Finding Hope

by Krystal Shannan

  Heat crept into her cheeks. Never.

  He froze in mid-movement and met her gaze. “You’ve had sex before…”

  “Yes, but I’ve never had a man…” Her cheeks were on fire. She glanced down and then up again to his soft blue irises. “Do what you—” How do you tell a man he’s the first one to ever bring you to orgasm?

  “You’d never had an orgasm?”

  “Yes, but not with someone else. It was never…” She stopped again, embarrassed, and drew up the sheet to cover her naked breasts. Adrian responded by snatching it away from her and tossing it to the floor.

  “You are so beautiful, and now with that revelation, I feel I should pleasure you even more.”

  “No! I mean, I don’t think I can handle any more right now.”

  He lay on the bed and laughed. “I must satisfy myself with knowing I have completely sated you?”

  “Yes. I suppose you will.” She giggled and inched to the edge of the bed. Wiggling her toes in the soft carpet, she stood. “I’m going to take a quick shower.”

  “Want some company?”

  She smiled at his raised eyebrow. “No, but order us some food, please.”

  “Of course. What do you want?” he asked as she walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower.

  Addison poked her head back out of the bathroom. “A club sandwich would be great and an iced tea, no sugar.”

  “No sugar? You know you are offending every southern lady in the United States.”

  She busted out laughing. Not able to remember the last time she was so relaxed or happy. It was going to be difficult to leave and go back to Montana. Alone. Again.

  ***

  The scalding water washed away her worries temporarily. She ran the hotel washcloth across her still sensitive nipples and shuddered just a little. Her body was still so aroused. It was amazing that she was standing after the repeated performances Adrian had provided.

  She closed her eyes and sighed, leaning against the marble wall in the shower. When she opened them again, his bright blue ones were feasting upon her wet, naked figure. Her traitorous body clenched as desire shot through her.

  “What do you want?” She threw the wet washcloth at his face through the open shower door in a feeble attempt to break his focus. He caught it, and a devilish grin spread across his face.

  Oh my God. He can’t be serious.

  “What about room service?”

  “They said fifteen minutes.” He stepped into the shower, naked, with a condom already sheathing his cock, and clicked the door closed behind him. She moaned as he ran his fingers across her nipples and squeezed them playfully. They pebbled in seconds, betraying her body’s heightened state of arousal.

  He turned her to face the wall and pressed her up against it. “I just can’t seem to get enough of you.” Addison smiled and wiggled her ass against his hard erection. He ran a hand down her hip to her round bottom and squeezed hard. Then he grabbed her wrists in one hand, holding them above her head against the wall, while the other hand pressed his cock against her swollen, wet pussy. She thrust back as he drove up into her, seating himself fully inside her and gasped. He was so deliciously hard and filled her completely.

  He pumped hard and fast, using his free hand to fondle her clit. She soon found herself squirming and writhing, an orgasm rushing over her with the speed and force of the howling wind outside. She pushed back against his cock, her pussy milking him hard. His release followed hers, his muscles bunching against her back, and he gave a satisfied groan as he buried in the crook of her neck. She wished he could stay pressed against her indefinitely, but her trembling leg muscles desired another option.

  He released her wrists and withdrew slowly. Moments later a warm trickle of liquid started to run down the inside of her thighs.

  Oh God!

  “A-Adrian…” Her voice caught in her throat. “The condom…”

  She turned to face him. The muscles in Adrian’s face clenched. He followed her gaze downward. “Addison, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize it had torn. I’m clean, I promise. I get tested every six months at work.”

  She swallowed nervously. “That’s great.” Addison paused. “But I’m more worried about the fact that I’m not on birth control.”

  “What?” Adrian exclaimed abruptly, his voice echoing ominously in the bathroom.

  Addison took a step backward and bumped into the shower wall.

  His face immediately softened. “Addison, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have raised my voice.”

  “No, I’m sorry. I should have mentioned it, but you had condoms, so I didn’t worry about it.” A tear rolled down Addison’s cheek.

