked, making him chuckle softly.

"I like to feel like a king, my love. And tonight you are my queen." They pulled to a stop in front of the Marriott hotel and Lia swallowed the growing lump in her throat as they both got out. The brisk, cold air did little to cool her heated skin as she opened the back seat door, pulling Bec out and carrying her to the door as Tom did the same with Kami.

"Hello sir. Welcome back, can I help you with anything?" The bellboy asked, smiling at them as they walked into the lobby.

"No, thank you. We are just headed up to the loft." Tom said, adjusting Kami gently in his arms as the bellboy nodded, pressing the button for the elevator.

"Of course sir. Have a great night. You too, ma'am." Lia nodded at him as they stepped into the now open doors. She felt her unrelentingly quick heart beat in her chest, knowing that as soon as the girls were in their own bed, she wouldn't be able to keep herself away from him. She could feel his eyes on her as they waited for it to get to his loft and shifted, uncomfortable in the skin tight dress.

'God, am I happy that this dress is refundable, because it might not last long.'

***

Loki watched her as she softly rocked Bec and felt his heart swell with love. He almost felt like the Grinch, his heart growing three sizes just in the span of a night. And as the elevators opened, he knew it wasn't the only thing that was going to grow that much tonight.

"Where is the room?" Lia whispered, looking around the large room, seeing the beautiful city skyline through the windows. Loki told her where before following her, moving quietly as Kami moved slightly in his arms.