by C. R. Jane
Still, the attention Loki gave me was different than any of the human men I’d ever met. He looked at me like he actually saw me, and not what he wanted to see. It felt good, to say the least.
A pair of goblets appeared on the glass table, which had antlers for legs. Loki picked one up and offered it to me. Like at the party, I sniffed the contents.
Loki laughed as I grimaced and tried to hand it back. “Not to your taste?” He waved a hand over the top and pushed it back toward me. “How about now?”
I took a tentative sip and the sweet liquid hit my tongue, warming me from the inside and out. I let out a low moan without meaning to, and my eyes closed briefly before opening again to see Loki watching me.
“What?” I tucked my hair behind my ear, and my lashes fluttered.
Loki moved closer to me on the couch, with one leg hanging down while the other was folded under him. “You humans never cease to surprise me. You’re always so genuine with your reactions. You rarely hide the fact that you want nothing more than to pounce on each other and fuck like rabbits.”
I choked on the mouthful of liquid. Coughing, I sat the cup on the coffee table and blinked at him. “What?”
Loki smirked. “My apologies. I let my words get away from me at times.”
I shook my head, a blush staining my cheeks. “No, it’s fine, just unexpected. I suppose, in a way, you’re right. Most of our kind only care about two things, fucking and winning. A lot of times it’s the same thing.”
I startled as Loki threw his head back and laughed, and the movement of the line of his throat bobbing up and down entranced me. Still chuckling, Loki removed his helmet and sat it on the couch behind him. “I like you, Ashleigh.”
Licking my lips, I peered up at him through my lashes. “I like you too.” And I did. I’d only just met the god, but in that small span of time, he’d surprised me, made me laugh, and turned me on. Three things no one other than Chris had ever done. Some might get one or the other, maybe even two out of the three, but never the trifecta.
Fuck a duck. I was in trouble.
Loki took my hands and urged me forward until our faces were close to one another. “Then stay here with me. Don’t go back to the human world or to Odin. Whichever the case may be.” His eyes softened as he continued to plead with me. “You could live here with me, and you’d be happy.” His hand came up and cupped my cheek, and I found my eyelids fluttering closed on their own accord.
Loki’s mouth brushed against mine at first, and then when my gasp caused my lips to part, he captured my mouth fully. His tongue swept in and tasted every inch of my cavernous hole, making me beg for more. Before I knew it, I had climbed onto his lap and straddled the god. Our lower halves were pressed against one another, and I could feel his need hard and warm beneath me. Unfortunately, the armor on his upper half was just as hard, but not as pleasant.
“Uh...” I trailed off, my hands going to the solid material of his chest piece. “Does this thing come off?”
Loki smirked lazily. “Of course it does.”
With a snap of his fingers his shirt and robe were gone, leaving my fingers against the hot expanse of his chest. My hands moved over his pecs and along his abs, enjoying the way he sucked in a breath when I got too close to the edge of his pants. Teasing my way back up to his chest, I slid my hands around his neck and played with the length of his hair.
I leaned back and pressed my mouth to his thin lips, pulling the bottom one into my mouth before nipping at it. Loki let out a breathy chuckle as his hands captured my hips. While I was busy torturing his mouth, he used his grip on my hips to rock me against him, making the simple white dress I wore ride up my legs. Our centers pressed against one another as we undulated our hips. Moans and gasps of pleasure were all I could hear in the large room as I searched for my release.
It was just as I gasped out and threw my head back that the door to the room opened, and two large men appeared. Seeing them upside down, I still knew who they were, and I scrambled to stand to my feet.
Thor, the God of Thunder, with his lightning blue eyes and blond hair that brushed his chest, and covered his chin and lip, filled the room with his presence. His red and gold armor flashed in the light and clung to his muscles. Mjolnir was clutched in one hand, and his eyes moved to me and widened slightly before narrowing. “Loki, what are you doing with this human female?”
Loki appeared near a column by the door, completely dressed and nonchalant. My eyes went to the Loki still sitting next to me. What the fuck? “Just having a bit of fun. It’s not every day a human shows up in my cavern.” He grinned deliciously at me before winking.
