Poseidon's Addiction: (Gods of Olympus, Book Five)

by Brenda Trim

  They stood for several moments in silence, each waiting for the other to speak. Finally, Poseidon gave in. “Kiiara, I won’t deny my feelings for you. I want you more than I should. But, you’re not a part of my world and never will be. It’s that simple,” he explained and let go of her waist.

  He saw the hurt flash in her eyes before she masked it. “I agree. We would never work out. There is an attraction, yes, but we can’t act on it. Ever,” she spat, and the blade sliced deeper into his heart.

  A part of him had wished she had said they would find a way. That she had to have him and wanted him as much as he wanted her. But the words never came. Instead, she turned and started walking back to where they’d parked the Jeep.

  He followed her in silence until they reached the vehicle. As soon as they were both in their seats, Poseidon turned and met her gaze. She was so incredibly beautiful, and the thought of losing her made his insides twist and knot.

  “Do you want to go home? I’d like you to accompany me to South America. I’m still racing against time, but I will take you back first if you wish. It’s up to you,” he said with a shaky voice and held his breath, praying she didn’t accept the offer to go home.

  Kiiara stared at the Greek god. She was torn. Her head knew the best thing for her would be to go back to her life and forget about the past thirty-six hours. Poseidon was nothing but heartache, and she needed to put distance between them. But her heart throbbed at the thought of never seeing him again. Could she walk away?

  His sea-green eyes sent a wave of arousal through her body. He had such a hold on her, penetrating something deep in her soul, and, right away, she knew the answer. Walking away was a no, even if staying meant more pain down the road.

  “I’ll go with you,” she croaked, and he smiled. God help her, she was in too deep with no life vest to save her from drowning.

  Poseidon cranked the Jeep and headed back toward the city. The music on the radio played softly, and Kiiara was lost in thought. He had confirmed his attraction but made it clear it was nothing more. She supposed she should be grateful he didn’t profess love to get her into bed and then leave her high and dry. He was a man of integrity if nothing else.

  Hopefully, they could find his trident and part ways on good terms. Poseidon had helped her with Kevin, and she was eternally grateful. Accompanying him was saving valuable time, and that was helpful, albeit a small gesture.

  Curious about travel plans, Kiiara turned to ask Poseidon and noticed he looked like he was coming down with something. His tan skin was tinged gray, and she knew that wasn’t a good sign. “Are you okay? You don’t look so good,” she acknowledged and touched his forearm. His skin was blazing hot.

  “Remember, the further I get from water, the weaker I become. As soon as we reach the ocean, my body will rejuvenate,” he stated as he kept his eyes on the road.

  “That’s right. You did mention that. I didn’t realize it was physically debilitating for you. Will you have the strength to teleport or fly?” Kiiara asked.

  “We’ll teleport again, and my strength will come back once I get to the water. Thank you for staying,” Poseidon said and grabbed her hand. His large palm swallowed hers as he twined their fingers.

  Her heart melted, but she couldn’t let him know. “I owe you. You saved Kevin, so this is the least I can do,” she clarified and released his hand. Even a simple touch had her wanting him. A lump in her throat threatened to suffocate her if she didn’t get ahold of her emotions.

  Swallowing, she half-croaked, “So, what’s the story on Tavi? You two talked about a curse. What did she do to be punished for such a long time?”

  “Tavi had an affair with a powerful god. When he wouldn’t leave his wife to be with her, Tavi went to the wife and told her of the affair. Tavi’s lucky she wasn’t beheaded for her actions,” Poseidon explained in a hoarse voice. He wasn’t kidding about needing to get back to water. He looked like he had the flu.

  “Oh, I see. And, where does Hain come in?”

  “I’m not sure. I’d heard Hain was spending time with Tavi, that’s all. I didn’t know he’d stolen her dagger. Hain is nothing but a common thief, and I’m going to enjoy choking the life from his body when I find him,” Poseidon snarled, and Kiiara saw his hands tighten around the steering wheel.

  Kiiara could feel his rage and was compelled to offer comfort. Unable to resist, she reached over and placed a hand on his shoulder. His tight muscle relaxed under her palm, and she moved to the base of his neck, massaging the area. Poseidon moved his head to the side, allowing her more access to the area.

