Archive of Our Own ^beta

The remaining week of school went by as usual, but with the added rush that comes with preparing for a holiday break. Mom and I normally stayed at home for the holidays as she worked retail, but then came Loki’s invitation to spend Christmas at his cabin in the mountains. The idea of a small vacation was exciting for both of us, but my mother hated snow, and her enthusiasm on the morning that Loki picked us up was so over the top that I was sure even Loki could tell she was faking it.

Hmm, Loki...

The unexpected addition of his presence had become almost routine in the short week I’d known him. Now that Mom had introduced us, he came over almost every day and even stayed the night a few more times. As a result, I had become more cautious with my pajamas when I knew he was staying over, but I was trying to warm up to him. He still made me nervous, but he was an attractive man, and I was an awkward young woman who had only just arrived at the threshold of adulthood. I had never been on a date-date, and there were no boys at school who ever expressed an interest in me; I had zero experience with men.

Everything about them made me nervous.

Especially Loki.

He was intimidating, infuriatingly attractive, and arrogant in his intelligence. The more I was around him, the more I understood why he was such a respected attorney. There was an air of ruthlessness around Loki that unnerved me because it echoed with the energy of a villain in disguise; all of my instincts warned me to be wary around him, and yet I didn’t feel unsafe.

Quite the opposite, actually.

On one hand, Mom was much nicer when he was around; she must’ve learned that her backhanded comments would only result in her getting scolded by the hot, rich attorney she had snagged. But on the opposite spectrum, something just felt off when Loki was alone with me; I just couldn’t place what I was feeling around him.

Not to mention that he hadn’t been kidding about calling me ‘Precious.’

The pet name had become almost as prevalent as my actual name, but only Loki used it. It was a special thing between Loki and me, and I couldn’t help but notice that he didn’t have a particular term of endearment for my mother. He addressed her as ‘Evelyn’ or occasionally ‘darling,’ which he also called me from time to time; it was basic and felt almost stale compared to ‘Precious.’

Maybe I was overthinking it. I didn’t have a father figure in my life, so maybe this was normal—

“Oh, I’m so excited to see the cabin!”

I winced as my mother’s excited squeal pierced the air from the front passenger seat of Loki’s black Jaguar.

“Yes, it’s quite beautiful this time of year if you enjoy snow as I do,” Loki said without glancing at my mother as he watched the winding road. “My family has owned the cabin for generations, and my parents left it to me in their will. I have many fond memories there.” His eyes met mine in the rearview mirror. “And I’m looking forward to making a few more this weekend.”

My mother hummed happily, stroking his arm as she practically melted in her seat. I hunkered down in the heated backseat, idly watching the winter landscape pass us by. Loki had said the cabin was a few hours away, so I was glad that the view was as gorgeous as he’d said it was. Usually, on long trips with Mom, I would bring a book, but reading in the backseat always made me sick, and I didn’t want to risk that in Loki’s expensive car.

“Precious, be a dear and look through the audio folder on my phone,” Loki said as he hooked his arm over the back of his seat, holding out his unlocked phone toward me. “I have several books and music that might interest you. We have a long drive, and as pretty as the view is, it eventually blurs together.”

I carefully took his phone, glancing down at the screen to see that he had already opened his audio folder. “Oh, uh, okay.”

I carefully scrolled through the audio files and I smiled as I saw an inner folder labeled ‘Mythology.’ “Can we listen to something in the mythology folder?”

“Oh, sweetie, why don’t you just play music or something?” My mother complained as if she were in agony. “Music would be much better than listening to someone talk, don’t you think?”

My smile fell a bit as I glanced back down at the phone. “O-Okay…”

“Evelyn,” Loki warned. “I told her to pick something. Not you.” He glanced at me in the mirror again. “Listen to whatever you desire, Precious. I never tire of hearing mythical tales.”

I smiled again. “Me either. I like to think that myths are derived from legends created by stories handed down from the people who lived them.”

He hummed thoughtfully. “Beautifully stated, Precious.”

I settled on an audiobook detailing a fictional tale revolving around Norse lore. As it started up, I hit the home button on the bottom of the phone out of habit, and my eyes widened as the background on the main screen appeared. 

The angle of the camera spied down upon a black and white scene of a man dressed in a fine suit sitting with his legs splayed wide—manspreading in a show of dominance as he held a long, leather crop in his large hand that was purposefully placed under the chin of a nude and collared woman. She had placed her shackled hands on his knees as she knelt at his feet. Attached to the ring on the front of the collar was a chain leash that trailed down the length of her body where the leather handle came to a rest at her parted thighs, pointing towards the man…

My throat tightened; the image had mesmerized me.

But I shook my head and hastily clicked the side button, making the screen go dark, and handed it back to Loki with shaky hands. Unfortunately, the audiobook did nothing to distract my brain from the photo; I wouldn’t forget that image so easily. Having read various romance novels, I knew the image was showing a kink scene between a Dom and their Sub, but knowing that Loki was into what some might call, sexual deviance made me even more uncomfortable. I was a virgin, but I wasn’t naïve. I knew what sex was and what it contained; I knew there were all kinds of kinks and fetishes, but something about knowing what Loki was into… was weird.

Or was it weird because, deep down, I was curious about that kind of kink?

My thoughts spiraled for a while, obsessing over what else Loki might be into, but I focused my mind to listen to the sound of the narrator’s voice. I struggled at first until stories I’d never heard before began playing, and before long, time started flying by.

Multiple lanes on the road dwindled to a single lane as we approached the mountains. Cities gave way to dense forests sprinkled with blankets of fluffy snow, and then we found ourselves in the middle of a small town at the base of an enormous mountain. There were a few cozy homes, a market and several posh boutiques neatly nestled along the streets; it was ritzy but quaint.

“Right there is where we’re going,” Loki said as he pointed at the mountain. “The cabin is on a cliffside overlooking the town.”

