Part Three
The key turned in the lock, and Sarah opened her apartment door. She walked in, shut the door behind her, and leaned against it. She looked around the empty living room and sighed, a sad smile curving her lips. Pushing off from the door, she walked through the apartment, double checking to make sure that she really had everything. All the closets and cabinets were empty. The furniture was either in storage or had been donated to the Salvation Army.
She paused in the bedroom doorway. Her smile widened. Even though the room was as empty as the rest of the apartment, memories still bombarded her.
Loki.
She quickly shut the bedroom door, her thoughts lingering on Loki. How many times, how many ways, had they made love? He’d broken the headboard that one time, and she’d had to have it replaced. That had been an interesting explanation. Then there had been that couch which had needed the cushions repaired...the leg of the kitchen table had had to be replaced. Loki, it seemed, was hard on furniture.
Oh, but she had enjoyed it. She enjoyed him. She loved him, and, miracle of miracles, he loved her, too.
Sarah found herself in the kitchen, and she leaned on the doorframe. Her gaze went to the counter. That first time, he’d held her there. Her cheeks heated, remembering how he’d held her there, his body hard against hers.
Arms slid around her waist, and she leaned into Loki’s embrace. He nuzzled her neck. “Fond memories?” he chuckled, nipping at her earlobe.
She turned in the circle of his arms. “Most definitely.” She slid her hands over his chest, around his neck, and into his hair. She loved running her fingers through the shoulder length black locks. His lips curled into a smile against her cheek, and then his mouth was on hers. She sighed into his mouth, and he took advantage, his tongue tasting, teasing. His hands slid down, gripping her backside, pulling her hard against him.
He broke the kiss, nipping her bottom lip. “I thought we were supposed to be leaving,” he said, gently urging her into the kitchen.
“We are,” she groaned, pushing at his shoulders. He reluctantly let her go, but not before kissing her again, leaving them both breathless. “You will be the death of me,” she chuckled, giving him another push.
He cupped her cheek in his palm, his face gone suddenly serious. “Not for many years to come, I hope,” he said solemnly.
She pulled him down for a soft, lingering kiss. Her mortality wore on him, she knew. He wasn’t immortal but much more long-lived than she was. “I love you,” she breathed against his lips when their kiss ended.
He leaned his forehead against hers, their bodies close. “I love you, too.”
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Sarah’s face was buried in Loki’s shoulder as she clung to him. Wind rushed past, pulling at her hair, her clothes as he held her tightly. The one glance she’d risked had made her dizzy and had her nearly throwing up on Loki. They were traveling through a kaleidoscopic rainbow of color, racing through space. His arms tightened around her, and a moment later, she felt something solid beneath her feet. Within the safety of his arms, she stumbled briefly before she gained her footing. His strong hands righted her as the colors and wind faded. She looked around in awe.
The entire room was round and golden. Spiked circles spun to a lazy stop around her, and the entire ceiling of the room was clear. She could see thousands upon thousands of stars glittering beyond the glass. A man cloaked in golden armor stood upon the raised dais in the center of the room; a gleaming golden sword hilt in his hands while the blade was embedded within the dais. “Heimdall,” Loki greeted him, and Sarah had a flash of memory: “Let’s put on a show for Heimdall, shall we?” Heat flooded her cheeks, and Loki chuckled softly beside her.
Heimdall nodded solemnly at Loki then turned his gaze to Sarah. She blinked, startled, as his eyes were amber but more than that. There was a sparkle, as if galaxies were mirrored in those eyes. He nodded solemnly to Sarah. “Welcome to Asgard.” She nodded in return, her hand gripping Loki’s tightly. Heimdall turned back to Loki. “This is most unusual, Prince.”
Sarah’s eyes widened and she turned to look at Loki. He was blushing. “Prince?” she asked.
He nodded once, not looking at her. To Heimdall, he said, “My brother knows…”
“Your brother is ever wont to give you anything you ask for,” Heimdall interrupted.
“It’s because he’s saved Thor’s life more times than we can count, eh, Loki?”