  Kiiara continued rubbing, and it seemed to calm him. Her thoughts skipped down the sensual path, and she imagined him naked on a bed while she massaged every inch of his muscular body before she straddled his waist, every glorious inch filling her. How incredible it would be to have him satisfy her cravings.

  Shaking off her fantasy, she pulled her hand away when she realized Poseidon was half-asleep behind the wheel. As soon as she removed her hand, his eyes popped open, and he swerved to straighten the Jeep.

  “Sorry about that. Your touch is nothing short of magical,” Poseidon admitted and looked Kiiara’s way. Sea-green orbs she had come to love, and hate, twinkled with mirth.

  Kiiara smiled at the comment. “You haven’t seen half of what these babies can do,” she joked and held up her hands, wiggling her fingers at him.

  Poseidon barked a laugh. “Such a tease,” he said and grabbed one of her hands. Bringing it to his lips, he tenderly kissed her fingers while staring seductively at her.

  “Oh, who’s the tease now, Flirty-Boy,” she razzed, but didn’t pull her hand from his this time. When he twined their fingers, she allowed it.

  There was an undeniable bond between them that deepened as they spent more time together. The pull to Poseidon was like nothing Kiiara’d felt before and feared she’d never feel again. He rubbed a thumb across her hand, and it sparked electricity that shot to her core.

  Kiiara knew time was critical for Poseidon to retrieve his trident but she also knew that when he did, their time together would end.

  As much as she wanted him to retrieve his weapon, part of her hoped the sand continued to fall through the hourglass so she could be with him long as possible.

  9

  Poseidon’s energy and strength renewed as they teleported through the water of the Amazon River. Thankfully, it didn’t matter if it was fresh water. He was reborn when he contacted with the liquid he ruled.

  The protective bubble holding him and Kiiara broke the water’s surface and landed on the grassy banks of Leticia, Columbia. When the barrier disintegrated, a blast of hot air hit his face. Summers were brutal this time of year, and the scorching sun blistered across his skin.

  “I hope you have sun protection in that bag of yours,” he suggested as his eyes roamed Kiiara’s exposed skin. Her skin was bronzed from the sun, but that didn’t mean her flesh was accustomed to this country’s scorching heat.

  “No, but I brought a hat and long-sleeved cotton shirt, so that will have to do,” she answered and slid her backpack from her shoulders. She rummaged through her bag and pulled out a couple of items.

  She quickly pulled a white top over her head then placed a pink cap on top of her braided locks. He smiled as he read the inscription. In bold black letters, it said Boat Hair Don’t Care across the front.

  Just then, a canoe drifted into view. An older man stood inside the craft, rowing towards them. He directed the boat until the bow launched onto the grassy shore and stopped.

  “Te ves perdido, mis amigos,” the man declared with a grin.

  Poseidon exchanged a brief discussion with their visitor, telling the native he was correct and they were indeed lost. He explained how he was in search of the people rumored to have seaweed hair and pale skin. The man’s brown eyes widened, and Poseidon knew there was truth to the story Tavi had overheard.

  They spoke for a few more minutes then he turned
to Kiiara. “This is Roberto. He is going to give us a ride to where we need to go. He says a woman by the name of Gabriella lives downriver with children that fit my description. Hopefully, she will have answers for us. He says it’s a short trip on his canoe,” Poseidon explained.

  Kiiara turned toward their guide and smiled. “Gracias,” she said then looked back to Poseidon. “That’s one of five Spanish words I know. Damn, I wish I’d paid more attention to the language when I was stationed in Spain right about now,” she confessed with a chuckle.

  He admired her honesty. She had no qualms admitting her weaknesses. Although, he could only find one flaw with the woman. She was mortal, and, if he were honest, it was what made her so uniquely Kiiara and not a flaw at all.

  “Lucky for you I know many languages. I’ll take care of you,” Poseidon replied and extended a hand to help Kiiara climb inside the small craft.

  “That’s what scares me most. Don’t fuck it up,” Kiiara teased him with the slogan he’d heard her spout several times. When the boat teetered, she struggled to gain her balance. She flailed her arms and widened her stance and moments later, the boat stilled. “See? Easy-peasy,” she said with a triumphant nod.

