The Daughter Trilogy Bundle

by C. M. Owens

  I slump down in a chair and pour me some more coffee as I work on a new plan of attack. Kry sits down across from me and shakes the excess water from his hair - his faux-hawk smoothed down into a normal shag, due to the ocean.

  "I need to douse you in my cologne or something. That is potent, and it's going to drive everyone here crazy," he rattles.

  I frown as I stare at Devin who is so far out in the sea he barely looks like a speck even with my heightened sight.

  "Not everyone," I pout.

  "Are you trying to get his attention, or is Aphrodite? I'm not sure he understands what your motives are. You went from ice cold to fire hot. You can see how a guy would be confused. Aphrodite was always known to be so capricious, but you're usually not."

  "He knows it's me," I grumble. "He just doesn't care."

  Kry sits back and bites into an apple as Devin swims out farther - to the point of disappearing completely. He is faster in the water, much faster.

  "I don't think he does know. It wouldn't hurt to clue him in," he murmurs.

  He stands up and pats me on the shoulder as he tosses the apple back down on the table.

  I hear a splash, and then Hale rejoins me once again. I stare out at the sea as Devin slowly makes his way back toward us, barely becoming visible again. He doesn't seem to be in the hurry to get back that he was to get gone.

  "You really are beautiful. I've never met an Aphrodite before. They say Helios and Aphrodite were meant for each other, but they just never found each other in time," he seduces.

  I roll my eyes.

  "I think you've had too much sun," I joke to lighten the mood.

  "You can never have too much sun," he seduces more.

  He's working too hard to sound smooth.

  Oh. Poor guy. He doesn't have a clue how in love I am with Devin.

  "Sorry. I think you've been exposed to whatever this scent is for too long. I'm going to go swim for a while," I say in an effort to get away.

  He follows me to the edge, and his hand grabs mine. I gingerly remove it from his grasp as he tries yet again to gain my affections.

  "Let me show you how close you can get to the sun without getting burned," he dares.

  A wave rushes over us, and Hale is swept away. I hear him huffing loudly as he spews water from his mouth.

  "Really, Devin?" he blares.

  Devin emerges from below the surface with a shrug as soon as Hale scolds him.

  "It wasn't me this time," he murmurs innocently.

  Phillip is leisurely floating on his back with his arms propped behind his head while kicking with sloppy intent against the water. He smiles as he spits a fountain flow of water into the air from his mouth.

  "Sorry. Couldn't resist. I thought the sun could use some cooling down," he chuckles.

  Hale slaps the water in frustration, and I laugh a little at the uncharacteristic, childish behavior of Phillip.

  Devin slowly climbs up the boat, and the water sweeps over his perfect body, the seductive trickle reminding me what a fool I am for not listening to him about the whole Gemma situation.

  "What did he say this time?" he mumbles.

  "Nothing important. He's just confused. He hasn't been around me as long as the others. He'll get to where he doesn't find me to be quite the fascinating anomaly he thinks I am, and then he can move on like everyone else," I say pitifully as I turn to escape the group.

  I'm done trying to recapture his attention. I feel like a fool for ever even having embarked on such a feat. I may possess the power of Aphrodite, but I don't encompass the ability to seduce the unwilling heart.

  I lean over the rail and stare out at the empty sea ahead of us. The clouds above me look so tranquil and happy as they perch on the edge of the sky.

  The waves rush back and forth as a natural wind stirs. I draw it to me and let it splash against my face, dragging the mist of the ocean spray with it.

  I smile lightly as I see Deacon being dunked by Camara as they swim in front of the boat. My smile almost turns to a pout when envy stings my blue eyes with a jaded hue, but then I feel heat from behind me.

  Devin leans up to where he's almost touching my back with his front as his hands grip against the railing beside mine. My heart stumbles and flips forward until it slams into my chest.

  His breath lingers against my ear as his face stays just out of grasp. Aphrodite stirs, awakens, and climbs to attention as she poises for attack.

  "I know it's in your nature to seduce, but if you don't want me, then please stop," he whispers, and chills scramble to the surface to cover my body.

