Finally
“Ouch!”
Mentally cursing himself for getting too close to the pan without some form of protection, Loki sighed and concentrated on healing the burn with his magic, before turning a glare on the stove.
“Look,” he muttered, aware that he was talking to an inanimate object and more to convince himself he could do this than anything, “if this going to work, then we are going to have to co-operate together, aren’t we? So, no more burns, alright?”
The pan of hot water just continued to bubble on the stove, and he took a deep breath before picking up the book he had dug out of a pile on the edge of the kitchen table, trying to work out what to do next.
“Add pasta to boiling water and cook until soft.”
Loki wrinkled his nose. Wouldn’t it just make more sense to put the pasta in the water and then boil it altogether? Sometimes humanity really confused him. Still, he did as instructed, being extremely careful this time to avoid being burned or scalded again. It seemed simply enough, just stirring the stuff about until it turned a paler colour and became soft and squashy to touch. Everything else was ready, thereabouts, it was just a matter of throwing it all together and praying that it didn’t overcook or burn in the oven. Still, he reasoned, if that did happen, after all it was his first attempt at doing something like this without Ash around, they could always order a take away. It would be less romantic but at least she wouldn’t go hungry.
Not for the first time since meeting her, he muttered “What are you doing to me, Ash?” as he ran a hand through his hair. How much he had changed since she had entered his life, how much more considerate he was, and more regretful of his actions on Asgard, in fact looking back, he realised that he didn’t like that person, the person he used to be before he met her, but he liked the person that she had made him now. She had changed him without even realising she had done it, and he was grateful to her for that.
Once he was satisfied with what he had made, it was just a matter of popping the whole dish into the oven and carefully timing it. After about twenty minutes reading on the sofa, he got to his feet and padded about the kitchen, making sure that everything was perfect. The table was already set, and with a quick flick of his hand, the dirty dishes were washed and drying on the draining board. Loki stepped back to admire his handiwork and his brow furrowed, something was missing. Then, with a smile, he conjured a pot of orchids, perfectly white and pink, and not a moment too soon, for a second later he heard the front door open and close.
Showtime, Loki realised, suddenly nervous for the first time. What if she rejected him? What if it made things awkward between them? He pushed that thought out of mind. No, that couldn’t happen, it wouldn’t happen, it had to work out as he was hoping, but if it didn’t, he had to make sure that she knew he would never force the issue, never pressure her into it if it wasn’t what she wanted.
He let out a breath he didn’t even realise he’d been holding as the kitchen door opened and Ash sighed as she came in, dumping her bag on the sofa. “You would not believe the day I’ve had,” she began, turning to him, “I mean, talk about-!” She broke off, seeing the orchids and came up, Loki managing to hide his smug smile as she did so, and reached out to touch one. With a surprised smile, she turned to look at him. “What are these for?”
Loki shrugged. “I thought you might need cheering up a bit.”
Ash leaned forwards to inhale their scent, before asking “How did you know they were my favourites?” and then adding, knowingly, “Loki, did you read my mind again?”
Loki flushed. “I may have done.”
Ash giggled, in that sweet way of hers, and then, seeing the table set, added “Aw, and dinner too?” Then, glancing at him, she asked, “Loki, are you after something?”
It was now or never, Loki realised, as he stepped closer to her. Gently lifting her chin so that she was looking into his eyes, he said, softly, “Yes,” before leaning in and pressing his lips to hers. To both his surprise and relief, Ash not only let him, she responded, pressing up against him and parting her lips to give him access to her entire mouth. Loki lost himself in kissing her, because she was amazing at it, before realising that he had probably take it too far and pulling back to give them both room to breathe.
Ash blinked up at him and then said, breathlessly, “Forget dinner, I want to see what’s for dessert.”
Loki chuckled, softly, moving his hand to wind his fingers through her soft, dark hair. “I’ve been wanting to do that for a long time,” he admitted.
“Well, why didn’t you?” Ash asked.
