Part I Chapter 9
Too angry to speak, he stormed from the room and headed to his "prison." Granted it was better than the hole his father had thrown him into initially, but it was still a prison.
It was all he would ever know and if his father had his way, he'd be kept shut in here for the rest of his life.
At least there were no guards outside it today. Even they had been given a day of freedom. A day to do as they pleased.
"Why did you leave?"
He drew up short as Artemis appeared before him. "Why are you following me?"
"You make me curious."
"Curious about what?"
"About you."
He laughed bitterly at that. Even a goddess was no better than the humans who hounded him. "Do you want me naked so you can explore me?"
Her cheeks darkened, but even so he saw the heated look in her eyes.
He also noticed she didn't contradict him. So be it.
Artemis watched as her newfound human slowly released the pin for his peplos. She should stop him, she knew it and yet she couldn't bring herself to say the words.
She trembled from expectation of what he might look like naked. No wonder her brother spent so much time with human females. If they were half this evocative . . .
He dropped his peplos to the floor.
Her thoughts scattering, she swallowed as she saw his nudity. He was even more handsome than she'd suspected.
His skin was tawny, inviting, and stretched over a body that was finely honed and well muscled.
Against her will, her gaze dropped down to the part of him that was uniquely male. He was very well endowed and as she stared at him, his shaft grew larger, thicker as it slowly lifted to curve against his body. His balls tightened.
She'd never seen a man like this. Rife with desire. So bold and uninhibited by fear of her.
He closed the distance between them. "Don't you want to touch me?"
Yes she did, but she couldn't move. Couldn't breathe. She felt the heat from his body, the stirring of his breath against her face.
His nearness was intoxicating.
He took her hand into his and led it toward his erection. His grip was tight as he brushed her palm against the tip of his cock. He was so soft, and yet hard.
She swallowed as he slowly slid her fingers down the length of him until he rubbed her hand against the soft sac. She bit her lip while he rubbed himself against her palm. His body was so different from hers. So incredible and beguiling.
He released her hand.
Her first instinct was to withdraw, but she wasn't one for timidity. Instead, she ran the back of her fingers underneath his sac, letting his balls sag around them. His body felt so strange to her.
She lifted her hand up in silent exploration over his stomach to his chest.
He didn't move to touch her. He just stared at her silently while she explored every inch of his body. His eerie silver eyes were incredible. She'd never seen anything like them. Never felt anything better than his masculine skin beneath her hand.
Oh, but he was luscious.
"Do you want me to fuck you?"
She shivered at a question that should have offended her to the core of her being. At the deep accent of his voice. She wanted him with a madness that was consuming.
If only she could.
"No," she said quietly. She looked up at him. His gaze was searing. "I want you to do to me what you did earlier. Make me feel that again."
He took her hand and led her toward a bed where they could be alone. Undisturbed.
She shouldn't be doing this. She was a virgin goddess. Untouched by man or god.
At least until today.
No one had ever kissed her before. No one had ever breached her. She'd been known to kill men just because they had seen her naked and yet for this one, she was willing to let him seduce her.
She didn't know why any more than she understood the compulsion inside her to be with him.
He just made her feel oddly happy. Warm. Decadent. Desirable.
Acheron laid her back against the mattress. She was nervous-it was something he was used to with women who lacked experience. Even so, she was beautiful. Her auburn hair fanned out over his pillows, making him even harder for her. It wasn't something he was used to feeling.
The scent of roses clung to her skin. He kissed her lightly on the lips while he grazed his hand up her leg, lifting the hem of her gown. She stiffened a bit, but quickly relaxed. She was shy.
Not wanting to embarrass her, he left her lips to crawl down her body.
Artemis was uncertain as she watched him vanish beneath the folds of her white gown. Even so, she could feel him moving. Feel his whiskers scraping against her thigh as he trailed a hot line of kisses up the inside of her thigh until he reached the part of her that ached for him.
She moaned the instant his lips and tongue found that spot. Biting the heel of her hand, she surrendered herself to the pleasure he gave her. It was blinding and exhilarating. No wonder the other gods and humans risked so much for this.
And this time, when she came, she fully understood what was happening to her body. At least she did until he made her do it again and again.
Acheron growled at the taste of Artemis. At the sound of her cries filling his ears. He loved the way she purred. The sensation of her hand in his hair, stroking him.
She slapped her other hand against the mattress beside her. "You have to stop. Please. I can't take any more."