Players (Lessons by Loki)

by Ross, Aubrey

  Katie stared at him, her wide green eyes brutally assessing. Then she shook her head. “I hate parties and… I’ve seen Vanessa. You show up with me and everyone will think you’re desperate not indifferent.”

  “Not if you let me buy you a new dress and have your hair and makeup done downtown.” He lowered his voice to a sexy purr. “Something tells me you’ll clean up remarkably well.”

  She tensed and folded her arms over her chest. “I can’t decide if I’m insulted or embarrassed by that. For the record, I have a closet full of fancy dresses upstairs and I’m fully capable of doing my own hair and makeup.”

  That brought up a whole barrage of questions. Why did she have a closet full of “fancy” clothes if she never wore them and why did she never bother with makeup or a more flattering hairstyle? It was as if she didn’t want anyone to realize how attractive she was, or she just didn’t give a damn. He wanted to understand what—or more likely who—had caused her to retreat into indifference.

  Rather than start a conversation she wasn’t ready for, he simply asked, “Then you’ll do it? I’d owe you big time.”

  Her stance relaxed but she didn’t immediately relent. “Where’s the party?”

  “They’ve leased one of the clubs in LoDo for the night.”

  “All right. You have me for two hours, no longer. I really do hate parties.”

  “Two hours at the party. That doesn’t include travel time.”

  She chuckled and moved away from the door. “Fine. Two hours at the party. What time should I be ready?”

  “We need to be there by eight.”

  “Then I’ll see you at seven thirty.”

  “Thank you.” He leaned down and kissed her on the cheek. “I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

  * * * * *

  Katie closed the door with a heavy sigh then reached down and rotated the deadbolt. Damn it. Loki was right. Josiah had served and Chase volleyed. The game was definitely on.

  She could tell Chase she’d changed her mind and then duck their advance until they chose another target. But that wouldn’t be fair to whomever they chose. No. They needed to find out what it felt like to have someone screw with them.

  A smile teased the corners of her mouth. If she enjoyed their attention along the way, no one needed to know. She’d be that much more convincing if she allowed herself to indulge some of her… Who was she kidding? If she tried to do this alone, the only person who’d end up hurt would be her.

  She walked over to the recliner and sat. Was Loki here? Had he watched her with Chase, waiting for her to realize the futility of a solo mission? The possibility was annoying, but it didn’t change the facts. She was not equipped to deal with Chase and Josiah.

  “You win,” she said to the room at large. “I can’t do this by myself.”

  He gradually appeared, his half-smile confirming her suspicion that he’d never really left. “I was hoping you’d come around.”

  “We’ll do this together, but you can never lie to me again.”

  After offering her a regal bow, he resumed his sprawling pose on the couch. “You have my word. No more lies.”

  “Then start at the beginning,” she suggested. “I need to understand exactly what you are and why you want this so badly.” She cringed. “I know that sounds rude, but surely you understand my confusion.”

  “I do, and I’ll try to answer all your questions.”

  “Are you an alien?” The question sounded so strange. She lifted one hand and fiddled with a strand of her hair.

  “My kind is not indigenous to Earth, so I suppose that makes me an alien.”

  Despite his easy answer, the situation still felt surreal. “Are Odin and Thor still around or are you the only one left?”

  “The others still exist; they’re just no longer in this dimension.”

  He patiently waited for her next question, but her mind suddenly went blank. This couldn’t be happening. She had to have slipped into some sort of a delusion, but why had she chosen Norse mythology? She was a huge fan of the Avengers franchise, yet this Loki didn’t look anything like Hollywood’s portrayal of— Something pressed against her shoulder and she cried out, twisting away from the light contact.

  “I’m real and you’re not losing your mind.” She lowered her hand to her lap and looked at him. He stood beside her now, compassion warming his gaze. “Slow down your breathing or you’re going to pass out.”

  Again he was right. She was hyperventilating. She turned her head and concentrated on her breathing. But he was still there in her peripheral vision, patiently waiting for her to accept the fact that she was speaking with a figure out of Norse mythology.

  “You’re Loki.”

  “I thought we’d already established that much.” He flashed another playful smile as she turned her head back around. “Will it make you more comfortable if you call me something else?”

  “Wasn’t there some sort of battle that was supposed to have killed off all of you?”

  “Ragnarok was real, but the outcome was greatly exaggerated. We left Earth for several centuries. I’ve always liked this planet, so I came back.”

  “And when was that?”

  “Around the turn of the century.”

  She exhaled as he returned to the couch. “The turn of which century?” It didn’t really matter. She was just trying to adapt to the fantastic situation.

  “I returned to Earth in the year two thousand, according to your calendar. I spent the first few months in Norway, but it was too much same old, same old. So I worked my way through Europe then came to the United States.”

  Gradually her mind cleared and her spirit returned. “Why Denver?”

  “I’m drawn to conflict, always have been. The liberal ideals embraced along the ‘Front Range Corridor’ are in direct opposition to the conservative beliefs rampant in the rural communities. You know, small town stability versus fast and free city life. The dichotomy exists in many states, but it’s especially contentious in Colorado.”

