Chapter 29
Natasha felt slightly uneasy about this plan, but it honestly seemed like the least hostile option she was going to get from Tony. She went to speak with Loki and Sylvie and knocked softly on the doorframe, averting her eyes politely when she noticed they had their arms around each other in a somewhat intimate moment.
“Hey, it’s just me,” Natasha said softly.
Sylvie extricated herself from Loki’s embrace reluctantly and walked over to Natasha.
“So, any news? Is the rest of your team going to give us a chance?” She asked somewhat anxiously.
“Yes, there was some debate but they seem to be in agreement that what we stand to gain is worth the potential risk,” Natasha smiled softly as Loki came to stand beside Sylvie, one hand idly resting on the small of her back unconsciously.
“That’s great to hear,” Loki said with relief, “thank you, I know it was a big risk allowing us to stay.”
Natasha looked slightly distracted, “speaking of staying, Tony went so far as to suggest you stay for dinner,” she offered casually, “he loves to play host and I don’t think he really trusts doing deals with people unless he can wine and dine them—old habits from running a billion dollar company I suppose…”
Loki looked at Sylvie slightly nervous, “is that alright with you? I know you don’t really know anyone else…”
Sylvie looked at him mildly, “I don’t mind, it will give me a chance to say hello to Thor,” she grinned, “and who knows? Perhaps you can win over the rest of the team with your oh so princely charms,” she teased sweetly.
“Stranger things have happened,” Natasha feigned grave seriousness before exchanging a look of amused incredulity with Sylvie.
Loki huffed and rolled his eyes, “yes, well thank you agent Romanov, is there somewhere we might freshen up? I’m afraid we aren’t quite dressed for dinner…”
“Of course, I’ll show you to a private room where you can change and shower if you like,” she said simply and inclined her head for them to follow her.
Natasha took them down to the floor with the sleeping quarters and led them to the furthest one which usually remained unoccupied.
“Go ahead and relax, I’ll give you a call on the coms over there when I know what time dinner will be at,” Natasha gestured to a small panel on the wall with a display screen.
“Thanks Natasha,” Sylvie said kindly, “I’m glad there’s somebody around this place who knows what they’re doing…”
Natasha laughed softly, “hey, I can’t understand half the things Stark and Bruce are talking about with physics and multiple dimensions, but need help with basic day-to-day survival and I’m all over it,” she said modestly as she headed for the door.
“Thank you, really,” Loki said sincerely, “you’ve shown us compassion and understanding—more than I deserve given my history—so thank you.”
Natasha hesitated by the door, something inside her moved by his earnest gratitude. She looked at him with an unreadable expression.
“You’re welcome, I’ll see you guys in a bit,” Natasha said distractedly before leaving, closing the door behind her.
After the door closed the room was filled with an overwhelming silence. Unlike other parts of the building which hummed with technology and electronics, the rooms on this hall which had been set aside for sleep were insulated for sound.
Loki looked around the room, noting that aside from a standard full size bed, two nightstands and a pair of sitting chairs were the only furniture in the room. There was a door on the wall adjacent to the entry which he imagined led to a similarly minimalist bathroom.
Sylvie turned to him expectantly, “well, you wanted to be alone somewhere more private…” she murmured nervously.
Loki looked at her with slightly pained expression, “Sylvie, I— I… hm,” he looked at his hands nervously, “I don’t ever want you to feel uncomfortable around me…”
“I don’t,” she said honestly.
“Good, I just… sometimes I get carried away, because of how strongly I feel for you… but I don’t want to complicate things further by introducing any kind of stress on our physical relationship while we’re still figuring things out here… is that alright?” He asked earnestly.
Sylvie smiled softly and nodded gently, “yes, I agree… you know how I feel about you as well, I just, erhg,” she huffed as the right words eluded her, “I sometimes feel like the closer we get the more built up it becomes, then I get so overrun with emotion I just want to get it over with,” she tried to explain.
Loki looked slightly sad and Sylvie immediately felt guilty at her choice of words, “no, I didn’t mean… that’s not how I meant to say that…” she exhaled with a pained expression.
“It’s okay, really Sylvie,” he stepped closer and took her hands, “I understand what you meant, and that’s exactly what I want to avoid. So let’s just take that off the table for the moment, allow ourselves to relax, and enjoy the time we have here.”
Sylvie sighed with relief, “that sounds perfect,” she stepped closer, her hands moving up his arms to rest on his shoulders. She looked up at him coyly, “…it certainly isn’t because I don’t want you…” she murmured softly, eyes flicking between his eyes and his lips, “you know I’m mad for you…”
“Mmm, is that right…?” He asked in a low breathy voice as his hands rested on her hips.