  Adrian took a deep breath, and Addison stood quietly. They were both naked and staring at each other. Waiting.

  A knock startled them both out of the awkward silence. Adrian grabbed a robe off the hook on the wall and hurried to answer the door.

  Addison stepped out of the shower after cleaning off and grabbed the other robe off the wall. She closed the toilet and sat on the lid, listening to him thank the waiter. Thoughts cluttered her mind. She leaned forward and wrapped her arms around her head. She wasn’t pregnant yet, but what would happen if she were to get pregnant? How would Adrian really feel? How did she feel?

  Oh God.

  “You’re thinking too much, Addison.”

  Startled, she sat straight up. She’d not heard him come back into the bathroom.

  He walked over and crouched down in front of her. “It could just as easily be nothing as something. There’s nothing to be done right now.”

  She sniffled a little and met his gaze. His eyes were soft and kind. He wasn’t angry. “If there is a baby, I will keep it.” It was important he know that up front.

  “I would be very upset if you chose any other option.”

  She shuddered and took a deep breath. At least he was on the same page with that choice. There was hope in that knowledge.

  Get a grip, Addison, you aren’t pregnant yet.

  “Come on, food is here.” He took her hand and led her back to the bed.

  She crawled to the left side and sat cross-legged. He handed her a tray with a club sandwich and potato chips on a plate and a large glass of iced tea.

  He grabbed his burger off the plate and sat next to her on the bed. “Can I ask why you aren’t on the pill?”

  Swallowing a bite of sandwich, she nodded. “My doctor has had me try nearly every brand on the market. Every single one raised my blood pressure to very dangerous levels.”

  “I had no idea it could do that. That kind of risk is definitely not worth it.”

  “No, but it hasn’t really been a problem for me. The last time I had sex was over three years ago.”

  Crap! ’Cause that’s what he needed to know.

  Heat climbed into her cheeks. She looked down at her sandwich on the plate. He cupped her chin and turned her face back to his.

  “Addison, you have nothing to embarrassed about. We both kinda jumped in feet first. There’s a lot about each other we don’t know.”

  “Like pretty much everything.”

  “Yeah, pretty much—”

  He stopped when Addison’s phone chimed from its place on the dresser across the room. She clambered off the bed and picked up the phone. Roger’s caller ID was lighting up the screen. She swiped the face to answer and held the phone to her ear.

  “Roger?”

  “Addi, your grandfather’s had a stroke and is in the hospital.”

  Addison’s breath started to speed up. “Roger, is he okay?”

  “The doctors say it’s too soon to tell if there was damage. They’ve got him on blood thinners to try and avoid another one.”

  “Oh God. I’m stuck in the middle of freak snowstorm. I can’t even get out the door, much less to the airport.”

  “He’s doing okay for now, Addi. Just get here as soon as you can.”

  “Okay. Let me know if anything changes.”

 
“I’ll take good care of him till you get here. Don’t worry.”

  “Thanks, Roger.”

  She laid down the phone and broke apart. The sobs poured out as she sank to her knees. Seconds later, he was folding her into his arms and rocking her back and forth in his lap on the floor.

  “My grandfather had a stroke. He’s in the hospital.”

  “The important thing to remember is he’s alive, and the doctors are taking good care of him.”

  “What if he has another one? What if I can’t get there in time? What if he dies and I don’t get to say goodbye? I’ll be alone. I—”

  “Shhhh, you are thinking too much again, sweetheart. We will get you to the airport as soon as possible. It will be okay.”

  “What about—”

  “Let’s cross that bridge when we get there.”

  She sniffled and burrowed her head into the crook of his shoulder. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. She shuddered through a sob. When had Adrian Colter become such a safe haven? And how did he always seem to know when to pull her out of her head?