While the one who had been sitting by me gave me a small smile before disappearing. Fuck a duck. Had he really been here or was it an illusion? My face was hot from the throbbing of my still sensitive clit and my anger.
“Humans are not your playthings.” Thor snapped before turning back to me with a softer, apologetic look. “My apologies. Loki is mischievous to be sure, but he means no harm. At least, he better not.” Thor shot Loki a glare.
Loki held his hands up, grinning, and turned to me. “Did I hurt you, Ashleigh?”
I wanted to say yes, just because he had tricked me, but I also wasn’t a liar and didn’t want to lie to a god. Who knew what their powers actually were? To the almighty Thor—fangirl squeal—I said, “No, he didn’t.” I crossed my arms over my chest and stood. “However, I would like to leave now. I’m not supposed to be here.”
“That’s right, you’re not, lass,” Baldr, the God of Light, growled as he barreled past Thor and reached for me. Taller and thicker than Thor, he wore blue and gold armor, but didn’t carry a weapon. His beard was braided and hung almost to his belly button. His eyes locked onto me, a grey that made my knees weak. “They’re waiting for you in the great hall. Odin has all his soldier’s out looking for you.”
“M-me? Why?” I let him grab my arm and pull me toward the door. “I’m a nobody.”
Baldr snorted. “You’re in Valhalla, woman. Nobody here is a nobody.”
Chapter 5
“Hold on a second.” I pulled my arm from the burly god and scowled. “What do you mean nobody in Valhalla is a nobody? I don’t even know why I’m here. This place is for warriors not...not bookwormish little nobodies.”
Thor and Loki brought up the train of our little group and stopped behind me. I bumped into Loki during my tirade and spun around, my heart beating rapidly in my chest.
Wait, how do I have a heartbeat? I’m dead right? Shouldn’t I be incorporeal or something?
Baldr gave a long and weary sigh before dragging a hand down his braided beard. “You, lass, are not a nobody. Not if Odin deemed you worthy enough to join our army of warriors.”
I sputtered at the words. “Warriors? Army?” My eyes skittered around at the three of them. “I can’t fight.”
Thor swirled his hammer beside him and arched a brow. “Not all warriors are meant for battle. Some need brains.” His dimples showed through as he grinned at me, and even through my panic I wanted to swoon.
Hey, these guys were my fantasy gods. They were the ones I dreamed about. Studied on end. And okay, so maybe I wrote some fanfiction at one point because, come on, who didn’t want to get with a god?
Still, Thor’s assurance that I wouldn’t be fighting settled some of my nerves. I could throw down in a girl fight if I had to, but I didn’t know the hilt from the, well, pointy end. Whatever you called it.
“Where are we going?” I questioned when they started to walk again without waiting for me to be ready. “Loki said I wasn’t even dead. Just having a near death experience.” I shot a glower at the trickster god, still upset that he played me.
“Loki did, did he?” Thor chuckled and clamped a hand on my shoulder. “Well, lass, I’m sorry to tell you that Loki was just messing with you. You are truly and permanently dead.”
I gawked at his lack of tact, and then tried to comprehend what he was saying. I’m dead. I’m n
ot asleep somewhere in a coma waiting to wake up from this dream?
Oh God. My parents are probably freaking out. Oh, Bev. She’ll have to get a new roommate. And...Chris. I didn’t know why my mind went to him, but I brushed it away. I was dead and there was no point in hanging on to what could have been.
“Come now, Ashleigh. Don’t look so glum.” Thor kept his arm on my shoulder, squeezing me close. “Your new life awaits you.” He pointed Mjolnir toward the pathway we were heading down. We had exited Loki’s home and were on a cobblestone path in the middle of a bunch of tall and leafy trees. There were shields, of all ages, lined up along the path. There were medieval ones with rampant lions. Wooden ones with arrows still embedded into their surfaces. Even ones made of bronze and stone. They really were collecting warriors from all over the world and different timelines.
