Closing her eyes, she savored his muscles flexing against the entire length of her body. She wrapped her legs around his, delighting in the way the hair on his legs tickled hers.
Never had she thought to feel anything like this. She could only breathe as she felt her love for him flow through her. He was hers. Even if he left her afterward, she would enjoy this one moment of pure bliss with him.
Reveling in the powerful feel of him, she ran her hands over his back, down to his hips where she urged him on.
Julian bit his lip as she dug her nails into his back. How could such tiny hands have the power to break him?
He'd never understand it, any more than he would ever understand why she loved him.
He was only grateful for it.
"Look at me, Grace," he said, thrusting himself deep inside her again. "I want to see your eyes."
Grace stared up at him. His eyes were half shuttered, and she saw how he savored the feel of her in the way he breathed and looked every time he rocked himself against her hips. She felt his stomach muscles contract against hers.
Lifting her hips, she met his frenzied pace stroke for stroke. Never had she imagined anything feeling as good as he felt sliding between her legs as he dipped his head down and kissed her deeply.
Just when she could stand no more, her body burst in a thousand convulsions of pleasure.
"Oh, Julian!" she screamed, arching her body even more against his. "Oh, yes!"
He drove himself to the hilt and froze as she quivered around him.
When Grace opened her eyes, she met his devilish smile. "Liked that, did you?" he asked, dimples flashing as he rotated his hips and gave her one luscious caress deep inside her.
It took all her strength not to moan at the sensation. "It was okay."
"Okay?" he said with a laugh. "I guess I'll just have to keep trying."
He rolled over with her, slowly lest he be forced out of her.
Grace moaned as she found herself on top of him. He reached up and pulled the ribbon in the center of her breasts. The tiny nightie fell open.
The look of pure rapture on his face pleased her even more than the feel of him deep within her. Smiling, she lifted her hips, then impaled herself more deeply upon him.
She felt him quake all around her. "Like that, do you?"
"It was okay." But his ragged voice betrayed his nonchalant tone.
She laughed.
Julian lifted his hips then, driving himself even deeper into her.
She hissed in pleasure as he filled her. The sleek power, the hard feel of him. And she wanted more. She wanted to see his face when he climaxed. She wanted to know that she had given him what he hadn't experienced since time immemorial.
"You know, we're going to be exhausted by the time morning arrives if we don't slow down," he said.
"I don't mind."
"You'll be sore."
She stroked him with her body. "So?"
"In that case..." He ran his hand slowly down her body, to her navel, then lower through her moist curls until he found her nub.
Grace bit her lip as his fingers toyed with her in a perfect rhythm to match the thrust of his hips. Faster and faster he went, harder and deeper.
Julian placed his hands against her waist, helping her to maintain their frantic pace. How he wished he could withdraw from her long enough to show her a few more positions. But this was all they were allowed.
For now.
But come morning...
He smiled at the prospect. Come the morning, he intended to show her a whole new use for the Reddi-wip.
Grace lost track of time as they stroked each other's bodies, and reveled in each other's company. She felt the room spin around her as she surrendered herself to his expert touch. To the wonderful feel of her love for him.
They were both drenched with sweat, but still they savored each other, delighting in the passion they could finally share.
This time when she came, she sprawled on top of him.
His laugh echoed around her as he ran his hands over her back, her hips, then down her legs.
Grace shivered.
Julian delighted in the feel of her naked body lying prone against his. Her breasts were flat against his chest. His love for her welled up inside him.
"I could lie like this forever," he breathed.
"Me, too."
He wrapped his arms about her and held her close. He could feel her touches slowing down, her breath becoming smooth and steady.
Within a few minutes, she was sound asleep.
Kissing the top of her head, he smiled as he made sure he kept himself inside her. "Sleep, precious Grace," he whispered. "It's a long time until morning."
Grace came awake to the feel of something warm and full inside her. As she started to move, she felt arms as strong as steel hold her still.
"Careful," Julian said. "Don't force me out of you."
"I went to sleep?" she gasped, amazed she could have done such a thing.
"It's all right. You didn't miss anything."
