Ashia

by Taige Crenshaw

  “You keep talking in present tense, but we are through.” Ashia wrinkled her nose. “Shouldn’t you be saying ‘were’?”

  “We’re not past, Amaunet. Our relationship is still going strong.”

  Ashia’s breath caught when he called her by her goddess name. She shook her head. “You walked away. I haven’t seen or heard from you for over a month.”

  Reid grimaced. “I know. I’m sorry about that. I had some things to figure out before I could come back.” Reid paused. “I wasn’t sure if I could…should let you go since you’re a goddess. It wasn’t that you are a goddess that was my issue, but how can you possibly want to be with me forever? I realised it didn’t matter, goddess or not I couldn’t give you up.”

  “I don’t understand. You don’t have a problem with who I am but still left because of some weird reason. One that makes no sense to me.” Ashia rubbed her hand over her eyes. “All these protocols for the human world are a pain in the ass. There is a correct way to date, break up and any other number of things. Why don’t you all just get on with it instead of all this posturing?”

  “Fine. How would you normally tell someone”—Reid pulled down her hand gently—“that you love her and can’t think of spending another millisecond without her?”

  Ashia’s breath stalled.

  Reid moved closer. “Or that to even think of your next breath without them is unthinkable.”

  Ashia released her breath in a rush. “What is this you are saying to me, Reid Jacobs?”

  “It’s called wooing or courtship,” Reid said.

  “I’ve read on that.” Ashia stared into his intense blue gaze. “But doesn’t it involve romantic accoutrements like flowers and sweets?”

  “Oh Ashia, it does and so much more.” Reid laughed. “I have so much to show you.” He sobered, cupping her left cheek. “I love you, Amaunet. Or Ashia. Whoever you are, I want to be with all sides of you. Want to live each day figuring out your obsession with Googling proper human protocol.” Reid’s lips twitched.

  “You’re making fun of me. I know you are. I can make you a snail for that.” Ashia sniffed.

  “Only if you become one with me.” Reid slid his other hand along her waist.

  Ashia moved against his frame and stared into his eyes. “Reid, you confuse me.”

  “That’s good because you make me discombobulated.”

  Ashia laughed. “My man.” She licked her lips and finally let herself admit what she had refused to acknowledge both during the times of being with him and apart from him. “I love you, Reid, and I want to share immortality with you by my side.”

  “Do you mean that literally or figuratively? Because with you I’m not sure which it is.” Reid’s brow furrowed.

  “Literally.” Ashia placed her hands on his waist. “Will you marry your soul to mine, Reid? Intertwine our destinies.”

  Reid blinked, startled. “Are you asking me to marry you?”

  “Yes. I know it is not the normal thing women ask but I don’t care.” Ashia shook her head impatiently. “I want you and love you. Waiting on a long courting time then all the crap is silly.” She studied Reid. “So will you be my husband, Reid?”

  “Yes, Ashia. To it all,” Reid stated.

  Joy filled her at his words. She’d been too long without the man she loved. With a thought, Ashia stripped them of their garments.

  “It is a handy trick.” Reid glanced down. “Very handy. Let’s go to bed.”

  His voice deepened, which she loved, and it made her grow wetter. She shook her head and let him go before she lay back on a bed of flowers. Ashia opened her legs, running her hands down between her thighs.

  Reid’s gaze tracked as she touched herself then with a guttural groan he sank to his knees between her spread legs. His two fingers joined her two and slid into her heat. Together their fingers moved in and out of her heated canal. Ashia rocked, moving against the fingers giving her pleasure. Reid withdrew his touch, pulling her finger out as well, then he positioned himself and in a quick deep surge he filled her.

  “Reid,” Ashia screamed holding his ass and pulling him deeper into her.

  Reid stroked then stiffened. “Protection.”

  “It’s not needed I won’t get pregnant unless I wish it.” Ashia stared into his gaze. “Unless we wish it.”

  “Someday I want to see you rounded with our child.” Reid lowered his lids slightly. “I want many children with you.”