“Ashleigh.” Loki came up beside me, and I turned my head to glance at him underneath Thor’s arm. “I know we got off on the wrong foot.”
I snorted.
“But I really did mean what I said.” He lowered his voice and eyeballed Thor before continuing, “I only used an illusion because I wanted to see how you’d respond to me. If I’d known you were so...knowledgeable of our kind, I’d never—”
I rolled my eyes and cut him off. “Yes, you would have. That’s your MO. But apology accepted.” I couldn’t really fault the God of Mischief for being...well...mischievous, now could I? And besides, I had been into it. I was just happy to know I wasn’t the only one. If he’d only been doing it to humiliate me, then that would have been another story.
Content with my words, Loki continued to walk beside me as the other two Asgardians escorted me toward a large palace structure, covered in glass and gold. It shone brightly in the faux sun, and I had to put my hand up to see around the glare.
“Ashleigh Hartsock.” Baldr grinned as we stopped at a long bridge before the palace. “Welcome to Valhalla!”
Chapter 6
I felt like a gaping, guppy fish. I couldn’t keep my mouth closed for one second.
I’d read about Valhalla, but nothing compared to seeing it in real life. Large stone statues loomed over the people—I mean warriors—moving around as if they had no care in the world. Which, I mean we’re dead, so I would imagine they wouldn’t.
“Where are we going now? To Odin?” I asked, my eyes trying to take in everything around me.
Baldr laughed a big belly laugh. “Oh, no lass. You are not fit to meet the great Odin as you are.”
I glanced down at my simple white dress and grimaced. “No, I suppose not.”
“Do not worry, Ashleigh.” Thor leaned in close and tipped my chin up to meet his gaze. “We will make sure your lovely body is covered in the finest silks and armor of the kingdom.”
I flushed with warmth at his praise, wondering how I attracted so much more attention from the gods than the guys back home.
“After you’ve been properly fitted, you will meet Odin,” Loki explained. He was so close his hand brushed mine as we walked.
I smiled shyly up at him, and the smile I received in return reminded me of his kisses. Illusion or not, they still felt real to me, and my body was happy to remind me of it.
Loki took my hand in his, and I squeezed it.
“Then,” Thor belted out, making me jump and release Loki’s hand, “we will feast on wild boar and make merry.” He wagged his brows in my direction, and I had a feeling he meant more with those words than just a party.
What did it matter if Thor was into me? Or Loki, for that matter? I was dead. No one I knew was here, or at least I didn’t think so. But I had a hard time seeing my nana or grandfather in Valhalla.
“Here we are.” Baldr gestured toward a large door made of wood, which had depictions of a great battle etched into it. He pushed the door open and inside were several women talking over a pile of clothing. The moment they noticed the four of us, they scattered and came together to form a line. Four of them stood side by side with their eyes down and their hands behind their back.
Thor ushered me toward them with an eye-crinkling smile. “These ladies will outfit you for your audience with my father.”
One of the ladies stepped forward. She had long brown hair that was braided in several parts and a floor-length purple dress. “I am Aida, I would be honored to dress your lady.”
Thor opened his mouth to answer for me, but I pushed out from under his arm and stepped in front of them. “I’m Ashleigh.” I offered her my hand, which she took reluctantly, shooting a look at the gods behind me. “And I’m nobody’s lady.”
Baldr barked a laugh behind me. “I like this one.”
“You like all women. Not just the feisty ones,” Thor added with a chuckle. “But yes, she does have a certain charm about her, doesn’t she?” I glanced back at Thor to see his eyes on me. They were full of humor and desire, a heady mixture for any mortal woman to bear.
“Well, we’ll let you ladies handle the finer points.” Baldr smiled through his bushy beard as he backed up toward the door. “We have a few things to take care of, but we’ll be back to escort you to our father.”
Thor followed Baldr to the door, but Loki stayed where he was, making Thor call out, “Loki, are you coming?”
Loki threw himself into a nearby chair and laced his hands behind his head, watching me with those intense eyes of his. “No, I don’t think I will. I’m perfectly happy here.”
