Deep Water

by Nicola Cameron

  “They’re gods,” Nick said, as if Griffin had just asked what color the sky was. “They should be fine in a day or two. Chiron cleared Vicodin for non-human use so I gave it to them for pain, but they’re already healing on their own. If either of them has any problems, call me and I’ll come over. You still have my number?”

  “It’s on the refrigerator.”

  “Okay.” Nick picked up the container lid and gingerly snapped it onto the container. “I’ll get this over to Bythos. Hopefully he’s got the divine equivalent of a Level Four biohazard containment system set up.”

  “Fingers crossed.” A jaw-cracking yawn hit Griffin, and he gave into it. “I need a shower and some sleep. I’ll talk to you tomorrow, all right? And thanks for everything.”

  “All part of the job, dude. Just don’t expect me to genuflect.” Holding the container like it contained something radioactive, Nick left.

  Griffin went quietly to the bedroom. As he’d hoped, Poseidon and Amphitrite were already under the covers and asleep. Poseidon’s left hand was securely wrapped around Amphitrite’s right, as if the God of the Seas couldn’t sleep unless he was touching his consort.

  “That’s all right, then,” Griffin murmured, turning off the light and closing the bedroom door. After a quick shower, he toweled off and walked naked to the living room, flopping down on the couch.

  Within moments he was asleep.

  ****

  Something tickled his nose. Bleary, Griffin opened his eyes to the mid-morning sunlight and saw something long and feathery hanging in front of his face.

  It resolved into a lock of dark hair, but the person holding it wasn’t the one he expected. “Took you long enough,” Lisa said cheerfully, sitting back on her heels. “I thought you were going to sleep the morning away.”

  It took his neurons a few moments to kick in. When they did, he remembered he was naked. “Are you supposed to be here?” he said, fumbling for a throw pillow and holding it over his groin.

  Lisa eyed the pillow. “Don’t feel like you have to cover up on my account,” she said, giving him a sultry grin. “You’re family now, after all.”

  “Which is exactly why I’m covering up.” Griffin struggled to sit up without flashing more of his bits. “And you didn’t answer my question.”

  The lovely Nereid rolled her eyes. “Oh, feh. You’re my sister’s mate, which makes this my sister’s house. I just wanted to check on her.”

  More neurons fired in the right sequence, jogging a memory loose. “Didn’t Poseidon send you somewhere?”

  Now Lisa grimaced. “New Zealand. Which would be lovely under normal circumstances—all those hunky Maori men, you know—but it’s a pain in the ass to get out of there without passports or money. If Hyacinth hadn’t sent those nice Royal Navy boys to pick us up, we’d probably still be out there.”

  Griffin tried to imagine three Nereids loose on a Royal Navy ship. Poor bastards. They never had a chance.

  Lisa batted her eyelashes at him. “My sister?” she prompted.

  “I think Ammie’s still asleep. Yesterday was one hell of a bad day.”

  “Thetis. I know.” Now the Nereid looked wistful. “We all felt it. I wish there was some way we could help her, but…” She trailed off, biting her lip. “She won’t talk to any of us. All any of us can get from her is this horrible rage and grief.”

  Griffin couldn’t imagine what was worse, having a sibling who was trying to destroy the planet, or feeling the emotions driving that urge. “I’m sorry.”

  “So am I. But at least Ammie’s been able to find some happiness for once.” Lisa’s expression flickered, and she gave him a look that somehow combined approval with sizing him up for a coffin. “I’m happy for the three of you, truly. But if you ever hurt her you’re going to have forty-eight vengeful sea nymphs on your ass. And Jen, Patti, and I are the nice ones.”

  Griffin hunched deeper into the couch, wondering just how much of their activities over the past few days had been noticed by—oh dear Jesus they’re my sisters-in-law, now, aren’t they?

  Lisa grinned. “You’re cute when you panic. Don’t worry, we don’t get any of the intimate stuff.” She gave him a completely different look now, eyebrow rising into a considering arch. “Although if I’m being totally honest, I wouldn’t mind seeing you in action.”

  He clutched the pillow closer to his groin. “Not going to happen,” he said firmly.

