“I’ve known many mortals in my time,” the dragon told Lula, “but never have I been as impressed as I have with yours. He’s a good man with a brave heart, Lula.”
“The finest,” Lula said, lightly and gingerly resting her head against Dake’s arm. She was almost afraid to touch him because he appeared to be injured most everywhere.
“Hey, thanks, Dunniger,” Dake said. “I appreciate that—and, of course, the fact that you didn’t barbecue me or anything.” His chuckle morphed into a grimace as the dragon gave Dake a playful punch.
“Oh sorry,” Dunniger said, clearly contrite. “Hit the wrong spot, I guess.”
Dake laughed. “There is no wrong spot. I’m just one big walking ache.” With a nod and a smile, Dunniger went back to his classmates.
“My poor, sweet Dakin,” Lula said. “Are you all right?”
Dake wagged a finger at her and winked. “I know what you’re thinking.”
“Oh no, Dake. Sincerely I’m not,” she fibbed, trailing one finger lightly along his gored arm. Allowing her gaze to roam his hard, muscular body, now wounded, bloodied and bandaged, Lula breathed a sigh. The sight of her bold, handsome hero returning from a fearsome battle made her so horn-like, she could barely contain herself.
“I’m merely concerned for your wellbeing,” she told him, silently praying she and her love would still be together that night so she could tend to his combat wounds in her own special way.
“You don’t fool me for a minute.” Dake brushed his lips across hers. Leaning close and whispering softly for her ears only, he added, “Trust me, sweetheart, I’m not so banged up that I can’t hold you in your arms and watch those beautiful wings of yours sprout as I make you see stars.”
Lula felt terribly naughty and guilty. She was fairly certain nice nymphs weren’t supposed to feel all squirmy because their pussies were trickling while they were waiting to hear a verdict from the gods.
She tried her best to think of solemn, serious things. Like her physical imperfection. Dake’s mention of her wings brought Lula’s thoughts back to what Cinnamus said. Could he possibly be right? Could she actually overcome her heritage and do what no other female in her family had been able to for generations?
“I believe I can,” she muttered beneath her breath. “I believe I can.”
“Did you say something, honey?” Dake asked.
“No. Nothing. Just thinking out loud.”
Dake turned his attention to his brother. “You son of a gun,” he said with a wide grin. “Little did I know there was an inner he-man living next door to your inner woman. Damn, Zeb, you were awesome out there. Like a linebacker, for chrissakes. If it weren’t for you, bro, there’d be a hoof hole right about where my heart’s supposed to be.” He gave Zeb a hearty pat on the back.
“Just because I like to wear pink doesn’t mean I’m a pansy, dear brother.” Zeb patted his Roman-style hairdo and smiled.
“You’re both heroes as far as I’m concerned,” Cinnamus said.
“All rise, all rise!” Mercury announced, again floating through the air as the other eleven gods followed him into the auditorium.
Lula sucked in a sharp breath. All thoughts of carnal dalliance fled her mind as the deities took their seats.
“It has been a most interesting occasion,” Jupiter boomed. “It’s been a long while since the council has witnessed such a melee.”
“More like a circus,” Venus huffed, sitting back in her throne with her arms crossed over her breasts as Jupiter held his hand aloft, signaling for her silence.
“This doesn’t sound good,” Dake whispered out the side of his mouth. Lula grabbed his hand and squeezed in response. She scanned the gods’ faces. All looked quite somber, except for Venus, whose lovely face was marred by a sneer.
“We have been dismayed and left aghast by some of the appalling behavior this evening,” Jupiter said. “We have also been pleasantly surprised and thoroughly amused by other actions. Mercury will now proclaim the council’s findings.”
“In the matter of Cinnamus and Zebulon,” Mercury read aloud from a scroll and Lula heard Zeb’s intake of breath. She grabbed onto his hand as well. “After much discussion, the council finds no cause for denying this plea. After many years of excellent service, Cinnamus has earned the right to live alongside his soul mate.”
Lula heard Zeb release the breath he’d been holding with a whoosh. “Thank God,” he whispered. And Lula was elated for him and Cinnamus.
