Chapter 19
The next morning Loki woke pleasantly surprised to find that Sylvie had slept the whole night through in his arms. She looked peaceful and somehow much younger in sleep than she did awake. Her dark lashes fluttered against her cheeks as she slowly awoke, blinking blearily up at him with a sleepy smile.
The sight of his affectionate gaze comforted Sylvie and she exhaled deeply through her nose, nestling into his collarbone to shield her eyes from the light a little longer. A soft chuckle rumbled in Loki’s chest at her reticence to wake fully and he kissed the top of her head.
“We should go before everyone wakes,” Loki murmured softly into her hair.
“Mnernnn,” Sylvie grumbled into his skin childishly as he began peppering kisses from the top of her head down to her forehead.
Soothed and somewhat enticed at the prospect of more kisses Sylvie huffed a sigh and lifted her head slowly to look at him with drowsy eyes. She narrowed her eyes in a serious stare earning a questioning look from her counterpart.
“Breakfast,” she mumbled at him as though the word alone might make it appear in front of her.
Loki smiled in a kind of delighted surprise, the corner of his mouth tugging at his cheek dramatically.
“Anything in particular?” he asked softly, unfazed by her lack of articulation or manners.
Sylvie sighed, her eyes closing in concentration, “errmmmm, porridge with honey…”
Loki grinned approvingly, “exactly so…” and closed his eyes to concentrate as his astral person made their meal request in the kitchens.
There was something about the meditative state he went into that just felt different to Sylvie. It was like he was there, but not there, and it made her somehow miss him.
Sylvie felt ridiculous missing him while his arms were literally still wrapped around her, but she could feel the shift in his mind and found it disconcerting. She decided she was just being a bit greedy and nestled into the pillow fatuously.
When Loki opened his eyes Sylvie’s were still closed, but she looked considerably more awake.
“You know, the projection is impressive and all, but couldn’t you just conjure the food out of thin air yourself…?” she asked in a teasing voice, one eye opening to gauge his reaction before breaking into a smile.
Loki huffed, “it does take some practice you know, and I’m afraid edible substances were never my forte…” he explained somewhat defensively, “to be more exact, I could conjure you a bowl of porridge out of thin air, but it would taste considerably better coming from the kitchen.”
“So what you’re telling me is that you’re just a bit of a shit cook?” She teased ruthlessly with a shit eating grin.
Loki narrowed his eyes and made a sort of reproachful humming sound causing Sylvie to chuckle uncontrollably.
Loki couldn’t help but join her in the laughter, her mischievous spirit was infectious even when she prodded at his ego anytime he took himself too seriously.
Sylvie loved getting a reaction out of him and felt most gratified when she could break through his defensiveness and make him laugh. She would sometimes encounter that lingering supercilious pride of his and it gave her a sense of satisfaction to deftly navigate past it.
Loki didn’t know how she did it, comments which might provoke him from others seemed to merely chip at his sense of superiority. Sylvie’s teasing and playful nature grounded him anytime he was feeling a little too pleased with himself. She could see past every illusion and didn’t care.
Even if his magic was impressive, it wasn’t what drew her to him. She was drawn to the part of him he’d hardly known was there and had certainly never shared with anyone else.
Sylvie loved his heart—his depth of feeling and perceptive understanding of everything around him. That tenacity of spirit and mischievous playfulness which mirrored hers. The vulnerability in his eyes which cut her to the core.
When their laughter died down he pulled her a little closer, hands warm on her waist. Sylvie hummed softly and nuzzled at his neck affectionately. Loki sighed, heart so full he feared it might burst.
Soon they heard the soft rapping at the door which meant breakfast had arrived and Sylvie shoved him playfully to fetch it.
Loki heaved a put upon sigh and stole a quick kiss before climbing out of bed to answer the door.
He accepted their breakfast and thanked the two women who had brought the food. He used his magic to close the door behind him and served Sylvie her breakfast in bed. She beamed happily as the warm porridge sated her hunger and the sweetness of fresh honey lingered on her tongue.
Loki ate slowly, enjoying watching Sylvie savor the simple breakfast. A drop of honey stuck to her lower lip and shimmered in the early morning light. He watched as her tongue darted out to lick the golden droplet absently.
A rush of arousal shot through his body and he swallowed thickly, attempting to damp down the excitement which made his heart rate jump.
She was beautiful as ever, but seeing her hair mussed from sleep, light reflecting off the golden strands he knew he would never tire of seeing her like this. Her eyes heavy from drowsiness and skin flushed with warmth from their bed only made her more alluring.
