by Marie Medina
Zeus snapped his fingers, and his clothes changed to light brown linen pants and a matching unbuttoned shirt. Hera raised her eyebrows and giggled.
“He’s been staying at home lately, but he can’t resist showing off that amazing body to a beautiful guest.”
“Back to Hypnos,” he said, giving Hera a look that told Daphne the queen of the gods was likely to enjoy the way he would punish her for that remark. After a moment, he turned to Daphne. “He was very concerned, and obviously he cares for you very much. None of us can say if he feels anything more.”
Daphne paused, but after a moment she said, “Except Aphrodite.”
Hera turned to her sharply as she set her teacup down. “Would you want to see her?”
Daphne shook her head. “I don’t. She did this. I can forgive her someday, I’m sure, but I want to try to deal with other things first. I would rather pursue things with Hypnos at my own pace.” She looked down into her teacup. “Or perhaps his pace.” She took another sip. Her stomach still churned, but she felt calmer.
Hera touched her hand. “We will help you any way we can.”
Daphne set the cup aside and stood up. “I know you will. Right now I’d like to see my father.”
“Of course,” Zeus said. “You’re free to go. Do you want someone with you?”
“No. I’ll be fine. Thank you.” She walked from the room quickly. She kept her mind closed so they wouldn’t know where she was really going.
* * * *
Apollo sat down on his couch next to Harmonia. He had no idea what to talk about, but he’d felt obligated to invite her in. She had shown him a great deal of kindness, and he felt it wasn’t only because it came naturally to her as the goddess of harmony. Now that he was completely sober, he knew Zeus had introduced them before at a party. She was one of those types who lived among mortals. He rarely left the realms of Mount Olympus, so they’d never exchanged more than a few words. Despite that, he knew she liked him. He might not have a great record with women, but he knew them, and this one liked him.
That fact didn’t make him as happy as it could have. First of all, Aphrodite was her mother. It didn’t matter that they didn’t have much of a relationship. Second, he’d only recently reached closure with Alala, even though the situation was still a little odd. Alala still caring for him and her willingness to help him made it hard not to remember that, despite not falling in love with her, he’d had feelings for her. The circumstances had also rekindled his once flaming desire for Eris when she confronted him about what had happened between him and Alala. As with Alala, he didn’t love Eris and never had, but there had always been a spark, even if she’d never felt it. Most importantly, Daphne was free from the spell that had kept her from him for so long. The curse of Eros’ arrow was broken as well. He had his chance. He couldn’t let anything stand in the way of that.
“How about offering me a drink?” Harmonia asked.
He jumped up. “Yes. Sorry. I have a lot to consider right now. What would you like?”
“A martini. Gin. Extra dirty.” She smoothed her skirt. “I’m not here to complicate your life. I promised not to hop in your bed, and I meant it.”
He mixed her drink, dropping in extra olives and pouring in a little more of the olive juice. He wondered if she’d asked for it “extra dirty” as a sly way of teasing him. He didn’t like martinis, vodka or gin, and he hated the way the olives made them taste. He took it to her.
“Hope you like it. They aren’t to my taste, so I hardly make them.”
She took a sip and swallowed slowly. Licking her lips, she nodded her approval. “It’s good. Thank you.”
“I’d like to settle something here. I’ve been through too many bad relationship type things to beat around the bush.” He sat back down next to her.
“‘Relationship type things’? That’s one way to put it, I guess.”
He frowned. He was no great appreciator of literature or poetry, but he didn’t care for her quibbling with the way he phrased things. “You know what I mean. No relationship actually developed, but there was tension. Or something happened, but only once. Situations like that. Come on. You know the state I’ve been in with this curse.”
She laughed. “I do. I’m only teasing.”
“You’re doing a lot of that.” He decided to get right to the point. “You like me, don’t you? You weren’t just flirting before.”
“Yes. I think you’re interesting. Very attractive too. I like you.”
He’d expected her to say something vague and coy. Her candid answer grabbed his attention. “You’ve picked an odd time to pop up then, considering Daphne’s unexpected reappearance.”
“Maybe so, but I saw you needed a friend. You don’t have many of those anymore.”
He knew she was right, but her actually saying it made him angry. “You can say you’re not here to complicate things, but you don’t come to a guy’s aid and push your amazing cleavage in his face if you aren’t planning something.”
“You’re absolutely right.”
Again, he was surprised. And more interested. He’d sobered up, but he still had the inclination to pull the front of her dress down and show her how impressed he was by her enchanting bosom. “So you might as well tell me.”
“An honest answer?”
“Please. I can’t deal with anything too complicated right now.”
“One way or another, you and Daphne are going to settle things now. If you two don’t end up together, I want you to already know not only that I exist but also that I am interested.”
He almost said, “You sound like my kind of girl.” He stopped himself just in time. He was too used to giving ready lines like that to women. Though she might like its meaning, she would not be impressed or flattered. Again he thought of Eris. Both women were too intelligent and independent to be seduced by words or even wit.
“I’ve stunned you into silence.”
He looked up into her beautiful eyes. “Yes. I’m candid, but most women aren’t.”
