by Brenda Trim
“Hocus pocus,” he muttered in a deep voice. “Fishie, fishie, you are home. Turn back to the man that looks like a gnome,” he finished and snapped his finger.
When nothing happened, Kiiara looked up at him, her eyebrows squished together, and her head tilted. He couldn’t resist and continued, “Well, I guess it didn’t work after all. Sorry. Guess you’ll have to keep him in a bowl as a pet.”
“What?” she screeched. “That’s it? You have nothing else? You’ve got to be kidding me!”
Poseidon threw back his head and laughed. Kiiara crossed her arms and kicked out her hip. “Haha, very funny. Aren’t you just full of surprises? And here I thought the Gods skipped over you the day they handed out a sense of humor,” she countered.
He stopped laughing and his gut twisted, thinking she was insulting him, but then she winked and the weight suddenly lifted. How easily she manipulated his emotions. He didn’t like the control she had over him. He needed to bid adieu and forget about this one before it was too late.
Focusing on the task at hand instead of the beguiling female, Poseidon closed his eyes. He called upon his aquatic powers and the magnetic pull to all sea creatures and felt the electrical sensation wash over his body. It was in this meditative state that he connected with all life forms of the ocean.
His heart raced at an alarming rate as he mentally swam through the darkest depths of the water. He held the Icefish, searching the cold waters of Antarctica until he located a lone man, frozen inside a block of ice and floating in the water.
Releasing the Icefish to its home, Poseidon pounded the solid glacier until it exploded, freeing the man inside. The male didn’t move and didn’t appear to be breathing. Grabbing him, he surged to the surface, uncertain if he could save him.
When Poseidon opened his eyes, he was on all fours on the icy ground. He sputtered and coughed up water, trying to catch his breath. Looking over, he saw the man he grabbed from the block of ice. Kiiara was leaning over him, trying to revive him.
“No, no, no. Come on, Kevin. Breath,” she pleaded when her mouth left his, and she pumped his chest.
“Let me try,” Poseidon offered, and she moved to the side, giving him space.
She grabbed her friend’s hand, then vigorously rubbed his exposed arms and legs. Poseidon needed to get him out of the cold before he died from hypothermia. Leaning down, Poseidon opened the male’s mouth and blew his life force into his lungs. He repeated it several times before hearing the faint sound of a heartbeat.
Leaning back, he met Kiiara’s wide eyes. She was so afraid of losing her friend, and he couldn’t bear to see her so frightened. He grabbed her and pulled her into his arms, whispering, “It’s going to be okay. He’s alive.”
She clung to him like he was her salvation and her tears spilled over. “Thank you. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you,” she professed, then pulled away and looked deeply into his eyes. And his world tilted.
Her gratitude was the real Kodak moment.
If ever he wanted to capture time with a photograph, it was now. When the details of her beautiful face started to fade from his memory, he could pull it out and look at it. Now he understood what she had been trying to tell him.
“Umm, can somebody explain what the fuck is going on?” the male sputtered and drew Kiiara’s attention away from Poseidon.
And then his moment was over.
“My God, Kevin. Are you okay? How do you feel?” Kiiara spouted as she crouched by her friend and hugged him tight, afraid to let go.
“Like my balls are cubes of ice. Where in the hell are we, Ki?” Kevin asked and squeezed back. She snorted at his comment. That was Kevin, always talking about his manhood in one way or the other.
She heard Poseidon’s deep voice interject, “We don’t have time for this. I need to get him out of here before he freezes to death. I’ll take him to your apartment and erase his memory. I’ll return as fast as I can.”
Kiiara stood and rubbed her forehead, carefully considering his words. She knew he had a point. Kevin needed to get out of the cold, or he would die.
“Will somebody tell me what the fuck is going on?” Kevin stuttered around chattering teeth, and she helped him to his feet. His skin was bright red from the cold air, and she knew it would turn blue within minutes.
