“Loki, I consider neither play nor emotion weakness.” His sudden desire rang in her head like a cascading chorus of bells. She let it ride through her body, and curled her hands against his chest, letting more of her weight rest against him. “Right now, just now, I will forgive you almost anything.
“Darling.” The endearment was low, pitched with meaning, unlike the careless southernisms she’d thrown around before.
“You have such a way with getting past my defences, Darling,” he purred, and materialized his armour over himself. ”Will you keep trying?” He nipped at her neck, the horn of the helmet grazing her cheek. ”Do keep trying.”
Cool metal interfered with her touch on him, and she pulled her hands away, startled into laughter. “Oh, cheater! /I/ can’t do that, why should you be allowed to?” Summer slipped both hands up under the edges of the heavy coat, trying to push it off his shoulders. “Besides,” she went on, eyes flicking up to meet his, “I don’t need the warrior, the god, the master of magic. Just you.”
“If there is more underneath, I am sure you will find it,” he murmured, smile fading, meeting her eyes. He let her remove the coat, and it fell to the floor in a heap. ”Show me that skillful determination I have grown so fond of.” He was rather enjoying this game…
Nimble fingers bent to the task of unbuckling the sash clasping one shoulderpiece on, before she pulled it off, too, and dropped it to one side. “Oh, it’s my stubborn side you like then. Lucky I like puzzles.” Swift as an arrow, she snagged one of his hands, pressing kisses to each fingertip.
With his free hand, he dug his fingers into the small of her back, pulling her flush against him. There was something so satisfying about the clatter of the armour falling to the stone floor. Like it was the most pleasing sound he’d ever heard.
“And what of yours shall I remove?” he asked, low.
“Oh, anything you like,” Summer said, looking up with a laugh. “There’s so little, in comparison to you … this may take me hours.” Without even looking, she pried at his bracer, running her fingers down the leather underneath.