Page 41 of Loki
Could he be sweeter?Kind. Gentle. And cares for animals? Why couldn’t she fall for a guy like him rather than the God of Mischief?
Her cheeks heated again as Benjinn waved and walked out the door. What the hell did she mean she was falling for Loki? She hadn’t fallen for Loki. She’d had fun with Loki. Used Loki for release but—
She stopped. Who was she kidding? She’d told Loki things she’d not told another person. That wasn’t something you did with someone you used only for a mind-blowing climax.
Her heart thundered. Loki. She was falling for Loki... She couldn’t let that happen. Falling in love with Loki was bound to lead her to the one thing she’d avoided for a thousand years. Another broken heart.
“Hi, Val.” Elle approached the bar.
“Elle.” Val poured two drinks and put them on a tray.
“How... how are you?”
It was written all over Elle’s face that she didn’t want Val to be mad at her. She never could handle people being angry with her. It was one of the things she’d been working on with Elle before they’d left. She’d tried so hard to please everyone, and yet there was no way she would be able to.
“I’m great. How are you?”
Elle blinked several times. “Great? I’ve never heard you say that before.”
“I’ve never felt great before.”
“Did something happen? Did you meet someone? The werewolf guy. Is it him?” Elle beamed from ear to ear.
“No. Benjinn and I are just friends. I...” She what? She got laid several times for the first time in a hundred years and felt more relaxed than she had in forever. “I went to Odin’s fight club last night and let off some steam. And then I stretched my wings.”
“You got in a fight? Were you hurt?” Elle’s eyes filled with concern.
“I won.” But only because Odin let her.
“Oh. Well, I’m glad then.”
Val pushed the tray of drinks to Elle. “You should take these to your table before they get upset.”
Elle nodded and took the tray.
Val got the impression Elle wanted her to ask how it had gone with Thor, but she just couldn’t. To be honest, she didn’t want to know. They didn’t want to know it had gone well and that Elle would see more of Thor. But Loki had told her Thor cared for Elle, so in the end, she guessed it wasn’t her business. At least Elle had made it clear with how she’d acted a couple of days prior. And as much as it bothered Val that Elle had talked to her that way and stuck up for Thor, it had also made Val proud. She’d never seen nor heard Elle be assertive before.
Val peeked at the clock. She’d only been at work thirty minutes, and already she wanted to leave. She wanted nothing more than to return to her apartment and nap. Something she’d not done, as far as she could remember. Though she wouldn’t mind sharing a nap with Loki, they probably wouldn’t sleep much. Again.
Loki walkedinto the topside of the Raven Weaver uneasily. He’d found out who had been in contact with Surtr, but he wasn’t going to be as easy to handle as Loki had hoped. And the deal he’d been forced to make with the demon, he was sure Val was going to murder him for.
He walked to the bar and sat right in front of her, not bothering to ask for a cocktail or hide his true intention. This wasn’t the time to play around. Val would want to be told right away. She finished serving several beers and smiled at him. He wasn’t sure he’d seen her smile at him before. She’d laughed at him— but smile, genuinely smile— that was new. Which made what he was about to tell her all the more difficult.
She walked to him. “Did you find out anything?”
Yup. She needed to be told. “Do you have a few minutes?”
Her eyes narrowed, and she nodded. “Sure.”
“Can we go up to your place?”
“I don’t think we have that much time.”
“Not for sex. Let’s talk privately, though.”
Her expression darkened. “All right.” She turned to the other bartender. “I’m taking my fifteen.”
The bartender waved.