“Because I didn’t know if it was something you wanted,” Loki replied, softly.
Ash gave him a fond look and then murmured “Come here,” as she wound her arms about him and kissed him again. Loki wrapped his arms around her waist and responded with an equal amount of enthusiasm, his mind reeling. She actually wanted him back. He couldn’t believe it, and yet, it was real, it was happening.
He quickly broke the kiss with a murmur of “Mm, dinner,” and Ash smiled as she slid into a chair, watching him pull the dish out of the oven.
She shook her head. “It’s happened! I’ve domesticated you!”
“Only a little,” Loki replied, with a mischievous look that made her laugh. Thankfully, the food hadn’t been burned and they both ate with that sense that something had changed in the air, in comfortable silence, shooting one another slightly flirtatious looks as they did so, and Loki felt a stirring of something very much like relief, and pleasure, quivering inside him.
“So, what now?” Ash finally asked, breaking the silence as they cleared the dishes.
Loki felt himself flushing again. “Well, I’d very much like to be your...” He frowned and asked “What’s that word you use here?”
“Boyfriend?” Ash guessed.
“Right,” Loki replied, mentally kicking himself for not coming up with a smoother way of asking her.
Ashe didn’t seem to mind, however, as she slipped closer to him and took his hand. “Well, I’d very much like to be your girlfriend, Loki, so...”
Loki took the initiative and kissed her again, feeling a mingling of different emotions all at once. “Ash, I’m going to treat you the way you deserve,” he murmured between kisses, “I promise, I’m never going to scare you or hurt you ever again.”
“I know, Loki,” Ash whispered, clinging to him tightly. “I trust you.”
Their kisses became more intense, their touches more frequent, and before Loki had time to even blink, Ash had dragged him into her bedroom and they were both lying together on her bed, touching and kissing whatever part of the other they could get to amid their tangle of limbs.
“Are you sure you want this?” Loki whispered, urgently, overcome with a desire to take her, but just barely holding back in case it was moving too fast for her.
Ash gave him a look. “Loki, I haven’t had a boyfriend to do this with in months.”
Loki raised his eyebrows. “Fair enough,” he muttered, before flipping her underneath him. He felt her smile against his lips before he moved lower, kissing a trail down her neck and as far beneath her collar as he could reach.
Ash sighed and thrust her hips upwards to meet his. “Loki...”
She didn’t need to say anything else. In one quick magical movement, he had them both completely devoid of clothing and he paused a moment, drinking in her absolutely perfect body for the second time in his life. Admittedly the first time he had only had a glimpse of it, but it had been enough, and now he ran his eyes over her smooth curves and soft skin, not with malicious intent, but with pure awe.
“You are beautiful,” he whispered, leaning down to kiss her again. Her lips were so unbelievably soft and he felt like his heart would explode at any minute from the pressure building up inside him.
“I bet you say that to all the girls,” Ash teased, lightly.
He smiled down at her. “No. Because in all of the Nine Realms, I have never come across someone as beautiful as you.”
Ash felt her heart give a little kick as she leaned up kiss him again. Loki realised that he felt sorry for everyone else in the whole of the Nine Realms right now, because they weren’t like this with Ash, they weren’t being held by her, sharing sweet kisses and a lot more besides.
Pressing closer to her, he kissed his way down her body, emitting a tiny moan from her and the occasional twitch and thrust of her hips until he reached her secret space. His fingers quickly worked their way inside her and she let out a gasp as he hit that spot just right, leaving her stuttering incoherently as her fingers gripped the pillow beneath her, writhing slightly at the feel of his kisses against her labia.
“Come for me, Ash,” Loki whispered.
“God, Loki...!” Ash gasped, feeling herself come undone in a great wash, and Loki managed not to smirk at her pun. She reached for him and he side inside her in one quick thrust, having grown hard for her the second he saw her naked. They clung to one another, building the natural rhythm that soon had them both moaning for release, both of them spilling over the brink in the exact same moment and Loki collapsed against her, a shudder of relief rippling through him.