“It is… you’re absolutely impossible, and after all this is over, when we can finally go and relax someplace away from family members and suspicious do-gooders… I can’t wait to finally have my way with you…” she breathed against his lips.
“Sylvie…” Loki murmured with barely restrained heat, “you may just be the death of me,” he captured her lips urgently.
They kissed passionately, each chasing the heat in the other’s mouth with abandon. Loki let out a low moan as her hands moved up the back of his neck to tangle in his hair. He tilted his head and kissed with an undulating rhythm, mouth moving steadily like a promise of what lay ahead in their future.
Sylvie followed the movement like a dancer allowing him to lead, suddenly finding herself feeling a little giddy with sensation. She sighed into his lips, body going slack yet clinging to him for dear life.
When they finally broke for air they panted against each other’s lips.
“Can we move to the bed? Just for comfort’s sake? Feels like my knees are going to give out,” Sylvie breathed desperately.
Loki nodded softly, swallowing thickly and tamping down the flare of arousal which surged at the prospect. He walked her carefully backwards to the edge of the bed and lifted her up onto the mattress gently.
Sylvie let out a small gasp but sighed with relief at how comfortable the bed was. Loki looked conflicted, still standing and seemingly afraid to let himself climb on top of her.
“Come down here,” Sylvie murmured gently.
Loki nodded nervously and climbed carefully onto the bed above her. She brushed his hair back behind his ear and cupped his cheek gently.
“Relax, Loki… it’s just you and me,” she said softly.
Loki exhaled a deep breath and leaned down slowly to kiss her again. He moved leisurely, deepening the kiss in increments to avoid getting carried away.
Sylvie sighed a small contented sound, arms moving to wrap low around his back. She very gently pulled him a little closer, encouraging Loki to place some of his weight on her. His breath stuttered a little at the move but he tried not to overthink things and just enjoy the moment.
Loki kissed her with a little more intention, settling on top of her gently and allowing her to feel his excitement. Sylvie gave a small gasp but held him against her firmly. She started to move her body the slightest bit against his as they kissed, feeling drunk off the sounds he was making. His breathy gasps as she pulled him against her were intoxicating. She hooked one ankle around his calf for leverage and ground her pelvis into his, loving the way his breath hitched.
“Sylvie…” he gasped, “what…?”
“I want to enjoy… this moment… with you…” she breathed softly between kisses on his neck, “…just like this…”
Loki’s mind was reeling but he tried to quiet it and follow her lead.
Sylvie’s hands were splayed low on his back and she urged him to move against her. She knew they weren’t ready to make love yet, but she wanted to see Loki let go with her.
“It’s okay Loki, I’m not gonna pull away,” she murmured into his skin.
Loki sighed, allowing the words to sink in and swallowing thickly, “you sure?” he asked brokenly.
“I promise, it’s okay, you can let go…” she breathed patiently, eyes connecting with his for a brief moment.
Loki searched her eyes then smiled softly and leaned down to kiss her. He carefully moved one knee between her legs and pressed his body against her a little more firmly. He kissed her deeply and began to roll his hips making Sylvie gasp and sigh.
Sylvie clung to him as Loki panted above her, his thigh grinding against her. She gasped, amazed that anything could feel this good without taking her clothes off.
Loki sounded wrecked above her and began mouthing at her neck with gasping kisses.
“Oh Sylvie,” he panted into her neck.
“I’m here, Loki, let go,” she sighed.
Loki stuttered and moaned with relief, beginning to slow his movement against her.
Sylvie hummed with contentment, hands rubbing soothingly over his back while Loki caught his breath.
Loki pulled back to look at her face and his eyes were brimming with tenderness and affection. He looked completely enamored and slightly heartsick as he gazed at her with amazement.
“Love…” he whispered softly, one hand moving to brush the hair back from her cheek gently.
She didn’t know if it was a term of endearment or an explanation of how he felt, but either way it made her heart skip a beat. Sylvie blushed faintly and he smiled at the soft color on her cheeks. He leaned in to give her the barest press of lips, sighing and bumping her nose with his gently.
When Loki pulled back after a few moments he gave her a dreamy smile, “I think I need a shower,” he breathed with a faint chuckle, “do you mind? I’ll be right back…”
Sylvie grinned warmly, “go, shower… I’ll be here,” she murmured softly.
Loki pressed one last kiss to her lips and climbed carefully back off the bed before walking to the bathroom to clean himself up.
Sylvie heard the shower run in the adjacent room and stretched on the bed, sighing with relief. She had never been so satisfied with a lover while fully clothed and it made her dizzy to imagine how it might be once they did fully undress. She had a feeling it no amount of time could her prepare her and she couldn’t be more excited about it.