by Marie Medina
She’d been considering the note’s meaning ever since it had arrived the day before, and now it had been three days. She looked in the mirror quickly, but then turned away and told herself it didn’t matter. She and Apollo were going to talk, and she knew what she would say would depend on what he said. She hoped he would want to speak first. She felt more than a little silly obsessing over a three-sentence note, but she hadn’t been with anyone for a very long time. Honestly, she hadn’t wanted anyone for a very long time. No matter what Aphrodite said, she was going to try.
Harmonia transported herself to Apollo’s house and knocked on his door. It opened after about two seconds. She didn’t have time to conceal her surprise.
“Hi,” Apollo said.
“Hi. You were expecting me, after all.”
He smiled warmly. “I was.”
She swallowed, smiling back. He was definitely glad to see her. She wondered what she might be in for.
“Come on in,” he said.
She walked across the open foyer and stepped into the living room. He followed right behind her, and he actually bumped into her when she stopped in front of the couch.
“Sorry,” he said as he quickly moved around the coffee table to the other side of her. They sat down at the same time.
“I’m making you nervous,” she began.
“I’m doing it to myself, though I don’t say that to steal credit from you.”
She giggled. “I promise it doesn’t offend me.”
After a moment of silence, he seemed calmer. “I have a couple of things to tell you. I want to tell you one right now, but I really need to tell you the other first.”
“Whatever you think best. Does it matter that much?”
“Yes. It would probably be bad to tell you what I’m thinking first. I want to tell you what happened first.”
Harmonia started to doubt she’d like what had happened, but she was going to keep an open mind. He had no choice but to be honest, so she knew she’d be able to believe whatever he told her, even if she didn’t like it. “Then tell me that.”
“Do you want a drink?”
She held out her hand and a martini appeared. “I don’t want you to suffer any longer. Would you like something?”
“A beer? Something dark?”
She looked at the table and a tall glass full of chocolate-colored ale appeared. He took one sip and nodded approval. “Very nice.” He took a longer sip.
“Ready when you are.”
He set the glass down. “You heard about Hypnos attacking me?”
“Yes.”
“He’s gone with his mother, so none of us know what will happen next. Daphne was very upset.”
“I imagine she was.” If he said they’d slept together, she’d give him up completely. Even though he’d never have Daphne, it would prove he didn’t want her. She braced herself so she’d have the strength to start getting over him as soon as he said the words.
“She came here very confused. She thinks all the primal deities are against her. She thinks Nyx and Helios are conspiring together to basically give her to me. If only she knew how silly that sounds. Yet she believes it. She thinks Zeus and Hera do nothing because they don’t care. She thinks everyone wants her to submit and live out a fairy tale with me.”
“And what did she propose to do? Run away or run to you?”
“Run to me. She showed up in my bedroom right as I got out of the shower. She was after a revenge fuck. Show the gods she was more than just a nymph. Make a fool of me to show them how wrong they were.”
Her heart raced. Daphne had offered herself to him. How could he resist? Yet he sounded bitter and obviously thought her actions both wrong and misguided. Did that mean he’d turned her down or he’d accepted and woken up disappointed? Even such an experienced man could probably feel the token morning after regret of a bad sexual decision.
“She was all over me. I had to throw a blanket over her and hold her down to get her to listen to reason. She finally admitted us having sex would be a mistake, but then she started to cry and I don’t know if I really helped with what I said. She loves Hypnos, and I hope I said the right things. No one can promise her everything will work out, but I did anyway. We parted agreeing to make peace with each other. Not exactly friends, but I’m sure we’ll be civil if we ever have to be around each other.”
Harmonia hadn’t touched her drink yet. She took two big gulps and set it aside.
“I know that’s a lot to absorb, but what do you think?”
“You’ve wanted her for centuries. She throws herself into your arms, and you turn her down. That doesn’t sound like the Apollo of local legend.”
“No, it doesn’t, but he’s very real. I told her something else.” He paused. “The number of women I’ve fucked.”
“That probably upset her.”
He met her gaze. “Would it upset you?”
“Were you fucking them or making love to them?”
“Do women really care about that? That’s an honest question.”
“Any man who can tell the difference cares too.”
He smiled. “I’ve slept with one hundred and forty-seven women. I made love to one. I didn’t love her, but I was different with her. Helping her pain helped mine, and giving her release gave me some relief many nights.”
“Alala?”
He nodded. “She always closed her eyes and thought of Ares. I usually thought of Daphne, but some nights I just stared at her. I loved seeing the pleasure on her face. I wanted Daphne to want and need me the way Alala wanted and desperately needed Ares.”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Yes.”
“Ares is your brother. All that time, couldn’t you have told him?”
“He’d have killed me. You heard all that happened.”
“But doesn’t he understand now? He saved you from Hypnos. Hasn’t he forgiven you?”
“Now he has. You think I was wrong?”
“Yes. If nothing else you should have convinced Alala to tell him.”