“And the ski lodge is nearby, right?” My mother asked.

Loki nodded. “A little too close for my tastes, but c'est la vie.”

She clapped her hands excitedly, practically bouncing in her seat.

Loki hummed, sounding bored, or perhaps exhausted, with her excitement. He didn’t verbally respond, just kept his eyes on the road as if he were on autopilot while he steered the car up the winding road of the mountain. Further and further until we approached a corner leading to a large cabin overlooking the small town nestled at the mountain’s base.

The thick snow crunched under the weight of Loki’s car as he steered toward the cabin in the distance. He parked the car near the front of the house and turned off the engine before looking back at me. “Well, here we are, ladies; let’s get settled and then we can go exploring.”

I opened the door, eager to see the mountain up close and breathe in that crisp winter air. My leather boots sank into the deep, untouched snow, chilling my legs, but it didn’t bother me; if anything, I felt invigorated as I glanced around the serene landscape. Tall and voluminous pine trees dotted the mountainside, and large rocks rose from the blanket of undisturbed snow, sheltering the slumbering nature.

And then there was Loki’s cabin.

Two stories with a modern exterior, but there were several light touches of medieval architecture throughout the structure. In particular, the beams on the sides of the roof drew my eye; elegantly carved to resemble dragons as an acknowledgement of the Norse heritage of Loki’s family, no doubt. But it was those little details like that which made the cabin feel as whimsical as it was modern.

Loki motioned for us to follow him, looking through his keys as he stepped onto the wooden porch. “You two head on inside, and I’ll get our bags.”

My mother was the first one to the door, eager to get out of the cold. I followed her inside as Loki returned to the car. The door shut behind us and I heard my mother loudly gushing over the interior of the cabin. In her defense, the inside looked like it belonged in one of those fancy magazines, with its unique mixture of modern and rustic elegance and simplicity.

The first thing I noticed as I glanced around the main floor was that it was already decorated for the holidays and family photos were neatly displayed around the main room and along the stairway. The painted walls were smooth and refined, offset by the natural rock wall of the central fireplace which was draped in lovely winter garland. The mantle housed various Norse-themed trinkets and even some cute little gnomes dressed for cold weather. It gave the space an almost whimsical feel amidst all the modern accents. Before the fireplace were two eggshell white sofas, complimenting the colors in the room; it felt welcoming and warm.

“Isn’t this lovely, sweetie?”

“Yeah, it’s nice,” I said, my voice distracted as I looked around. This space really didn’t feel like ‘Loki’ though, but maybe he hadn’t wanted to change the decor—something to remind him of his childhood perhaps?

We both turned when we heard the door open again as Loki entered with all our bags and suitcases. He set them all down and stretched upward to ease his muscles. He smiled as he glanced at my mother and me and motioned toward the large L-shaped staircase. “Follow me, ladies, and I’ll show you to the bedrooms.”

We grabbed our bags before following Loki up the staircase and I couldn’t help but pause for a moment to observe the photos along the wall. My mother walked ahead of me, not bothering to spare a glance at anything but her path upstairs. I could hear her and Loki speaking, their voices fading as they went into a separate room, leaving me with the photos.

At a glance, the photos along this wall were all taken here, at the cabin and during the holidays. I could easily pinpoint Loki in the photos even if he was a child in them. I smiled in spite of myself; he had been adorable in his youth, and now… well, adorable definitely wasn’t the right word for his adult self. Sexy, refined, coy… those were much, much more appropriate—

“Precious? Why don’t you come up here and settle into a room? I can give you a photo tour later,” Loki chuckled as he motioned for me to join him on the second floor.

We stopped by his room, watching my mother scurry around to look at everything as she unpacked. She ran her hands over the rich emerald and gold comforter decorating the bed and mimicking the shades encompassing the room. The bedroom screamed refinement and royalty. It was also filled with books and smelled like Loki: leather, intelligence, mystery, and elegance. Even without my mother being in there, I knew instantly that this was Loki’s room. Everything about it screamed his name.

Loki chuckled as he watched my mother flutter around the room and then glanced down at me. “Well, while she’s immersing herself in there, let’s find you a room.”

He led me further into the second floor which began with what looked like a family activity area. There was a large TV area and a couple tables pressed together with stacked games neatly placed on them. A small book nook was set up in the far left corner and in the right there was an empty easel.

“Do you paint?” I asked him.

Loki shook his head. “No, that was my mother’s. I’ll show you a few of her pieces around the cabin if you want that photo tour,” he chuckled.

I nodded; I definitely wanted that tour.

“Now, come with me Precious,” Loki said as he guided me toward the left half of the activity space and stopped in front of a closed door. “This room will be perfect for you.”

He opened the door and allowed me to enter first. 

Unsurprisingly, it was beautiful. However, this room was also decorated in similar shades of green and gold; it resembled Loki’s bedroom, even down to the books and trinkets…

“This looks strikingly similar to your room,” I commented absently.

“Well, this was my room when my family came here on vacation. My parents owned several estates scattered all over the globe, so when they both passed, my siblings and I agreed to split the properties. This one is mine and I chose to switch to the main bedroom.”

“Still… it could be a parallel universe; they look so alike,” I mused.

He snickered as he crossed his arms and leaned against the doorframe. “You are a cheeky little thing when you want to be, aren’t you?”

I froze; had that come off as rude?

I turned to him with red cheeks. “O-Oh… I’m sorry if that came off wrong…”

He smirked and reached out to tilt my chin up. His eyes pierced into mine, making my heart stop as his thumb brushed my cheek and lower lip. “Au contraire, ma petite,” he purred. “In actuality, I would love to see more of that side of you. A little mischief never hurt anyone, after all.”

I swallowed hard, unable to move or respond as he held my eyes captive. 