“Okay, you need to listen to me,” Kiiara declared as she turned to Kevin with a stern gaze. “You’re going to have to trust me on this. This man is going to take you back to Topsail, and I’ll be there soon after. I’ll explain later. You know I have your back right?”
“Always and ditto,” he answered. It was their saying when things got hairy. They had fought side by side many times in the Iraq War and would never let the other down in a moment of need.
“Good,” she stated and turned back to Poseidon. “Take care of him, just like you did me, got it? And, don’t fuck it up,” she implored, and he shook his head at the comment.
“You okay here until I return?” Poseidon said and reached out to grab her gloved hand.
Suddenly, she wished she wasn’t wearing the garment because she wanted to feel his flesh against hers. Electricity sparked when they had contact, and she wanted to feel it again. Plus, he had brought Kevin back, and she was beyond grateful.
Poseidon had gone out of his way for her when he didn’t have to, and she appreciated that more than she could put into words. She was determined to repay him if it was the last thing she did.
“I’ll be more than okay here. Just me and the penguins playing in the snow,” Kiiara surmised and looked to the adorable birds, then back to Poseidon.
“That reminds me,” Poseidon blurted.
Before she could question him, she felt the ground start to rumble. His outstretched hand trembled then the snow and ice cracked and reshaped. Within minutes, a giant playground of ice formed. A large winding staircase led to a giant slide. The slide had turns and dips and seemed to go on forever. She had never seen anything so incredible.
Excitement bubbled. If she were any more excited, she’d pee herself. She wanted to run to the top and be the first to slide down. Turning to Poseidon, she tilted her head. “Why did you do that?”
“So your mind will be preoccupied. Before you know it, I’ll be back to take you home,” Poseidon said then turned to Kevin. “Ready?”
“And get back to warmer weather? Hell yes,” Kevin replied.
Kiiara watched as Poseidon took to the skies once again, Kevin in tow. The God continued to surprise her. Selfish and condescending one minute, caring and considerate the next.
Kevin’s repeated curses as they flew higher had her laughing. He didn’t care for heights, either. Boy, would they have some stories to share later.
But then she remembered Poseidon was going to erase his memories. She understood his reasons. Too many questions would be asked, and Poseidon didn’t have the time or desire to answer them. She wondered if she’d ever met a God before and had the encounter wiped from her mind. It was a disturbing thought, to say the least.
Squawking brought her back to the tuxedo-wearing animals that were gathering at the base of the icy staircase. It seemed they were waiting for the first daredevil to lead the way to the top but no one stepped forward. Kiiara accepted the challenge as leader of this silly circus. She made her way through the large group and ascended the steps.
On cue, they formed a single line and followed. The penguins seemed to be as excited as she was. Several minutes passed before she made it to the top, but once there, her mouth dropped. The view was breathtaking. Again, she wished she had a camera to capture the beauty.
Snow and ice as far as the eye could see. Several large glaciers were scattered about, forming mountains on the otherwise flat topography. Pure and pristine came to mind as she looked over the unchartered land.
Inhaling the crisp air, she sat down on the icy slide. The cold penetrated through her layers of clothing. She was higher than she realized and trepidation assailed, cau
sing her to reconsider her bold decision of going first.
Without warning, she was shoved from behind by one of her feathered friends and quickly glided down the slippery slope. Gasping, she prepared for terror to take over, but as she rounded the first turn, fear quickly evaporated, replaced by squeals of delight. The ride down the super slide was amazing!
Kiiara looked back to see her new friends were a short distance behind but gaining momentum. Not to be outdone, she leaned back and increased her speed.
It was exhilarating. The best adult slip-and-slide ever. Cold as fuck, but outrageously fun. The ice was smooth as glass, and she whipped through the frozen playscape faster than a falling trail of dominoes. There was a tunnel at the end, and she screamed as she was catapulted into blackness. It was the most exhilarating experience of her life to be sliding down a man-made frozen masterpiece with dozens of penguins as her playmates.