Sarah spun, and she found herself clutching Loki’s hand even tighter. He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze as he watched the three men walk in. One had thick black hair and bore what Sarah thought of as Asian features. Another appeared to be as tall as Loki, but had blond hair. He was impeccably groomed and completely charming. The last was a bear of a man with long red hair and thick red beard. “Allow me to introduce the Warriors Three,” Loki began. “Fandaral,” he gestured to the blond, who stopped in front of her and bowed low. He winked at her as he rose, and she sidled closer to Loki, who chuckled. “Hogun,” the Asian man nodded in response, and Sarah nodded back. “And Volstagg,” the bear of a man bowed low, much as Fandaral had. His armor creaked as he straightened. “I must admit,” Loki continued, “I did not expect to find anyone waiting for our arrival.”
“We are under orders, Loki,” Fandaral said, moving closer and clapping Loki on the back. “Your brother wishes to meet your new bride.” Fandaral smiled warmly at Sarah, and she realized he had been who had spoken about Loki saving Thor’s life.
Loki didn’t seem at all pleased, but he did seem resigned as he gestured to Fandaral, “lead on, then.”
Hogun and Volstagg exchanged a look before turning to lead the way out. Fandaral stayed close to Sarah and Loki. “She is a pretty thing,” Fandaral said as they cleared the doorway, “are there more like her back home?”
Sarah’s blush deepened, and she moved to Loki’s other side, as far from Fandaral as she could get. Loki slid an arm around her waist. “She’s one of a kind,” he said, smiling down at her.
“Pity,” he chuckled, grinning as he watched her lean against Loki, her arm around his waist. “I can’t remember ever seeing a woman blush so often.”
Loki’s smile widened as Sarah ducked her head. He kissed the top of her head, and her arm around his waist gave a gentle squeeze. They reached the horses then, and Sarah drew up short. “Loki, I can’t…I don’t know…”
“You’ll ride with me until I can teach you,” he assured her, boosting her into the saddle. Her whole body went stiff, sitting ramrod straight as the horse sidestepped. He climbed up behind her, settling behind her in the saddle, and he slid his arm around her waist. “Just relax. You’ll be fine.”
She leaned back against him, her heart hammering in her ribs. “We’re so high up,” she squeaked, one hand clutching the pommel of the saddle and the other his arm around her waist.
His chuckle was close to her ear, “Just wait until you see how high the beds are.” She didn’t get a chance to respond as they set off down the bifrost.
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Sarah followed close on Loki’s heels as they walked into the throne room. The Warriors Three abandoned them at the entrance, and Volstagg clapped her on the back as she passed him, nodding approvingly at her. She stumbled and Loki caught her, biting back a smile.
They crossed the immense room, and Loki slowed his pace slightly so they walked side by side. She found his hand and twined her fingers with his. He gave her a gentle squeeze. “It will be fine,” he said softly so only she could hear.
“I hope so,” she replied just as softly.
They stopped at the foot of a base of stairs. At the top was an immense golden throne that seemed made to fit the man sitting on it. Thor, King of Asgard and Loki’s brother, was huge. While Loki’s armor favored green and gold, Thor’s was muted shades of gray and silver, embellished with gleaming circles of gold and completed with a crimson cape that trailed down over the side of the throne.
“BROTHER!” Thor’s voice boomed, echoing through the hall as he rose from the throne and descended the stairs. “You’ve been away from home too long, brother!” He reached Loki and Sarah’s hand was ripped from Loki’s as Thor pulled him into a bear hug.
Loki thumped him on the back. “I missed you, too, brother,” Loki said as Thor set him on his feet. He stepped away from Thor, caught Sarah’s arm, and tugged her forward. “This is Sarah.”
Thor turned to her, and she fought against her first instinct to hide behind Loki. She had grown used to Loki being taller than her, but so far, everyone here was taller than her. As for Thor, he wasn’t just taller, but huge. A bigger bear of a man than Volstagg, she thought. He turned to her, and she stiffened her spine. She had nothing to fear.
He was only King of Asgard, brother of the man she loved, and held their future in his paws…hands. No big deal, she thought.
Just beyond Thor, Sarah saw Loki’s grin, and knew he’d heard her thought. She smiled at him.
“Brother,” Thor began, “I would like a moment alone with your would-be bride.”