When he released my chin, a shuddering breath left my lips. I quickly turned away and tightened my grip on my bags as I moved deeper into the room. “W-Well, I should-I should probably get settled…”

Another dark chuckle caressed my ears. “If you need help let me know. And do hurry, the morning is young, and I have an entire day planned for us.”

I inhaled deeply, letting the frigid mountain air fill my lungs with the weight of a wintery breath. I looked around, taking in the ice-glazed view; Loki’s cabin was almost storybook. Picturesque. 

Mountains, caped in heavy snow, lined the horizon while the sun hung high overhead, illuminating the sparkling snow that blanketed the ground in thick layers. Impenetrable forests of dark green pine trees were scattered among the haze of wispy snow. If one peered through their dense branches, one could see the white smoke emanating from the other two cabins in the distance.

My head turned at the sound of crunching snow, and I spied my mother who was trying to daintily meander through the snow toward me.

“Oh, I am freezing!”

I shrugged. “Well, I like the cold, and the view is nice,” I said as I returned my attention to the exterior world.

My mother scoffed. “I’m not surprised you like this weather; you also like it when it’s dreary and rainy. I’ll take a warm, sunny beach with a clear sky over this shit any day.”

“If you don’t like snow or the cold, why did you agree to come with Loki on his birthday trip?”

“Oh, you are so naïve,” she snickered. “But then you are young and have zero experience with men. Loki said that he comes here for his birthday every year, and since we are dating, he kindly invited us along; it would have been rude to refuse, plus he might lose interest if he finds out I detest this weather.”

I turned my head a bit to hide my eye roll. “Are you seriously worried that he will stop liking you just because you have a different weather preference?”

She patted my head. “So sweet and innocent. Love is a game, sweetie; you have to know which cards to play, which to hold onto, and which to discard. Loki is a card you hold onto, and when you find a card like him, you play cards similar to his until he’s hooked. Then you can play however you want.”

I frowned. “So… are you playing with Loki, or do you actually like him?”

“Of course, I like him!” she snapped. “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t, and I certainly wouldn’t have introduced him to you if I didn’t like him.”

I hummed, unconvinced of her words.

The snow crunched behind us.

“Pardon me, ladies; would you happen to be my brother’s guests?”

We turned, and my mother inhaled sharply at the tall, burly man before us. Nearly as tall as Loki, but with short golden hair and striking blue eyes. His well-trimmed dark golden beard shielded his tanned face from the biting cold. He was wearing a blue snowsuit, and despite its thick layers, it was clear that he was incredibly muscular. His smile was bright and kind; he reminded me of a golden retriever… as did my mother as she practically drooled at his approach.

“You must be Thor! Oh, Loki’s told me so much about you!” she gushed.

The man laughed heartily. “I am! And I can only imagine the horror stories he must’ve told you; I promise, I’m nothing like he says,” he teased.

My mother giggled and walked towards him, leaving me by the cliffside. I watched as she escorted him toward the cabin, hanging onto his arm for dear life. 

I sighed heavily, following behind them and ignoring my mother’s excited prattling. She was still chattering away as we walked inside and I shrugged off my coat just as Loki strolled down the stairs.

“You’ll want to put your coat back on, love. Now that my brother is here, we’ll be heading to the slopes soon."

“Slopes?” I asked him with a confused face. “Like skiing slopes?”

He nodded, giving me a quizzical expression filled with amusement. “Yes, Precious, like skiing. You’ve been before, yes?”

I shook my head, and he chuckled as he came to stand next to me. “Well, this should prove to be even more fun than I anticipated. Your mother is quite a good skier; we went on one of our first dates, so I assumed you also knew how to ski.”

I frowned. “Well, if you haven’t noticed, I’m nothing like her.”

Loki smirked as he leaned in close. “Ooh, I’ve noticed, Precious.” He cupped my chin, tilting my face up to his. “And I adore it, as I believe I have told you before, my genuine little spitfire,” he said with a wink.

My cheeks flushed as I pulled away from him and quickly grabbed my coat again. He snickered at my nervousness and walked into the kitchen, where my mother entertained Thor enthusiastically.

I hurried back outside to wait by the car, feeling my heart pounding. Although I wasn’t sure if my heart was pounding because I was nervous about going skiing or because of Loki… or both.

Why did he keep getting so close? 

I turned when I heard the front door opening, followed by my mother’s grating giggles. She walked with her arm around Loki’s while continuing to talk Thor’s ears off.

As they approached Loki’s car, Loki escorted my mother to the passenger side and opened the door for her before coming towards me.

“Allow me, Precious,” he purred as he opened the door for me. I mumbled a stiff thank you and quickly climbed inside.

Together, Thor and Loki walked back inside the house and came back out moments later carrying several pairs of skis and gym bags. They loaded up the trunk and then Thor joined me in the backseat.

He smiled brightly and turned to me just as Loki settled into the driver’s seat. “So, your mother tells me you just turned eighteen? That’s an exciting year… not that I remember my own very well. It was a long time ago,” he chuckled.

I laughed nervously. “Y-Yeah… but it doesn’t really feel any different to me.”

“Well, that’s because you don’t date or ever go out,” my mother snickered.

“Mom!”

“Oh, hush, I was just teasing… but it’s true. I just know that if you put in a little more effort into your appearance—”

“Evelyn,” Loki warned. “Stop trying to make her into what you think she should be. She’s perfectly fine the way she is.”

My mother tsked. “Loki, she’s a wallflower; it wouldn’t kill her to put herself out in the world a bit more. And if she just wore some makeup or wore something cute—”

“Evelyn, she isn’t like you… or haven’t you noticed?” Loki met my gaze in the rear-view mirror and winked at me.

I swallowed hard and gave him a small, unsure smile.

“Fine,” my mother sighed. “I’ll drop it, but you defend her too much. She’s a big girl; she should stand up for herself.”

I winced.

Loki sighed.

Thor cleared his throat awkwardly.