“Most of the women you’ve bedded haven’t been. You probably felt safer with them though.”
Goddess of harmony or not, Harmonia could be infuriating. How dare she! “Safe works for me. I’ve been hurt, and you know exactly how badly. I’m not going to sit here and listen to you criticize me when you’re only here to manipulate me.”
She sighed and set her drink down. “My plan isn’t working, it seems. I’m only upsetting you.”
“Yes, you are.” She was also turning him on with amazing skill. Her words definitely hit home. He’d always loved verbal sparring with women, and it was one of the things that had made Eris so captivating. Bantering heatedly with a woman who was actually interested? Not something he needed right now. It would only lead to his bedroom.
“I’m sorry you don’t like hearing the truth. It would do you some good.”
“I’ll figure out what is good for me in my own time.”
She stood up. “You might want to hurry. Daphne is on her way here.”
His stomach clenched. “How do you know that?”
She smiled. “I am more elemental than you are. I can be more aware of my environment when I want to be. She’s walking here now. Only about half a mile away.”
He got up and looked around hurriedly. “You have to leave then. A beautiful woman in a sexy dress having a drink with me is not what I want her to find.”
She walked over to him. “I’m leaving. One last thing.” She pulled him to her. They were exactly the same height because of her three-inch heels. She pressed her bosom against him, making her breasts press together and plump out of her dress in a seductively maddening way. She took his face in her hands and pressed her lips to his. She immediately parted his lips with her tongue and kissed him deeply. He hadn’t even gotten over the surprise of having her cleavage thrust against him when he discovered that her tongue was very insistent and she knew how to kiss a man silly. His cock jumped as he imagined her skilled m
outh engulfing it. She released him and giggled. “I’ll find you later.” Then she disappeared.
He had to sit down to catch his breath. His cock was as hard as a rock. He wanted to tell her off like he’d never told anyone off before, but that thought took a backseat to his first thought. He wanted to bend her over the nearest piece of furniture and teach her a lesson. His mind filled with the sounds she’d make as he did so.
Someone knocked on his door.
He cursed and looked down at his cock. There was no spell or potion to get rid of an erection, unfortunately. He worked a glamour quickly and checked it out in the mirror. It looked fine. Daphne wouldn’t be able to tell he was flustered if he managed to keep it together. He took a few deep breaths and went to the door.
Daphne wore a violet dress and looked lovely. Her eyes were sad as she smiled. “Hi.”
“Hi. I have to say I didn’t expect to see you at all.”
“I know. May I come in?”
He ushered her in. “Please. Can I get you anything?”
“No. I came to talk, and then I’m going home to my father.”
“All right.” He remained standing for a moment as she sat down. He suddenly felt like every move had to be considered carefully. His erection was subsiding, but seeing a woman he’d spent centuries fantasizing about wasn’t helping it to go away completely. He finally sat down. “We do have a lot to talk about.”
“Yes, we do. I’ve regained all my memories. Zeus helped me.”
Apollo nodded. What would that mean? She seemed very sad, and he wasn’t sure why she would feel that way.
“And I remember how I treated you. I know it was because of the arrow, but I still feel terrible. I know how strong my feelings of hate were, so I can only imagine how you felt about me. You had to go on with your everyday life as if nothing had happened. You didn’t get the chance to forget the way I did. You’ve lived with this for so long. You had no escape.”
“But you shouldn’t feel guilty about that. This was Aphrodite’s fault.”
“I know that, but I want to apologize anyway.”
He reached out and took her hand. “I’m happy to accept if it makes you feel better.”
His touch seemed to make her even more nervous. He’d only wanted to comfort her, so he let go. “Before all this, I believed you’d started to like me. Has it been too long for that to matter?”
“I’m not sure about that yet.”
As much as it pained him, he said, “I don’t want you to feel obligated to try again with me.”
She sat and silently looked at her hands.
“I mean it. You are free to make all of your own decisions. I hope one of them will be to see me again.”
“Even if it’s only as friends?”
He mustered all his courage. “Yes.” He meant it because he wanted her to be happy, but part of him was pushing him to fight for her. He wanted to tell her he’d wait as long as he had to. He longed to pull her close and kiss her. He’d loved her for so long it was hard to see her as she truly was. A virtual stranger, a woman he hadn’t talked to for hundreds of years.
“I’m glad because I have no idea what I want right now.”
He’d pushed for honesty moments earlier with Harmonia, and he decided to continue with Daphne. “I had no idea you were in contact with anyone. I didn’t know it was possible.” He gazed into her eyes. “I saw the way you looked at Hypnos, the way you clung to him.”
She looked even sadder, and he hated that he had been the cause, but he pressed forward. “He means a lot to you, doesn’t he?”
“Yes. I have very strong feelings for him. Nothing had happened before though.”
Apollo felt his blood chill. “Before when?”
“Before today. I always felt something for him, but he was distant. After his change, after he was rejoined with the other half of himself, I felt he was seeing me differently. My whole world was shattered today. He was the only thing I had to cling to.”
He looked at the floor because he simply couldn’t meet her eyes. “What happened?”