“The council was duly impressed by the plucky mortal Zebulon,” Mercury continued, “and has agreed that he is correct in his spirited assumption that he is destined to dwell on Olympus. The rank of minor god is to be bestowed upon Zebulon, carrying with it all due responsibilities and the rare and precious gift of immortality.”
“Yes!” Dake shouted, yanking his brother into a hug. Lula saw Dake wince in physical discomfort, but knew his joy at Zeb’s happiness was far greater than any aches or pains he may be suffering.
“In the matter of Lula and Dakin,” Mercury went on, bringing both Lula and Dake to attention. Her mouth suddenly felt as dry as dust. “The council regrets…”
Regrets… At the sound of that word Lula’s knees went weak and Dake stiffened. They squeezed each other’s hands so tightly it felt as if their flesh had almost become fused.
“The council regrets they have found cause to deny this plea.”
“Motherfucker,” Dake muttered beneath his breath. Lula wasn’t certain of the word’s meaning, but whatever it was, she entirely shared Dake’s sentiments.
“We were duly impressed with the mortal’s fortitude, bravery and sense of honor. While perhaps unpolished, the council believes Dakin shows great promise as well as willingness. While the gods declared their confidence in the mortal’s skills and abilities to manage, organize and maintain an Earthly outpost for Cupid Academy, they find that the nymph, Lula, cannot by all rights be elevated to the position of Earthly contact due to her physical deficiency.”
I believe I can…I believe I can. I have enough love in my heart for Dakin to overcome any and all obstacles. I believe I can…
“Please,” Dake spoke up. “Can I ask a question?” Jupiter nodded. “What does it matter if she has a physical deficiency as you call it? Lula’s smart and devoted and, hell, you’d never find anyone who’d do a better job. Please…” Dake’s voice caught. “Please…”
“It’s not that we have anything against Lula personally,” Juno said kindly. “We find her quite endearing and charming. It’s just that she must be lawfully recognized as a minor goddess in order to be promoted to such an important position. There are some factions who don’t recognize nymphs as goddesses.
“In order to bestow the official rank of minor goddess on her, Lula must be without any significant imperfections. As a winged nymph, the inability to spread her wings at any time is considered a significant deficiency.”
“If I may?” Cinnamus asked. Juno nodded. “Is this the only reason the council is denying their plea?”
“Yes,” Juno said. “I’m sorry. We wish it could be different.”
Cinnamus gave Lula a pointed look.
“The council sincerely regrets,” Mercury read from his scroll, “that Lula the nymph must remain on Olympus, seeing to her studies, while the mortal, Dakin, be returned to Earth. All memory of Lula and all things having to do with Lula and Olympus will be erased from his memory, including the fact that Zebulon will reside on Olympus. Dakin will only know that his brother is missing.”
“Oh my God,” Zeb said while Dake stood ramrod straight and expressionless.
“Furthermore,” Mercury continued, “for the benefit of all involved and for the protection of Olympus, the brothers will not be permitted to be in contact with each other in the future. All Dakin will know is that his brother has disappeared.”
“No…no…” Zeb muttered, shaking his head. “Dear God…no…”
Dead silence filled the auditorium. Lula lo
oked up at Dake, who remained stoic except for a single tear trickling down one cheek as he looked straight ahead.
Lula felt her heart splinter into a thousand shards as the sickening reality of the council’s cruel, but necessary, verdict sank in. Lifting her eyes to the heavens, she raised her arms high and chanted just above a whisper, I believe I can, I believe I can…until she opened her mouth wide and sang out a high, protracted faultless note as tears streamed down her cheeks and her wings burst open wide in all their glory and majesty.
“Lula!” Dake gasped.
“No!” Seraletta the undine screamed from the audience. “No!”
Lula lifted from the floor and rose, still singing as Apollo accompanied her on his lyre. Halfway to the ceiling, Lula flew and fluttered and sang around the entire auditorium, soaring above her classmates as they gasped in awe, floating above the council as they all gazed up at her and then bringing herself to a graceful touchdown right next to Dake. As soon as she’d landed, he grabbed her, hugging her hard and muttering sweet nothings as he kissed her eyes, nose, cheeks and lips.
“Lula, retract your wings and spread them again,” Minerva said. “Immediately.”
