This Time Around (Sequel to All Over Again)

Chapter Fourteen

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

When McKenna opened her eyes, it was morning and sunlight streamed in through the windows. She blinked sleep from her eyes, rolling onto her back, and stared up at the ceiling. It was the first time in weeks she'd woken up in the house, and it felt a little strange to think that after today, she wouldn't be back in New Jersey for a long time.

The sheets rustled and Loki rolled onto his stomach with a low sigh, the pillows bunched under his head. She smiled, turning to look at him. He looked so peaceful when he slept, the years falling away from his face to give her a hint of the boy he'd once been.

She liked to imagine him being like Selig-rambunctious and high-spirited and prone to mischief-and there were times when she wished she could have met him before the time when Thor was banished and Loki began coveting the Tesseract.

But at the same time, she had the feeling that if she had met him back then, she wouldn't have wanted to give him the time of day. He was probably cocky and arrogant, a handsome prince who knew his effect on women-just the sort of man she'd have steered clear of.

Tucking a hand beneath her pillows, she rolled to face him and as she did, his arm slid about her waist and without opening his eyes, he whispered, "Why are you staring at me?"

"I didn't know you were awake," she whispered back.

"Did you think I was dead?"

"No, of course not. I just woke up myself and I wasn't really staring at you."

He opened his eyes and smiled. "Come here."

She rolled onto her side, away from him, and didn't resist as he pulled her closer and wrapped his arms about her. Snuggling against him, she sighed. "I'm going to miss this house, Loki. I love this place."

"It's not going anywhere, love. We can come back from time to time. The only time I'll really have to stay in Asgard would be if Odin abdicates or when he goes into the Odinsleep."

She sighed softly, tracing her forefinger along the dark hair and chiseled muscle of Loki's forearm. "Things are really going to change, aren't they?"

"Eventually. But hopefully not for a while yet." He kissed the back of her head. "You'll be fine, love."

"Oh, I know. I'm just not a big fan of change." Her forefinger skimmed down over the bones of his wrist and back up. "This is going to keep you plenty busy, isn't it?"

"To a certain extent, yes. But you and I will spend every night like last night and every morning like this," he kissed her head again, "and you and the children will always come first. I promise you that."

"It worries me a little, Loki. Odin has some powerful enemies and-"

"I'll be fine, love. We'll be fine."

She rolled in his arms. "Promise?"

He smoothed her hair away from her face and his eyes held hers as he whispered, "I promise you, Midgardian, everything will be fine."

"You can't promise that, Loki."

He kissed her forehead. "I love you, darling girl," he whispered, his lips still against her. "Try not to worry too much."

"I'll try. But it's not easy."

"I know. Try to think of it this way, you will be the wife of the most powerful man in the nine realms. And you will have everyone at your beck and call, no matter how fanciful your whim might be."

"I don't care about that and you know it, Loki."

"I know, but just think," he eased her onto her back and covered her from the waist up. Dipping down until his lips brushed hers, he whispered, "you get to go to bed with that man every night and rule over him-which makes you the most powerful woman in all the nine realms."