  “Why are you drawn to conflict?” Once she’d accepted that this was real, her curious mind demanded details.

  “Conflict creates emotion and emotion creates energy.”

  A shiver raced down her spine as she realized the implication. “You feed on human energy?”

  “I do. I’m capable of processing food, but it doesn’t sustain me. As long as I don’t take too much, the donors are unaware of—”

  “The word ‘donor’ indicates something willingly offered. If the people you feed on are unaware, they are also unwilling.”

  “Not necessarily. I’ve had many people beg me to take their energy.” His sexy smile left little doubt about the sorts of things he was doing at the time. “For a human to willingly offer their energy, they must understand the nature of my existence. As you’ve just experienced, that’s easier said than done.”

  She nodded. She wasn’t sure how often he needed to feed, but it seemed dangerous to enlighten that many people.

  “I’ve indulged your curiosity. Now can we get back to the subject at hand?”

  “Absolutely.” She scooted to the edge of her seat and met his gaze. He claimed that he wanted to prevent her from becoming a pawn in Josiah and Chase’s game. Well, she refused to be anyone’s pawn and that included Loki. “You insinuate yourself into conflicts so you can siphon off energy. Why did you choose this particular conflict?”

  “You don’t think this is a worthy cause?”

  “No, I do.” Was he avoiding something he didn’t want her to know or was it just a habit to respond to questions with other questions? “How did you learn about the bet if you don’t have a sister?”

  “You’re a persistent little thing, aren’t you?”

  “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

  He chuckled then uncrossed his legs, a bit of the amusement fading from his eyes. “I was scanning, listening to random thoughts and absorbing scattered images. I was hoping to stumble across something
interesting when I overheard Josiah and Chase talking about the bet. It was obvious they’d done it before and would likely do it again.”

  “What, specifically, made you decide to interfere?”

  “You.” His gaze narrowed and he pushed to his feet, his movements tense and measured. “As soon as I saw you, I knew I couldn’t let them toy with you.”

  She didn’t understand his sudden intensity, so she glanced away. She wasn’t even sure she believed him. There was certainly nothing about her that would draw the attention of a—god. Her mind stumbled over the word. Maybe he wasn’t an actual deity, but he certainly had power at his command. She, on the other hand, was average, ordinary, uncomplicated. Dillon had made damn sure she understood her mediocrity.

  “How well did Josiah respond to your hard-to-get act?” Loki’s voice softened, as if he sensed her vulnerability. “I didn’t want to spy on you, so I left right after I ruptured the pipe.”

  “You were in the kitchen when it happened? How? Neither of us sensed or saw you.”

  “I was monitoring the situation, which is easier to do without the limitations of a physical body. And you were both rather distracted.”

  She’d been unable to keep her eyes off Josiah and her imagination had been fully engaged with sexual fantasies. A marching band could have passed through the kitchen and she might not have noticed. “Then how did you rupture the pipe?”

  “I can turn matter into energy and energy into matter. I dispersed a small section of the pipe, releasing the water.” He made it sound so simple, so believable. If he actually had that level of control, his abilities would be nearly limitless. A shiver raced down her spine. Did she really want a being with that much power available to him focused on her? If he sensed her growing unease, he didn’t react to it. “What happened after I left?”

  She shrugged with an indifference she didn’t feel. “We both got wet, which was what you’d intended.”

  There was no apology in his pleased expression. “Did he kiss you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Did you let him do more than kiss you?”

  “I wanted to, but I didn’t.” She sighed and ran her hand through her hair. It was still slightly damp and the ends had tangled. “I thought Chase was the one I’d have trouble resisting, but Josiah was different than I’d expected.”

  “In what way?”

  They’d fallen back into the same easy conversation they’d enjoyed at the bistro. It always took her forever to develop friendships, yet chatting with Loki had felt comfortable from the start. She didn’t fight it, couldn’t make herself care if he was an alien or a figment of her imagination. She liked him and she needed his help if she hoped to hold her own against experienced players like Josiah and Chase.

  “Josiah’s always been so quiet. He seems shy or introverted. I figured I’d have to draw him out.”

  Loki paused for a moment, apparently milling over her assessment. He’d stayed on his side of the coffee table, so she didn’t feel threatened by his restlessness. He walked a few steps in one direction then turned and retraced his path. “He’s not shy, but he is basically introverted. He’s not comfortable as the center of attention, but he can be quite intense one-on-one. He’s the type of person who’ll sit alone at a party and be completely entertained by watching what goes on around him.”

  “You make him sound like a voyeur.”

  “I don’t think the label would upset him. And it might be something we can use. If there is ever an opportunity for you to make out with Chase in front of Josiah, you’ll drive them both crazy. Is Josiah going to be at the party tomorrow night?”

  “I don’t know. Chase didn’t say.” A slow burning hunger spread through her body as the image formed within her mind. Only she wasn’t just making out with Chase, she was naked and slowly riding his cock while Josiah looked on in utter fascination.

  “You said no sex,” Loki reminded her. “Are you sure you want to abide by that rule?”