I grinned at him despite myself, and then giggled when Thor marched over and grabbed him by the back of the robe. “Up you go, let the ladies have their peace. You can continue sniffing after the human when she is dressed.”
Loki winked at me but let himself be ushered out of the room.
With a dreamy sigh, I twisted back around to the women. “So, please tell me you have something that’s less,” I waved my hands at my unrestrained breasts, “freeing?”
Aida chuckled and looped her arm in mine, drawing me over to the pile of clothing they had laid out. “Just leave it all to us. We’ll have you looking fit for a god, and maybe you will even snag yourself one.”
“Or three,” one of the other women called out, making them all burst into laughter. Well, won’t this be interesting?
Chapter 7
Once I was dressed and ready as I’d ever be to be presented to Odin, the women who had assisted me led me out of the room and into the hallway. I was surprised to see all three gods waiting for me there.
Thor and Baldr were talking in low voices, while Loki was amusing himself by tossing a gold metal ball up and down in the air. However, the moment the door opened, they stopped what they were doing and turned to me. “Oh, lass.” Thor’s eyes scanned up and down my form. “If there were any doubt of your beauty before, there wouldn’t be any now.”
I flushed and glanced down at the deep purple gown the ladies had dressed me in. It was pinned at the shoulders and had gold lining the edges. A darker purple, corset type piece wrapped around my waist and held my breast in place. It gave me a lot of cleavage, but at least they weren’t about to pop out of my dress like before.
Loki approached me and reached a slender hand out to pick up a lock of my red hair, which had been twisted and braided up on top of my head. “A vision, if I’d ever seen one,” Loki murmured, making me blush fiercely.
“Yes, yes, the lass is beautiful, and all that poetic nonsense. Let’s go.” Baldr jerked his head toward the hallway, appearing a bit more anxious to get going than before. “We’ve wasted enough time. Odin will be beside himself to see her.”
At the mention of Odin, all of my nerves came back with a vengeance. I was about to meet the head god. The Odin. It was like a dream come true, or a nightmare, depending on how you looked at it.
Loki took my hand and tucked it into the crook of his arm, pulling me close. “Come, you have nothing to fear. Let us get these official things over with so we can retire to more pleasurable activities.” His words were low and husky, reminding me of when I rocked
my hips against his hardened length.
A delicious shiver ran through me. I had a hard time focusing on the scenery around us as we moved toward the throne room, and not on the way Loki’s fingers stroked my hand.
“Ah, here we are.” Baldr threw the large, double doors open and marched us inside without a care in the world, but my footsteps slowed as my panic began to rise.
“Shhh.” Loki held my hand tightly, leaning his head close to mine to whisper against my ear. “You’re going to be fine. I promise.”
I arched a brow at him. “And why should I trust a trickster?”
Thor threw his head back and laughed. “She has a point.”
Loki glared at Thor before turning back to me. “Because I want to keep you here and I won’t let Odin, or anyone else for that matter, take you away.”
I didn’t know why he thought anyone would take me away, but I let him think he had calmed my nerves when really, I was just as anxious as before. There weren’t many people in the throne room, mainly just a servant or two passing through. Other than that, guards were standing by the doors we entered, and then there were a few more on either side of a golden throne at the top of a set of stairs.
On the throne sat a man—no, a god—with white hair and a long, scraggly beard filled with tiny braids. His single, piercing blue eye seemed to see everything and made my insides clench with fear. A golden circlet sat on his head, matching the gold and white of his armor and cape. When we approached, he waved the guards off and stood from his throne.
“My sons,” he greeted with a kind smile, and then nodded to Loki. “Loki.”
Loki inclined his head in return, but none of them bowed. Baldr and Thor rushed the stairs and hugged their father while I stood behind with Loki at my side. My fingers bit into Loki’s arm as Odin’s all-seeing eye moved from his sons to me.
“And who is this?” Odin asked in a cultured and wise voice. He moved around his sons and down the stairs to stand before me. “What is your name, child?”