“Let’s just enjoy the day, hm?” Loki suggested firmly, ending the conversation. The short drive to the ski lodge was heavily silent but once we parked my mother’s mood instantly perked back up.

Loki and Thor guided us inside the large, crowded, building. It was cozy despite its size, the air was warm and soothing. Holiday music filled my ears along with the soft roar of people who rushed around. I noticed the huge rock wall housing a fireplace near the back with several plush sofas and nearby there was a bistro area advertising coffee, tea, and hot chocolate.

It was like a mini mall.

My mother’s eyes filled with stars as she took in the ritzy atmosphere.

After a brief, verbal tour my mother decided she wanted to go ahead and get ready for the slopes. Thor offered to escort her downstairs to the locker rooms and Loki took it upon himself to take me to the ski shoppe to ensure I was fitted and supplied with the correct gear.

We found a snowsuit to keep me warm, some goggles, and a set of women’s groomer-width skis with a wooden core and binders—suitable for beginners, Loki had explained. As for the aesthetic of the skis, he let me choose which design I wanted as long as they were within the parameters he’d set. I chose a pair decorated with a brightly colored galaxy of blues and purples.

Once we had gathered all the necessities, Loki escorted me up to the counter. I had assumed we would be renting the gear, but to my shock, he bought it all… for me.

“L-Loki… I can’t—I can’t accept all this.”

“Think of it as a late birthday gift,” he said dismissively as he tucked his wallet away before gathering the larger gear, intending to carry it for me.

I shook my head firmly as I followed him back toward the open lounge area. “B-But, Loki, i-it’s way too much; you didn’t have to do that.”

A grin slithered onto his face, sinister and seductive, as he stopped and turned to me, leaning down to my level. “Ooh, Precious, look at you,” he cooed. “Such a cute, little thing… do you truly believe you have the power to sway my decisions, little girl?”

My eyes widened, and I suddenly lost the ability to speak. I could only stare at him blankly as my brain tried to process the myriad of emotions he’d stirred. 

When it came to flight or fight, my usual response was to freeze…

Loki leaned in even closer, a dark chuckle enveloping me as he brushed a lock of my hair behind my ear. “If you won’t accept my gesture as a gift, perhaps you should give me something in return.”

I inhaled sharply.

He cupped my chin. “Would you like to owe me, Precious, or will you accept my gift? Choose wisely.”

My lips quivered. “I… I—”

“Brother! If you take any longer, the snow will melt!”

Loki growled so low it was almost inaudible.

He pulled away to glance behind us at Thor and my mother who had changed into more appropriate skiing attire and were carrying their gear. They waved to us and Thor pointed toward the main entrance, motioning for us to hurry and join him and my mother.

Loki smirked, waving back at him. When they turned away, he tsked playfully at me. “Come along now, Precious. We’ll continue our little conversation at a later time. For now, let me take you downstairs to change.”

I remained frozen as he walked away.

What the hell just happened?

I couldn’t wrap my head around him or his actions; was he… flirting with me? Why would a grown man flirt with me, especially when he was dating my mother? 

My shoulders slumped, and I mentally slapped myself; of course, he wasn’t flirting; he couldn’t be. He was a grown man, and I had just turned eighteen. There was no way he was interested in me; he was just being nice an-and teasing me because he found some kind of twisted amusement in it, as my mother did…

Yeah, that was it.

Shaking away those idiotic thoughts, I hurried to catch up with Loki. He guided me down the stairs where we entered a spa and gym environment. He pointed me toward the women’s locker room and handed me my gear, giving me a quick run down on how to put everything on and make sure it was secure before sending me on my way.

The locker room was mostly empty, but the few women inside were helpful and kind when I struggled with my snowsuit. They gave me a few beginner tips and I felt a small flutter of excitement at their enthusiasm for my first time skiing. Especially once I told them I knew Loki; apparently, he had a reputation here as one of the best skiers, so they assured me I was in good hands.

Good hands… yeah, his hands were quite—

No! No, stop it!

I quickly forced those intrusive and impulsive thoughts away and rushed to rejoin Loki who was patiently waiting for me. He had also changed into his ski gear and, somehow, he managed to look alluring. That serpentine grin met my approach as he handed me my skis.

“Don’t you look adorable,” he whispered as he gave me a quick once over to make sure all the buckles and zippers of my snowsuit were secure. Then, he led me outside where we met up with my mother and Thor who had already put on their skis.

My mother’s eyes brightened as she gazed at me. “Oh, this is so exciting! Look at us, sweetie; we’re finally finding some common ground! You’re going to love skiing!”

I forced a smile, feeling obligated to enjoy the sport now that Loki had spent so much money on the gear. “Yeah… I’m sure I will.”

Thor smiled, comforting and understanding. “It’s perfectly normal to be nervous your first time out. You should have seen that one,” he said playfully, indicating Loki with his thumb.

“Oh, please, mighty Thor.” Loki drolled unenthusiastically. “Do regale us with all the races you won against me in our youth; we have ten seconds to spare.” 

Thor balked at him. “Would you like me to start with the time you hockey shoved me into that grove of trees or the time you purposefully went off trail to cut me off mid-race, sending me careening downhill on Bedlam’s Rise?”

Loki snickered with a look of fond pride on his face. “Ahh, good times! But it’s not my fault, or yours, that you aren’t as nimble as me. I could have easily evaded all of those trees in that grove, but with your bulky frame, there was no chance for you to come out without a broken tooth… or seven. Besides, you had fun on Bedlam’s Rise, which is a clear indication that my plan backfired!”

“I broke my leg!”

“And then you met that cute little nurse at the hospital!”

Thor smirked, reminiscent. “Yeah, I did! B-But I still broke my leg!”

Loki rolled his eyes. “Didn’t stop you from trying to get that nurse to—oh, how did you phrase it—ah, yes, to test the durability of the hospital bed…”

Thor shoved Loki’s shoulder. “Young ears are present, brother!”