  I very slowly turn to face him, and the green takes over my eyes for a moment before turning back blue to let him know I'm completely in control.

  I lean back on the railing to stare him in the eyes, and I tilt my hips up slightly toward him. His body so close to mine that it is almost sending me into convulsions.

  "I'll keep that in mind," I seduce, even though I said I wasn't going to try anymore.

  He smirks slightly, and he bends to where his lips almost touch mine but don't.

  "Please do," he dares.

  He leans back from the tantalizing closeness and walks away. I follow him like a lioness stalking her prey, but he stops to talk to Kry.

  Damn you, Kry.

  I decide to lure him away by walking over to the edge again. I give him a provocative look that challenges him to see how far I'll go with this, and Kry's jaw unhinges slightly as Aphrodite creeps through me to bring forth the sexy strut.

  Devin smirks when he sees the dangerous game I'm daring him to play. I step backwards to fall to the water, and I take my time swimming back to the surface.

  I emerge slowly to add some zest to the seduction, but Devin is no longer on the boat. I look around the water, but he's nowhere to be found.

  I huff slightly as I realize my plan of seduction has failed yet again. Kry splashes in, and I draw his attention to me by splashing him lightly.

  "Where's Devin?" I whine.

  Kry smirks as though he has a secret, but he shrugs before he answers.

  "He said he'd be gone for a while. Told me to cover for him."

  "Cover for him?" I grumble.

  What does that mean?

  "Yeah," he murmurs vaguely with his smirk growing more menacing.

  I start to pout more, but the water beneath me embraces me around the waist. I'm almost seduced by the gripping sensation, and then I'm suddenly sucked under.

  I don't struggle against the aquatic abduction because I know what's going to be on the other end - Devin.

  Everything passes me in a blur as the spiraling hold drags me deeper - so deep a mortal's body wouldn't be able to withstand the pressure.

  I feel air entering my lungs as I land on the ocean ground, and I'm in a bubble similar to the one where he told me he loved me.

  My toes sink into the soft, dry sand on the ocean floor, and my eyes lock with the smoky blue ones as the one who summoned me stalks toward me.

  His eyes burn through me, and I can feel the electrical currents rushing over my body in response. His hands pull me to his body, and he tugs my hair lightly to bring my head back.

  "You sure want me?" he asks in a pleading prayer.

  My eyes swirl, mixing green and blue with the desire and lust burning inside me. His mouth covers mine when I barely nod, and he almost crushes me into him from the pent-up desire that has been begging to break free.

  My hands grip the back of his neck, and I feel him scoop me up to lay me on the sand.

  His hands scour my body as if they've just felt dry land for the first time in years. His lips fold over mine almost violently as his expert tongue attacks, and my body shudders from the overwhelming sensations it all brings forth.

  I push my hips up to meet his, and he slides his hand up my bare leg until it reaches my back. He jerks me to him as he thrusts against me, and I feel the delicious entrapment of our hideaway cloaking our ferocious sounds. He's mine again.r />
  Chapter 15

  Almost Happy

  I stare up at the swirling rows of sea creatures that are peeking into our private hideaway. Devin nestles his head against mine, and I smile foolishly in response to his touch.

  He pulls me to him, and I find my lips on his once more.

  "I love you," he breathes into my mouth.

  "I love you," I murmur back in between his lips closing against mine, trying not to grin even bigger.

  "I'm sorry. I swear I never did anything with her. You're the only one in the world for me, and I've lived long enough to swear to that," he promises as he pulls back.

  "I'm sorry I didn't believe you. It's just hard to trust someone when you've only ever known betrayal. Then I worried about why you didn't tell me, and it brought back so many painful memories. I just-"

  His lips seal my quivering ones before I babble on more. He draws back slightly, and his eyes stare fearlessly into mine.

  "I would never do that. I should have told you the moment it happened. I've never done this before, and I'm going to make mistakes. I can promise they will only ever be lapses in judgment, never betrayals. You're the only person I've ever loved in this way. Please don't ever leave me again," he pleads as he brushes his lips against mine.