  Ashia clenched around him, rocking up, and whispered, “And we will have them, Reid. Raise them together.”

  Reid thrust, groaning as she tightened even more. With each thrust she countered, squeezing her inner walls around his shaft. They moved together, a fast rhythm that drove them higher and higher into the heights of pleasure.

  Ashia whimpered as the power of the life-bringing northern wind filled her, enfolding her and Reid in its embrace. Reid’s gaze unfocused and he continued his forward movement. Ashia flooded with wetness, holding him as they lifted from the bed of flowers higher and higher into the air.

  “Reid,” Ashia roared as her release swept over her.

  “Ashia!” Reid yelled, pulsing inside her as he came in a long shudder. “Amaunet, I give you my heat for your keeping.” He stared into her eyes. “I love you, Ashia, and with all I am I will prove it each and every day for the rest of our lives.”

  “I vow the same, Reid. I love you and will always shelter you when you have need.” Ashia kissed him hungrily.

  Reid held her, kissing her fiercely. He withdrew, licking at her lips, a pleased soft smile on his lips.

  “That is making up after a fight.” Reid winked. “We’ll Google it later.”

  “I already know of that, Reid.” Ashia playfully pursed her lips. “And if I recall one is not to leave bed for days—possibly weeks—as they reconnect.”

  “I have no problem with that.” Reid kissed her briefly again. “When do you want to make me immortal and get married?”

  “You already are immortal and we are already mated,” Ashia stated.

  “When?” Reid frowned. “I thought there would be something more—”

  “Spectacular,” Ashia teased. “Our joining was that. But there isn’t much fanfare to your becoming as I am. I have granted you it.”

  “So what can I do?” Reid grinned.

  “The possibilities are limitless. I will show you, Reid.” Ashia bit her lips and couldn’t resist. “Do you want to lower us back to the ground?”

  Reid looked startled then his eyes widened as he realised they were floating in the air.

  Ashia felt his power that was holding them up shatter. They tumbled to the earth, but she quickly whirled them to land on their feet.

  Reid staggered, shaking his head, then laughed.

  “Oh my God, that is a rush.”

  “I’ll have to teach you to use your powers.” Ashia moved to him, cuddling into his side.

  “And I’ll help you with Google.” Reid started to walk them towards the house.

  She pinched him. “Stop teasing me.”

  “Never.” Reid chuckled then sobered. “We have many years for us to enjoy.” He paused then said, “I know you said we’re mated, but I want a wedding.”

  “If that is what you want we will have one.” Ashia kissed him briefly then said, “We’ll research how to do one.”

  Reid’s expression became pained and he shook his head. “Nope, you won’t be doing that.”

  “Why ever not.” Ashia wondered why Reid looked so uneasy.

  “There is this thing called Bridezilla.” Reid shuddered. “I can only imagine what would happen if you became obsessed with doing the wedding just right according to human dictates. You’d go wild on everyone, not caring who you left wreaked in your wake.” He smiled playfully. “I don’t think anyone is ready for Goddesszilla.”

  “Oh, we had one of those already,” Ashia replied.

  “You did?”

  “Yes we did. Her name is Sekhmet. Sh
e lost her mind and was wrecking the world.” Ashia thought of the goddess then continued, “But she’s paid her penance for it and now is happily mated. Her husband was human as you are. I’ll introduce you to them.”

  Reid gaped, then blinked. “Okay. Ummm…are there many gods and goddesses on Earth? Oh…are Devi or Rhodes ones too?”

  “Yes, there are many of us here. Devi is a goddess.” She remembered their conversation a month ago. “An interfering one but a good friend.”

  “Wow. There is so much to know.”

  “We have plenty of time to get to it all.”

  Reid stopped on the back porch and put his hands around her waist halting her. “We do. I’ll plan our wedding. It will be simple. Right here and you coming to me in the dress you wore when I first found out you are a goddess.”

  “Simple it is”—Ashia wrinkled her nose—“but I’m going to have a new dress. It will be similar to the one you want.”