When she exited the tunnel, she reached the bottom and spun in circles on her butt as she left the slide. She toppled over and looked back to see the penguins doing the same but on their stomachs. Quickly, they hopped to their feet and started the climb to the top again.
Kiiara sat back and marveled at the scene of penguins playing on a winter wonderland. She could watch them for hours and never tire of the sight. All she needed was a hot buttered rum and some fresh popcorn to make the experience perfect.
Thinking of food had her stomach rumbling. Ordering a pizza was first on her list when she got home. Thoughts of her return trip reminded her she had a shit-ton of stuff to do, mostly figuring out her boat situation. She didn’t have enough money to go out and buy another one. The last thing she wanted was to take out a loan, but she might not have a choice.
A vibration beneath her ass brought her out of her musings. She looked to the Penguins, who had gone silent, huddling together in a corner at the base of the enormous slide. That was odd. Another vibration echoed, this one stronger than the last.
Kiiara scanned her surroundings but didn’t see anything. Could it be Poseidon returning?
Suddenly, an enormous creature appeared from behind one of the bigger glaciers. From Kiiara’s vantage point, it looked to be at least ten-feet tall and covered in long white fur. Standing on two large feet, it opened its mouth and growled. Razor sharp teeth had her scurrying towards the slide.
Another bellow and then the beast charged. Its two, massive, claw-tipped paws reached in her direction. What in the hell was going on today?
First, a visit from Hain, a man with seaweed hair and black, soulless pits for eyes. Then, Poseidon, a Greek God, saves her from her sinking ship that was being attacked by a sea monster. Now, she was alone on an icy continent with a hundred penguins and one…abominable snowman?
She was stuck in the fucking twilight zone.
5
Poseidon put on an extra burst of speed, anxious to get to Kiiara. Kevin was at her house sleeping soundly. Upon awakening, the only question in need of answering would be why he was in her home. Poseidon had left an explicit command that the male stay clear of Kiiara’s room. The idea of any man in her bed had him wanting to pound his fist through a wall…or someone’s face.
He needed to control his unexplained emotions. She had him wound so tight he could barely see straight. It was unacceptable behavior for him. He typically called the shots where women were concerned. They were more of a commodity than anything. Their purpose was to serve men’s needs, birth offspring, or fight in battle, nothing more. Certainly not the object of fascination for a powerful God like himself.
He heard others use terms like love and devotion, but he had never felt that way about a female. He couldn’t imagine caring so much that you would risk everything for another person.
Approaching the spot where he’d left her, he was surprised when he didn’t see her and a trail of penguins climbing the staircase or sliding down the icy slope. He assumed he would have to pry her frozen body from the slide to get her to leave, but then he saw why the playground was empty.
His vision zoomed in on a large creature, and he panicked. What was a Yeti doing here? They typically roamed the Himalayan Mountains, not Antarctica for fuck’s sake.
With lightning speed, he flew to the ground. He didn’t see Kiiara until he landed near the white beast. It was hovering over her as one oversized paw ripped through her parka with one swipe, shredding the fabric.
Poseidon whistled, drawing the creature’s attention away from Kiiara. The animal roared, then stormed toward him. When he got within striking distance, Poseidon pulled his fist back then punched through with all his force. As he nailed his target, blood spurted from the animal’s nose.
The Yeti cried out, and before the creature could retaliate, Poseidon punched him again, right between the eyes. The creature stumbled, then fell to the ground. Preparing to strike again, Poseidon was relieved when the beast didn’t move. He stepped closer. It wasn’t dead because he could see its chest slowly lifting with each breath, but at least it was unconscious.
Rushing to Kiiara’s side, he kneeled beside her. “Are you hurt?” he asked while inspecting her for injuries.
“I’m not hurt, thanks to you. It looks like you’ve saved my ass from death, again,” she commented and shook her head in disbelief.
The tear in her jacket exposed her skin and a slightly bloody laceration. Otherwise she seemed whole. If he had arrived even a minute later…he couldn’t even finish the thought. He would’ve lost his mind if anything had happened to her. And, that fact was more disturbing than the Yeti in Antartica.
