Fallen Star

Chapter 6

As Loki swept her into the bedroom, Jane tensed, trying to brace against the floor to stop their movement—she was far too aware of Loki's intentions for that room. But the way he was holding her, she couldn't get the traction—and he was much too strong for her to stop, anyway.

Her response amused Loki, and he chuckled into her hair. "Such panic," he said, "towards something other women only dream of."

"You're delusional," Jane snapped, wrenching away from him so suddenly she was able to jerk one arm free. She instinctively reached for something to swing at him, but he caught her wrist easily and pulled her back against him, trapping both her arms under one of his. He held her so tightly that she could feel every part of him against her, wrapping her in his warmth and musky scent.

"Come now, Jane," he whispered in her ear, "would it truly be so terrible to share my bed? I can do things that would drive you mad with ecstasy."

As he spoke, his free hand slid around her waist, playing with the top of her jeans. He slipped his fingers under her shirt, following the curves of her body with skillful fingers.

"And I assure you," he continued, "my reputation of having a silver tongue is well-deserved."

With that, he lowered his head and kissed her neck, his lips cold against her skin. Jane quivered under his touch, willing herself to stay strong. Her mind swirled with emotions and dilemmas. As his fingers wandered down her stomach, smoothly inching closer to a more sensitive area, she felt her resistance crumbling as a dreamy sensation came over her.

Maybe it would be better this way. Maybe she should just let him do what he wanted and he would leave, and it wouldn't be so terrible. Surely it would be better than a hopeless fight? Anyone would understand. Thor would—

Thor.

Jane saw him in her mind as clearly as the last time she'd seen him on earth: tall, strong, brave, and good. So good. She'd only known him for three days, yet in those three days she'd seen enough of his character to know just how good he was. And when he had stood up to the Destroyer to protect her and the ones she loved, he'd completely stolen her heart.

She wouldn't let Loki do this to Thor.

"No," she said firmly, pulling away from Loki's touch. "I won't let you seduce me into forgetting Thor."

Behind her, Loki chuckled. "Suit yourself."

Before she realized what happening, he'd tossed her onto the bed. She bounced backwards into the wall, realizing with horror that since the bed was against the corner, she was backed into a corner too. And there was no getting around Loki.

"I'd rather hoped you wouldn't give in so easily—there's no fun in that," he said with a malicious grin, shrugging off his leather overcoat to reveal a looser black shirt underneath. "I will break that spirit."

He was at the bed in two long steps. Jane tried to scramble past him but he grabbed her leg and yanked her to him, swinging a leg across her to straddle her. She tried to push him off but was pinned down by his weight. Holding her wrists above her head to keep her still, he crushed his mouth against hers. Jane squirmed underneath him, hating his metallic taste and the heat of so much of his body pressed down against so much of hers.

"I admit, my brother does have good taste," Loki smirked when he finally allowed the kiss to break. "Don't look so hurt, Jane," he chuckled, running a finger down her jaw line. "Isn't one god as good as another? What mortal woman could claim two gods as bedfellows?"

Jane didn't answer, struggling wildly to be free of Loki's grasp, but as he watched her, a surge of realization hit him. Jane watched in horror as his expression changed.

"Oh, this is too rich," he laughed, eyes glinting with even more lust than before. "Don't tell me my thick-headed brother never even plucked his pretty flower?"

Jane felt tears of despair spring to her eyes but she tried to ignore them. "He was only here two days," she snapped.

"It's no wonder you were so hesitant to accept my attentions," he continued, sliding his hand down her neck and over her collarbone. His fingers wound around her shirt collar. "I'll be happy to finish what my brother started," he said, giving her shirt a vicious yank and ripping down the front.

He kissed her again, his weight so hard against her she felt like she was suffocating. When she tried to squirm away, he grabbed her hips, keeping her upper body pinned under his chest. But that was his undoing, since, assuming he had already won, he didn't bother to restrain her arms anymore. Jane realized this almost immediately, and she stopping struggling, letting him kiss her how he liked. Instead, she slowly reached up behind her head, where she knew her pillow was. More important than the pillow, she knew what was stashed underneath it: her kitchen knife.