Blood of the Sun

by Mara Lee

  No, she could not kill him. But her sun would certainly do as she said. Make existence very painful for a long while, and probably—no certainly—damage his good looks for the next century or two.

  Why fight it? He would have told her in the end, anyway.

  He nodded his head jerkily. “Le-le-let go of me … I shall tell you what you wish to know.”

  Aega immediately let go of his shoulder.

  Hermes straightened his clothes and cleared his throat. He frowned when he saw the end of his hair.

  “You singed it. I believe you singed my hair, brat.”

  Aega shrugged. “It’s no more than you deserve. Now, tell me. We’re wasting precious time.”

  “Oh, very well. I do not know where you precious Kitar is. But I do know that the leader of the rogue Loopine, Xavier, has taken up residence in the Danvers Mansion. He has quite an arsenal and has brought many to his side. His force is great.” Hermes narrowed his eyes. “Do not underestimate him. To underestimate him is to be defeated. He is quite unpredictable.”

  Aega nodded her understanding. She repeated a question she had asked before. “What part do you play in all of this?”

  Hermes clenched his jaw. “Why,” he grinned tightly, “Have you not guessed? I’m the messenger.” He disappeared in a puff of theatrical smoke.

  Aega let out a beleaguered sigh. “I hate it when he does that.”

  * * * *

  Ditheous burst into his bedroom, only to find it empty. A choking, suffocating, hand of fear gripped him and he raced through the room looking for Aega.

  “Aega!” He roared at the top of his lungs. “Aega, where are you?” Gods what would he do if they had taken her? How would he—

  “You needn’t scream, Ditheous.” Aega walked out of the bathroom—naked.

  Ditheous swallowed heavily. Relief, and then desire flooded warm and heavy through him. Her pale body was giving off a radiant glow. Her long, white hair swirled around her, kissing her pale, naked flesh. She wore a soft, inviting smile on her beautiful face. Her arms were crossed against her chest, plumping her already full breasts.

  “What do you think you are doing?” Ditheous managed to force the words past his tight throat. His eyes were busy devouring her lovely nakedness.

  Aega walked slowly forward. “Well, I would think it pretty obvious. I was bathing.” She came to stand directly in front of his tense form. She trailed her fingers down his muscled arm and smiled into his clear eyes. “I was a mess. Blood, goop,” she sighed, “I needed to get clean. I didn’t think you’d mind if I freshened up.” She leaned in to nuzzle him. “Your bathroom is glorious. That tub of yours would have made Nero green with envy. You could fit an army of Roman soldiers within it.”

  Ditheous smoothed his hand down her silky hair and breathed in the scent of sunshine, light and cinnamon. Such scents were always present when she was near. He dropped his head to rest atop hers.

  “Do not…” he broke off and took a breath, “do not … frighten me like that again. I feared…” He could not finish he sentence.

  Aega drew her head back. Her eyes were wide and filled with questions. “You fear? What could you possibly fear, Ditheous?”

  Ditheous cupped her cheeks with his hands and drew her in for a kiss. He caressed her full, pink lips with his tongue. And then spoke softly, against them. “I feared you had been taken … that you were gone from me.” He kissed her swiftly, brutally and then pulled back to look at her. “And I could not bear the fear and cold that gripped me.”

  “Ditheous…”

  He pulled her tightly against him and murmured from the sanctuary of her lush hair. “I would not have borne your loss. You are a part of me, Aega,” he closed his eyes tightly, “Goddess of the sun. You are my light here on earth. I could not survive without your sun to bring me warmth … comfort … I could not survive without you.”

  Aega began to tremble against his body. Her heart thundered within her chest. What he spoke of was more than caring, more than amiable companionship. He spoke to her of true feelings, deep emotions. Goddess be. He was sharing his heart with her. A heart that she was learning to love. Oh Zeus … a heart that she already loved.

  Aega reached between their bodies to cup his cock, which leapt at her touch.

