Chapter Thirty-Two

                                    

                                          
When Loki was done with Anita, he sent her back to Midgard, putting her to sleep before doing so to ease the mental agony she was experiencing. After that, he left his chambers and made his way over to Nicole's.
He unlocked the door to her room using sorcery, pushed it open and entered. Nicole was laying on her bed, wide awake. She sat up when she saw him enter.
"Master. You took longer than I expected. I was beginning to think you were not going to come," she said.
"The other slave was misbehaving again. I had to put her in her place once more," he replied, making his way over to her.
"Did you make her relive bad memories again?"
"No. Not again."
"I wasn't aware that you could do that."
"It is a power that I do not use often. It is draining."
When he reached her, he sat down on the bed next to her and gazed down at her. He noticed something of interest. She looked downcast. He raised an eyebrow curiously.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
His question seemed to make her tense.
"Nothing. Why do you ask?" she said.
"Do not lie to me, slave. I can tell when there is something off about you. What is the matter?"
She did not want to answer his question but she knew that if she did not, he would keep pestering her about it. Or worse, she would be punished. 
"Something is bothering me."
He nodded. He took off his black suit coat and green vest, wanting to get more comfortable. "What is it that is bothering you?"
"Well...it's confusing. I don't understand why it's bothering me."
"What is bothering you?"
"I just don't...I didn't like when...I don't know how to explain this. I just...I saw you looking and touching the other slave and I just felt so-"
"Are you jealous, slave?" he asked, his head tilted to one side.
Her brows creased and the corners of her lips lowered into a frown. "What? No! I just-"
"You sound jealous. Jealous of my other slave."
"I'm not jealous. I just felt...kind of uncomfortable when I saw you touching her and looking at her. It made me feel...unhappy."
"Again, you sound jealous."
She shook her head. "I'm not jealous, Master. I...I guess I'm just used to me being the only slave. It has been that way for years. It's jarring now that it's not just you and me."
He shook with laughter. "You are so adorable when you are jealous, slave."
He placed one hand on her thigh. Then he took his other hand, put it up to her long brown hair and stroked it.
"You do not need to be envious. Yes, the other slave is attractive but she is not much compared to you. You are ravishing. The most prepossessing Midgardian I have ever laid my eyes upon."
Her cheeks turned ruby red. They felt like they were ablaze.
"No matter how many other slaves I have, you will always be my most favored."
He lowered his hand from her hair and put it on her waist.
"You are an excellent slave, Nicole. I like Anita. But I adore you. And not just as a slave. I adore you as a partner. As a...girlfriend? Is that what Midgardians call female partners?"