With a deep, shuddering, hopeful breath, Lula closed her wings, waited a moment and then flapped them open wide again, smiling as she lifted from the floor and floated in place.
“Again,” Ceres said, and Lula repeated the process with ease and grace. She repeated it several more times at the request of some of the others on the council.
“Well damn,” Venus said, sitting forward, propping her elbows on the table and supporting her chin on her fisted hands. “It appears that we’ve made an oopsie.”
“I’ll say,” Diana offered with a roll of the eyes. “I hereby rescind my objection to their plea.”
“Yup, me too,” Venus said, raising her hand. The rest of the council chorused their agreement.
“Ahhh, I’ve always loved a happy ending,” Mars roared. “Especially following a big, bold, bloody battle.”
“Holy shit. Does this mean what I think it does?” Dake said to Lula, Zeb and Cinnamus.
“It appears so,” Cinnamus said, beaming a bright smile. “Our little Lula has saved the day.”
“Hold me up,” Zeb said to Cinnamus. “I think I’m going to faint.”
“In light of the fact that we have apparently made a…eh…slight gaffe,” Jupiter said in a softer voice than he’d used during the rest of the proceedings, “the council hereby grants the plea of Lula and Dakin to remain together on Earth.”
The auditorium erupted with wild cheers and applause that went on and on.
“Oh my darling Lula! We did it! Sweetheart, we did it!” Dake shouted to be heard about the roar, squeezing her so tight she had trouble catching a breath. “But what…how did you manage…?”
“By believing I could, Dake,” Lula yelled back. “Because, my beloved soul mate, I love you with every fiber of my being. And because my life would be meaningless if I lost you.” She reached over and took Cinnamus’ hand. “Thank you, dear, dear Cinnamus. Thank you.” When she glanced back at the council, they were all laughing and cheering themselves.
“Silence!” Jupiter bellowed, clearly trying to hide a jovial smile. “We still have one important issue to address. Juno, my dear.” He gestured to his wife.
“It is with great happiness,” Juno said, “that I decree on behalf of the entire council that the rank of minor goddess is to be bestowed upon Lula, carrying with it all due responsibilities and the rare and precious gift of immortality. In addition, the rank of minor god is to be bestowed upon Dakin, carrying with it all due responsibilities and the rare and precious gift of immortality. Dakin and Zebulon?”
“Yes, ma’am?” the brothers chorused, each boasting grins so wide Lula thought it was a miracle their faces didn’t split open.
“The rank we are about to bestow is highly venerated. It means vast changes for both your lives. All gods are expected to act and conduct themselves honorably in accordance with an extensive list of rules and bylaws. The gift of immortality is not given or to be taken lightly, dear boys. We expect your dedication, devotion and loyalty so that the mystic secrets of Olympus and all that we are about will remain preserved and protected for eternity. Are you in agreement?”
“Yes, ma’am,” they again said in unison.
“Does this mean we’ll be able to stay brothers—I mean, stay in contact?” Dake asked.
Juno smiled. “It does. Special dispensation will be granted to allow you and your brother extended travel privileges to and from Olympus.”
“Wahoooo!” Dake shrieked, grabbing his brother and planting kisses all over his face as he hopped around doing a happy dance.
“Why, Dakin! Your inner woman has finally emerged!” Zeb said, laughing and crying at the same time while he grasped his brother close.
“All of the details of your new rank and responsibilities,” Juno added, “will be outlined for you in a briefing session. Cinnamus, if I’m not mistaken, you are the instructor in charge of tutoring new gods and goddesses, am I correct?”
“I am.” Cinnamus nodded. “And may I just say that I’ve never been so happy in all my nine hundred seventy years. Thank you, one and all.”
Tears of happiness spilling down her cheeks, Lula retracted her wings and spread them again. Clutching Dake in her arms, she lifted them from the floor a few feet, gently twirling as she captured his lips in a deep, soul-reaching kiss.
Chapter Twenty-Two
“Do you like to watch me do this?” Lula said, plucking the rigid peaks of her nipples with her fingers, moaning as she tugged and twisted. “Or do you like this better?” She snaked one hand between her thighs and rubbed herself, squirming as she continued pinching one nipple.
