For The Love Of A God (18 page)

When she wanted food, food appeared. When she wanted drink, decanters would materialize, filled with the juices of exotic fruits and the sweetest wines. And Eryx's home was a surreal maze of resplendent rooms which never seemed to end. She'd wandered the halls many times with him and still didn't think she'd seen it all.

He'd been at her side the whole time. He had spent the better part of the month talking to her, and they never ran out of things to say. They'd laughed. They'd loved. It seemed they were always making love, and yet she was never tired. As raw as her body felt, she was always ready, always burning for him. It seemed each time he was inside her, he seemed to reach new depths, making her want him even more. And within five minutes of each heart-stopping orgasm, they were already on their way to another.

It was, in a word, heaven. And they couldn't get enough of worshipping each other.

She turned to look back at where he was lounging on the pool deck, nude. She blushed, although she wasn't sure why. She was nude herself. In fact, she couldn't quite recall the last time either of them had worn clothes.

He was watching her through half-closed, sexy eyes, beacons of unquenchable desire. She just had to see the glint of lust in him, and her whole body tightened in response.

"Why are you sitting there all by yourself, Eryx?"

"I've just been thinking,” he said quietly. “And enjoying the incredible view."

She blushed again. He treated her as if she were the most ravishing thing ever created. She kept waiting for him to wake up and smell the ambrosia, but also wasn't ready for the dream to end.

It would end, wouldn't it? She'd have to go back sometime, wouldn't she?

She rose up out of the pool, feeling very much like Aphrodite rising out of the pearly waves in Botticelli's painting, and walked over to him. Without a hint of modesty, she slid one of her legs over his and straddled him on the long deck chair. Their fingers clasped for a moment. Then he ran his hands over her hips and down to her bottom and pulled her close.

His cock was already thick and pulsing against her. Her pussy, wet from the pool, grew wetter with her own juices. Gently, she moved against him. “What were you thinking of?"

"Nothing you need to worry about."

No one else would have noticed the tiny crease between his golden brows, but she knew him so well now. Knew every facet of his body and his soul. Knew he didn't want to worry her with his concerns about Nemesis.

The goddess of vengeance had been strangely absent from Olympus. Of course, in her time there, Maia hadn't seen any other gods either. Not even Dionysus, Apollo, and Artemis. She wasn't sure if she was relieved or disappointed. Eryx assured her it wasn't strange. The gods tended to keep to themselves, only coming together for great councils in Zeus's chamber, which didn't happen much anymore. They'd been blissfully alone. Despite the threats of Nemesis, she hadn't shown her face. But Maia could tell Eryx didn't quite trust these halcyon days.

"If she were going to attack, wouldn't she have done so by now?” She leaned down and ran her tongue lightly along his neck, offering him the softest of distractions. “Maybe she's given up."

"She's not the type to give up, my love.” He squeezed her ass gently, and then ran a finger up and down between the two lush cheeks. “I think the reason she hasn't attacked is because I'm stronger when I'm at home. We're all stronger here. She'll wait until she has me at a disadvantage."

She arched her back, pressing her breasts against his chest, feeling the rasp of his hairs on her nipples. “Then we should stay here forever."

His expression saddened. “We can't, Maia. For you to stay, you'd have to be..."

"Dead?"

He nodded.

"Then I'll die,” she whispered, clutching him, moving her cheek against his. She ground her pelvis down on him, sliding against his delicious hardness. “I'll die so I can be with you, Eryx. I'll die for you."

Slowly, inevitably, he eased himself inside her body and began to move. Slow, luscious thrusts which filled her completely and then some. “It doesn't quite work that way. Besides, I can't let you do it, sweetheart. You have a life, and eventually, I'll need to return you to it."

She knew he was right. God only knew what her dad, what her friends, were thinking. The sad part was she almost didn't want to care. She just wanted to be with Eryx in his Garden of Eden forever. Loved by him. Loving him.

His movements were beautiful torture. Her pulse quickened until it was racing. His head lowered and captured her nipple, sending exquisite shards of lust piercing through to her core. Once again, for what seemed to be the thousandth time since she got there, he brought her to the most delectable orgasm. As it rained down upon her, making her body unravel around him, she leaned her head on his shoulder.