Loki eyed him incredulously as he rubbed his sore shoulder. “And those young ears are eighteen; need I remind you of what we were doing at her age?”

Thor blushed as he hastily lowered the goggles on his head over his eyes. “Riiiight… so skiing! Race you to the lift!”

With that, Thor took off down the nearest hill and headed for the chairlift.

“Oh, you boys are a riot together!” my mother squeaked. As she giggled, she looked back at me. “Do you need help getting your skis on, sweetie?”

Loki wrapped his arm around her waist. “Go ahead, darling; I can help her; I’ll give her a quick rundown, and we’ll meet up with you and Thor in a bit.”

My mother kissed his pale cheek with a dreamy smile, but he didn’t react; he was too busy gazing at me from the side, not even bothering to return my mother’s affections.

Before I could protest, she took off down the hill, leaving me alone with him.

“Now then, Precious, I believe we were in the middle of a riveting debate before my brother’s ill-timed interruption.”

“W-We were?” I squeaked.

He chuckled and took a step towards me.

I stepped back. 

He followed.

The back of my legs hit a wooden bench, cutting off my nervous retreat.

Loki smirked and firmly nudged me, forcing me down onto the bench.

He knelt at my feet and wrapped his large hand around my calf as he lifted my leg towards him. “Oh, yes, Precious,” he purred as he moved to position my foot into the first ski, “we were discussing your disappointment at my generous gifts.”

My eyes widened. “D-Disappointment? N-No, i-it’s not that I’m ungrateful or-or disappointed… I-I just…” I could feel the tears gathering in my eyes, and I hastily tried to blink them away and bowed my head, unable to look at him.

Loki gripped my chin and brought my face towards his. “Oh, Precious. I know… I know,” he soothed as he wiped a tear from my eye. “You aren’t familiar with being properly cared for; you are… accustomed to the bare minimum.”

My eyes flicked up to his. “The bare minimum?” I echoed.

“Mhm, and you should know… this is only the beginning. I am a generous man when I wish to be.” His voice dropped an octave. “That being said, when I offer you a gift… take it,” he stressed. “Trust me when I say you aren’t ready to owe me any favors just yet… but you will be. Very, very soon.”

I swallowed hard, unsure if his words were threatening or seductive. But, in the end, I could only nod silently at him. 

 “That’s my good girl. Now, let’s finish getting you ready; I’m looking forward to giving you lessons.”

**

I collapsed onto my back, sinking into the soft, heavy snow. I panted hard as I tried to catch my breath; my body was not made to move so strenuously in this weather. 

I sat up, hanging my head in my hands. I was exhausted; after several hours of practice, I learned I could move in the skis, but mastering turns and going downhill were utterly different stories…

“You’re improving, Precious; don’t fret over a few falls,” Loki called out as he came to a smooth halt next to me on his skis. “As much as I hate to admit it, Thor wasn’t exaggerating when he commented about my beginning attempts at skiing. I was dreadful; honestly, I’m convinced the only reason I became so proficient was just so I could shove him into trees or whatever else came in our paths.”

A small chuckle escaped me before I could stop it.

I could practically feel the smirk on his lips that met my words. “There’s that pretty smile. Now, how about we take a small break? I think we’ve both worked up an appetite.”

“Shouldn’t we find mom and Thor first?” I asked.

He shook his head. “No, I’m a bit too famished to wander around searching for them, and I think you’d rather take those skis off for a bit, right?”

I nodded, and he held out his hand. I placed my small hand within his much larger one, and he pulled me to my feet. I faltered a bit but, with his help, I found my balance.

With a smirk and wink, Loki guided me forward as we made our way down to one of the many restaurants within the ritzy resort. When we found solid ground, he showed me how to remove the skis, and we headed inside to find warmth. 

We had a quick lunch, and then, with hot chocolates in hand, we took a seat on one of the plush sofas near a large fireplace in the main lounge. I glanced around, admiring the cozy refined atmosphere; I had never been in a place this nice before.

“Do you like it here, Precious?”

I smiled bashfully and nodded. “It’s… very pretty; and you don’t see snow like this in the city.”

“Yes, there is much less pollution out here; the snow is light, fluffy… and pure,” he licked his lips as he lifted his mug to his mouth.

I shifted upon the cushion, taking an awkward sip of my own drink as the steam heated my cheeks. “Umm, y-yeah… it’s, uh, sparkly.” 

I winced and internally facepalmed.

An elegant chuckle followed my awkward attempt at conversation.

When I glanced back up, I released a startled gasp; Loki had slid into my personal bubble. Our thighs brushed as he leaned in and took the mug from my hands. A Cheshire grin graced his handsome face as he placed our cups on the large coffee table between the sofas returning his full attention to me.

He brushed my hair to the side, and I gasped as his fingertips glided over my bare neck. He leaned in, his lips ghosting over the shell of my ear. “There are many beautiful places to see, Precious… I could show you each and every one of them.”

“Wh-What?”

He pressed a chaste kiss to my temple. “Such sweet temptation sits idle before me… mmm, were it not for prying eyes, Precious, I would lie you back and show you one of those beautiful places.”

My heart pounded.

A shuddering breath invaded my lungs as my knuckles turned white, as I clenched my fists, my nails pressing crescent moons into my palms. 

I couldn’t move.

My hands shook.

He gripped my wrists, halting my trembling hands.

“Are you afraid of me, Precious?”

I shook my head, though I wasn’t sure if I was telling the truth.

“Use your words, little girl,” he coaxed.

“I… I don’t—what are you doing?”

A deep, rolling chuckle caressed my ear, sending shivers through my body. “Are you that naïve, Precious? Surely you are not; your mother has mentioned that you prefer to read little romance novels, so you must know exactly what I’m doing,” he purred.

I shook my head in frantic disbelief. “N-No, no, no—”

He pressed his fingers to my lips. “Shh, little one, you fret too much.”