  “Oh, you’re no fun.” Pouting, the Nereid checked her watch. “Well, I’ll leave Ammie to her beauty rest. I have a date with a self-absorbed sun god, and I need to put on my battle dress.” She stood, straightening her dress in a gesture that tightened the fabric over her breasts.

  Griffin ignored it, keeping his gaze focused above her collarbones.

  She sighed. “Oh, well. It was worth a try. Take care of my sister, Griff, and give Poseidon a kick in the ass for me.” Then she winked. “Or plow it, either way.”

  With that, the Nereid strolled out of the cottage, soft laughter trailing after her.

  ****

  Nick’s prediction turned out to be correct. Poseidon and Amphitrite got up around noon, most of the bruising and other evidence of their battle with Thetis gone. Griffin heard them moving around and had time to get a pot of tea mashed when they finally emerged.

  Poseidon accepted a mug from him, then sniffed the air and scowled. “Ligea’s been here, hasn’t she?”

  “Oh, be nice,” Amphitrite said, kissing his shoulder and winking at Griffin. “I take it she didn’t seduce you, beloved?”

  “She tried, but it was more a reflex than anything,” Griffin said, sipping his tea. “I think she was just getting warmed up for Apollo.”

  “Oh, that’ll be a clash of the titans. But that reminds me.” She’d gotten dressed in a simple cotton top and comfortable capris, and now she pulled something silvery out of her pants pocket. “Technically I’m supposed to give this to my husband to warn the rest of my sisters off him, but I don’t think you need that protection, darling,” she said to Poseidon.

  “No, I most certainly don’t,” Poseidon said drily. “Griffin should wear it.”

  “My thoughts exactly.” Amphitrite smiled at him. “Hold out your wrist.”

  Griffin did, and she fastened an elegantly chunky silver bracelet around his wrist. “It’s a Nereid’s Band,” she explained. “When we were all young we used to make a game of stealing each other’s lovers, so Father made these for us as a sort of ‘keep off’ sign. If you wear that, my sisters are required to behave with you or risk Father’s wrath.”

  “Could’ve used this a couple of hours ago,” Griffin said, examining the band and the dolphin-shaped clasp. “Um, Father?”

  “Nereus, one of the elder sea gods and a good friend,” Poseidon said. “He and Doris are pretty much retired now. I believe they spend the bulk of their time sailing around the Mediterranean.”

  “We’ll have to visit them at some point and introduce them to Griffin,” Amphitrite said, giving Griffin’s hand a squeeze. “You’ll like them, darling—Father’s a jolly old sort, and Mother will think you’re absolutely charming.”

  “Looking forward to it,” Griffin said. “So, are you two ready for lunch?”

  Poseidon put his now-empty mug down on the counter, then came over to Griffin. “Yes, but I have something to give you as well.” The god’s bearing changed, turning solemn. “Griffin Moore, you have joined the ranks of the gods by the grace of Gaia. As a member of my demesnes, are you ready to swear fealty to me?”

  Griffin found himself coming to respectful attention. “I am.”

  “Good. Then kneel.”

  He obeyed, sinking to one knee as Poseidon held out a palm. “Give me your hand.”

  Griffin did, enjoying the spark that danced between them as they touched. Judging by the amused gleam in sea-blue eyes, Poseidon did as well.

  “Repeat after me—I, Griffin, God of Temperate Waters, do swear to give my complete loyalty to Poseid
on, Lord of the Waves, and to serve his domain with honor and integrity befitting the Gods of Olympus,” Poseidon said.

  Griffin repeated the oath, and stood at his mate’s nod. “Temperate Waters?” he asked.

  “Your other form is of the Giant Pacific octopus. It’s a creature of temperate waters, which have needed a gentle and protective god for quite some time. Your mortal training as a marine biologist will stand you in excellent stead in your new role. And now, for your symbol of authority.” Poseidon reached out into empty air, and a nimbus of light appeared around his hand. There was a faint crackle, and he pulled back a trident in glimmering copper with sleek tines and a shaft carved with Art Deco lines.

  The god held it up, mouth twisting in thought. “Interesting. No sea god has ever borne a copper trident before.” He handed it to Griffin, who hefted it experimentally. “It’s a metal with a wide range of uses and forms. It’s also a superb conductor of electricity. You’re going to be a lightning rod for trouble, I suspect.”