  “Aega…” he groaned. “Sunshine…” He dug his hands into her thick hair and twisted her head back. His eyes had gone dark with passion and his face had paled threefold. “If I have you now…” he dropped his head to her neck and licked the soft skin beneath her ear. “I fear I will not be gentle … I will demand all of you.”

  Aega shivered, delighted. Ditheous’ tongue was stroking, caressing her skin and molten fire was beginning to course through her.

  “I want that. I want you,” she murmured.

  Ditheous’ eyes dilated and the muscle in his cheek pulsed. He tightened his hold on her hair.

  “Undress me.”

  Aega licked her dry lips and nodded. She began to unbutton his shirt. The blue silk was whisper-soft and molded against his chest lovingly.

  When she had finished undoing all the buttons, she separated the soft folds to reveal the smooth, pale, perfection of his chest.

  “You are so beautiful…” Aega murmured, dropping to her knees. She quickly unbuckled his belt buckle and slid his slacks down.

  Her eyes widened appreciatively. Of course he would be bare beneath his pants.

  Aega wrapped her hand around his impressive cock. It was hot and hard and pulsing ever so slightly.

  She looked up. Ditheous was watching her with those beautiful clear eyes of his.

  She smiled, drew her tongue over her palm, wetting it, and quickly brought it back to his shaft. She ran her hand slowly down the length of him and then tightened her hold.

  He growled.

  Aega’s smile broadened. There was power here. A delicious sense of power and she loved it.

  She quickened the motion of her hand—pulling, gripping and squeezing. He was growing even harder within her grip—swelling—as if to break free of his exquisite confinement.

  Aega could resist no longer. She took the head of his hard cock within her mouth and sucked gently, eagerly. She swirled her tongue around his hot length, and gently, very gently, used her teeth to scrape his delicate flesh.

  Ditheous let out a roar, and suddenly Aega found herself flat on her back on the floor.

  “Ditheous…”

  “—No. Did I not warn you?” Ditheous hooked her leg over his arm and bent her limb even further back. “I would not be gentle. I would demand all of you … all that you have to give.”

  She moaned when she felt his long, thick, fingers at the entrance of her pussy.

  “And you said yes.” he growled. “You consented to my possession.”

  Aega bit her lip.

  Ditheous thrust three fingers into her hot core and instantly the soft folds of her flesh encompassed him. She was like fierce molten lava flowing around him. Her soft cries drove him on, and he quickened his thrusts.

  “Mmmmmm … sunshine…” He located her hard little button. It was plump and firm and he squeezed the taut bud with two of his fingers.

  Aega’s back arched off of the floor, and her arms shot out, desperate to hold him.

  Ditheous kept himself just out of reach. He was not through with her yet.

  “No … hands to yourself.” He increased the thrusts of his hand. He began to alternate between petting and pushing. One moment he would caress the soft inner folds of her pussy, swirling his fingers around her delicate flesh. The next, his fingers would become demanding, almost harsh, as they plucked and pulled and invaded her.

  The sensation was incredible.

  Aega began to pant. She was so close. Her heart was fluttering, hammering against her chest. Her muscles were clenching, pulsing … demanding … demanding her to fall, sink into the abyss.

  Ditheous leaned over and latched his mouth onto her breast. He bit down on the taut peak of her ni
pple, at the same time he squeezed the plump bud of her clit.

  It was enough to send her over the edge.

  Aega thrashed under his expert manipulation. Her eyes closed, her mouth opened. And she screamed. She screamed for all that she was worth.

  Ditheous smiled. It in no way softened the feral look on his face. His eyes glowed like twin stars and his face was white, cast as if in the surface of the moon.

  His smile widened, and his fangs caught the light.

  “I am in no way finished with you.” Ditheous spread her legs wide and hooked them around his waist.

  With one hard thrust, he was within her.

  Aega gasped and her eyes flew open.

  Ditheous chuckled at the stunned look of pleasure on her face. He had given her no warning. He had taken her, quickly, with force, the way he had wanted … the way he needed.

  “Yesss…” He hissed. She was tight as fist around his cock and soaking wet.

  He took her without mercy. His strokes were hard and demanding.

  “Ditheous,” she moaned. Her arms reached for him.