“B-But… my m-mom—”

He pressed his fingertips firmer against my lips. “Oh, hush now, Precious… you know the old saying, what someone doesn’t know won’t hurt them. Your mother will be no different; she isn’t going to be affected by this. Not one… little… bit. Do you know why?”

I timidly shook my head.

As he’d so often done, Loki cupped my chin and pulled me close but this time our lips almost touched. I could feel his breath warming my lips as he whispered his illicit secrets between them.

“Because this is going to be our little secret. After all, you are nothing like your mother, and she can’t keep a secret to save her own damn skin. So, I know you’re going to be a good little girl for me and protect our little secret.” His grip on my chin tightened, and a soft whimper escaped my lips. “And good girls are rewarded, Precious.”

It was late into the evening when we finally left the ski resort. I felt frozen to the bone and confident that I had gotten snow in places it should never be. But worse, Loki's words continued to reverberate through my head, leaving my thoughts jumbled.

I was quiet on the ride back to the cabin, but no one seemed to notice, or maybe they all assumed I was tired from all the skiing practice. 

In reality, I was wired.

What Loki had said was more than inappropriate; it-it was despicable!

Did he honestly expect me to remain quiet?

I chewed on my bottom lip as I considered my options… and my mother.

Would she even believe me? Nothing like this had ever happened before; what if she thought I was being selfish, or worse, making it all up to make Loki ‘look bad’ and break them up?

I sighed internally.

He was right; I wasn’t going to say a damn thing… for now, at least. After all, logically, I knew that he hadn’t actually done anything—it was just words—and there was no way I could prove he’d even said it all; no one else heard it. So, until I had viable proof—

The car stopped as we pulled up to the cabin.

After Loki parked the car, I hurried to my temporary room. I just wanted to be alone and change out of these overly warm clothes. When I reached my room, I opened the door and was immediately hit with the overwhelming, yet faded, scent of Loki; clean, citrusy, and conniving…

I shut the door with a firm thud and then bent down to remove my boots. I shrugged off my coat, letting it fall to the ground as I grabbed my luggage to rummage for new clothing—

KNOCK. KNOCK.

“Sweetie?” my mother called out.

I sighed heavily before dragging myself towards the door.

She smiled when I opened the door, but then she frowned and cupped my face. “Oh, sweetheart, your cheeks are beet red and frozen. Why don’t you go take a nice bath to warm up? You can use the jetted tub in the master bath,” she offered enticingly.

I bit my lip in confliction; a warm bath with jets sounded divine, but I felt uncomfortable bathing in Loki’s bathroom… and with him nearby.

“Umm, n-no th-that’s okay. I’m okay, Mom. I don’t want to impose, that’s Loki’s bathroom, and it just seems… inconvenient.”

She raised a brow. “Honey, there is more than one bathroom in the cabin. The rest of us will be just fine while you take a bath for a bit.”

I sighed and relented; trying to get out of it was no use. After all, it was only a bath, and I had nothing to back up the reason for my hesitance. Disobeying her was usually more trouble than it was worth.

“Okay… a bath would be nice.”

She smiled brightly, and after I grabbed some clean clothing, I followed her to the master bathroom. “Here we are! Loki said the towels are all in that little closet there.” She pointed to a tall wooden tower shelf. “Now, take your time and warm up, honey; I’m going downstairs to join the boys and help Loki get dinner started.”

I cocked my head. “Loki’s cooking?”

“Oh, yes! He’s an amazing cook, believe it or not! Yet another reason to keep him around,” she said with a wink.

My fake, nervous laugh answered her, but it didn’t faze her as she giggled right along with me before leaving me alone in the unfamiliar bathroom. 

I closed the door behind her and looked around the immaculate room. There was a built-in vanity with double sinks; the golden faucets were long, like swan necks, and the sink bowls, made from purposefully shattered glass, sat above the countertop. Various rich and organized clutter decorated the black marble countertop and highlighted the golden fixtures. The mirror was framed by beautiful dark wood paneling, possibly hand-carved and stained. 

But it was the tub that drew my attention the most.

Large and enclosed within a back corner; it was a beautiful black marble tub to match the countertop. It was positioned inside a border that matched the mirror panel, with a small set of stairs leading onto the platform it sat upon. Two columns were on either side of the thick edge, and a chandelier hung from the vaulted ceiling over the tub. Two large stained-glass windows depicting roses, dressed in decorative emerald-green scarves, sat behind the tub, one on each side of the cornered wall.

Despite the beauty of my surroundings, I felt out of place and uncomfortable. Or was that just because of Loki?

I exhaled curtly; this was stupid. 

I just needed to take a quick bath and be done with it. It wasn’t a big deal. If this were a hotel, would I be so nervous? No, I wouldn’t. The only risk here was Loki, and if I kept dawdling, I would only draw attention to myself and spur someone to check on me.

And that person would definitely be Loki; I had no doubt he would jump at the chance to ‘check on’ me…

I nodded to myself, determined, and approached the tub. My eyes landed on the faucet, and just like the sinks, it was long and elegant, but this one resembled a hissing golden serpent so that the water would flow out of its mouth… like venom. Out of everything in the bathroom, this one piece screamed ‘Loki’ the loudest…

Shaking my head, I turned on the water, eager to get in the tub and back out quickly. I stripped my clothing off, piling it beside my clean outfit on the counter. I grabbed some towels out of the linen closet and put them on the border surrounding the tub before turning on the faucet. 

I climbed into the tub as it filled up and sank into the steaming water. My eyes involuntarily fell shut as the water soaked into my sore, cold muscles. When I opened my eyes, I looked to my right and found the buttons controlling the jets.

Smiling curiously, I reached out and began fiddling with the buttons to find that perfect setting. After some experimenting, I settled on a series of jets that pleasantly made the bulk of the water bubble, so I leaned back against the cushioned rim of the tub. It was a dream bathroom; Loki had good décor and design tastes; I’d give him that much. 

