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“Art tourism” is what he liked to call it.Ever since he discovered your love of art, when you and Loki took weekend trips to new cities, he would try to plan them around a museum or gallery that you would want to visit together. Despite there being literally worlds of difference between you, the two of you found that art was something you both loved. The technique, the storytelling, the feeling of being able to reach across time… the simple act of discovering something new together. It was just Your Thing.Moreover, the general public seeing Loki in this new context — as an aficionado of the humanities (and the beloved consort of one human) — allowed for a gradual editing of his image in the collective consciousness. People started to see him as a brilliant person who was growing past his, well, past. Loki sightings were more a point of fascination than concern now. And your presence kept these moments from becoming tense or invasive.The two of you walked the museum’s grounds, surrounded by local plant life, in the diffused light of a misty February morning. You were looking forward to this particular visit because this exhibition space offered so much: a connection to the city’s greenway, a gathering spot for families, art related classes, and even a café. Its ties to the community struck a chord in you.In your wool coat and knee-high boots, you snuggled in close to him. Sliding your arm around his waist, you walked through the outdoor arches, past the sculpture garden, and down the mirrored corridor to the entrance. As soon as Loki opened the door for you, you sighed into the warmth. With the light bouncing off the matte white walls, the tap of your boots on the wooden floors, and the subdued echos of appreciative voices, you felt like you had come home.The two of you reserved brunch this morning, but you arrived early to tour the permanent collection first. Your pace quickened toward the one work you most wanted to see, as though it was minutes from disappearing. Loki gave you a knowing smile.You rounded the corner… and there it was. You stood squarely in front of the work and stilled, a look of quiet wonder on your face.He gave you a minute.“Can you describe how you feel, love?”You collected your thoughts, then began. “I feel… like I’m where I belong. I feel like the stars have aligned. Like everything suddenly makes sense… I feel at ease.”Loki paid close attention. This was no idle question. He’s seen this look on your face before, in front of the art you loved, but also the very first time you laid eyes on him. Maybe someday he would tell you that. For now, he just smiled. He stepped behind you, wrapped his arms around your waist and studied the work with you for a little while before you strolled the remaining galleries.Retracing your steps to the front of the building, you entered the café area and took your table for two for the Valentine’s Day brunch. Your server brought you a pair of chocolate truffles and two flutes of champagne. You giggled softly — were you really about to drink this early in the day?“Well that’s a decadent appetizer!” you said.“Agreed,” Loki replied, clinking his glass with yours. “We should start every morning this way!”You were sure you just fell a little more in love with him. Your hedonist. Yours, full stop.You could barely wait to get him back to the hotel.But for now, you enjoyed a delicious brunch. Your heart sang a little with the loveliness of it all — the dish, the drink, the music. The company.And the extra truffles that were packed up for later.You spent quite a while at the museum, so the two of you decided to head back to the hotel for a break and to decide what else you wanted to see in town. Making your way through the exit, you noticed that the mist had become a chilly drizzle. But you felt wrapped in a radiant warmth, unreachable by the raw weather. Waiting for your ride, you noticed that a small art class was putting the finishing touches on an elaborate chalk drawing near the museum’s entryway.“Shame about this weather,” Loki mused. “All their work will be lost to the elements.”One of the crouching students overheard, standing up. “It’s ok, it’s part of the process. You create a mandala knowing that it’s temporary. You need to let it go in the end, but it’s still worth making something beautiful.”You and Loki fell silent for a moment. You then expressed your appreciation for the concept and the explanation. But Loki couldn’t leave things at that.As you both walked past, he turned around. With his palm up, he slowly raised his hand. The chalk rose from the concrete in a vapor, with every color in its place. The students watched in awe as their drawing floated in the air before them. A few photo flashes went off as some tried to capture the inconceivable.Once your ride arrived, Loki set the mandala back down, every particle of chalk where it was before. With a wink to the class, he turned around, pretending to be unaffected by their applause.***