  Heat spread across her cheeks and her heart fluttered. Had he just read her mind, seen the lurid scene her imagination had created? “Can you—”

  “I can, but I wasn’t. Your dreamy expression and dilated pupils made it obvious what you were thinking. The farther you’re willing to take this, the more fun it will be. And the more deeply it will cut when you reject them.”

  She shook her head. “As soon as I give in to either of them, the game’s over. They’ll lose interest.”

  “Yes and no. As soon as you abandon yourself body and soul, they’ll lose interest. But there are all sorts of things you can do that are sexual yet fall short of complete surrender.”

  “Should I have gone farther with Josiah?”

  “No. He would have been suspicious if you’d given in without a fight. But he’s experienced enough to know you wanted more than a kiss.”

  “How should I behave tomorrow night?”

  He stared across the room, almost as if he could see through the wall and into the house across the street. “Let me give it some thought. We’ll strategize before Chase picks you up tomorrow night.”

  Chapter Three

  Katie slipped a bobby pin into the side of her upswept hair and stepped back from the full-length mirror. A simple black dress skimmed her figure rather than advertising every curve and hollow. The scooped neckline only revealed a hint of cleavage while most of her back was bared by the dramatic V. She’d always liked this dress. It was flattering without making her self-conscious.

  “Lovely.”

  She spun around with a gasp and pressed her hand over her heart as she teetered on her high-heeled sandals. Loki sat on the side of her bed, looking utterly indolent. “You can’t just pop in like that. You’ll give me a heart attack.”

  “We can’t have that.” He chuckled. “I’ll call your name next time.”

  Turning back to the mirror, she picked up her lip gloss and applied a light coat. “Chase will be here any minute. What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing’s wrong. I just wanted to verify the strategy for tonight.”

  “I’m going to be as charming as I can to everyone but Chase.”

  That drew a confused look from Loki. “He’s insensitive, not masochistic.”

  “You didn’t let me finish.” She tossed the lip gloss back into her beaded clutch and faced him again. “Chase wants a complicated woman, one with lots of layers. I’ll be the perfect lady while we’re at the party, attentive and polite. Then as soon as we’re alone, I’ll become sexually aggressive.”

  Loki’s soft chuckle made Katie cringe. “Have you ever been sexually aggressive in your life?”

  She gave him her best you’re-an-asshole glare and reminded, “This is a role, a character. I can sell it. Trust me.”

  “Show me.” Loki stood up and motioned her toward him. “Get in character and kiss me.”

  It was a challenge, a test. He obviously agreed with Josiah and Chase. They thought she was sexless and dowdy, content in her solitary life. Determination calmed her nerves and channeled her nervous energy. She set her small purse on the dresser and smoothed her skirt down over her hips. Then she walked toward him, gaze locked with his.

  He didn’t move, didn’t speak, just watched her with calm assessment. Rather than trying to be clever, she let her body do the talking. She ran her hands up his chest, locking her fingers behind his neck. Then she kissed the corners of his mouth, the touch light and coaxing. When he didn’t immediately open his mouth, she traced the seam between his lips with the tip of her tongue, easing farther inward with each pass. He finally angled his head and accepted her tongue, but there was no rush of heat or breathless excitement. She stroked her tongue over his and pressed her breasts against his chest. Still, the kiss was pleasant, nothing more.

  A chuckle rumbled deep in Loki’s chest. “This is aggressive?” In one smooth motion he turned her and pressed her against the wall with the weight of his body. His mouth came alive, awakening her senses in turn. He grasped the back of
her neck and tilted her head as he took the kiss deeper.

  He separated their mouths as suddenly as he’d taken command of the kiss. “You’re not naturally aggressive. Don’t try to convince him you are.” His mouth hovered over hers, his warm breath teasing her lips. “He wants to wear down your resistance, watch you surrender despite your misgivings. He’s a hunter. Let him pursue you.” A playful smirk lifted one corner of his mouth as he added, “Just don’t let him catch you.”

  How could she argue with facts? Her pulse hadn’t started racing until Loki took control. Despite her independence, her determination to be self-reliant, she responded best to aggressive men.

  Reacting to some inner sense or a sound she couldn’t hear, Loki suddenly stepped back and motioned toward the door. “He’s here. Remember, you’re a nice girl with a naughty secret. You’re too polite to ever admit it in public, but you love sex.”

  “Got it.”

  “Good luck.” Loki flashed out of sight, leaving Katie feeling warm and restless.

  His description stirred a sad sort of nostalgia. Before she’d met Dillon, that description fit her perfectly. She’d been open and eager to explore her sexuality. But Dillon had approached sex with the same laser focus he’d applied to every area of his life. It had been regimented, precise, and utterly unsatisfying, at least for her.

  She grabbed her purse off the dresser and hurried downstairs. Dillon was a distant memory, an occasional cloud that passed across the sun of her life with no real effect on the temperature. She wouldn’t allow him to be more significant.

  Chase was knocking on the door as she pulled it open. He smiled, looking particularly handsome in dress pants and a striped shirt. “Were you watching for me?”

  No I was upstairs kissing Loki. The thought helped her form a secretive smile. “Maybe.” She stepped outside and pulled the door shut, checking to make sure the handle locked. “And maybe I’m just anxious to have this over.”