A blissful breath left my lips as my eyes closed once more. I relaxed into the jets letting them soothe and warm my body—

“Mmm, look at you, Precious; aren’t you just a sin, lying in wait to tempt the devil within me.”

My eyes flew open. 

My hands instinctively covered my breasts as I thrashed about in the water. “What are you doing here?”

Loki chuckled darkly as he casually strolled into the bathroom. “Well, this is my bathroom, love. I don’t need your permission to enter my own space… you need mine. So, you’re most welcome, Precious. I’m glad you’re enjoying your little bath.”

“M-My mom knows I’m in here,” I warned with a shaky voice.

“Well, of course, she does,” he mocked. “Who do you think told me you were bathing in here? It was a veritable invitation from the universe; how could I have possibly allowed such a delicious opportunity to pass me by?” He smirked as he sauntered towards me, prompting me to tighten my arms around myself as if doing so would protect me. 

He knelt next to the tub and eyed me with a hungry, predatory gaze. “Mm, I do adore how bashful you are, Precious… though there is little point in hiding those glorious tits, wouldn’t you agree?”

I openly gaped at him.

He laughed, incredibly amused at my expression. “Honestly, love, you aren’t hiding much; you're only accentuating them for me.” 

I looked down, and my frown deepened; he was right, but I couldn’t just drop my arms either.

But as my mind scrambled to find a way out of this, I realized that this could be the opportunity I’d been seeking…

I narrowed my eyes, a defiant challenge in my gaze. “You know… it would be a shame to send you away without a little souvenir for my mother to see, Loki. Perhaps I should splash you real good; I’d adore seeing you try to explain your wet or sudden change of clothing to her.”

A fire sparked behind Loki’s aqua eyes. “Ooh, please do, love! I’d be more than happy to regale your gullible mother with how you tried to seduce me with your wet, naked body as I innocently passed by my own bedroom. You were like a siren luring me to my demise, but I resisted… mostly.” He winked as his voice softened to mimic sincerity. “But in your defense: of course, you would try to seduce me; I have become a constant and stable male figure in your life where there was previously none. These ‘Daddy issues’ are a common side effect of abandonment.”

My bravado faltered.

“And it would only be natural that you would see my presence and subsequent affection, care, and defense of you as an… invitation to explore your budding sexuality.” 

I paled.

He smirked as a dark chuckle flowed from his lying lips. “You’re even more adorable when you try to be threatening.” He leaned over the tub, his long frame allowing him to get close, and gripped my chin between his elegant fingers. His voice dropped several octaves as he hissed. “Do not play games you cannot even hope to win, little girl. You can try to outsmart me and deny the truth, but you won’t win, Precious.”

I glared at him. “The truth is you’re a predator, and you’re only using my mom. I would never deny that.”

He chuckled and placed a tender kiss on my forehead. “Oh, Precious… I won’t deny any of that. No, the truth I speak of is this; if you really wanted privacy in my bathroom—if you really didn’t want me getting in here,” his voice dropped to a seductive whisper, “you would have locked the door.”

My heart stopped.

Hadn’t I locked the door?

Why hadn’t I locked the door?

His thumb stroked across my lips. “Don’t fight this, Precious… don’t fight me. I only want what is best for you and to give you everything.”

Tears gathered in my eyes as I shook my head and held myself tight. “N-No… no, you’re twisting things, a-and trying to mess with my head!”

Loki smiled soothingly. “Perhaps… or perhaps I’m telling you things that, deep down, you already know to be true.” He tilted my chin up. “You like the attention I give you, and you feel guilty for enjoying it.”

“I feel guilty because you’re dating my mother, and this is wrong—”

He pressed his finger to my lips. “You deserve to feel wanted and far be it from me to deny you that attention; your mother certainly doesn’t give it to you.”

I inhaled sharply.

He winked at me before he stood. “Now, enjoy the rest of your bath, Precious. I’ll see you downstairs for dinner.”

**

I was quiet at dinner. 

No one noticed… except Loki, but he didn’t comment on it; he only passed me several looks varying from amusement to concern to lust. But I knew that he knew I was deep in my head after our little talk.

After dinner, I went straight to bed, but I couldn’t sleep; I kept replaying our conversation in my head over and over and over.

Was he right yet again; did I like the attention he gave me? It was certainly not the kind of attention I was used to from men. Most people never saw me, especially boys; I was a wallflower, just like my mother said.

Ugh, my mother... 

Loki had also forced me to face the truths about my relationship with her that I had always ignored.

“Evelyn doesn’t bond with you much, does she?”

“Evelyn, stop trying to make her into what you think she should be.”

“You aren’t familiar with being properly cared for; you are… accustomed to the bare minimum.”

There was an enormous amount of truth in his observations, and honestly, sometimes… I just didn’t feel like my mother wanted me around. We were vastly different, and deep down, I felt like she blamed me for my father leaving. But, if I was the cause of his abrupt abandonment, I wasn’t sure what I had done, but a part of me felt that she was right…

She had never introduced me to any other men she had dated, so I assumed she didn’t want anything serious. And then she randomly introduced Loki, who she had hidden for several months… had she been worried that I would chase him off?

I sighed as I fought back the tears threatening to spill down my cheeks; my mind was at war with itself over everything. I had always refused to acknowledge my true thoughts about why my mother was distant; I never wanted to face the reality of them, but I couldn’t ignore them anymore.

Not with Loki constantly voicing them for me.

Loki had read me like a book; from the very beginning, he’d been able to pick up on the subtle changes in my body language around my mother. He defended me, and made a point to praise and compliment me when my mother only complained and insulted me.

