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Warmth blossomed in my chest, cracking the ice casing that had encircled my heart since I'd heard the gunshot all those years ago. No, further than that. Since he'd rejected me in the dungeons. And every time he'd done so afterwards.

"Mmm," I felt a glowing smile spread across my face, "Say it again."

"I love you," he said, placing his hands against the back of the couch and lowering his lips to my ear. "And I shall spend every second from now until my last proving it to you." He paused, drawing back. "And earning your forgiveness."

"I don't think there's enough seconds in the world for that," I bit the inside of my cheek.

The emotions that swirled in my chest were so hard to differentiate, name, separate, pick out. The confusing swell made heat rush to my head, and I felt dizzy and drunk on it. On his words.

"Then I suppose I'd better get started now, don't you think?"

Our eyes locked again, and I felt that distantly familiar twist low in my stomach.

"Can I kiss you, my love?" He asked. I didn't miss the my in front of that particular pet name of his.

I nodded, once. "Please."

I hated myself for how badly I wanted that. He smirked, tilting my head up.

"I do love it when you say that," he purred in my ear, and a shiver crawled down my spine, "Nearly as much as I love seeing you in that getup."

"Shut up," I rolled my eyes, "It isn't like I—"

I was silenced by his mouth pressing against mine. And I was taken back to every single time he'd done it before. Kissed me.

He'd never done it like he did it now. Now, there was something I couldn't name. There was desperation mixed with longing, there was anguish mixed with guilt, there was love mixed with fear. It was a dizzying swell of emotion and I found myself leaning into him, partly so that I wouldn't pass out, and partly because I enjoyed the warmth radiating from him in waves.

"Tell me," he said against my neck, as his hands travelled the length of me, "Did that door have a lock? Because I do so miss seeing you out of that getup."

"I—" A gasp racked my body as he nipped at the sensitive skin of my throat, "I didn't see."

"We'll just have to pray no one walks in, then."

His hands settled on my rear as he hefted me up and over the back of the couch. I sank into the soft cushions in a flurry of sequins and silks, as he slowly rounded the couch, eyes never leaving me as he watched me hungrily.

He stopped at the base of my legs, pulling himself over the armrest so that he was between my thighs. He lowered, and his mouth met mine, pressing forcefully enough that I was pushed back into the cushions.

Just as I felt his fingers wander to the hem of my skirt, voices sounded directly outside the door.

We broke apart, and he offered me a hand, pulling me to my feet as we dashed into an adjoining room. We closed the door behind us just as the voices poured into the room we'd narrowly vacated without a trace.

This room was darkened, and we stumbled forward blindly a few paces.

"Hold on," I whispered, urging him to a stop.

Drawing on the powers at my core, I summoned more small flames that burned iridescent, sending them across the room.

The light illuminated Loki's face, as he smiled wickedly.

"My, do I have excellent taste in hideouts," Loki said, as his gaze swivelled back to the door, and then to me. His grin widened. "Very good taste."

Loki turned, and there was the distinct click of a lock sliding into place, and I thanked God for that. Now we wouldn't be found out.

I spun slowly around then, eager to see what Loki was so excited about. That became immediately clear to me.

No more than a few steps away from us was a shallow pool of steaming water, that spanned the entirety of the moderate sized room. A huge window was carved into the ceiling, and the dark, nighttime sky looked down on us. I looked back to Loki, who I was startled to find mere inches behind me.

His hand settled on my ass, as he pulled me into him.

"Let's do away with this, now, shall we?" He suggested, tugging at the fabric of my skirt.

I gave a quick nod, and felt his fingers travel to the buttons that fastened the dress in place.

There was a rapid succession of pops as he pulled the buttons free, and then the dress slid away, and cool air kissed my newly exposed skin.

"You have no idea how I've missed this," he growled against my neck, his hands taking in every inch of me.

"I have a pretty vivid idea," I assured him, as I pulled back. His gaze spilled over me, sending electric shocks skittering over my skin. That, paired with the flush of using my powers had me more turned on than I cared to admit.

He quirked a brow at me as I descended the few steps that led into the warm water. I lifted my shoulders. "Join me or don't, but at least close your mouth."

A sigh left his lips as they pulled back into a grin.

"You—" He began as he unbuttoned his shirt, "—Undo me."

The shirt hit the floor. The pants went next. I let myself watch. I watched hungrily. He knew it and I didn't care. I wanted him to know it.

"Enjoying the view?" He teased, as he eased into the warm water that reached to his hips. For me, the surface lapped gently just beneath my breasts. It smelled faintly of citrus and lilac.

"At least I do you the common curtesy of keeping my jaw off the floor," I shot back, folding my arms across my chest.

"I'd hardly call that a curtesy, my love," he purred low in my ear, as he finally came to a stop before me. "Now," he began, taking hold of my hands, "Where did we leave off? Remind me, would you?"

"Cocky bastard," I muttered, as I felt a tangle of heat and weightlessness whirl in my stomach.

I guided his hands to my rear, and he took the lead from there.

He didn't kiss me yet. He kept our faces just far enough apart that he could watch my eyes as he scooped me off my feet and out of the water, carrying me through the pool.

Suddenly, the ice cold wall was pressed against my back, and I shuddered, pinned between the wall's cool, and his warmth. My back arched, pressing my chest against his.

He bit the inside of his cheek against a proud smirk, looking me up and down. "And I haven't even gotten inside of you yet."

"Then what's stopping you?" I demanded raking my fingers through his hair.

His mouth lowered to my neck and I turned my head to the side as I felt warm breath against my skin. The window beside us reflected our entangled bodies, and the sight of him pressed against me only tightened the knot that was curling low in my stomach.

"Just a single word from you, pet," he said breathily. This time, the pet name packed new meaning. It felt less objective now, less insulting. Now, it served only to ignite the heat in me, and I pressed against him, shifting my hips against his length.

I turned my head back, and our cheeks pressed together. Steam from the water mixed with the heat of our joined breath. My wet hair was splayed across my face and back. I breathed him in. Moved my lips to his ear, and in a husky tone I hardly recognized, whispered, "Please."

The word had barely passed my lips before I felt him inside of me. I gasped against his ear as he slammed me against the wall, deeper, harder, faster than he ever had. There was some renewed sense of need in him. A need to prove his words to me. A need to have me. To truly have me in every sense of the word.

"Say it again," I begged, the plea chased by a moan, "God, please say it again."

"I love you," he said, low in my ear, "Fiercely. Painfully. Always."

"Then prove it," I sighed, my head falling to his chest as release threatened to burst free.

"I will," he promised, "I will, everyday. I promise you that, Alivia."

"Is it because I'm witty, cold, perfect—"

My teasing was cut off by a sharp gasp of pleasure as he thrust in and up, jarring me out of the water. His hands moved from my waist to my rear, as he pressed our bodies together.

Finally, I climaxed, all that pressure releasing in a breath.

"I do so enjoying getting to shut you the fuck up," he said, his lips peeled into a grin as he lowered to kiss me.

It took some time for him to pull out from
me. And then, we sat there, entangled in a wet, warm embrace that I never wanted to leave.

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