  Roberto muttered words to her, and she looked to Poseidon, for his interpretation. “He says you adapt well to surroundings. That it’s a useful trait to possess, Kiiara mou,” Poseidon explained, and she grinned.

  Poseidon wasn’t sure if it was the compliment from Roberto, or if she liked his term of endearment but he didn’t care. When she smiled, it lit up his world.

  The boat glided along the river, and Poseidon pointed out several inhabitants of the water. She jumped when a crocodile surfaced beside their boat and then turned back to glare suspiciously at Poseidon.

  “If you summoned that thing, make it go away. I’m not in a protective bubble in the ocean, and that beady-eyed monster just licked his chops,” she blurted and pointed at the creature.

  “I was hoping you’d jump into my arms for protection again,” Poseidon teased and then sent a message for the crocodile to retreat.

  Blush stained Kiiara’s cheeks, and she cut eyes towards Roberto. “Yeah, not likely. We have an audience,” she whispered, and Roberto laughed, suggesting the man might be fluent in other languages.

  “Estamos aqui,” said Roberto, pointing his finger as he maneuvered the boat to the shore.

  Poseidon looked to where the man motioned. Not far from the banks of the river, a house made of teak and bamboo sat on a hill. A beautiful woman stepped out of the home and began walking toward them. Roberto hurried them from his boat then quickly pushed from the bank, spouting something about cursed evil spawn, and how he had to leave before the others came.

  Poseidon helped Kiiara to level ground then grabbed her hand. He wanted her to know he would protect her. He had failed her when they’d encountered Tavi, and he refused to do that again.

  He led them towards the woman, stopping when the dark-haired female held up her hand, halting them. “Gweh! Why are you here?” she spouted with a thick accent. She was of West African and Jamaican descent if Poseidon wasn’t mistaken.

  “My name is Poseidon, and this is my companion, Kiiara. I’m here regarding Hain,” he offered and watched as her expression went from curious to furious in the next instant.

  “You tell that no-good sneaking lyad he’s not welcome in my bed. My name is Gabriella, so he isn’t mistaken whom you are talking about. That asshat left me here to fix the destruction he left behind. And if you’re a friend, you can leave too,” she shouted as she thrust her thin arms fisted on her slim hips.

  “Oh hell no, we are not friends of Hain. That piece of shit stole from Poseidon, turned my colleague into a fish, and we need to find him. If you can tell us where he went, we’ll gladly kick his ass up one side and down the other,” Kiiara interjected.

  Poseidon wasn’t exactly confident about Kiiara’s approach, but Gabriella seemed appeased. “Ah, well, in that case,” Gabriella said and motioned for them to follow. “You must be thirsty.”

  Kiiara looked to Poseidon and grinned. “It’s a girl thing. You wouldn’t understand,” Kiiara explained and quickened her steps to catch up to Gabriella.

  The females jabbered all the way to the house. Surprisingly for this part of the world, the residence was in tip-top shape with higher end furnishings, and Poseidon wondered how Gabriella afforded such a place.

  When they reached the back door, Gabriella stepped inside, and Poseidon and Kiiara followed. Seven sets of midnight eyes met theirs upon entry. There were four boys and three girls ranging in ages, with the oldest boy nearing manhood, by Poseidon’s calculations. All the children sat at a large wooden table set for a meal.

  “Haifa,” Gabriella called out, and one of the older children looked her way. “Please add two more plates to the table. We have guests for dinner,” she announced and walked past the table into a spacious kitchen, her long skirt flowing around bare feet.

  The girl, Haifa, stood and walked to a cabinet and retrieved dinnerware, all the while the others remained fixed on the newcomers. Kiiara walked over and introduced herself, shaking each child’s hand, even the baby that was sitting in a highchair.

  “Poseidon, Kiiara, come,” Gabriella yelled, and he and Kiiara strode to the large island where Gabriella was cutting vegetables and tossing them in a bowl with lettuce.

  “Please make yourself at home. As you can see, I have my hands full, and I don’t have time to dote on anyone. It’s fend for yourself around here,” she conveyed with a laugh. “Kiiara, if you’ll grab three glasses from the cabinet to the right of the fridge, there’s some freshly made Hibiscus Lemonade in that pitcher right in front of you. I’d say we could all use a libation,” she added, her unique accent full of mirth.