  Chapter Ten

  Three days they’d been trapped. The snowstorm had frozen Tennessee. But, as quickly as the snow arrived, it left just as suddenly. The buses were loaded, and several hours later everyone was back at the Wentworth estate. Without asking, Adrian had loaded her stuff into his truck and insisted on getting her to the airport for the earliest available flight.

  The Nashville airport was hopping when they arrived. Everyone was trying to get back to where they belonged after the freak snowstorm. People jostled against her from every side, but Adrian kept her moving toward her gate entrance.

  Her mind was in such a flutter. She couldn’t concentrate on anything. Roger had called that morning and said her grandfather had just woken up and was asking for her.

  “Here’s your bag, sweetheart.” He stood quietly, waiting for her to take the carry-on.

  “Thank you,” she answered, placing her hand on the handle. Their fingers touched, sending a shiver up her arm.

  “Are you going to be okay?”

  She glanced at the long line for security and nodded. “Yes, thank you…for everything. These last few days were incredible.” She leaned forward, pressing a soft kiss to his stubble-covered cheek.

  His eyes widened at her statement and then glazed over, sadness filling them. Addison bit her lip. She wouldn’t wake up in his arms, or hear him laugh, or feel him inside her again… possibly ever.

  It wasn’t meant to be, and you knew it.

  She took a deep breath. “Goodbye.”

  “Addison, I—” He choked on his words.

  “It’s okay.”

  He shook his head. “No, it’s not. Call me when you get home.”

  Adrian kissed her hard on the lips and then walked away. He tasted of mint and smelled like pine. She was going to miss him a lot. She watched his retreating figure until he disappeared between two sliding glass doors to pickup lanes outside. The heat in that last kiss would have to hold her for a long time.

  ***

  A painful burn started in his chest and expanded. Gods rarely felt such pain. What was happening? His knees buckled, and he dropped to the sand, gritting his teeth. He didn’t know how he knew, but something was wrong with Ditee.

  He phased to her palace on Olympus. Waves of her white essence were rolling off the grand villa and flowing away like streams of liquid. Where was it going?

  Her tortured cries would give him nightmares for eternity. Whoever dared to hurt her would pay dearly. Another phase brought him to her doorstep. He could hear sobbing and feel her pain as though it were his own. It was paralyzing.

  “Ditee! Let me in!” he bellowed and pushed against the wards surrounding her palace. The magical barrier held strong and burned his hands when he tried to pass through. He pulled back with a hiss. “Fuck! Let me through, Ditee! Please!”

  “Ditee!” Dionysus’s voice echoed beside his.

  Ares turned and nodded his appreciation. If she wouldn’t let him in, maybe she would let her old friend inside.

  Another round of painful cries prompted him to push against her wards again. The blinding pain lasted for only a moment before dissipating.

  She’d dropped them!

  He was instantly in her bedroom.

  There, curled on the floor beside her bed, arms wrapped around her middle, lay the goddess of souls, sobbing in a spreading pool of white essence. It was almost like she was bleeding it out.

  Again, pain spread through his chest. It took a monumental effort to push it aside and gather her into his arms without collapsing beside her. He growled and lifted her, settling them both on the white chaise across the room.

  Dionysus touched his shoulder. “Ares, what’s wrong?”

  “I-it’s her p-pain,” he answered through clenched teeth. “I can f-feel it all.”

  “I’ll be right back,” said Dionysus and phased from the room.

  “Ditee,” Ares said softly, trailing his fingers along the closest side of her rapidly paling face. “Tell me what to do.”

  “It w-wasn’t y-you,” she whispered against his chest, clutching at the dark blue hoodie he wore.

  “What wasn’t me?”

  Again the stabbing pain shot through his chest, and Ares hissed through gritted teeth. Aphrodite screamed in his arms, muscles clenching violently. Her body trembled, and her essence continued to flow steadily from her form and creep along the floor in thin streams out the windows and doors.

  Where was it going? Why was it leaving her? By the gods, was she dying? She couldn’t die. She was an immortal Titan, more powerful than any of the gods of Olympus. She was… his.