  “That’s fine.” Reid kissed her and Ashia leaned on him, holding him close.

  Ashia returned the smooch making a mental note to look up weddings no matter what Reid said. His reaction had her curious. Reid, he’d captured a goddess’s heart and in turn she’d received a greater gift—his love.

  Also available from Total-E-Bound Publishing:

  Kemet Uncovered: Devi

  Taige Crenshaw & Aliyah Burke

  Excerpt

  Chapter One

  Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs, Colorado

  The air flowed over her, crisp and cool. Devi Petner stared out over Cathedral Valley. Around her, rock climbers called to one another as they scaled different formations in the park. One of her favourite spots in this entire country—perhaps in the world. All the different visual displays, the beauty it exuded and the calm it brought her only enhanced her attachment to the park. You could see Pikes Peak when you entered the park, and the views offered were nothing short of spectacular.

  Devi knew every inch of the place, having come here on numerous occasions with friends to hike, rock climb, horseback ride, bike and more. There was something for everyone.

  She sighed and turned to leave, only to find herself face to face with a man she’d never seen before. He had a cap pulled low over his eyes, shielding his features from her and rendering himself unrecognisable. Tall and beefy, he could pose a threat…to most.

  She blinked and glanced down at her watch. She was close to running late.

  “Morning,” she said calmly, and made to move beyond him.

  “I don’t think so,” he said in a low, gravelled tone. He moved one arm, opening his unbuttoned, long-sleeved shirt, exposing the butt of a gun stuck down his waistband. “You and me, over there.” He jerked his head to the side, indicating where he wanted her to go.

  She sighed.

  What a way to ruin my morning.

  A couple with a young girl came around the corner of the path, and Devi nodded before stepping closer to him. She didn’t want him to panic and shoot one of the passers-by, because that would really piss her off. With a smile pasted on her face, she exchanged morning pleasantries with the passing trio. Once it was just her and the unknown man with his gun, he took her arm and led her into a small copse of trees at the base of a hogback rock formation, out of view. The ‘hogback’ name came from the ridge and its resemblance to the knobby spine between a hog’s shoulders.

  “Any sound and I’ll shoot you,” he growled, shoving her towards a tree.

  Devi righted herself, turned, crossed her arms and glared at him. “Like a gunshot won’t bring people running to investigate.”

  He seemed taken aback by her unwillingness to cooperate with him, and withdrew the gun, waving it at her. “Undress.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “Did you know there are over three thousand acres that make up this park?” she asked conversationally. “A person could be dead out here for a long time before anyone found them. I mean, really, how often do they conduct a thorough search of every single acre?”

  “Shut up!” he demanded.

  “Why? You’re not going to shoot me and I’m not undressing for you to put your slimy paws on me.”

  “Are you stupid? I’m holding a gun on you. I could just shoot you,” he spat.

  “You imbecilic human,” she growled. “Always thinking just because you have some form of weapon you are stronger. I dislike men who threaten women—especially me. Give me your gun.” She held out her hand palm up, beckoning with her fingers.

  He gave a hysterical laugh and shook his head. He sniffed and wiped his hand under his nose, waved the gun again, then cocked it.

  “I had hopes for your kind.” Devi lifted one shoulder languidly.

  And she had, but it seemed that the further along time flowed, the older the Earth became, the worse humans treated one another. They had turned it into an art form, coming up with so many new ideas and new weapons with which to inflict pain on each other. It saddened her. If only they would deign to turn their energies to cures and ways to better and enrich their lives.

  “My kind?” He seemed to shake off his uncertainty. “Bitch, I don’t care who the hell you are, what you think you are or what kind of karate shit you know. This gun will stop you in your tracks if you don’t give me what I want.”

  In the air to her left, a golden hourglass appeared, rotating slowly until it stopped. She looked at it, then back at the man, who seemed suddenly hesitant again.

  “What the hell?” he muttered, trying to back away.

  He couldn’t move.