  "I won't," I promise as he pulls me under him.

  His hand strokes my cheek as his eyes gauge mine for any fear, but he won't find any. I do love him, and I do want to stay with him… for eternity.

  "Let's head back up to the surface. I'm sure the others are wondering where we are, and there's something I need to do," he murmurs reluctantly.

  I almost pout as I rise up with a begrudged motion, giving up the soft folds of the sand beneath me, and leaving behind the cracked and broken seashells littering the tousled sand-bed.

  He pulls my lips to his, and the water crashes down on us as we surge to the top.

  As soon as we emerge, everyone blushes. Apparently we weren't too subtle with our very long retreat. We did have time to make up for though.

  "Fireworks tonight?" Ther asks in the form of a seemingly random request.

  I look at him quizzically as Devin snickers. "Yes," Devin chuckles out.

  "Thank Aphrodite for me," Ther mumbles in an exasperated tone.

  Devin looks into my eyes, and I feel the world spinning too fast for me to keep my balance even in the water.

  "Aphrodite had nothing to do with it," Devin murmurs sincerely, and it's so hot.

  He's not like everyone else. He's not drawn to the goddess within; he's drawn to the goddess that is me. He loves me and just me.

  I smile, and his lips close over mine before he dunks me under the water playfully. I laugh as I reemerge and wipe the ocean from my face.

  He moves my hair to the side, and our eyes stay lock intensely. He's not looking away, and I can't.

  "Well, the intoxicating scent is gone, and now it just smells like sex out here," Hale sulks.

  Devin smirks as his eyebrows dance up and down. Hale is gripping his head as if it aches, and Deacon slaps him on the back as he sits down beside him.

  "It's the goddess hangover. It sucks, but it'll go away within an hour or two," he promises.

  "The goddess hangover?" I ask with a stupefied mannerism.

  "Yes. It's rather grueling if you don't have a way to… release your heightened senses, if you know what I mean," Deacon murmurs through his chuckles.

  Camara laughs a little, and he pulls her up to sit beside him. Hale pouts lightly as he looks around.

  "You guys are in severe need of some women. You should never have a group where the men outnumber the women five to one," he gripes.

  Devin smiles at me, and he pecks me lightly on the lips before he starts pulling me toward the boat.

  Hale scowls at him slightly as Devin pulls me from the water and holds me in his arms. The sun is almost setting, and I gasp in disbelief.

  "The day is almost over?" I whine.

  "That's the life of an immortal. Time flies when you have too much to spend," he says softly.

  "I'm fine with that as long as I get to watch it fly with you," I murmur, even though the context is slightly cheesy.

  "Come with me," he says with a grin.

  I smile as we climb the ladder to the deck, and I follow him into a cabin. I frown slightly as something crosses my mind.

  "Why did you shove all of our pictures into a drawer?"

  He stops for a minute and turns to face me.

  "Because it was too painful seeing us so happy when I was worried you'd never be with me again. I've never felt such an empty feeling until you were gone. I overcompensated by putting them everywhere, and then they became too painful to look at," he sighs.

  I step into his arms, and wrap my arms around his waist as I stare up into his eyes.

  "Can you put them back up? I want to see us happy. I want to make more pictures, have more memories, and I want everyone to know how much I love you."

  He smirks slightly as he turns and pulls open a drawer. He pulls out my engagement ring and puts it back on the finger it had been forced to abandon.

  "Then wear this again." The tone of his voice is so smooth, alluring, and downright inescapably sexy.

  I smile and blush as he slides it all the way into place. I feel complete once more, and life finally makes sense again. I'm so lucky, happy, and irrefutably in love.

  "I missed this ring," I giggle.

  "I missed its owner," he mutters too sincerely, making my heartbeat quicken.

  My lips cover his, and then I see night descending outside. I've been waiting for the day when I would finally feel the love I sought after so desperately, and everyday I'm with him, I feel it.

  "Fireworks," Ther chirps below to us.