“Norns, Ash, you feel so wonderful,” he sighed.
She reached up as he nuzzled the crook of her neck and ran her hands through his hair. They lay like that for a long while, soft touches soothing one another until Loki finally pulled out of her and tugged her into a warm embrace, nuzzling the top of her head.
“Loki, can I ask you something?” she murmured, presently.
“Of course,” Loki replied.
Ash raised her head to look him in the eyes. “Did you send me the flowers on Valentine’s Day?”
He smiled at her. “Was I that obvious?”
“No,” Ash replied, her eyes brightening, “but I did hope that it might have been you.” She reached up and kissed him. “Thank you, it was very sweet. And, um, speaking of Valentine’s Day, I’ve got a confession to make too.”
Loki had a feeling he knew what she was going to say before she even said it. “The other card?”
Ash nodded, and then ducked her eyes, embarrassed. “Just...didn’t want you to feel left out, is all.” Loki’s response was to kiss her hair with a soft murmur of “Thank you,” and she looked back up at him, her eyes hopeful now. “So...does this mean you’ll be moving back in here with me, then? I have kind of missed sharing a bed with you.”
Loki smiled and lifted her hand to press a kiss to the back of it. “Lady Ash, I would be honoured.”
Sleep came on quickly for both of them, and for Loki it was the best sleep of his life, with Ash curled up in his arms, wanting him the same way he wanted her. When morning came, though, Ash was surprised to find herself alone in the room.
“Loki?” she murmured, wiping sleep from her eyes and stretching. Finding no sign of him in the room, she clambered out of bed, and then smiled in relief, seeing that Loki had already moved his books and clothes back into her room. Shaking her tousled hair out of her eyes, Ash reached for the tunic he had worn the night before, which had landed on the floor along with all their other clothes, and pulled it on, just in time to hear an exclamation of “Hel!” coming from the kitchen.
Startled, she made her way in there to find Loki on his knees, mopping up a patch of spilled water with some kitchen roll and muttering to himself “Damn, such an idiot!” Glancing over him, Ash noticed two cups, one overfilled with hot water, and smiled as she realised what was going on.
“Are you sure I haven’t domesticated you too much?” she teased.
Loki look up and offered her a sheepish smile. “I was trying not to make a mess.”
“Trying but not succeeding,” Ash teased, and he laughed before throwing the kitchen towel away and clearing up the rest of the mess with magic. Then, he noticed what she was wearing and smiled.
“You look beautiful in my colours,” he told her.
Ash smiled and spread her arms, showing how much room was in his tunic on her. “It’s like being hugged by you.”
He cocked an eyebrow at her. “Are you sure you wouldn’t prefer the real thing?”
“Who said I wouldn’t?” Ash teased, before stepping into his arms. Loki folded them around her, pressing a soft kiss to her lips before pulling her close and closing his eyes. She did look absolutely beautiful, even with her hair mussed and wearing nothing but his tunic, well, especially wearing nothing but his tunic. Ash, for her part, felt that she was in serious danger of falling for this man, this God, and yet she was surprisingly alright with that. “Let’s go out,” she said, presently, pulling away but not stepping out of his arms just yet.
“I assumed that that was what we were doing already,” Loki replied.
She laughed. “No, I mean let’s go outside, later, take a walk or something.” Then, seductively playing with the ties on the tunic he was wearing, she added mischievously, “Maybe holding hands this time?”
Loki pretended to think about it. “Go outside and show the whole world that I’m proud you’re mine?” He fixed her with an equally mischievous look. “That sounds good to me.”
In one swift move, he had picked her up and pressed her against the wall, lips locked against hers. Ash smiled and wrapped her legs around his waist, feeling that they would definitely have some kind of “Round Two” any second now.
“For the record,” she whispered, breathlessly, “I’m proud you’re mine too.”