  “Some things never change,” Griffin said with a grin. The trident felt good in his hand, like it was made for him. Come to think of it, I suppose it was. “So what do I do with it now?”

  “Put it away,” Amphitrite suggested. “I’m starving, and I want to go into Olympic Beach for lunch. There’s this marvelous new sushi place that I’ve been dying to try.”

  “An excellent idea, beloved.” Poseidon showed Griffin how to put the trident away, then dusted his hands together. “Why don’t you get cleaned up and dressed, and we’ll take our lady out for a proper feast?”

  ****

  The sushi and specialty rolls at Osaka were just as delicious as Amphitrite had promised, and the mochi with green tea ice cream centers made for an exotic and tasty dessert. Now Poseidon strolled along the main boulevard with his mates, pleasantly full and giving everything around him a look of mellow approval.

  As they passed a shop that sold artisanal jewelry and crafts, a display necklace on a black velvet stand caught his eye. It was a stunning example of wire wrapping, with different gauges of sterling silver wire curled in ornate scrolls around a polished chunk of malachite.

  He remembered the boat trip on the Fourth of July, and an idea formed. “Could we stop in here for a moment?” he asked.

  Amphitrite’s eyebrows went up as she noticed the shop front. “I never knew you were a patron of arts and crafts, beloved.”

  “I want to ask the proprietor a question. Griffin?”

  The former mortal shrugged easily. “Lead on.”

  Inside, the shop walls were lined with strategically placed shelves and cases displaying various examples of artisanal crafts. At the back was a counter staffed by a brown-haired woman with glasses and an amiable expression. She looked up from a tangle of wire and small peridot chunks at their approach.

  “Hi, welcome to Special Things,” she said with a smile. “Can I help you?”

  Poseidon smiled back. “I noticed the silver and malachite necklace in the window. I was wondering if the designer takes custom requests?”

  The woman beamed at him. “That would be me, and yes I do. What did you have in mind?”

  He reached into his trouser pocket, summoning the firework crystals and pulling them out. They glimmered softly on his palm, still full of the light from which they’d been created. “I would like to have these set in a necklace for my wife. Could you do something like that?”

  Amphitrite gasped softly, peering more closely at the stones. “Darling, really?”

  “Yes.” He gave her a quick but promising kiss. “The moment I saw them, I knew they were meant for you.”

  The designer leaned over the counter, lips pursing into an admiring O as she examined the stones. “Wow, those are lovely. I’ve never seen stones like that—what are they?”

  “A special type of sea glass,” Poseidon said. “I don’t want them faceted or cut in any way. Can you wrap them with gold or silver?”

  Before the designer could answer Amphitrite said, “No, wait. Could you use antique brass instead?”

  Poseidon peered at his wife. “Are you sure? Gold would look splendid.”

  “Yes, but antique brass is a very light, delicate brown,” Amphitrite explained. “It would look stunning against the blue of the stones.”

  “She’s right,” the designer said. “Wait a minute.”

  She ducked under the desk, rustling around for a moment before coming up with a well-used sketch pad. “I have a new design I wanted to try with antique brass,” she said, flipping through the pad until she came to a page that featured a necklace made from small linked beads flanked with metal roundrels. The central pendant was a stone wrapped with delicate, intricate swirls of wire and encrusted with tiny gemstones that twinkled against the brass. “I was going for a piratical feel, kind of like treasure that’s been brought up from a sunken ship. Instead of a central pendant, I could use all three stones as a central feature. Would that be something you’d like?”

  Amphitrite gave the woman a delighted smile. “Oh, very much so.”

  “Excellent. Then we have a deal,” Poseidon said as Griffin winked at him.

  The designer gave her name as Janell, and said that she could have the necklace ready in three weeks. She quoted a price that Poseidon decided was in keeping with a tourist town—high enough to make money off the summer people, but far too low for anything that would be worn by his queen. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a roll of local currency, counting off a thousand dollars and laying them on the counter with the stones.

  Janell blanched as she picked up the money and counted it. “This is too much,” she protested. “I mean, way too much. Like three times.”