It may have just been the champagne. Or it may have been the warmth of the food, or the silvery glow to the sky, or having no set itinerary. But you felt utterly content, and a little drowsy. It was barely midday, but a nap seemed just right.“Will you join me?” you asked him. “Just for a little while?”“Mmm, that sounds wonderful,” he answered, with a quick peck to your lips. “Lie down; I’ll be there shortly.”You went to the bedroom. With absolutely no desire to hunt for your pajamas, you simply took everything off and slipped under the covers. Gazing at the city through the sheer curtains, you started to drift off. Just before sleep fully took you, you felt the warmth of Loki’s chest at your back.For a few minutes he lay behind you, feeling your back shift with the rise and fall of your breath. Eventually, as was your way once you were warm enough, you rolled from your side to your back and threw the covers partway off. Paper white winter light kissed your bare body.She is lovely, he thought. She is perfect. She is mine, my exquisite gift.He was happy, he was well-fed… ideal conditions for the amount of magic this would require.He kissed your temple, imbuing the touch with a spell that would deepen your sleep just enough that you would later awaken gradually and not startle.Candles appeared on the windowsills. Green glows shimmered above the nightstands, which now held a dozen roses apiece, each a mix of red and white. You inhaled the fragrance deeply, but remained undisturbed.In his hand, a bowl formed. He opened the box of truffles, placed two in the bowl, and radiated warmth upon them with his other palm until they melted. Beside the vase on one of the nightstands, a glass of water and a row of paintbrushes appeared.And then, Loki disrobed entirely. And set to work.He dipped a small brush into the melted chocolate, then began to paint. Petals took shape across one of your areolas. Much as he desired to swipe the brush across your nipple, he held back. As sensitive as yours were, that was likely to wake you sooner than he’d hoped. Later, when more of his art was complete.He continued the floral cascade, fluttering down your ribcage and then crossing over to your navel. Every few brushstrokes, he paused for a steadying breath. The form of you, the exquisite form of you, was enough to begin his steady climb toward full arousal. Already his length was stirring, half hard.He reached the expanse of your stomach. It was time for the runes.Stroke by stroke he painted his message, then planted a kiss in the midst of it. You hummed in your slumber.With a half-smile he made his way back up the bed. He circled your nipple with the brush, crossing it with a feather-light touch. You gasped in your sleep, then sighed.He swiped across the other nipple. A blush dusted your cheeks as you pressed your thighs together.He waited for them to relax.He chose a wider, clean brush, and swept the soft bristles over your clit, down your folds, back again.Your chest heaved as your sighs deepened to quiet moans, and slowly you opened your eyes. The spell worked to perfection. You looked down at his work.“What’s this?” you asked with a breathless smile.Your love gazed down at you. Adoring, but not innocent. He set down the brush and leaned in for a slow, deep kiss.“My gift, my beautiful gift,” he breathed, his lips nearly touching yours. “Every day you bless me with your love. Every day your love sustains me in ways I never even knew I hungered.”He ran his finger across your belly, below the runes, as he translated. “You are the light that defends me from shadow.”You never understood how he could ignite fires in your heart and your core at the same time. Or how he could bring you so close to euphoria before the lovemaking even began. How he could make you feel so special. Tears welled in your eyes, simultaneous with your body’s aching, insistent need for him.But first things first.You took his face in your hands, your fingertips woven in his hair. “You are my everything,” you declared in a whisper. “You are more than I ever hoped for or dreamed of. Your love is the best part of my life, and I will love you forever.”He looked at you as though the stars had aligned.Still, his heart pounded, and his eyes were dark with desire. In a sweet, soft growl, he said “Let’s get you cleaned up.”***
Petal by petal, Loki licked your breasts and down your side, kissing every detail away. Arousal tingled beneath your skin like the fizz of champagne. Rune by rune, he ardently traversed your stomach. You trembled, your mind swimming. He worked ceaselessly, licking and sucking until every trace of his painting disappeared.He paused before making contact with your now-aching heat. And when he did, you were grateful for the brief coolness of his tongue…He drank from the water glass. Of course. You sighed, and smiled. He thought of everything.With his arms wrapped around your thighs, he began to work his magic with ever-deepening kisses to your sex. Your climax was approaching quickly, your body reacting to him more intensely than ever before. For the first time ever, you felt overwhelmed, helpless in the undertow of your desire.You reached down, stroking his face. And with great effort you found your words:“Wait.”He stilled and pulled back immediately.“Inside,” you panted. “With me.”Loki’s eyes sparkled as he smiled at you. He climbed up toward you and captured your lips in a kiss. You reached down, caressing him, pumping his length. He opened his mouth in an exhale, then a gasp, closing his eyes as you guided him in.His thrusts were exquisitely slow. Your breaths, your kisses, mingled between you in an erotic call-and-response. Both of you reached down to stroke the other, your hands brushing one another along the way, a couple of your fingers briefly linking once they were close enough.He panted in your ear. “Shall we, darling?”That silken voice itself robbed you of your decision, casting you over the edge as you cried out in ecstasy. Through your squinted vision you caught the barest trace of a smile, as he tipped his head back, releasing his hot spend inside you.You rode the aftershocks together until your breathing slowed, and your bodies reached a state of rest. You were the first to break the silence.“I have… no idea what to do with the rest of my life.”He dropped his head down and laughed, his black curls waving with the rhythm of it.“Happy Valentine’s Day, my love,” he said with a kiss. “I hope it is the best you’ve ever known.”“Of course it is. It’s with you.”You hoped that your words mended some hidden part of him, smoothed over some ancient scar. He had plenty of scars. But you had plenty of words. And today, plenty of time.You wrapped your arms around him, squeezing him tight. The city could wait, at least until dinner.