"Just not yet?” Her voice cracked.

He ran a soothing hand down her back and kissed her temple. “No. Not yet."

Nemesis prowled the Toronto Museum at night, her fingers itching with the need to destroy. Using the mortal body she'd commandeered for the last few weeks, she stalked into the Egyptian gallery. She came upon a diorama of a domestic scene from ancient Egypt, and was tempted to knock over the costumed mannequins and rip their plastic heads off.

She'd been patient. Very patient.

She'd let Eryx have this time with his whore, knowing he'd eventually let his guard slip. She'd already waited an eternity anyway. Another few days should mean nothing to one such as her.

It had occurred to her once or twice that she should just give in. He'd never love her; she knew it. But somewhere along the line, it had ceased to be an exercise in making him love her. Now she just wanted him to feel her pain. And if Maia Douglas felt it too ... well, bonus.

She strolled over to the mummy display and curled her lip at the shriveled princess on display. Perhaps she'd mummify Maia Douglas and stick her in a glass case. How fitting.

Perhaps she'd bury her alive.

Hmm, there were so many possibilities. All she knew was it had to hurt. A lot.

And she had to do it soon. Nothing else would appease the horrible need inside her, the insatiable desire for revenge. She would punish him for his pride and didn't care who got in the way.

One of the security guards passed her on his rounds. He offered her a small smile of recognition and said something inane about the weather. Nemesis, still camouflaged as one of the staff members, grinned back and agreed it had been a lovely day.

As soon as the man's back was turned, the goddess turned to face him. Without him seeing, she pointed at his chest and squeezed her hand into a fist. Within seconds, the man's face turned purple, and he clutched in vain at his chest. Standing still, her borrowed face registering no interest, she watched as his heart exploded inside his chest, and he fell dead to the ground.

Nemesis then turned on her heel and left the gallery.

It wasn't quite as satisfying as killing Maia and Eryx, but it cheered her up a little bit.

Upon hearing the noise in the outer chamber, Eryx stole from the bed he'd been sharing with Maia. As she slumbered, he leaned over, moved her tousled hair from her face, and planted a soft kiss on her cheek. She was so beautiful he ached when he looked at her. She was soft and warm and so human. And so sleepy.

Poor thing. He'd worn her out. Again. It seemed all they did was wear each other out and then rest in each other's arms. Utter bliss.

Heaven had never been quite so heavenly to him. Thankfully, he'd had his cousins doing surveillance for him, to keep him apprised of any suspicious activity, and he'd been able to relax a little bit. To enjoy his haven with Maia. But despite the relative peace, he was still on his guard, wondering how Nemesis would show her cruel self next.

He threw a towel around his waist and strode into the other room. Dionysus was propped on the plush couch, waiting for him. At the sight of Eryx's towel, he raised an eyebrow. “Don't you guys ever stop? You're supposed to be the celibate one. The martyr. What happened to your virtue?"

Eryx was unfazed by his cousin's teasing. “Yeah, that stopped being an issue when I realized the evil witch was trying to kill my ... Maia."

Dionysus cracked a smile. “Were you about to say your girlfriend? ‘Cause that's just adorable."

"Girlfriend.” Eryx huffed. “What are you, fifteen?"

"Well, what is she to you? I should know. After all, I've been putting my neck on the line for her. So have Apollo and Artemis. The last thing I need is for Nemesis to curse me with another hundred years of blue balls.” He grimaced, remembering. “So, what are you planning to do with your little conservator anyway? Make her your wife?"

Eryx frowned. He'd been pondering the same question for a long time, and it didn't have a simple answer. He loved her, more than anything, but could he really take her away from everything she'd loved before him? Her family? Her career? The chance at having a family of her own one day? She might want those things.

Yet, could he really be satisfied to watch her from afar for the rest of her life, until she eventually became a shriveled-up old woman and died? He couldn't bear to see that either.

"You do know what is involved if you're planning on making her your partner forever?” Dionysus asked.

"Yeah, I know,” he mumbled.

"It's risky. It hasn't always worked. Of course, in the old days, Zeus would just turn one of his lovers into a constellation, or some such shit, but I don't imagine that sort of poetry goes down well in these modern times."