  Ditheous pinned her arms down and held them firm at her sides. He shook his head. “No. Mine.”

  Aega’s head twisted from side to side and her hips arched desperately forward. She tightened her legs around his waist and squirmed.

  Ditheous growled. His hips were a piston, pushing ever forward, urging them nearer and nearer to that final explosion.

  He could feel her, all of her. Her body was speaking to him, begging him. Her pussy was unbelievably hot, and her muscles were clenching deliciously around his cock.

  It was time. It was time to take her even further.

  Ditheous leaned over and latched his mouth onto the soft swell of her breast. He laved the tender flesh with his tongue, wetting it … caressing it. And when he felt the spasms of her body … he bit down—hard.

  Aega howled. Her arms broke free, and she dug her hands into the taut flesh of his back. Her pussy gave one last throbbing pulse and then exploded.

  “Oooohhhhhh my …oooohhhhh…” Aega tried to breathe past the intense pleasure.

  Lights danced in front of her eyes, shockingly bright lights. Her heart, she could feel her heart beating, dancing, shuddering … and she knew, without a doubt that Ditheous could feel her heart as well. He could feel the desperate beating of that vital organ and he could hear the voracious demands of her body.

  And then, suddenly, she could feel everything. She was with him. She was with Ditheous and he was with her. She felt his release as surely as she felt her own. She heard, she felt his body and knew that his demands matched her own.

  Her orgasm was the tidal wave that had swept them both away.

  “Beautiful,” Ditheous hissed from the side of her breast. His hand was busy stroking the smooth skin of her hip.

  Aega gasped. Her head dropped back weakly. “What … what … in the name of Zeus did you do to me?”

  His brow arched and he smiled lasciviously. “Well … if you haven’t figured that out by now…”

  Aega swatted him on the side of his head.

  “Owww, careful, your hands are rather hard,” he grumbled, smile still in place.

  Aega laughed and then moaned as she felt him shift within her. “That bite.”

  “Yes?” Ditheous drawled.

  “It had something to do with your bite,” Aega purred as his cock flexed and her pussy clenched to meet him.

  Ditheous grinned. “I’ve bitten you before.”

  “But not like that.”

  He bit her nipple gently, before slowly disengaging their bodies. His eyes roved hungrily over her naked, sated, body.

  She glimmered with a fine sheen of sweat and her pale flesh glowed brilliant in the soft light. Her eyes were still glassy and her cheeks were flushed a fine rose. But most enticing were his marks upon her body: the red, still seeping pinpricks at her breast and his essence dripping down her thighs.

  “No, not quite like that. I felt obligated to tell you what my body craved,” his eyes darkened, “demanded, tonight.”

  Aega leaned up on her elbows. “You said you wanted all of me.”

  “Yes.” Ditheous swept a stray lock of her hair back and smiled tightly. “There are degrees of … bites.”

  “What?”

  “I can choose how deep or how shallow my bite will be. With my bite I can share certain … experiences with my partner.”

  “Oh?” Aega sat up and scooted over to him. She plopped down into his lap, laughing at the look of surprise on his handsome face. “So, deeper bite … deeper connection?”

  “It is somewhat like that, yes.” Ditheous wrapped his arms around her, drawing her closer into the comfort of his body.

  “Ditheous,” she spoke his name softly.

  “Yes, sunshine?”

  “I fear I have distracted us from our course of action this eve.” She trailed her fingers down his hard back.

  Ditheous stiffened. “If you are talking about our rescue of Andre, then please, do not blame yourself. This distraction took two. And Andre’s strength is one that will survive.”

  She nodded slowly. “I am not sorry.” She spared a quick look up at his face and smiled quickly. “I needed to recharge. I will be in better form now. Much more able to help you rescue Andre.”

  Ditheous frowned. “Who said anything about you coming with me?”

  Aega’s mouth dropped open in shock as she pulled slightly away from him. “Pardon?”

  He dumped her on the ground and shot to his feet. “You are not coming with me. My pack will be more than sufficient to deal with this matter.”

