After dusting the cases and removing fingerprint smudges from the glass, Clio picked up a stack of books Jax had left on the table. Holding the antique tomes he’d worked with last night, she felt remarkably close to him. She relived their steamy, passionate kiss as she hugged the last volume to her body. Desire bobbed in her chest like a buoy tossed by a wave. Except for the fact he’d lost his ability to believe in magic, he seemed a solid, smart man.
His incredible body held a lot of appeal as well. It didn’t take much to imagine how amazing it would feel to be sandwiched between his hard chest and a soft mattress. Tiny zings sizzled under her skin.
Goddess, she wasn’t the type to just fall into bed on a first date, but if Jax asked, she’d surrender.
Heat climbed from her belly into her cheeks and stayed there her entire walk home. At least she could blame the temperature for the bright spots of color in her cheeks. Although rain was now out of the forecast, humidity had turned the world into a steamy sauna.
Clio pulled a pretty green and black sundress from her closet. Standing in front of the mirror she held it against her body. The feminine dress made her feel like a Russian princess attending the Czar’s court for the first time. The color flattered her red hair and lit a glow under her pale skin. The way the dress was cut, she could go braless and not worry. Something she fully intended to do tonight.
Standing in front of the mirror, she freshened her make-up. So much easier to do now than in ancient Egypt. She shuddered thinking about the kohl and crocodile dung she’d used back then.
Her hand shook while outlining her eyes. She’d blame that on her racing heart. And she’d blame her racing heart on the challenge she faced, not on the idea that Jax might find her desirable.
Tossing the tube of mascara onto the bathroom counter, she sighed at the state of her hair. The moisture in the air had converted her normally sleek style into a riot of curls. A quick glance at the tiny clock by the sink confirmed there was no way in hell she’d have time to straighten the corkscrews surrounding her face. She grabbed her shoes and hurried toward the front room of her comfortable home.
When the doorbell rang, her pulse surged, beating a fast rhythm through her veins. Her palms dampened, so she swiped them against the fabric of her dress before she swung open the door.
Jax stood on her front porch—weight leaned on one hip, looking more handsome than she remembered. His yellow shirt accentuated the amber shade of his eyes and complemented his swarthy complexion to perfection. A black belt circled the waist of his navy blue shorts. The fabric hugged his hips and fell to the top of his knees. Dark hair covered well-muscled calves. He wore flip-flops, and oh, heavens…his feet looked good in them.
While she checked him out, he swept a saucy gaze over her body, a sexy smile adorning his lips. “Hi, gorgeous.”
His words lit a flame inside her and spread warmth to her very fingertips. Curbing the urge to fan herself, she stepped to the side and swept her arm in front of her. “I’m almost ready. Come in.”
As he passed, she caught a whiff of spice and wood smoke. Goddess, he even smelled good. She skirted around him and led him to her living room where she’d dropped her sandals by the couch. She took a seat to slip them on.
“I’m sorry if I’m early,” Jax commented. “I’m always early when I’m excited to get somewhere.”
“It’s okay.” Clio sent him a smile. He could have shown up an hour before the appointed time, and she wouldn’t have cared.
He prowled around the room. Near a chair in the corner, he stopped suddenly. “Holy shit!” He squatted, the legs of his shorts rising to expose powerful thighs. Hovering a hand over the instrument, he glanced at her. “May I?”
She nodded. Sweet music filled the air when he stroked his fingers over the strings of her lyre.
When he looked back over his shoulder at her, his eyes had crinkled at the corner and his lips were parted in an appealing smile. “Is this real? Do you play?”
She shrugged her shoulders. “It’s real, and I play a little.” Standing, she smoothed her dress over her hips before crossing the room to his side.
“This is really old. It looks so authentic.” Jax stroked his fingers tenderly over the bell-shaped curves of the instrument.
Clio was shocked by the envy rising in her stomach. She wanted his fingers stroking her as tenderly. Lovingly.
