Zeus (The God Chronicles #1)

by Kamery Solomon

The next month was a blur. Zeus and I saw each other between classes and our work schedules, sharing kisses and growing closer together. I knew he needed the distraction from what his uncle was doing.

  There was still no news about Niki, though he said the cops were finally involved. He didn’t talk about his uncle, but I knew there were some major problems where he was concerned. I didn’t really bother him about it, choosing to let him relax when we were together. Every now and then I would ask short questions, but that was all.

  Thankfully, a rather large distraction was taking up most of his time lately. October had arrived, and every resort was frantically arranging their Halloween celebrations. However, Zeus informed me that there is no such holiday in Greece. At first I thought that meant he wasn’t going to do anything, but I was wrong again. Apokries, a mix between Halloween and Marti Gras, was going to be the celebration of choice at Tartarus. It normally took place in February, but since we were in America, we were celebrating it now to help hype the resort. It would last three weeks, as tradition dictated, ending on the last day of the month. Zeus had planned a large costume party and parade for the final day of the festivities. His staff decorated the entire resort accordingly, wanting the carnival to go over well as much as he did.

  We were at a local costume shop, searching for the perfect outfits. By ‘we’ I mean me. Zeus was a more-than-willing audience as I tried on every costume that caught my eye.

  “Vhat do you think?” I drawled in my best Dracula voice, sweeping the long, black cape up to hide the bottom half of my freshly fanged face.

  “I still think you should go with my first suggestion,” he answered, continuing to read the magazine he’d picked up.

  “I’m not going to be a slutty bunny,” I argued.

  Finally looking at me, he said, “They have a nice, super-hot vampire one over there too.”

  “No way!” I rolled my eyes and went back to change into the next getup. “I want to have fun, not ward off creeps all night.”

  “You won’t have to,” he called back. “I’ll keep you right next to me the whole time.”

  I came out in witchy attire and examined myself in the mirror. I liked it, especially the black and orange socks. The black dress and matching cape fell a couple inches above my knees, perfect for showing off the cute stockings. “I like this one a lot,” I said, placing the pointed hat on my head and turning to him.

  “Slutty nurse?” he asked, a hopeful look on his face.

  “Nope.” I stuck my tongue out and went to change again.

  “What about the Santa one?” he pleaded with me.

  “Not a chance!” I laughed back.

  I came out dressed in my normal clothes, witch uniform in hand.

  “This is the one,” I said, smiling confidently. “Where’s your costume?”

  “Here it is.” He held out a bag as he grabbed my hand and headed toward the checkout stand. I laughed when I saw the picture on the front.

  “You’re kidding, right?”

  “What? I think it’s perfect.” He laid his stuff on the counter and grabbed my purchases from me.

  “It is. I think that’s what’s so funny,” I laughed some more.

  “Will this be it for you?” The pimply, teenage boy behind the desk asked.

  “Yes,” Zeus confirmed.

  “Alright then, one witch costume and one Zeus, King of the Gods, costume,” he droned. “That will be forty two fifty.”

  I had to cover my mouth to keep from laughing as we paid and left the store.

  “So I have arranged for the casino to be decorated like the underworld. Cool right?”

  We were speeding down the highway, in typical Zeus fashion.

  “If I’m going to die in a car accident, I want to at least have fun doing it,” he would always say. I personally thought he was crazy. He drove like there was no chance he could die, despite the statistics I’d stuffed him full of.

  “That sounds awesome,” I said, somewhat distracted. I’d wanted to ask him something, but my nerves had kept me from speaking up. I felt like doing so would be a big step for us—it really was a big step for anyone to take.

  “If we work fast, all the props and decorations can be down in a couple of days. Then we can rest until Christmas.”

  I saw my window of opportunity open and jumped through it.

  “You won’t be doing anything special for Thanksgiving?” I held my breath, waiting for his answer.

  “No, I don’t think so. I’m sure the stores will have Black Friday sales, but that’s all. You can only see so many turkey decorations before you’re ready to shoot them.” He laughed. “That was punny. Go me!” He glanced over at me and smiled dorkily. I rolled my eyes at the bad joke.

  “Well,” I dug up the courage to say what I wanted, “I’m going to my parents for the break.”

  “Sounds like fun,” he said nonchalantly.

  “Really? Because I was wondering if you would, you know . . .” I was stammering and I hated it.

  “Sure, I’ll come if you want me to,” he said enthusiastically. “I’d love to!”

  “Wow, that’s really great,” I laughed, relieved. “I didn’t know if you’d want to.” I grimaced, embarrassed I’d admitted to it.

  “Why wouldn’t I want to spend the holiday with my girlfriend?”

  I sucked in a startled breath. He’d never called me that before, although I knew we were dating exclusively.

  “I would very much like to meet your parents. I want to thank them for sending you here.”

  I burst out laughing. “Don’t tell them that!” I gasped. “It will make them hate you for sure!”

  We pulled off the highway and headed toward my apartment, laughing over my reenactment of the fit my parents had thrown before I moved.

  We pulled into the lot and Zeus got out. Walking around the front of the vehicle, he opened my door for me.

  “So, boyfriend,” I said, liking how it sounded. “I think some celebrations are in order. Are you free tonight?”

  “I’m not actually,” he said, frowning. He seemed to ponder that for a moment and then his face lit up. “But I am free right now, for about five minutes.” He gave me a seductive smile as he pulled me out of the car. “So I guess this will have to do.”

  He wrapped his arms around me and slammed the door shut with his foot. Taking my face in his hands, he pushed me up against the car, leaving no space between us. Eyes smoldering, he lightly brushed his thumb over my lips and tilted my face up. I returned his smile as he leaned in closer.

  His lips met mine, one of his hands sliding down my side and grabbing my hip. I threw my arms around his neck as he deepened the kiss, his other hand leaving my face and trailing down my back. My mind was going fuzzy with warmth. Everywhere he touched burned, begging for more of him.

  I gasped as he picked me up and laid me over the hood of the car, practically climbing on top of me. I grasped him tighter, half out of fear of falling, half out of wanting more. His lips left mine, making a path of kisses down my jaw and onto my neck. I’d never been kissed like this before—it was heaven. My breath was coming in short bursts and my body seemed like it would burst from desire.

  “Hey! Get a room!” a voice yelled from somewhere.

  I blushed a deep red, but Zeus kept kissing me. One hand found its way into my hair, pulling on it gently. Coming back to my lips, he licked them, tugging on the bottom with his teeth. He then feathered kisses all over my face, his hand leaving my hair and brushing down my side. One of his fingers hooked on my belt loop, and he used it to pull me even closer, if that was possible.

  “I’m serious!” the voice called out again. “I’m going to call the cops!”

  Zeus growled and I heard glass breaking. The man who’d shouted at us said something about a light bulb exploding. I laughed as Zeus rolled his eyes.

  He lifted me off the car, placing me on my feet and leaning me against the metal, givin
g me one last kiss.

  “I’ll see you later,” he murmured, his forehead resting against mine while he played with a lock of my hair.

  “Okay,” I said breathlessly, wishing he didn’t have to go. “Tomorrow?”

  “You know it, baby.”

  Chapter Twelve