  Aega growled low in her throat. “I do not think so.” She stood in her naked glory before him. “You are not leaving me behind. Have I not proved to you already what an asset I can be?”

  He raked her with an insolent glare. “Oh, that you have. However, those charms will not help us retrieve Andre.”

  “You … you … arrogant…” Aega found she could not even think of a word to aptly describe how she felt towards him at the moment. “I am coming with you. Not that you could stop me, anyway.”

  He stepped towards her menacingly. “Oh, couldn’t I?”

  Her body began to heat up. Her power rose steadily. “No, you couldn’t.”

  Ditheous growled, reached out to grab her and then turned back on his heel—away from her.

  “For love of the dark lord. Can you not just listen to me for one second?” He raked his hand impatiently through his hair.

  “No. Not when what you say is completely ridiculous.” Aega planted her hands on her slim hips and glared at him.

  He began to pace furiously. “You are impossible, absolutely impossible. This is about your safety. You have been slashed up by a Loopine, the wounds are still healing. You, yourself said that your energy is not where it should be. And you want to go headlong into a battle with a rogue pack of Loopine? Can you not see that such danger can be avoided? I love you. I will not have you put in harm’s way. You are headstrong and impetuous and you will do something stupid if not completely…”

  Aega put her hand to Ditheous’ mouth. Her eyes were wide and her cheeks flushed.

  “You love me?”

  Ditheous tensed.

  Aega pressed on. “You love me?”

  He pulled away. His pale cheeks seemed to blossom with a flush. “Well … certainly … I’ve said … well … you know … I’ve told you…” he broke off helplessly.

  “That you care for me,” Aega said quietly. “Yes. You told me that you care for me. You’ve told me much, Ditheous. But ‘tis the first time you’ve told me that you love me.” Her eyes sparkled. “It is different hearing the words. It feels different.” She reached over to caress his cheek. “I do, as well, Ditheous.”

  He swallowed.

  Aega rubbed her fingers across the softness of his lips. “I love you. I love you so much. ‘Tis frightening how much I feel for you. At times I feel as if I shall be swept
away by the emotions that flood me when you are near. It can be naught but love. And such love I have never felt before. You are the first, Ditheous. The first to inspire such a feeling within my breast.”

  He let out a soft sigh, before wrapping her in a fierce embrace. “Oh Goddess,” he murmured into her hair. “Oh sweet Goddess.”

  Aega smiled, inhaling his musky scent. He was all and everything. And it felt right, this nearness, this oneness with him. She was where she belonged. “Yes, Ditheous, your Goddess. Your Goddess, forever.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Ditheous scowled at Joseph, who was at present eyeing his beloved Goddess. Certainly she was worth a stare or two, or two hundred, what with the garment she was wearing. But that did not mean he was not going to rip out his Second’s heart if he didn’t stop drooling all over his Persian rug.

  “I fear you are upsetting him, boy,” Aega said with a smile. She finished sharpening her daggers and sheathed them in her wrist guards.

  Joseph sighed dramatically. “Everything I do upsets him.” He grinned. “But he loves me anyway. What can I say … how can you not love this face?”

  Ditheous narrowed his eyes. “I will be loving that face with my claws in a moment, if you do not avert those eyes of yours.”

  Joseph laughed. “Come, Ditheous, where would you have me look? Certainly this view is much more pleasant … much more pleasant.” Joseph licked his lips.

  Ditheous began to growl. He moved toward Joseph, but was cut off by Aega. She placed her hand gently on his forearm and smiled beguilingly at him.

  “Please tell me I will not be forced to do this for eternity.” Her tone was light, and teasing. “Separate you and that boy over there.” Aega placed a kiss on Ditheous’ chin and tweaked his nose. “The boy merely plays with you. If you wish to cease his fun…” her eyes twinkled. “Do not react.”

  “Did you just tweak my nose?” he asked, wide-eyed.

  “Hmmmm … yes … I believe I just did.” She winked. “You have such a tweakable nose.”

  Ditheous scowled when he heard Joseph break into gales of laughter. “That is the first time anyone has ever said that about my nose.”