“I found it in a small shop when I visited Corfu.” He didn’t need to know her travel had taken place over three hundred years ago. “It was bargain priced. I had to have it.”
He stood and faced her. “I’d love to hear you play.”
“Actually, you really wouldn’t. I am a horrible musician. My sister, Terri, is the one you should hear play. The girl is so talented it kind of puts the rest of us to shame.”
Cracking a grin, Jax replied, “We all have our special skills.” He trailed his fingers down her arm.
Goosebumps rose in the wake of his hand, and her breath shortened. The pulse in the hollow of her neck thrummed. It didn’t take much to imagine what his special skill was. “I’m ready.”
He trained his gaze on her lips. “Me, too.”
Cupping her cheek, he leaned in to take her mouth with his. The kiss was soft and sweet, consuming her with his restrained passion. For such a simple kiss, it created a seismic shift in her chest.
The soft whisper of his breath caressed her lips as he pulled away. When he dropped his hand from her face, she immediately missed the warmth. And when he tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow, she found his action endearing. Jax led her to the front door, pausing long enough to let her snatch her purse from the console table in the hall entryway.
“Where are we going for dinner?” she asked as she locked up her house.
“I’m new in town and, so far, I’ve only eaten at a bar with a friend or grabbed takeout. My grad assistant told me about an Italian place in University Square—The Copa. Said they have the best food and atmosphere.”
“Oh, I love that place.” The chef stuck to his ancestors’ tried-and-true recipes. The food was definitely authentic.
“Is it walking distance? It’s a nice evening.” Jax held his hand up, palm facing the heavens, and smiled. “It’s not raining. Would you mind?”
“On foot it’s about ten minutes away. I’d mind more if you told me you wanted to drive.” She laughed. “I love the smell of summer here. Can’t get that in a closed-up car.”
Jax cast a glance at the three-inch heels of her sandals. “Do you need to change shoes?”
“I’m okay. I walk in heels all the time.”
She tugged him down the front path to the street, then steered him to the right. He matched his stride to hers, which she appreciated. Since most men towered over her, she frequently found herself struggling to keep pace. With Jax close to a foot taller, she might have had to jog to stay even.
“How was your day?” he asked as they strolled under the canopy of trees lining the street.
“Busy. It was intake day at the library. We received a new shipment of material for our antiquities rooms. Everything had to be cataloged and tagged.” It was detailed work that required concentration. Something she’d lacked today. “How was yours?”
“It started off a little rocky, but improved the instant I knocked on your door.”
That might be the nicest thing she’d heard any man say in a long time. Happiness suffused her chest, and she couldn’t contain the smile begging for release. He smiled back at her, tightening his fingers around hers.
“I’m sorry it started bad. But I’m glad it’s gotten better.” Clio swung their joined hands a little higher. “What happened to make it not so great this morning?”
“I had a run-in with some crazy, old bastard and a bird on my way to work this morning.” He shook his head. “The dude told me I had a great task ahead of me. Proclaimed it like an oracle on high. Then told me I’d fail.”
Clio stumbled and would have fallen if Jax hadn’t
thrown his arm across her chest to steady her. Scorching dread burst in her chest and shortened her breath.
“Easy there. Maybe walking in heels wasn’t a good idea.” Jax wrapped his hand around her arm.
“I’m fine.” Had Pierus contacted Jax directly? “And you didn’t know the man?”
“Never seen him before.” He took her elbow and resumed walking. “But he seemed to know me. He knew the name of my former employer. And some other stuff.” Jax’s shoulders hunched up as they walked along.
Needing time to process what he’d said, what Jax’s meeting with the old man implied, Clio changed the subject to music. She’d definitely learned to multitask over the years.
They turned a corner and entered the square. Pressure increased in her ears as they crossed the cobbled plaza. Clio’s senses buzzed as she scanned the crowd. Something—someone—supernatural was near.
