Page 20 of Loki
Elle turned to him. “Lord Loki? Would you like anything?”
Loki snickered. “Lord Loki? That’s one I’m not used to. Thank you, Elle. I’ll have a scotch.”
She nodded and put in his order with Val. Something was going on between the two women. The tension was visible from all across the room like a radiating aura. Something passed across Val’s face, but he couldn’t tell what.
He waved to her, and Val gave him a tight smile.
Elle peeked over her shoulder at him but looked away quickly when she spotted him still watching her. What a timid mouse. So strange she would be the daughter of one of the most ruthless beings in existence and yet be so bashful that if you glanced at her wrong, she might shatter into tears. He wondered if that appealed to Thor. That she gave Thor someone to champion and protect since that was Thor’s greatest need. To be a protector. It’d been his job for thousands of years, and hardly anyone needed his help in the underworld— at least not beings he would look to help.
But if Thor found out the truth about Elle’s father... Satan help them all.
Elle brought his drink and walked away quickly, leaving him and Heimdall. The two stared at each other in silence while Loki sipped his scotch. The last bell rang, and customers began filing out. It surprised him how awkward the air between him and Heimdall became as he waited for Val to finish. They’d never been close. Hell, they’d never even been friends. Loki never thought too much of it before, but he assumed it was because they had similar gifts of sight. That and the fact Heimdall had witnessed every single thing he’d ever done. The decent, the bad, and the horrible. It was strange being around someone who knew everything about you. Like being stripped naked and inspected with a microscope. What kind of conversation did you carry on with someone like that? Especially one who remembered it all and kept it all locked away in his mind?
The thought gave Loki shivers. There were things in his past even he didn’t want to remember. Like being tied to a rock by his entrails. Which... sucked rocks. No pun intended.
“Well, good talking to you, Heimdall. I’ve always said you’re an amazing conversationalist. However, I think next time I’ll sit alone.”
Heimdall nodded. “That would be preferable.”
Loki picked up his box and made his way over with it. Val locked the front door, turned off the sign, and Heimdall disappeared through the portal.
“Well, hello,” he said.
Val nodded at him and eyed the box. “I hope you bought yourself something expensive.”
“Actually, it’s for you.” Loki eased the box toward her.
She pushed it right back. “Thank you, no.”
A pang of irritation stung him. “Don’t you want to find out what it is?”
“A snake?”
Loki laughed. “Why would it be a snake?”
She shrugged. “With you, a person can never be sure.”
“Have I given you any reason not to trust me?”
Conflict crossed her features, and then her face went blank. “Me? Not particularly, but—”
“But you’ve heard about me. Yes. But I assure you my intentions are pure. Purely selfish. I bought you something I wanted to see you wear.”
Again, she inched the box closer to him. “Sorry. I’m not into kinky lingerie.”
Loki fought to keep his temper. Why did she have to be so damn... irritating? Why couldn’t she just accept the gift without any strings attached?
“Tell you what. You keep it. If you like it, wear it. If not, toss it away or donate it. Either way, I can’t return it, and there is no one else I can think of who should wear it.”
She eyed the box suspiciously and then tucked it under the counter. “So, about that steak.”
“You still want to go?”
“I’ve been looking forward to it all day.” She stopped, and her eyes widened slightly. “I mean, I’m hungry, and I’ve not had a great steak in ages. So, I’ve been looking forward to having one all day.”
He couldn’t help the smile which spread across his lips. “Not that you’ve looked forward to seeing me all day?”
He waited for her quick retort. Something snappy with a tiny bite to put him in his place— but it didn’t come. Interesting.