  “Hibiscus lemonade? I’ve never heard of it. What’s in it?” Kiiara asked as she grabbed three colorful glasses and proceeded to pour the red liquid.

  “Ah, well, you’re in for a treat. Simple syrup, club soda, fresh lemon juice, vodka, and, of course, hibiscus buds. It’s my family’s recipe from back home,” Gabriella relayed as she went to the oven and peeked into a large pan. “About ten more minutes and we’ll eat.”

  Poseidon took a sip of the beverage. It was surprisingly tasty, and he imagined it held a silent punch if one consumed too much.

  “Oh, this is delish!” exclaimed Kiiara and she practically drank the entire glass in one gulp. “You need to change the name to Hibiscus-if-you-riskus,” Kiiara spouted giddily, and Poseidon wondered if she was already feeling the effects of the alcohol.

  She hadn’t eaten much since they left the hotel in Bangladesh, and he knew she wasn’t much of a drinker. “You might want to slow down there, Flower-Girl,” he observed as he watched her pour another glassful.

  “Poo on you, Ocean-Lover,” Kiiara quipped and gave him a not-so-friendly glare. Why was she angry with him? He’d been considerate and looking out for her best interests, and somehow had still managed to anger the woman. He would never understand females, mortal, or not.

  “Fine. Drink the entire pitcher,” he replied and sat on one of the barstools at the counter.

  “He’s right, I’m afraid. That lemonade will sneak up on you if you’re not careful,” Gabriella professed as she motioned for one of the kids to take the salad to the table.

  Poseidon glanced over at the family and knew without a doubt these were Hain’s children. The pale skin and seaweed hair were a dead giveaway, and he wondered about the story behind Hain and this woman.

  “So, what can you tell me about Hain? Has he been here recently?” he asked, and all eyes popped wide, except for Kiiara’s. She was too busy enjoying her fruity drink.

  “We eat first then we’ll discuss that subject. I don’t want to spoil the taste of our bickle,” Gabriella said sternly then shared a look with her children.

  Poseidon saw such sadness behind her eyes. He almost wished he hadn’t come because he had a bad feeling this wasn�
�t going to be a pleasant visit.

  Kiiara wiped her mouth with her napkin and stood up to take her empty plate to the kitchen.

  “Kiiara, leave that there. My pickneys will clean while we go and sit outside for a bit. Poseidon, grab the pitcher of lemonade and let’s have that chat,” Gabriella instructed as she rose from the table and led them towards the front of her home.

  Kiiara loved the house. It was warm and inviting, with teak cabinetry and colorful walls. She didn’t know what scent was burning in the ceramic pot, but she needed to find out if they sold it in the states. It was amazing, she thought, as she picked up notes of citrus and sage wafting through the air.

  As they exited Gabriella’s house, Kiiara gasped.

  The entire front area of her property looked like a nuclear bomb destroyed it. Where her back yard was lush and green, this was nothing but dirt and rock surrounding a hole big enough to hold her house.

  “What happened here?” Poseidon asked as he walked closer to the destruction.

  “Hain. I wanted you to see this before we get into the details of my relationship. Let’s go to the back where I don’t have to look at this horrible sight,” Gabriella muttered and shook her head. Kiiara couldn’t tell if she was disgusted or heartbroken, or maybe both.

  They walked around to the back of the house, and Gabriella took a seat in a brightly painted Adirondack chair. There were eight more like it surrounding a large round table, and Poseidon sat the lemonade on the wood surface and took a seat by Gabriella.

  Kiiara poured another drink, number five by her calculation. She didn’t know why, but she was addicted to the Hibiscus-if-you-riskus.

  Kiiara sat on the other side of Poseidon. As soon as she got comfortable, she felt a sting on her neck. “Ouch. Do you have mosquitos here?” she blurted as she slapped the area with her palm. If there were even one within five miles, it would search her out and suck on her for the rest of the night.

  “Uh oh, we’ve got a sweet one among us. You eat good to the critters,” Gabriella answered. “And this is the worst time of year for them. Here, rub some of this on your wrists,” she offered, reaching into her shirt pocket and handing her a small container.