Sylvie glanced up at him and the forgotten meal in his lap with a slightly confused questioning look.
“‘s yours alright? Do you not like porridge…?” She sounded genuinely concerned and his heart clenched for the hundredth time at her unexpected kindness.
Loki smiled softly looking down at his food, “it’s delicious… I just—I enjoy seeing you so content, it brings me a sense of calm,” he said softly.
Sylvie rolled her eyes with a pleased and flirty smile. She continued eating, now making a bit of a show of allowing her enjoyment to show on her face. Sylvie licked the honey off the back of her spoon and hummed with satisfaction, eyes closed and a delicate smile on her lips. She enjoyed the sound of Loki’s breath catching as he watched enraptured. When she opened her eyes Loki looked flustered as he shifted on the bed opposite her.
Sylvie thrilled at the power she had over him and quickly finished her meal, setting the empty bowl on the nightstand.
“Come here,” she whispered seductively.
Loki swallowed and set his bowl on the nightstand beside hers. He climbed up the bed and over her as Sylvie pulled him close. Her eyes flicked over his face meeting his eyes but wanting to stare at his lips.
Sylvie gave him teasing licks and kisses which only spurned Loki on further. His hand ran along the curve of her body reverently as he panted above her. Finally Sylvie tugged him down to kiss her fully and pressed the length of her body against his. Loki groaned quietly as the silk fabric brushed across his heated flesh and Sylvie’s body drove him crazy.
“Sylvie…” he whispered urgently.
“I know… I want more—” she sighed, “we don’t have long… but I wish we did—” she panted softly against his lips.
He kissed her slow and deliberate, the length of his body sinking unconsciously to slide sensuously against hers.
Sylvie moaned quietly into his mouth and arched her back to press into his further. Her hands ran up his biceps, over his shoulders and cradled his head passionately as they kissed.
Loki felt drunk on the sweet taste of her lips and smooth expanse of her body. He rolled his hips gently into her earning a gasp of excitement as his arousal brushed against her hip.
Sylvie panted into his mouth desperately, part of her wanted to throw caution to the wind and consummate the relationship. Another part of her knew it would be rushed, and she didn’t want their first time to be rushed.
She wanted time to explore and taste each other’s skin. Time to know one another even more. Time for the stress of their recent ordeals to fully pass. She wanted to wait until they simply couldn’t wait any longer.
Loki trembled slightly above her as everything began to overwhelm him. His body now felt over sensitized by everything that had happened in the last few days. His mind fogged with a mix of lust and nervous trepidation.
Sylvie was the most incredible woman he’d ever met. She was uncompromising in her determination of spirit and he feared doing the wrong thing by mistake. If he came on too strong would she run from this? Might she think he’d merely lusted after her all along? Worst of all… would she regret it?
Sylvie held his face in her hands, studying the worry of his brow as he struggled to quiet the barrage of self doubt.
“Hey…” she whispered softly, his eyes opening slowly and filled with conflict, “Loki… what are you so afraid of?”
Loki slumped his shoulders with a sigh, shifting his weight onto one side of her.
“I just— I want to do everything right—” he struggled to articulate how he felt.
“Right for who?” She didn’t understand what had upset him.
“—Right for you,” he said nervously.
“Loki, you’re right for me…” she looked into his eyes with conviction, “I didn’t chase you all the way through time and space to get cold feet now,” she murmured softly, though that somehow only made him look more troubled.
“Hey, hey… I just meant… I’m in. For once in my life I’m not running away, and as long as I’m with you I’m happy. So relax… I want you, and I love you,” she said the last part softly and the tension in Loki’s shoulders released.
He kissed her sweetly, forehead coming to rest against hers.
“I think we both want this—” she murmured in a low affected voice, “but I also think we both still need a little time to get our heads right.”
Loki swallowed and nodded against her head gently, eyes shut and slightly embarrassed. He wanted to be whatever she needed when she needed it, reliable and willing, but she was right. His head was still a mess and she was more than worth the wait.
“When the time comes… I will give you everything of me that you desire…” he looked into her eyes with conviction, “and I will make love to you… like no one ever before,” he whispered in a solemn heated murmur.
Sylvie’s breath caught and her heart raced.
“Promises, promises…” she tried to tease softly, all sense of control vanished from her voice.
Loki smirked at her failed attempt at deflection, the affect of his words evident on her face and in the hitch in her breath. He exhaled slowly, regaining his sense of clarity.
“That is one promise…” he kissed along her jaw to her ear, his voice little more than a low purr, “I shall most assuredly keep.”
He kissed her then with a delicate balance of heat and restraint which made Sylvie melt beneath him.