Nothing seemed out of order or even the slightest bit threatening. People milled around the large central fountain. A statue of Aphrodite poured water from an oversized vessel into the pool, while jets of water rose three feet from the surface. A street musician, his curly hair flopping over his brow, played guitar for the crowd. A large case lay open at his feet. Jax tossed in a couple of bucks as they passed.
She shooed away the sudden case of nerves when they arrived at their destination. As Jax reached around her to open the door, she caught his distinctive scent once again. She drew a deep breath and held it, relishing the fragrance.
The maître d’ led them to an intimate table for two in front of a window. Clio waited until after they’d placed their orders to broach the subject of the challenge. Her mother had told her to trust her instincts, but that was easier said than done. Since she still wasn’t sure how much information to reveal, she opted to wing it based on his responses.
“Jax, do you believe in destiny?”
“Do you mean like, were we supposed to meet?” He stirred a packet of sugar into his iced tea. “I don’t know. Destiny isn’t very scientific. It can’t be quantified or measured. Even in history, you can’t really point to instances where the outcome seemed predestined. There are too many contributing factors to each scenario.” He tapped his spoon against the glass. A drop of moisture fell to the linen tablecloth as he laid the utensil aside.
Clio stared at the bird-shaped splotch. Was this an omen that she was meant to tell him about the challenge? Maybe, if she stretched her imagination enough. She glanced out the window. Low hanging clouds gathered over the building that housed the history department. The very location of Jax’s office.
The musician across the square looked up, their glances crashing together. His eyes flashed blue flame, burning and intense. Even though it had been a century since the Muses’ last run-in with the deity, Pierus was recognizable—very little had changed about him from the last time he’d tried to free his daughters from their existence as magpies. Pierus was in a disguise designed to let him blend into the crowd. Clio sat straighter in her seat, fear twisting into a knot in her stomach. Why had he appeared to her now? Was the challenge progressing faster than she thought?
She dragged her attention from outside and focused on Jax. “What if I said I’m supposed to help you accomplish this great task you’re supposed to undertake? The one the old man mentioned this morning?”
Skepticism etched itself in the way Jax lowered his brows. “Clio, that man was demented. The only great task ahead of me is learning my students’ names and getting them to work up an interest in the political history of the world.”
Clio pursed her lips together as the waiter delivered their salads and a plate of bread. What seemed an eternity passed while she waited for the server to pour olive oil in a small dish then add seasonings and balsamic vinegar. In fact, it took less than thirty seconds. When he finally departed, she shoved her tomato and mozzarella plate to the side. “I don’t think your guy was crazy.”
Jax paused, a forkful of lettuce halfway to his mouth. He lifted his brows. “Not my guy. And besides, you didn’t see him. Or hear him. He was definitely out of his mind.”
“You said he mentioned your former boss. How would he know anything about who you worked for in the past?”
The corners of Jax’s mouth turned down. “Good guess? The university sent out a press release when I signed my contract. Maybe he saw a story printed in the paper.”
Clio wanted to kiss the frown from his lips. Instead, she pulled the plate toward her and then speared a tomato onto her fork. “Nope, not buying it. Jax, I believe you were meant to run into that man. I think he crossed your path to set off a chain of events that only you can stop.”
Releasing a huffy breath, Jax leaned back. “Clio, that just can’t be. I’ve already demonstrated I can’t stop anything. It’s why my former employer is former.” Shadows flitted through his eyes.
“Why did you leave?” She kept her voice gentle, sensing it wasn’t an easy topic for him.
Training his gaze out the window, he clenched his jaw, making the muscle pop. The longest moment passed before he answered. “I made a bad recommendation. My employer listened. As a result, people died. A lot of people.” His tone was gritty and strained, matter of fact.
As if the cost of the words was too high.
Placing her hand over his on the table, she looked deep into his eyes and brushed his mind with a suggestion to let go of the past. To believe he could make a difference. To believe in her.