“You’re a mortal. You didn’t stand a chance against the superior creature,” he admitted and helped her to her feet.
Brushing snow off her pants, she narrowed eyes at him. “I’ll have you know I’m an excellent fighter. If I’d had my gun, the fucker wouldn’t be breathing. And, to think I was trying to thank you,” she huffed. “Are we leaving now?” she asked belligerently and her blue eyes sparked with anger. It was a sexy sight even if he was the intended target of her rage.
“I’m sure you’re quite good with target practice, but in my world, you wouldn’t last a day against ruthless warriors. Let’s go before the pile of fur awakens. Say farewell to your friends,” he stated as he wrapped an arm around her waist.
Still angered, she pushed against his grip, but he held tight until she finally relaxed. Not only was she no match against his strength, she felt too damn good. As if she was molded to fit perfectly against him.
“Aside from the not-so-jolly white giant, this was an incredible experience. One I’ll never forget,” she muttered right before he lifted off the ground.
With a burst of speed, they left the icy region. She didn’t scream this time. Instead, her eyes were fixed on the black and white creatures. “See ya later, buddies. I’ll never forget our ride on the slide,” she called out.
Turning her head his way, she cocked her head. “What about your trident? Did you find any clues?”
“Unfortunately not,” he sighed. He had been wracking his brain on his next move and wasn’t sure where to look next.
“What will you do now?” she asked.
“I don’t know. I have no thought as to Hain’s whereabouts,” Poseidon admitted. It was frustrating and infuriating to be at the male’s mercy.
“What about a woman?”
“What do you mean?” he asked curiously.
“Well, in my experience, men always seek the company of a woman. And, believe it or not, some even value their opinions and advice,” Kiiara stated, the last part undeniably laced with sarcasm.
Poseidon chuckled. “Point taken, mighty mortal. Although, you just gave me an idea of where he might have gone,” he amended and chastised himself for not thinking of it first.
“You’re welcome,” she added, and he looked over to see her grinning.
“Thank you, Kiiara. You might have just saved my ass,” he teased and winked.
She peered over his shoulder then met his gaze. �
��It’s worth saving,” she replied with a sexy smile that had his cock twitching. “And remind me never to look down like that again. My stomach just turned,” Kiiara admitted before she buried her head against his shoulder.
Her hair smelled incredible, like a field of fresh flowers, and he breathed deeply, allowing her unique scent to wash over him. Intoxicating.
He was almost to her home and didn’t want their time to end. Being in her presence awakened him like nothing before. He craved her nearness, and the idea of never seeing her again was unacceptable. He had to think of something and quick.
“Would you consider joining me? The female I’m going to visit might be more inclined to help if you are with me,” he proposed.
He was a liar. Tavi would be more motivated to assist if he went alone because she’d be hoping for a night of sex. Usually, he would be completely on board with that. As a God, he could shift forms and have intercourse with many different creatures. At the moment, he wanted nothing to do with any female except the one in his arms. He hoped Kiiara didn’t see through his desperate attempt to spend more time together.
If she said no, he considered kidnapping her. If it kept her by his side a bit longer, he would gag and bind her. And that wicked thought caused his cock to kick in his leathers again.
Kiiara’s heart skipped a beat at the thought of accompanying Poseidon. The man drove her insane with his sexist and immortal superiority, but there was a gentler, kinder side occasionally revealed that she found irresistible.
Truth was, other than daily excursion with Kevin, her life was boring and lonely. Her dad died when she was a teenager, and her mom had passed away a few years ago, which Kiiara swore was due to a broken heart. Her mother never recovered when he died in a storm at sea. Joining this man was the best offer she’d had in a long time, even if he made her crazy with his contemptuous remarks.
There was a significant likelihood she would regret her decision, but she decided to go for it. “Do you mind if we go to my house first so that I can pack and check on Kevin?”