I was caught between a rock and a hard place, and I had no idea how to free myself. On the one hand, Loki’s words resonated with me, but what if it was all just a manipulation tactic? He said he wanted what was best for me and to give me ‘everything’ but was that a genuine sentiment? Did he actually want to care for me, or was he just grooming me to be his little plaything?

I reached over and turned on the small lamp on the bedside table. My eyes softened when they landed on the beautiful, leather-bound journal Loki had given me for my birthday on the night we had met. 

I had yet to use it.

I grabbed it and studied the cover; dark green leather and golden etchings… his favorite colors. Was that a coincidence, or did it have a deeper meaning? Had he planned to come after me the entire time he’d been dating my mother?

It seemed far-fetched, but so did this entire scenario. 

Honestly, what was the appeal? I was young, ordinary and plain. I wasn’t skinny or even attractive in my own eyes. 

It didn’t make any sense to me—

Knock. Knock. Knock.

I tensed at the soft rapping upon the door.

I knew it was him… but I got up and answered the door anyway.

Sure enough, there he was, shirtless and wearing those pajama pants I’d seen that first night in the kitchen at home.

“Ah, my fellow night owl. Are you having trouble sleeping, Precious?”

“N-No,” I stuttered.

“Liar,” he smirked. “You were quiet on the ride home and at dinner… I know you’re lost inside that pretty little head of yours.”

I rolled my eyes as I walked back to the bed. “Fine, so what if I am? Do you want a prize for being able to see right through me?”

He chuckled, and it sent shivers through my body.

“That depends; what will you offer me as a prize, Precious?”

I glared at him. 

He only laughed harder. “Oh, my darling girl—”

“I am not... your girl!”

Loki’s brow raised… and he stepped into the room. 

He shut the door. 

His eyes darkened as he stalked toward me, and I felt my stomach drop as he regarded me with an unreadable expression.

His hand shot out and wrapped around my throat.

A gasp passed through my lips.

Loki’s grip was firm as he pressed our foreheads together. His voice dropped to that seductive and intimidating tone. “You’d do well to mind your tongue, little girl; keep it up, and I’ll put that defiant mouth to better use. Right here. Right now,” he growled.

Fear and an inappropriate sense of anticipation rolled over me as he spoke, and I immediately began trying to pry his hand off my neck. 

He chuckled at my useless attempt at escape. “You aren’t in any position to make demands of me or give me attitude, little one.” He smiled after a moment. “But you are in the perfect position for what I want. Do you know what I want, Precious?”

My lip trembled, and I timidly shook my head.

Loki grinned; sinister, seductive, and sinful. “I want a kiss from that pretty little mouth of yours.”

He pressed his lips to mine.

My eyes widened, and I pushed against him.

His grip tightened around my throat, and I gasped.

His tongue slid masterfully between my lips and found my own.

My heart felt like it would burst from my chest as my body and mind fought each other instead of him. Internally, my brain screamed at me to resist, to break free and scream, but my body was frozen.

Loki’s tongue coyly slid against my own, trying to coax it into playing with his. A pathetic whimper slipped out of my mouth—the sound swallowed by his—and I felt his chest rumble as he moaned. His free hand slid over my hip, and I was grateful that I had thought to bring warm clothing to sleep in rather than one of my usual nighties. But the barrier of my pajamas did little to protect me as his large hand caressed my hip and slipped beneath my shirt to touch my bare skin. 

He pulled me close to press our bodies together… and my will to resist crumbled. I gripped his biceps, letting my nails dig and drag down his muscles as my tongue danced with his and he growled against my lips before pulling back. “Precious little kitten,” he murmured. “Did you like that?”

I closed my eyes, letting my head fall in shame. My fingers flexed, leaving imprints on his forearms as he chuckled as he released my throat and tilted my chin up. He gently kissed my lips, slow and chaste, despite the hunger behind it. He nuzzled me as his lips continued to ghost across mine. “Darling girl… never be ashamed of yourself or what you like. Pleasure is not shameful as long as it isn’t hurting someone.”

“My m-mom—” I huffed out a soft sob as tears gathered in my eyes.

“Is of no concern,” he finished firmly. “There are things you don’t know about her; so trust me when I say that you are more deserving of my attention than her.”

He cupped my face, gently brushing his thumbs across my skin to wipe away the guilty tears dripping down my cheeks. “Come with me, love.”

My turbulent emotions had shattered my will, and I allowed him to lead me downstairs to the living room. He gently coaxed me onto the sofa, then went into the adjacent kitchen. When he returned, he handed me a mug of decadent hot cocoa and joined me on the sofa. Loki took a sip of his and then set his mug on the end table nearest him so he could wrap his arm around my waist. Simultaneously, he reached down and hooked my legs under his arms to bring them up to rest over his knees. 

Neither of us spoke, but somehow the silence was relaxing; I felt safe with him despite what had just happened upstairs. 

But what if that was Loki’s game? 

Maybe he was trying to lull me into a false sense of security… 

I couldn’t be sure of his motives yet, but honestly… I wasn’t sure if I wanted to be sure. The unknown was terrifying, but what if the truth was worse?

What if he was manipulating me? 

What if he was being genuine?

Both possibilities frightened me.

And yet… I felt safe. 

I didn’t understand this strange mixture of emotions; how could I simultaneously feel safe and scared of him? Even worse, at this moment, I felt an intense sense of comfort as he held me against him.

He didn’t try anything.

He didn’t say anything.

He just held me and traced slow, lazy circles onto my back through my cotton shirt as we sipped on our warm drinks. My eyes fluttered as my body began to feel heavy, and my head tipped onto his shoulder as I fought to stay awake.

“Are you getting sleepy, Precious?” he murmured against my hair.

I nodded and mumbled softly as my eyes closed.

Loki kissed my forehead and set his mug back down before taking mine away as my body gave in to exhaustion. He gathered me close, cocooning me in his warmth as he rested his head atop mine. And the last thing I recalled before sleep finally claimed me were his soft, soothing whispers in the dark.