Sarah’s head whipped back to Thor. What? Why? she thought.
“Why…” Loki began, but Thor held up one hand.
“I would only take the measure of your would-be bride. That is all.” He smiled, and Loki appeared to relax just a little.
Loki walked to Sarah and kissed her cheek. “I’ll be close,” he assured her quietly. She nodded once, lightly gripped his arm as he came close and then let him go. She watched him walk down the long hall and disappear through the doors where the Warriors Three waited.
“So, you’re the female,” Thor’s voice was condescending, “You’re a little thing, aren’t you?”
Sarah had a fleeting thought of being back on Earth and being as tall or taller than most men she knew. It was enough to loosen the sudden stiffening of her spine. “I’m not much different than other women on Eart…Midgard.”
Thor circled her slowly. “Loki has visited Midgard many times.” He moved behind her, and she refused to turn to follow his movements. “He’s had many females, both on Midgard and here in Asgard.” He continued his circle. “What is so special about you that he would take you to wife?”
What indeed, she thought. She’d asked herself that very question. She gave herself a mental shake. Loki loved her. Did it really matter why?
Thor stopped in front of her. Blue eyes bore into her dark ones. “Have nothing to say, female?”
Sarah bit back her temper, but she couldn’t keep the glare out of her eyes. Brother or not, if he called her ‘female’ one more time… “No, I don’t have an answer for you. Why does he love me? Ask him.”
His lip curled in a sneer. “I’m asking you, female,” he said, poking her in the chest.
Without thinking, she smacked his hand away. “Do not touch me again. I don’t give a shit if you’re his brother, King of Asgard, God of all bloody creation.” Thor blinked, and she kept on going, “I don’t know why he loves me, I only know he does, and I love him. I would die for him. Is that answer enough for you?” She poked him in the chest for good measure.
There was a moment of ringing silence. She was vaguely aware of running footsteps, and had a fleeting thought of being arrested for poking the king in the chest. She was startled out of the thought when Thor burst out laughing and scooped her up in a bear hug. Air whooshed out of her in a rush and she struggled for a moment before he let her go again. As she sucked air into her lungs, she heard applause and saw the Warriors Three watching avidly and applauding before she was pulled into Loki’s arms. “Well done, brother,” Thor said, clapping Loki on the back, “it appears you have a warrior.”
“It was a test?” Sarah said, her voice raising an octave on the last word.
Loki’s arms tightened around her. “I could have told you as much, Thor,” Loki said, “she nearly unmanned an attacker the day we met.”
“Really?” Thor sounded surprised. “That is a story I look forward to hearing after your wedding.” He clapped Loki on the back. “Show your bride our home…her future home. On the morrow, you will be wed!” He ascended the steps to his throne, his last words clearly a dismissal.
Volstagg awkwardly patted Sarah’s shoulder. “Knew you had it in you,” he said. “I could see you had spirit from the moment I saw you.”
“Thanks,” Sarah said, nearly marching out of the throne room. When the doors had shut behind them, she rounded on Loki. “Your brother is an ass.”
Loki grinned. “But he is my brother.”
“It’s a big palace,” Fandaral quipped, “perhaps you can avoid him most of the time.”
Sarah’s gaze whipped to Loki. “We’re going to live here?” Well, what had she thought? It was his home.
And it was huge and a palace and completely foreign to someone used to a one bedroom apartment.
Loki’s arms slid around her, pulling her close. “We can live anywhere you want,” he said, his forehead against hers, “home is where you are, wherever that may be.”
Sarah closed her eyes and sighed, “Westley over there has a point…it is a big place.” Loki laughed.
Fandaral’s blond brows drew down. “Westley? Who is Westley?”
“A great hero, I’m sure,” Volstagg said, watching with a smile as Loki kissed Sarah. He elbowed Fandaral. “We can ask him later, let’s give them some privacy.” He suited action to words, gripped Fandaral’s arm, and pulled him away from the couple.
“Privacy? They’re at the doors to the throne room. Hardly private,” Fandaral complained, glancing back at Loki and Sarah who were now speaking in hushed tones. Volstagg gave him a push, and they left the couple behind them.