  She strode to stand closer to him and tossed her head. “You should be more careful who you pick on, mortal. What I am is very important if you want to remain alive. And your gun wouldn’t even make me blink. You see this?” She gestured to the hourglass, which had drifted closer to her and had very little sand left in the top bulb. “This one is yours. Almost empty. Which means your death is nearly upon you.” She blinked, and another hourglass appeared at her other side, hovering in the air like the first. “This one, which will never empty, is mine.” She touched it, and the golden glow shone even more brightly until she took her hand away.

  Devi lifted the man with a mere gesture, so that his feet left the ground, then she levitated herself to meet him eye to eye.

  “I will not kill you today, human. At least not at this moment. But know this—I will be watching you. You even think of harming another—aside from yourself—and I will snuff the very life from your body with nothing more than my mind.”

  She demonstrated. With a single thought she shut his windpipe and as he gasped for air she mentally released her hold, allowing him to breathe again. “It is that simple for me to end your life.”

  He fell with a grunt to the hard-packed earth, knocking his hat off, his chest heaving as he gulped deep breaths of the cool summer air, one hand at the base of his throat as if he didn’t think he would ever be able to inhale enough.

  She remained above him, his gun with her, having taken it while he was suspended in the air.

  The man bolted to his feet, hat gone, stared at her and took off running in the other direction. She removed the gun from existence and lowered herself back to the ground.

  * * * *

  At lunchtime, she sat outside and enjoyed the warm summer sun. She glanced up when her friend and fellow paediatrician, January Sheer, hurried to the small, round table. Her pale skin was flushed and there was a definite sparkle in her green eyes.

  “Oh my God, Devi,” January gushed as she sank onto the half-circle bench across from her. “He is sooo good looking.” She fanned her face. “All he did was look at me and I… I couldn’t even remember my name.”

  “I take it this man was handsome,” Devi said with a laugh.

  “Handsome doesn’t begin to touch on what he was.” January gulped some water. “He’s like a gorgeous surfer dude, but not in a boyish way—he’s all man.”

  “Well that’s good. Wouldn’t want him to be boyish or anything like that.”


  “Oh, hush, Devi. I’m serious. You should go for him.”

  Devi sighed and took a drink. “Why me? You’re the one who’s seen him and who’s all flushed.”

  “Patterson and I are back on.”

  Patterson was January’s on-again, off-again boyfriend. Half the time, Devi honestly couldn’t keep track of whether they were ‘on’ or ‘off’. He seemed nice enough, but Devi wanted someone for her friend who wouldn’t constantly turn her life upside down.

  “Ahh. So I’m to assume that were you two ‘off again’, I wouldn’t be offered such a bone?” she teased.

  “Hush.” January leaned across the wrought iron table. “I’m telling you, Devi, he was just…wow.”

  “Tell me,” she said, her gaze drifting past her friend. It stopped on a man with the moves of a jungle cat, powerful and fluid. He halted behind January.

  “He had dark hair, was in a uniform and—”

  “Let me guess,” she interrupted. “Short dark hair. Spiked on top, the tips blond. Brown eyes.”

  “Oh my God, yes, that’s him! Did you see him walk? He’s hot enough for me to want to lock myself in a room and—”

  “January,” she broke in, eyebrows lifted.

  January flushed and asked in a whisper, “He’s behind me, isn’t’ he?”

  “I’m afraid so.” Devi lifted her gaze to the amused brown eyes watching her, and felt a kick to her gut. Her palms were a bit sweaty as she locked gazes with him.

  January dropped her head to the table and refused to lift it.

  Licking her lips, Devi asked, “Can I help you?”

  The man stepped closer to her, a smile on his face, and she shivered slightly.

  “I was told I could find Devi Petner up here. Is that you?”

  “Yes.”

  He handed her an envelope. “Just need your John Hancock.”

  She pulled a pen from her coat to sign the paper he held out, and clicked it while her gaze drifted back up to the man standing so close to her.

  His dark pants and light shirt highlighted his muscles. His skin was tanned and all she wanted to do was touch it. The name badge on his shirt read ‘Rhodes’, and she said it a few times in her head while she signed.