  “Consider it a tribute to your artistry,” Poseidon said. “I may have some other commissions for you in the coming months, as well.” Which was true enough. As well as wanting to see Griffin wearing a pendant in the style of his trident, he supposed he should start sweetening his horde of sisters-in-law. “If you have time, of course.”

  A dazed Janell just nodded, still staring at the money. Griffin grabbed a nearby receipt pad and jotted down his contact details on the back, then prompted the designer to write up a receipt for the necklace.

  Afterwards, the three of them strolled out of the store into the hot sunshine. “You, my beloved, are a sneaky old bull,” Amphitrite said, sliding her arm around his waist and giving him a squeeze.

  “Why, yes,” Poseidon agreed, smiling at the shimmering blue water he could see at the end of the boulevard. “Yes, I am.” He brushed the back of his hand against Griffin’s, feeling the connection among the three of them steady and strong. “Shall we go home, loves?”

  “Yeah,” Griffin agreed, and Amphitrite gave him another squeeze. “Let’s go home.”

  ****

  Late afternoon found the three of them naked and in bed, languidly kissing and touching. When Poseidon nudged Amphitrite’s thighs apart and slid between them she was more than ready, sighing happily as she worked to take all of him in. He started a slow, deliberate stroke, making minute adjustments each time until he found the angle that made her gasp in pleasure.

  Griffin stretched out beside her, kissing and nibbling her neck while he played with Poseidon’s flexing ass. “Christ, I love watching you two,” he said, brown eyes glowing with desire.

  “I know,” she gasped, abruptly breathless after a deep thrust. Griffin’s cock pressed against her hip, and she slid her hand down between their bodies, just managing to wrap her fingers around him and stroke the tip. “I want you next.”

  Poseidon chuckled, pausing in mid-stroke to kiss her chin. “Not if I wear you out first, beloved.”

  She grinned up at her husband, flexing her inner muscles and wringing a moan out of him. “That’s the lovely thing about being female,” she said. “I’m multi-orgasmic. You’re going to have to make an effort to wear me out.”

  “Oh, really?” Poseidon gave Griffin one of those amused male looks. “I do be
lieve we’ve been challenged.”

  “Challenge accepted,” Griffin said, gleeful.

  To Amphitrite’s delight they proceeded to do wonderfully wicked things to every erogenous zone on her body that they could find, and a few new ones that she didn’t even know she had. She had two orgasms before Poseidon finally came with a lovely groan. He switched places with Griffin, who was currently teasing her with a slow, shallow stroke while Poseidon used his mouth to map every inch of her torso.

  “Wait, I’ve got an idea.” Griffin pulled out and shifted until he was sitting back on his heels. Sliding his hands under her thighs, he pulled her up into his lap until her head and shoulders were the only parts still resting on the mattress. He slid back inside her, hands splayed over her hipbones as he started the same shallow thrust. In this position, however, it rubbed directly against that lovely spot behind her pubic bone. “How’s that, love?”

  Pleasure burned through her, sharp and pure. “Don’t stop.”

  “Wasn’t planning on it.”

  “Mm, perfect.” Poseidon turned, getting on his knees and kissing his way down her stomach. The soft prickle of his beard added an additional layer of teasing sensation. She felt him kiss the curls on her pubic mound, and then his tongue lapped at the junction where Griffin entered her, finding her clit and going to work on it with ravenous eagerness. She wasn’t sure what turned her on more, that her formerly stolid husband was eating her out with such abandon or that he was tasting both Griffin and her while he did it.

  She turned and saw Poseidon’s hard cock pointing straight downwards from his groin. She reached out and stroked it, urging him closer until she could lick the dark purple, bulbous tip. She tasted salt and the musk that was uniquely him.

  He took the hint and shifted until he was straddling her head. Using her hand to rub the shaft of his cock, she ran the flat of her tongue around the ridge before pointing it and teasing the even more sensitive triangle of flesh just under the flared tip. More salt welled onto her tongue, and she felt him moan against her clit. Feeling wicked, she sucked the head into her mouth, applying the suction she knew he loved and stroking him with one hand while the other slipped upwards and played with his heavy balls.