This Time Around (Sequel to All Over Again)

Chapter Forty

CHAPTER FORTY

After spending a wonderful day lazing by the Sølvfoss, where she and Loki played in the water like giddy teenagers in the grips of their first love, and made love on the warm, sandy banks like newlyweds, McKenna slid her arm about Loki's waist as they made their way back to their chambers. She couldn't remember the last time they'd spent such a perfect day together, just the two of them, and she sighed as she murmured, "The very first time we made this walk, I was sick to my stomach the entire time."

He gazed down at her. "Because you'd admitted you were in love with me?" he asked with a grin. "And you'd already said you'd marry me?"

"Funny. No, because I knew we had to face Odin. And remember how that turned out?"

His smile faded. "I try not to think about it, honestly. Those weeks were the worst of my life, second only to my mother's death."

"Tell me about it."

He kissed the top of her head. "But, it all worked out, just as I told you it would."

"True. But at the time, all I knew what I was on Earth and you were here and the chances of my ever seeing you again were slim to none." She squeezed his waist. "And then I found out I was pregnant and I would've freaked out, except I didn't have the energy."

"And you've been stuck with me ever since."

"Ah, it hasn't been that bad. I kinda like being stuck with you, Jötunn."

"Makes us even, Midgardian, for I kinda like being stuck with you, too."

She wrinkled her nose at his impersonation of her. "I've told you, I do not sound like that."

"You most certainly do. And I think your accent is one of the sexiest I've ever heard."

"First off, I do not have an accent and secondly, if I did, I wouldn't sound like you sound like me."

"Love, I have no idea what you just said, but trust me, you do have an accent, you do sound like that, and it is one of the sexiest things about you."

"You just like using the word 'sexy,' don't you?" Even as she said it, his words left her feeling warm and fuzzy. It was always nice to hear your husband found something about you sexy. "And what are the other things?"

Loki chuckled, his fingers warm as they grazed the side of her neck. "Where would you like me to begin, love? Your eyes or your legs?"

"These stumpy things?" She paused to twist and lift her left leg to peer down at it. "There ain't nothing sexy about them."

"I beg to differ," he countered as he threaded his fingers with hers and they resumed walking the path to the palace. "When they are wrapped about my waist or draped over my shoulders, they are absolutely sexy."

"Fair enough. I rather like them that way as well." She gazed up as the palace came into view in all its golden splendor. Even after all this time, the sheer beauty of it astounded her. She'd have thought that by now she'd be used to the fact that this gorgeous place was her home, but it still had the power to take her breath away.

She cast a sidelong glance up at Loki, dressed entirely in black, from his long, leather-clad legs to his broad shoulders. The sun danced along the silky sheen of his black hair, smoothed back from his face, but falling nearly to his shoulders in shaggy waves. The palace wasn't the only thing about Asgard that still had the power to take her breath away.

He looked down. "What is it, love?"

"I love you," she replied softly, still gazing up at him as they reached the palace.