“I seduced him. I convinced him there was no other way to calm or comfort me. I gave him my virginity. It was what I wanted.”
“I see. Was this before or after you were feeling sorry for me?” he asked bitterly.
“Before. I had no idea who you were when I had sex with him. I had no memories.” She stood up. “I should leave. You’re going to hate me now anyway.”
He grabbed her hand. “Don’t jump to conclusions. Give me more than ten seconds and I’ll calm down.”
She sat back down. “Okay. But in my defense, even after I regained my memories, you don’t have much right to be angry.”
“Really? I don’t?” he asked in disbelief.
“No, you don’t. You never said you loved me. You’d spent several weeks trying to fuck me. I told you I had no interest in love or marriage. I told you I valued my virginity. You kept trying though.”
“So I’m a jerk for wanting to show my love physically?”
“Of course not. I’m just saying we were not together. Not a couple.”
“Because you were afraid of love. It wasn’t sex, it was love you were afraid of!” He regretted the words immediately.
She looked devastated. “I know that. You didn’t have to say it.”
“I’m sorry.”
She stood up again. “It’s fine. I think we’ve said all we need to say. We aren’t star-crossed lovers. We’re two people who were flirting. I didn’t want love or sex, but I didn’t send you away because the attention was nice. So many other women envied me. We have no obligation to each other. It was all so long ago.” She walked toward the door.
He went after her and stood in front of the door. “You made love with him. At least kiss me once to see if there’s a difference.”
“We’ve kissed before.”
He shook his head slowly. “I stole kisses, quick pecks on your cheek or neck. A few on the lips. But you only let me. You didn’t return them.” He looked at her pleadingly. “I know I have a bad temper and said things that hurt you, but it’s because I’m hurt. I’m sorry and will try to do better, to be only your friend if that’s what you want in the end. If you meant your apology earlier, please kiss me once.”
She looked abashed. “Okay.” She stepped forward and put her hands on his shoulders.
He remained still and didn’t touch her. He didn’t want to scare her. He wanted this to be on her terms.
She leaned forward and pressed her lips to his. Her kiss was sweet, and she tasted like jasmine. He opened his mouth and laved her lips with his tongue. She continued the kiss, searching for his tongue with hers. He wanted to cherish her and cradle her against him, but he still didn’t touch her.
She pulled away and exhaled. She looked so beautiful. He longed to touch her face and push her hair back, but he didn’t. He waited for her.
“That was sweet. Gentle.” She pulled her hands away and stepped back. “Were you afraid of scaring me away?”
“Yes. It’s hard to fight how much I want to make love to you.”
She blushed. “I can’t promise anything.”
“Promise to talk to me again.”
“I promise. And things with Hypnos weren’t exactly a fairy tale. He’s feeling conflicted too. I won’t sleep with him again until you and I have settled things.”
He wanted to say something, but his emotions were racing. He finally settled for the most honorable approach. “You don’t have to promise that. I have no claim on you.”
“Are you sure?”
He hadn’t expected her to give in, and it hurt that she had so quickly. It showed how much she wanted Hypnos. But he wouldn’t take his words back. He was determined never to hurt her again. “I won’t like it, but I have no right to tell you what to do. Based on that sweet kiss, I’ll be very jealous, and he’ll be very lucky, but that’s my problem, not yours.”
She blushed a deeper red. “I don’t even kno
w what he feels. He’s always repressed it. Today was very strange.”
“I’m sorry.” He paused and took a chance by kissing her forehead. “Just be sure before you make a decision so no one else gets hurt. I’ll wait for you to contact me.”
She nodded and averted her eyes.
He opened the door, and she walked out in silence. He closed the door and slumped against it. He’d awakened that morning with very little on his mind. He knew he would never be able to get to sleep tonight.
Chapter Three
Daphne woke up in her old bedroom. It felt so strange to be there. She put on her robe and went downstairs immediately. Her father had been unable to stop hugging her the night before. She didn’t want to keep him waiting.
She was not sure how to react when she saw the kitchen.
Her father Peneus worked busily at the stove. His silver hair had dulled over the years, but his blue eyes had not changed. He’d been anxiously waiting for her when she came to the house by the river. Opening the front door to find him in the living room had been so familiar, yet so strange. She remembered things like that the way one remembered a dream. Even with her memories restored, reality and her dreams blurred together.
The kitchen definitely looked like something out of a dream. Ten stacks of pancakes were on the table, and her father seemed to be making more. Fruit covered the open spaces between the platters of pancakes. Strawberries spilled out of bowls, apples sat in precarious piles, and oranges that had obviously rolled around had settled in little nooks in the chaos. Bunches of grapes and bananas hung on little hooks with the pots and pans over the table. She smelled meat cooking as well, and she saw sausage and bacon frying in one pan, while ham was being seared in another.
“Dad?”
“Hmmm? Ah, you’re up! I—” He gazed at the table for a long moment. “Oh.”
“Oh?”
“I think I’ve been up longer than I thought.”
She smiled and laughed. “So you weren’t expecting me to be quite this hungry?”