Apollo picked up his beer and finished it off in one gulp. She refilled it, and he nodded his thanks before taking another sip. “I couldn’t face her. I was a coward. The look on her face…”
“When she found you fucking Aphrodite.”
“Exactly.” He stared at her a long time. “Can I ask you something now?”
“Okay.”
“You really don’t care?”
“That you and Aphrodite had a quickie? No.”
“Really? But you were bothered by my attraction to Eris.”
“Because your interest was more genuine. She’d never looked at you and you knew she’d never give in. Deep down, you knew. You didn’t just want to have her. You liked her.”
“That’s over now. I like you.”
“I like you too, but you already knew that.”
He sat back and looked down into his drink. “This conversation is going places I didn’t plan.”
“I don’t mind.”
He laughed. “You really must like me.”
“I’ve slept with plenty of men myself. Would that bother you?”
“Of course not.”
“Your number being bigger doesn’t matter. I like who you are. Despite all that’s happened I’m still interested in what could happen.”
“I’m glad because I’m going to kiss you.” He put his glass down and pulled her to him for a long kiss.
His mouth was very strong and insistent. His hands didn’t wander. He held her close and explored her mouth thoroughly. His tongue danced against hers in a way that sent shivers down her spine. Desire coiled deep inside her, and she wanted him to touch her.
“I’d love to touch you,” he whispered huskily as he broke the kiss.
“Are we sure?”
“I want to make love with a woman who wants to make love with me.” He stroked her cheek and feathered kisses down her neck.
“You hardly know me.”
“I throw myself at men apparently.” His hands had begun to roam, and his touch only made her want more.
“You’re brave enough to reach out to a man who’s always been a blind fool and offer him your love.”
My love? I never said that. How can he know that? She let him capture her mouth again. He swept her up and carried her to his bedroom.
When he set her down, she said, “Aphrodite says I’m not in love with you yet. I thought I was.” She felt foolish for saying it, but something had compelled her. She didn’t want either of them to regret this.
“Is that what changed you? Is that what you’ve been worried about? It makes more sense now that you turned away from me three days ago.” He shook his head and pulled her against him. “It can only mean one thing.” He began unbuttoning her dress and it soon fell to the floor, leaving her in only her tiny pink panties.
“What?” she asked. She could hardly speak. His closeness completely stole her breath and her reason.
He looked at her a moment and was obviously pleased. “We’re meant to fall in love together.” He pulled his shirt over his head and pushed his jeans down, kicking them away. He swept her up again and tossed her onto the middle of the bed.
She couldn’t help giggling. “Seems I’m in for quite a tumbling tonight.”
He stretched next to her and looked at her seriously. “I want to make love to you the way you want me to. Open your mind to me. Show me your heart and how to please it.”
She couldn’t speak. She had to be dreaming. “I’m afraid to.”
He took her hand. “You’re as intelligent and clever as you are aggravating and fascinating. I want us together in this bed to be special. Let me in. Please.”
“We’ve had two nights to get to know each other. How can you say that?” Lowering her voice, she added, “Want that?”
“You underestimate yourself, and how much I can read into even one action. Being the god of truth has many advantages. I can see someone’s true motivations at times. I can see intent, and occasionally I can even tell when someone is lying without mind reading. I’ve seen a lot in two nights.”
“You’ll have to tell me in the morning what you see tonight.” She kissed him, completely overwhelmed by her feelings and need for him. She sank into his arms, and after a moment she opened to him.
He deepened the kiss as he felt her let go and submit. He touched her gently and cradled her close as his free hand explored. He ran his fingers over her thighs and then up to her core. He slid one finger into her wet folds, and she sighed at the contact.
He pulled back and looked into her eyes. His fingers played with her clit. He knew exactly how to rub, exactly where to rub. Her pussy trembled and grew wetter. The intense look in his eyes made her feel powerless to resist.
“You’re trembling,” he said.
“I know. Most women don’t get to live out their fantasies.”
He slid two fingers into her. “You’re like a fantasy. You feel perfect.” He ran his thumb over her clit, making her legs quiver. “I love how you respond to me.”
“It’s easy to respond to you.” She sighed and pulled him closer. “I need you.”
He smiled and leaned down to kiss her gently. She enjoyed how loving his touch was. She’d expected sex with him to be wild and exciting, but this was even better. The look in his eyes promised the passion and fire were soon to follow.
“I wanted to take you slowly the first time. I want you to know you’re different. It’s important to me,” he said. He kissed her forehead as his fingers probed deeper into her very wet center.
“You are inside my head, aren’t you?” It explained why she felt so close to him. It was exciting and scary all at once.
“Yes. I love what I’m finding.”
“I’m glad.”
“Are you ready? May I take you now?” he asked.
“Oh yes. I think you better.” She shifted against his hand. “Can’t you already tell how much I need you?”