His brows creased in the middle, and he put a hand to his temple. He shifted in his chair, leaning forward. The shadows in his gaze transformed into something hot.
Before she could continue her effort to convince him, the waiter appeared with their main courses. She moved her hands to her lap. Clio had lost her appetite and could do little more than stare at her plate of pasta and cream sauce. She didn’t want to go full disclosure with him. Not yet. Goddess, if he thought Pierus was crazy, he was going to find her certifiable.
“Okay, back to your original hypothetical question,” Jax said as he cut a piece of his chicken spiedini. “Let’s say I have this magical ability to change the fate of the world. What am I supposed to do? How do I recognize what I’m destined to stop? I’m not in the political world anymore. Now, I simply teach about what happened in the past.”
“Can’t past history be a predictor of future events? All we have to do is study current events then search the past for similar situations.” She drew a deep breath, dug deep for the voice of reason, and forged on. “Like The Five Nations Block. Look at what they’re doing. Has anything like it happened in all of recorded time? I can think of a few instances where countries invaded their weaker neighbors with disastrous results.”
“How would comparing those events to what’s going on now help solve the problem? My whole job with GeoPoly revolved around those exact scenarios of past events as predictors. Politicians are too busy posturing or campaigning. They’ve stopped listening.” Jax reached for his drink, his knuckles white as he gripped the sweating glass.
“Would they listen if you pointed out times when the invasions were stopped with diplomatic intervention?”
“Not bloody likely.” Jax’s words were jaded, his tone despairing. “Listen, this is getting to be a downer of a conversation. Can we change the subject?”
“Jax—”
“Please? Let’s talk about something a little more pleasant.”
Clio bit the inside of her cheek, forcing back the argument begging for release. Distress burned hot in her chest. For his dismissal of the potential problem, for not being willing to at least consider how he might help circumvent world-wide calamity. She reined in the desire to pound the table and make him listen.
She turned her attention out the window. Pierus had vanished. She breathed a little easier for having him gone. There would be opportunity to pursue this further with Jax. Time to get him on her side of the challenge. She hoped.
The rest of the meal passed easily, talk about the unive
rsity community, the town of Delphi, and the surrounding country. Clio declined dessert, and Jax signaled for the check.
Escorting her from the building, he pressed his palm to the skin bared by her backless sundress. The warmth of his hand built bubbling anticipation under her flesh and in her belly. She looked forward to his goodnight kiss at her door. And maybe, possibly, a good morning kiss tomorrow. She’d definitely welcome him to her bed. Hope dominated her attitude, and she prayed this attraction between them was real and not simply manufactured by Pierus for the sake of the challenge.
In the time they’d been indoors at the restaurant, steel gray clouds had covered the summer sky. Warm wind gusted around Clio’s legs as they walked, lifting her dress and fluttering in her hair. They were still five minutes from her house when the first, fat drops splatted on the ground.
One struck Clio on the cheek. She reached up to brush it away, and another landed on her forehead. “We better hurry. The sky seems ready to pour down on us.”
“Weather sure is weird here in Delphi. It was a perfect night when we walked to the restaurant.” He flinched when a drop hit his eyelid.
“Hang on.” Clio pulled her hand from his. Rain fell more steadily now, and there was no way in hell she’d run in heels. Drops splashed on her bared back as she bent over to slip off the straps of her sandals. She shucked her shoes, the cement warm and rough under her toes. Dangling them from her fingers, she sent Jax a smile. “Now I’m ready. Just in case.”
The heavens opened, and water streamed over them. Laughing, they took off running toward Clio’s street. By the time they rounded the corner, they were drenched. The folds of her dress clung to her legs, making running difficult. She slowed her pace, plucking at the wet fabric.
Jax pulled her to an abrupt halt. When he wrapped an arm around her back, the other behind her thighs, and lifted her from her feet, she squealed. His smile broadened as he resumed running, bouncing her against his chest.
Tyranny: Goddesses of Delphi Page 6
