Chapter 110

"I could feel your indecision, love. Maybe not fully knowing the cause, but I made a guess. And it seems I was right. My heart nearly stopped when you said you could stay with me forever. It was all I wanted and more. And then you made me want you all the more when you said you liked how I tasted when I kissed you for our first time. You do not know the effort it took to not take you away from there and make you mine that night. But I wanted more than just physical release with you. I am glad we went on that Ferris Wheel. I had asked Tony what one does on a Midgardian date, and he suggested it. I was momentarily worried he was playing a trick on me for a change, but it turned out to be the most wonderful thing. To have seen your face light up when you saw the scenery from the top. To have shared that kiss with you. It is something I will never forget, no matter how long we are together."

"I love you Kokoro no Yokubo. I love the romance you give me." I didn't close my doors, but I blocked these next few words from going through, even though I knew my guys had tuned out to give us privacy. "Lokes, can you… block for a moment."

"Of course, pet." He took a moment. "There. It is now only me and you. Is something wrong love?"

"No. Everything is perfect. I wanted to say something without the other two hearing it since it might hurt them. I don't know for sure, but I don't want to take that chance." I paused and brought us to a standstill. I reached up and framed his face with my hands. "I don't think you fully understand how much I love you. You've felt it but I don't think you really understand. You're my first, my strongest love. Not only because of the soul bonds. But because you're the first man who I've ever given my heart to. I wasn't exaggerating when I said I can't live without you. YOU are my main love." I sighed. "This is what would hurt them. If I could only keep one and I had to choose, it would be you, Loki. With no hesitation. I'd hurt deeply to lose Bucky or Thor. But I'd eventually survive. Being without you, I won't. I can't."

He looked at me with his eyes a searing blue and his lips parted. He pulled me in tight and kissed me passionately. My hands slid from his face to tangle in his hair as our kiss deepened. The need, lust, desperation, and love in that kiss was overwhelming. 

He lifted his head and just gazed at me in wonder. "I knew you loved me, Ariane. I knew you loved me more than life. I will admit I worried as Bucky came into our lives, and then Thor. I worried I would lose some of your love, cease to mean as much to you. But I saw how you always turned to me first, always looked to me for encouragement or information. You trusted me with your whole heart, even after the damage I caused. To hear you say those words my love, I can't describe how happy it makes me feel. I too agree that to hear that would have hurt the others and the shielding was a good idea. We closed off sensations so they will just assume we are being together and don't want them to hear. Which is part of the plan tonight."

I laughed. "Oh, that I didn't doubt. And if it wasn't, well, I was going to make it part of the plan. But I do love you with my whole heart. I crave you and I can't get enough of you. Not just sex with you, but also watching you walk and the way you move. Your face as you talk to me. The softness and love in your expression. Your eyes in the morning when I wake up. The sound of your voice. The feel of your arms around me. Just everything about you. I crave YOU. Just as you are. Darkness and light. You're amazing and I worship everything about you. It's why I pestered Thor for stories. Not to hear about him, but to hear and learn about you. I need you in my life, Loki."

"Just as I need you, Ariane. Forever. To have almost lost you, it would have destroyed me. I have always been a proud man, proud to be a God, and I will admit, I'm an arrogant prick. But you changed that. I do still have my arrogance with others, but with you, I simply am. I am fully accepted for who I am. It's how I can now be playful with others. You bring that out. With you I know I am wanted, needed, and loved."

"That's because you're my man. Now and forever."

Loki kissed me. "Then let your man woo you tonight. I want to give you the date I wish I could have given you before."

"Anything you want, my dearest love."

He rested his forehead against mine for a moment. He raised his head and took my hand. We walked closer to the water until it ran over our feet. Loki stood behind me and held me close.

"Watch, my beautiful."

I looked out over the ocean. I watched as fireflies danced over the water. I smiled, delighted at the sight. As they faded out, fireworks burst over the ocean, the colors reflected on the water. It was magical. 

"Oh Loki…" I whispered with a sigh. It was so romantic and so sweet. He stepped back a step and his hands slid to my shoulders. Suddenly his thumbs dug into my shoulder muscles, finding and working out every knot. 

I groaned. "Oh god, Lokes. That feels so good."

He made every ache go away. I turned and kissed him as the fireworks went off. "This is such a magical night."

"The night is not over yet, my sweet. Come."

He took my hand and the fireworks and music faded out. He tucked my hand around his arm to rest on the inside of his elbow. We strolled down the beach. It was just him, me, the moon, and the water. It was so peaceful. I laid my head against his shoulder and sighed in contentment. 

I saw a light up ahead as we walked. Slowly we came closer, and I saw something like a tent on the sand. It was an empty stretch of beach. I looked at it curiously and then looked at Loki. He looked at me and smiled but didn't say anything. We walked up to it then and he led me inside. There were candles everywhere. In the middle of the tent was a bed, covered in green rose petals. My breath caught. I turned to look at Loki and he was down on one knee with my ring held in his hands.

"Ariane. Will you do me the great honor of marrying me? To be my wife. To be my Queen."