“Oh yes.” He moved between her legs. He shifted her hips and moved his cock into her. He braced his hands beside her shoulders and gazed down at her. He moved slowly at first. She ran her hands up his forearms and caressed them as he thrust deeper.
He reached under her and raised her bottom, and his cock went farther. He was not wide or thick, but very long. She found the sensations delightfully surprising. He thrust with a swirling motion that made her need more desperate.
He settled on top of her and folded his arms around her head, his face very close to hers, only a breath away. “Most women close their eyes.”
“I don’t want to.”
He thrust faster. “This is all right?”
She opened her mind more, projecting her own feelings of pleasure. He stopped for a moment and gasped, but then he thrust with more vigor.
“That’s amazing,” he whispered.
She smiled. “It is.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’m close to coming.”
“I know,” he gasped huskily. He never broke eye contact, which was amazingly erotic. Their breath mingled as her release approached, everything winding up inside her tighter and tighter. She held on to him as her orgasm broke suddenly, sending a wave of pleasure over her. She felt every inch of his cock as her pussy squeezed him over and over again. He thrust deep as he groaned, pressing his cheek to hers. His body rubbed against her clit as he pressed down on her, and her body soared to new heights of pleasure. He felt warm against her, and she noticed he was actually glowing. She clung to him more and moved with him to ride out the last of her pleasure, and she gasped when he came inside her. Something about it was so different, the vibrant heat spilling into her extending her pleasure.
He kissed her as they both moved more slowly. She felt her own body warming, and when he released her she saw her skin glowed as well.
“Seems you gave me more than a little of yourself,” she said when she could find the words.
“I gave myself to you completely.” He grasped her hand and kissed it. “I could love you so easily.”
She didn’t even need to know he couldn’t lie to feel the power of his words. “I’d love that,” she whispered before dissolving into giggles. She kissed his face over and over again.
“My sweet, happy, silly girl,” he said as he pulled her into his arms. “Will you be my girl?”
“I already am.”
He kissed the top of her head. “Just want to be sure. The glow will last a while, maybe even until tomorrow. Someone may notice.”
“Let them notice.” She snuggled against him.
He rubbed her back and they lay in silence for several minutes before he spoke. “I did speak up for Hypnos, before Nyx intervened. Now though, I feel we should avoid getting involved.”
“I think you’re right. It seems to have been taken out of even Zeus’ hands. The primal gods…I don’t know. They may even be able to override the Fates.”
“Did the Fates plan this? Did they give me what I really wanted when what I thought I wanted was taken away forever?”
“A cruel way to make someone happy, making them unhappy for so long first.”
“It doesn’t matter.” He shifted down to look into her eyes. “The way you felt was so right, and I’m not talking about that hot, silky pussy, though it would drive any man wild.”
She giggled again. “Does the thought of it inspire you?” She reached down and found that it did. His cock jerked in her hand and hardened at once. She rubbed it firmly as he groaned.
“Now it’s time for that proper tumbling, so perhaps you should brace yourself.”
She gave in to his kiss as he moved back onto her, his hands everywhere. Neither of them would sleep at all that night, and she’d probably glow for a week if his appetite matched her need for him. His ardent embrace pushed all doubts away as his cock rubbed against her thigh.
* * * *
Hypnos sat back
on the couch and looked at his mother’s home. He wasn’t sure he should call it that. He felt like he was onstage, though there obviously wasn’t an audience. Darkness surrounded them, but the area where the couch and his mother’s desk sat was illuminated as it would be on a stage, though he couldn’t see any source of light. She sat calmly looking through a large book.
“This is where you live?” he asked.
“I don’t live anywhere. I simply exist. If I need something, I conjure it up. I don’t need to eat or sleep, though both can be enjoyable.”
“Then where are we?”
“We’re between the worlds. Yours and the mortal one. It’s part of the void and still ruled by Chaos.”
He looked around at the perfectly calm and silent darkness. “Seems peaceful.”
“It is. The great void was and is very peaceful, but also very dangerous. You can only be here because you have power over death.” She turned a page. “For now.”
Hypnos started to understand her plan. “For now? You’re going to change that.”
“Yes.”
“Because you love me?” He knew the answer would be no, but if she cared to explain he would understand her motivations a bit better.
She met his gaze. “Love isn’t something I feel. I’ve cared for people before, and I suppose I do care for all my children, but emotions are different with me. You, however, can love and I see now that you do love someone very much.”
“That matters to you?”
“Yes. Instead of abandoning you the way I did before, I should have done what I’m preparing to do.”
“You think you can fix what the Fates couldn’t?” He knew her powers were greater, but he felt reluctant. He didn’t want his mind toyed with further.
“I can remove the curse you were born with. I can take back what is destroying you. Don’t you see that power over death is very much like death? A very slow and decaying death?”
“But death that never comes?”
She smiled. “Yes. I knew a mind like yours could handle this. It eats away at your mind and your heart. You die a little and regenerate a little. The back and forth nature of it drives you mad. It destroys the good first, destroys all that belongs to the light.”