"No. If I'm going to be with her, I'm going to be with her. I just don't want her to regret her decision."

"Well, she may need to make a choice soon."

Eryx's head popped up. “What have you learned?"

The god of wine looked worried, which in itself was a rare occurrence and was not inspiring. “It's her father, Eryx. It's not good.” He looked up, and Eryx followed his gaze.

Maia, wrapped in a silken sheet from the bed, was standing in the doorway, her face etched in pain. Eryx held his arms out to her, and she shuffled over to him, letting him hold her. “What's wrong with my dad?"

"I've been to the hospital since you've been here. He's in a coma, Maia, and gravely ill."

She stared at Dionysus, not knowing what to say. It broke Eryx's heart to see her so forlorn. Especially when it was all because of him.

She turned to him. “But you fixed him."

"I did, baby,” he said softly. “It's Nemesis."

Her lip began to tremble. Her perfect heaven was shattered. “So, instead of coming after us, she went after my dad? A man who not so long ago was sick and bedridden."

"She's never been opposed to attacking the vulnerable as long as it advances her vengeful cause."

"They call her the goddess of just retribution, but personally, I think she gets off on hurting others.” Dionysus sniffed. “She'd boil your bunny, kiddo, if she got the chance."

She gripped Eryx by the shoulders. “I have to go back to him."

"No. It's a trap, Maia. She knows we're here and wants to draw us out."

"I don't care! She's trying to kill my father. You have to take me to him!"

Gods, this was killing him! “I can't, Maia. If I do, she'll try to kill you.” He shook his head. “Please don't ask me... I can't lose you."

"But why can't we fight her? Why do we have to hide? I'll fight her too."

He was so proud of her. Despite the slumped angle of her shoulders, there was anger brewing in her eyes. She looked so brave and determined. He hated to burst her bubble. “It's not so simple. I'm not omnipotent. None of us is. Each god has different powers. Some are stronger than others. Yes, I can do some incredible things, but so can she. And Nemesis has the ability to camouflage herself, to hide in plain sight. I don't know where she is. I won't see her coming, Maia. It's not just a matter of fighting.” Eryx threw up his hands, never more frustrated. “I would take on the world for you. But an immortal enemy I can't even see? I can't risk bringing you close to her."

"But you said I'd have to go back eventually anyway..."

He grunted in frustration. “I know what I said! But I need a plan first."

"Well, what about the others? The other ... gods,” she ventured, clearly still awed to hear the words fall out of her mouth. “Doesn't anyone have the power to stop her? Can't anyone help us?"

"I hate to say it, Maia, but I've already been down that road. When Chloe was killed, I went to the elders."

"He means the generation before us,” Dionysus injected. “The big guys. Zeus and his brothers Hades and Poseidon, and their sisters Hera, Demeter, and Hestia."

"The ones who fought the Titans,” she recited automatically.

"Yes,” Eryx replied, grinning sadly at her knowledge. “The problem is this: Nemesis is different than the rest of us. Her origins are primordial. Yes, her father is Zeus, just as he's the father to many of the other gods. But her mother... Well, have you ever heard of the goddess Nyx?"

"Isn't she the goddess of night?"

"Yes. And Nyx was around before even Zeus was conceived. She's a powerful, dark entity, and even Zeus wouldn't cross her. She has exceptional powers, and that gave Nemesis unique abilities."

"She sort of outranks us,” Dionysus interrupted. “We're big on hierarchy."

Eryx continued, hearing his voice falter a little as he spoke. Explaining their predicament only made it seem worse. “When I went to Zeus about Chloe, he made it clear he won't punish his daughter just because of the inconvenience she's caused me."

"Inconvenience?” Her mouth fell open at the word. “That's all this is to him?"

Gods, to hear her say those words made him feel like the bastard he always knew he was. A bastard descended from even bigger bastards who didn't give a damn. And to think he'd entertained the thought of making her a goddess! She'd never want to join him in this cruel company. He pulled her to him and ran his hands up and down her cold arms. “Maia, my kind can be as cowardly as any human, and more callous. You'd be hard-pressed to find any other god who'd be willing to risk the wrath of Zeus's daughter Nemesis for the sake of a mere mortal. And Zeus won't see reason when it comes to his progeny."