All Over Again (Sequel to Wanted Man)

Chapter Forty-Nine

CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

McKenna held onto Loki's arm for balance as she dipped one foot into the chilly surf of the Asgard Sea. "I think I prefer the Sølvfoss," she said, shivering and leaning into his arm.

He slid that same arm about her waist to hold her closer. "Take care, Midgardian. One near-death experience is all I can deal with right now."

"I'm fine now, Loki. Look." She pulled free to lift up the bottom of her black tank top. Eir had done an amazing job in healing her stab wound. All that remained was a narrow white scar. "See? If you didn't know, you wouldn't know, if that makes any sense."

Loki traced his fingertips along the thin white line. "Believe it or not, love, I've actually gotten quite good at deciphering your words. Now, please, come away from the edge, won't you?"

She sighed. "You're no fun."

Four weeks had passed since the day she almost died and when she asked Loki to take her for a walk along the sea, he grudgingly gave in. There wasn't much of a shoreline, as it was mostly the same rocky outcroppings as the one people saw when they looked at the Sølvfoss. But she didn't care. She wanted to walk along the water, to smell the salt air and feel the tangy breeze on her face.

The rocks were slippery with spray, so she let Loki tug on her arm, and she carefully picked her way back to the beach, such as it was. "So, have you given any more thought to what we talked about?"

He glanced out over the water, the breeze winding its way through his hair to lift it up and away from his face. "I'm not entirely comfortable with it."

"Why not?"

"Because, I'd rather you stay here, with Aislinn and Selig and let me find Ward."

"Coulson and his team are already looking for him and besides, I'm the one he stabbed. I think I should be the one to give payback."

Loki faced her, catching her hands in his. "I know. At least, the rational side of me knows. But, the irrational side, the one that wants to destroy him for what he did to you, refuses to listen. You are safe here. That's all I care about now, love. You being safe."

She fought back an irritated sigh. Loki wasn't at all shy about telling her exactly what he thought about her accepting Coulson's offer to train at the S.H.I.E.L.D academy. And although it hadn't reopened, he'd told her their new location and that Agent May had been willing to work with Natasha Romanov in order to teach McKenna what she needed to learn.

He didn't want her leaving Asgard. Period.

Odin shared that sentiment, insisting she and the children remain at the palace, where he could protect them while Loki was gone.

Well, she wasn't so certain that was what she wanted. Especially since she was going to learn to defend herself and she was going to learn from the best there was.

"I know that. And I understand. But Loki, this isn't like New Hope. I'm not going to overinflate my estimation of my abilities. I'm actually going to be able to take care of myself."

"By placing yourself in danger."

"I'll have a gun, Loki. If nothing else, I can aim and fire."

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I'm fighting a losing battle, aren't I?"

"I hope so." She closed the space between them and slid her arms about his waist. "You always tell me, anything I ask and you'll give me. All I've asked for so far is our daughter."

"And this."

"And this."

He caught her face in his hands, his thumbs brushing along her cheekbones. "You really wish to do this?"

"Loki, I have to. You need to concentrate on things other than what trouble I'm going to get myself into. I don't want either of us worrying about the next Grant Ward that comes our way."

"Darling girl, you need never leave Asgard again, if you desire only to feel safe."

"I'm not an Asgardian, though and as much as I love it here, I also love Earth."

He sighed and she felt a hint of triumph surge through her. "It would be nice to not have to worry so much. Although, that doesn't mean I'm not going to worry about you, you understand."

"I know, just like I worry about you and you can do magic." She tugged him closer. "Now, no more talking about it, okay? No one is expecting us back for a while yet, so why don't we go down to the Sølvfoss and play in the water, where it's nice and warm?"

He bent toward her and his lips brushed hers as he murmured, "You read my mind, love. You read my mind."

THE END