Chapter 8

We squared off and began to circle. I pretended to stumble a little and Loki rushed forward to press an advantage as planned. I spun and there was the sound of dagger against dagger as we parried and pulled apart.

"Clever, pet. But you are no match for me. Yield now"

"Please. I'm just getting started."

We began the dance again. I held my own and we were a pretty even match. I had trained with the best and I thanked my lucky stars he was a master of the blade and had taught me superior dagger skills. With a spin kick that landed in his chest, I was able to knock Loki off balance and I rode him to the floor, ending with me on top of him with a knee on his chest pinning him down, dagger to his throat.

"If you wanted me beneath you, all you had to do was ask, my pet. I would have happily obliged you." He put his hands on my hips.

I laughed and leaned down to whisper in his ear, "I still might do just that... Loki."

His eyes dilated as I said his name for the first time and his hands gripped my hips hard. It seemed hearing me actually say his name instead of my nickname for him affected him... a lot. 

"But until then," I nicked his throat just enough to draw blood since I could tell he was not the type to yield, "I win."

He smiled as I looked down into his face as cheers and laughter from the others rang out. 

"We will have to do this dance again in a more private setting, pet. And you will be screaming my name, not whispering it."

I swallowed hard and stood up. I offered my hand to him. He looked at me for a moment and took my hand and I helped him up. He slowly drew his hand away and I shivered at the feel of his skin sliding against mine. Who was this person I was quickly becoming? I had never felt such an attraction to a man in my life. I never had time for it. It scared me but in a way that was almost pleasant. 

"I didn't know flirting was a battle tactic, Brother." Thor snickered. Loki just gave him a dark look as I shook my head and grinned.

"Well Thor, anything can be used as a weapon. And I would be a poor fighter indeed if I didn't use everything available to me." I batted my eyelashes at him. That got everyone rolling.

We all started back upstairs and I saw a look on Steve's and Bucky's faces that worried me. It was the look of a man who saw something he wanted, and that look always spelled trouble. Especially when from the glance Wanda gave earlier, all three men would be vying for my attention. This was going to make life interesting. 

I headed back towards my room as I had worked up a sweat during my sparring with Loki. And honestly, I needed a cold shower. A very cold shower. 

"Hey, Ariane! Wait up a minute!"

I turned to see Nat coming towards me.

"I saw you didn't arrive with much so Wanda and I wanted to know if you wanted to go shopping with us? Girl's day? It's really nice to have another girl around, and a badass to boot! I can't believe you got the best of Loki."

I laughed. "I get the feeling he let me win. Or he was distracted. Yeah, a girl's day sounds fun. I need to shower really quick and then I can meet you in the living room. Say twenty minutes?"

"Perfect. I will tell Wanda and we will be waiting!" 

She danced off and I grinned. "I think I'm gonna like my new family."