Dake’s cock shot up, saluting the ceiling of Lula’s little fairytale-like cottage. “Aw, man, you naughty, horny, wicked little nymph, you,” Dake said through devilish laughter.
They were in the bedroom of her small house, tucked away in the middle of a dense Olympian forest. Empty champagne glasses and a half-full second bottle of the bubbly sat on a nearby table. Dake lay happily sprawled in the center of her bed, which was cloaked in a fragrant, living blanket of soft roses—of the thornless variety.
The walls and ceiling were papered with floral wallpaper, while paintings of forest scenes and winged creatures dotted the walls. Furniture was covered with calico and chintz and ribbons and bows and…well, it was certainly the most ultra-girly place Dake had ever seen. More to the point, it was definitely Lula.
“I’m not being wicked in the least,” Lula said, smoothing her palm over the crown of Dake’s erection, then licking her hand. “Why, I merely thought I’d check to see if you were well enough to engage in sexual union yet, that’s all,” she offered in all innocence as she stood before him wearing nothing but her wings.
Dake chuckled. “I think, my bloodthirsty little nymph, the part you liked best was when Cinnamus told me and Zeb that, while we’re immortal now, we can still be injured—but we heal quickly.” He patted his bandaged chest and belly and Lula eagerly hopped onto the bed next to him. “That way you can have your cake and eat it too.”
“Mmmm, I do love to eat you, Dake.” Positioning herself between his spread thighs, she snaked down, mindful not to put her weight on the hoof wounds in his leg.
Once her face was even with his cock, she kissed the tip and watched as it jerked. Uttering a low moan, she wrapped her lips around him and sucked while rimming the bandage on his thigh lightly with her fingers. “Does the injury still hurt terribly?” She lapped at his cock as if she were a cat supping cream. Dake gave in to a contented groan.
“Honey, when you have that pretty mouth of yours on me, I can honestly say I feel no pain.”
“Do you speak the truth or are you just trying to be brave?”
Dake pressed her head back down where it belonged. “My leg’s feeling much better,” he answered as Lula did all sorts of
swirling magic with her tongue. “Pretty amazing, considering the impact of goat boy’s hoof. Jesus, what a maniac. My chest and arm are feeling better too.” Dake folded his hands behind his head and smiled. “You can go ahead and remove the bandages if you want to check my wounds out for yourself…and I know you do.” He laughed.
Lula’s head popped up from her carnal task. Her curls were haphazard, her eyelids half-closed and her lips wet from sucking him. She never looked more beautiful.
“I promise to be very careful,” she said, unwrapping him just like he was a birthday present. “Oh, it looks so much better.” She pecked a ring of kisses around the wound in his thigh. “The bleeding has stopped and the swelling is already subsiding. Oh Dake,” she smoothed her fingers around the circumference of the hoof print, “you were so very brave. But foolhardy too. Vibius could have easily slain you.”
“At least I had a better chance with him than getting char-grilled by a dragon,” Dake said as Lula tugged him to sit up so she could unwrap his chest and belly. “Speaking of which, I really like Dunniger. He’s a good guy.”
“He’s quite fond of you too, Dake. He’s hosting a farewell barbecue picnic for us tomorrow afternoon before we fly back to Earth,” Lula said, trailing her tongue along the discolored flesh where the crazed satyr rammed Dake with his horns. “All my classmates, as well as many of the gods, will be in attendance. Zebulon and Cinnamus too, of course.”
“Sounds great—as long as I’m not on the menu.”
“Ooh my poor baby. Look at this tear along your big, beautiful strong biceps,” Lula said, uncovering his arm and tracing her finger alongside the wound. She straddled his thigh, opening wide enough to slick her fingers across her clit before resting her soft, wet pussy on top of the hoof print.
“My gallant, courageous hero,” she breathed, cradling his wounded biceps between her breasts, pressing them together against his flesh as she writhed atop his leg.
“Oh yeah…I am a happy man,” Dake said, lifting her fingers to his lips and sucking her pussy juices from them. In the blink of an eye, Dake pinned Lula down against the flowers, careful not to damage her wings in the process.
Finding Cupid Page 29