"No?" she asked, wiggling her hips against his to stroke his body with hers.
He laughed. "Well, okay, you did miss a few things."
Grace leaned up to look down at him. She dragged her finger along the stubble on his cheek.
As she traced his lips, he nipped her finger with his teeth.
Suddenly, he sat up beneath her, holding her in his lap.
"Ooo, nice," she said as she wrapped her legs about his waist.
"Uh-huh," he agreed as he rocked his hips against hers.
Lowering his head, he took her breast into his mouth. His tongue toyed with her taut nipple, circling it in a torturous pattern before he blew one long, hot breath across it. She shivered.
He moved to her other breast. Grace cupped his head to her, delighting in his touch. Until she saw that the sky was lightening.
"Julian!" she breathed. "It's almost dawn."
"I know," he said, laying her back on the bed.
She looked up at him as he held himself above her and continued to thrust his hips against hers.
Julian stared at her in wonderment. The feel of her warmth, her love. She had reached him in ways he'd never thought possible. And she had touched him where he had never been touched before.
Deep within his heart.
Suddenly he wanted more. Desperate for her, he rocked his hips against hers.
He had to have more of her.
Grace wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his shoulder as he quickened his thrusts. Harder and faster he went until she was breathless from the frantic pace.
Again, sweat covered them both. She ran her tongue over his neck, delighting in the hiss he let out.
Still he filled her, over and over, until she couldn't stand it.
She sank her teeth into his shoulder as her release came fast and furious. He didn't slow down as she lay back.
Reaching up, she cupped his face in her hands and watched his pleasure.
Julian bit his lower lip and moved faster, driving her pleasure on, even deeper than it had been before.
And just as the first rays of sunlight shone through the window she heard Julian growl low in his throat as he closed his eyes.
With one hard, deep thrust, she felt him shudder all around her as he spilled his release within her.
Julian couldn't breathe as his head swam in pure, unadulterated bliss. He shook from the force of his orgasm. His entire body ached, and yet he'd never known such pleasure. He was weak from the night, weak from her touch.
And the curse was over.
He lifted his head to see Grace smiling up at him.
"Is it done?" she asked.
Before he could answer, he felt a tremendous burning on his arm. Hissing, he pulled back from her and covered the burn with his other hand.
"What is it?" Grace asked as he withdrew from her.
She watched, stunned, as an orange glow encompassed his arm. When he let go, the ancient Greek words were gone.
"It's over," she breathed. "We did it."
The smile faded from his face. "No," Julian said, trailing his fingers along her cheek. "You did it."
Laughing, she threw herself into his arms. Julian held her tight as they rained kisses on each other.
It was over!
He was free. Finally, after all this time, he was a mortal man again.
And it was Grace who had done it. Her faith and strength had seen him through.
She had saved him.
Grace laughed again as she rolled him over in the bed.
But her relief was short-lived as another, even brighter flash filled the room.
Her laughter dying instantly, Grace felt a malevolent presence even before Julian tensed in her arms.
Sitting up in the bed, Julian forced her back, placing himself between her and the handsome man standing at the foot of the bed.
Grace gulped when she saw the tall, dark-haired man who glared at them as if he could kill them where they lay. "You bastard upstart!" the man snarled. "How dare you think to be free."
In an instant, she knew he must be Priapus.
"Let it go, Priapus," Julian said with a warning note in his voice. "It's over and done with."
Priapus snorted. "You think to command me? Who do you think you are, mortal?"
Julian smiled evilly. "I am Julian of Macedon, born of the House of Diokles of Sparta and of the goddess Aphrodite. I am the champion of Greece, Macedonia, Thebes, Punjab, and Conjara. Known as Augustus Julius Punitor to my enemies who quaked in terror at my presence. And you, my brother, are a lesser known god who meant nothing to the Greeks, and only slightly more to the Romans."
Hell's wrath burned across Priapus's face. "It's time you learned your place, little brother. You took from me the woman who was going to sire my sons to lead my name into memoriam. Now I take yours."
Julian launched himself at Priapus, but it was too late. He had already vanished with Grace.