  “How do I help? Tell me what to do.” He gasped through the burning in his chest.

  “Someone took a diamond.” She wailed into his shirt. “The souls are dying! Ares! It hurts!”

  “I know,” he answered, smoothing her hair from her face. “I can feel it. Some of it, anyway.”

  Her ice-blue eyes widened, and she struggled to get out of his arms. She gripped her chest and sobbed through the words. “What do you mean you can feel it?”

  Confusion filled her gaze.

  He released her, and she moved to stand next to her bed. It was amazing to him that she could move at all. His pain was overwhelming, and he knew it was only a small taste of what she was feeling.

  “It burns in my chest, and it’s connected to you. I don’t know what it is or why. But I know it’s because of your pain.”

  She took a deep breath and clutched her side again as another wave hit hard. “My essence can’t find the diamond. Someone is shielding it from me. I have to get to the pool.” Her hand stretched toward him. “Can you phase?”

  Ares nodded, stood, and reached tentatively for her hand. She accepted his hand and he moved them both to the side of the pool in the garden.

  ***

  She knelt at the edge of the pool, using his arm to steady herself. Her essence was spreading itself thin, and she was weakening quickly. She nodded to him, and he released her. Plunging her arms into the pool, she drank in the healing power the souls offered. The pain in her chest subsided to a manageable level.

  “Better?” she asked.

  He nodded silently. The confusion on his face mirrored what was in her heart. Why did he feel her pain? What was happening to him?

  Another wave of stabbing pain rolled over her and she gasped. It didn’t matter right now. She could figure out Ares later. Right now, she had to find the stolen diamond before the bound souls were lost forever.

  A groan from the edge of the garden drew both their attention. Ares moved first, stopping next to a figure sprawled on the ground. Blood oozed from a wound in his gut.

  “He’s human.”

  “That’s why my wards didn’t ring.”

  She knelt next to the man and pressed her palm to his wound. Within seconds he was healed and waking. He opened his eyes and scooted away
from her as fast as he could, backing himself up against the nearest tree. Terror filled his gaze. His eyes were not locked on her though. She turned and looked up at Ares.

  “Way to go. Your eyes are fucking glowing red, Ares.”

  “I’m pissed. It happens,” he roared, his voice sounding through the garden as though amplified with an otherworldly megaphone.

  “Well, tone it down.” She turned back to the pale man. “Who brought you here?” she asked, throwing a few pheromones his direction.

  “She didn’t say her name,” the stranger answered.

  “Describe her for me.”

  “Average Goth-looking teenager. She had really long black hair with colored streaks.”

  Aphrodite’s eyes widened. Rage filled her weakened body. She shook, trying to keep from moving to tear Ares’s limbs from his body. When she finally turned to face him, he looked as stunned as she felt. It had to be an act. Chaos and Strife, the Goth-looking female teenager, were his lackeys. They followed him everywhere. And everyone knew it.

  “Ditee!” Dionysus’s voice cut through the fog of her anger.

  Aphrodite could feel the presence of another with him. Looking up, she was surprised to see the huntress. Artemis wore her long, straight blonde hair in a slicked-back high ponytail. A black leather vest kept her luscious curves in place, and dark denim jeans clung like skin to her lower half. Black combat boots completed her tough-girl ensemble. She held a longbow in her right hand, and a quiver of arrows was slung over her shoulder.

  A deep breath soothed Aphrodite’s frayed nerves. Ares still stood stunned, and the human male shrank back against the tree shaking. Their sudden materialization in the garden was probably more than a little disturbing to the human.

  What else could possibly go wrong?

  “Artemis.” Aphrodite nodded an acknowledgement.

  “Aphrodite.” Artemis bowed her head in return. “I am here to serve the goddess of souls. My huntresses, with your permission, will guard the pool and help you search for the missing souls.”

  “To what do I owe this favor?”

  The edges of Artemis’s lips curved into an evil grin. “Let’s just say I have a beef with who stole it.”