  I laugh lightly as Devin smiles against our kiss.

  He takes my hand in his, and we emerge just in time to see the first one streaking straight up into the sky.

  The cosmic eruption dramatizes the night sky, but there aren't any small, smoldering tendrils slowly gliding to the surface. There is a streaking light rather than the remnants of a sizzled trail behind them.

  Devin takes me in his arms and pulls me to his lap as he sits down. The fresh breeze isn't obstructed by the charred scent of the bursting beauties, and I finally see why.

  Ther throws his hands up and releases the lights into the sky to exactly replicate the fireworks I grew up with as a child, but these are so much more magnificent.

  "What is Ther?" I whisper to Devin.

  Devin smirks as he returns the low answer. "A descendent of Pera and Char; both are embodiments of light. He thinks it's good luck to streak his fireworks during times of war, but I wouldn't let him do it until I had you back with me."

  "Why?" I muse.

  "Because I didn't want to taint something I've always enjoyed. I would have been miserable without you here with me," he confesses.

  More colorful rays explode into the air, and I snuggle into Devin's embrace. We needed this moment of serenity and peace.

  He kisses the back of my neck, and a slight shiver spreads over me as a girly grin invades my face.

  "I missed you," he murmurs with reserved strain.

  I turn so I can nestle into his chest before sharing his sweet confession.

  "I missed you, too."

  His smile matches mine as our lips connect once more, folding in perfect unison as they dance against each other with a soft embrace under the mesmerizing beauties lighting the sky.

  "You two going to do that all night?" Hale grumbles.

  Devin shares a crooked smirk and looks into my eyes before answering him.

  "We very well may."

  Hale grumbles louder as he turns his nose up with bitter distaste.

  Deacon and Camara snuggle into each other as more bursts of lights fill the sky. Devin's breath is almost seductive when it lingers against my face with its warm promise. I smile as I soak in this moment; one we won't be allowed to experience as often
as I wish.

  "How do you feel right now?" he murmurs against the top of my head.

  "Like I'm a normal girl enjoying a night on the ocean with my insanely hot, rich fiancé," I gloat.

  He smiles endearingly, and a different set of swirls stir in his eyes.

  "I love hearing you say that. I'll love hearing you call me husband even more," he says in his tantalizing tone.

  "I'll love calling you my husband," I almost giggle.

  He kisses me briefly before drawing back and standing to his feet as Ther wraps up the pyrotechnical display with the grand finale.

  The exploding wonders erupt from his hand, and they fizzle out quickly to give way to the new booms emerging to take the place of the faded echoes.

  The thunderous exhibition's end brings everyone to a standing ovation to applaud Ther's breathtaking performance.

  He playfully takes a bow, and then Devin starts pulling me away.

  "We'll have to behave tonight," he snickers out in a low, almost muted tone before we reach the cabin entrance, but I tug on him to keep him from going in.

  "Why?" I whimper.

  His eyes show their joy in my whining dismay, and he whispers his reasoning.

  "I don't want to sink the boat, and we both know you have no control over your strength in the bedroom. You're untamable ways force me to lose my control as well," he teases.

  I blush slightly, and then we realize belatedly that Hale has been too close to the conversation.

  "Holy fuck. Damn you, Devin Cole," he gripes from behind us.

  Devin laughs lightly at the unintentional tidbit he's revealed that has left Hale green with envy.

  "Sorry. I thought I kept my voice low enough to escape the ears of anyone," he snickers, though I'm not so sure he didn't want Hale to hear that.

  I'm sure on some twisted inward level, Devin is poking his chest out and strutting around proudly, though he's too much a gentleman to make it that obvious right now.

  Men. Sheesh.

  "How'd you like the fireworks?" Ther excitedly chirps as he struts across the deck on his way to us.

  "I loved them," I say genuinely.

  "Of course, I love flashing lights, but it wasn't my favorite form of flashing. But then again, I already witnessed that sort of show earlier today," Hale adds with malicious intent as his eyes daringly stare into my very wide and slightly alarmed ones.