Chapter Nine

The first thing Jager noticed upon waking was that he felt like Gulliver sleeping in a Lilliputian bed. The second was the soft female body pressed close to his. Snoring.

He smiled. Lucilla would be so embarrassed if she knew she snored.

It wasn’t bad when measured on the Snore-a-Tron scale. No, on the contrary, it was kind of girly. If a snore could be considered such a thing.

All the gorgeous hair of hers had come down when they’d made love. It curled around her shoulders and down her back. Godiva hair. How in the world did she ever get all that pinned up into those tight bun things she wore? And she claimed to not have any magic.

She gave one last snort and woke. Her brows came down into a sharp “V”. “You snore.”

It was useless to hold back his incredulous laugh. “I do? That was your snorking that woke you. I was already awake.”

“If you’re awake, why isn’t the coffee made? Chop. Chop. I run a tight ship here, sailor.”

Instead of hopping to, Jager gathered her into his arms. “I’d rather have morning-after sex with the woman I love.”

Lucilla looked around. “Is she here? Tell her to go make the coffee then.”

“You’re a grump in the mornings. Cute. Deliciously disheveled. But grumpy.”

Somewhere in the depths of the big house, a phone rang.

“No,” Lucilla whined and slid under the covers, pulling them up over her head.

“Do you want me to answer that?”

“No.” She snuggled back into the curve of his groin. “Stay here.”

She didn’t need to ask him twice. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her to his chest.

“What is on the agenda today?” he whispered in her ear.

“Sleep.”

“How about I get dressed and get us some breakfast. When you’re more awake we’ll decide.”

“Coffee.” The word ended on another snore. And she was out.

So his perfect woman had two little faults. He could work with them. After she woke up and got going, she was the most charming person he’d met in a very long time. Her bedroom skills were unparallel. Another point in her favor.

Jager gathered his clothes and helped himself to her shower. All her soaps smelled of some kind of flowers. He used them anyhow, but rinsed twice. How embarrassing was it to be the former God of your own religion and go around smelling like you just stepped off an episode of Queer Eye? The only way to wear a flowered scent like a man was to have it put there by a hot woman rubbing up against you. At least that’s the way he saw it.

When he went outside, Zeus had his behind parked on the hood of Jager’s car. “That was one long-ass date, Dad.”

“You jealous?”

He raised his brows over the tops of his sunglasses. “She’s definitely hot stuff, but is it ethical to sleep with your matchmaker?”

“Is it ethical to overthrow your father and steal his heavenly throne?” Yes, the rebuttal was a bit childish and Jager, by rights, should have been over it millennia ago, but he had a hard time dealing with the betrayal by his own son.

Zeus hopped down off the car. “I told you I’m sorry. What do you want from me?”

“I should be asking you that. Why have you brought yourself all the way out here?”

“There have been some developments since last night.” Zeus walked around to the passenger side as Jager hit the remote locks. “I’ll tell you while we roll.”

“I’m going to get breakfast for Lucilla and myself and then I’m coming back here to enjoy it in her company. You may talk while I get the food, but after that you’re on your own.”

“Fair enough.”

Jager got into the car and started the engine. He turned to his son seated next to him. “This isn’t going to become a habit with you, is it?”

“What?”

“You showing up at mealtimes.”

He shrugged wide shoulders. “A guy’s gotta eat.”

They drove across town to a bakery that made the best bagels in all of Sleepy Hollow Woods. He had them made into breakfast sandwiches and bought some extra-large coffees. Two for Lucilla.

“Here, make yourself useful.” Jager handed the to-go bag and coffee holder to Zeus when they got into the car. “Did you really want to talk to me about the latest developments or were you just trying to get me to buy your morning meal?”

Zeus steadied the bag with one hand and ate with the other. “No. I have genuine news.”

“Let’s hear it then.” It was hell being held hostage for a sausage and egg bagel.

“At least one of the other paraspecies is going to side with Mom. I heard her discussing it on the phone after I left your place last night.”

The knowledge left a big hole in Jager’s gut. He doubted he’d be able to eat now. “Change in plans.” He hung a U-turn and started back to Lucilla’s place. “You’re going to sit and tell Lucilla and me everything you heard.”

 

Lucilla heard the front door open and voices in the entranceway. One was definitely Jager, but the other she didn’t recognize. She’d just finished her shower and dressed. Her wet hair was pulled back and piled up in a claw clip.

She shoved her feet into a pair of wedge shoes and headed down the stairs. When she moved, reminders of the night before’s bedroom gymnastics made themselves known in the form of muscle cramps. Damn, it had been way too long since she’d indulged. Much too long.

She found Jager in the kitchen, sitting at the table with a man who looked in his late-twenties to early-thirties. He had that just-off-the-beach look to him, other than the overdose of product in his hair that looked more like skateboard culture or Dragon Ball Z.

Jager stood when she entered the room. The young man let out a sigh and followed suit, acting like it was an imposition on his personal style to show good manners.

“Good morning,” Lucilla said.

“You’re much more awake than when I left.” Jager reached over and grabbed her hand, pulling her to him. He leaned over and kissed her tenderly.

“The thought of breakfast and coffee will do that to a girl.” She glanced at the bag. “What did you bring?”

“Coffee, sandwiches and Zeus.”

Lucilla gave the man a closer look. So this was the man who’d dared wrestle heaven from his father and sided with his mother in the conflict? Punk.

But that still didn’t explain his presence at her kitchen table.

“He has some information about the coup.” Jager pulled out a chair for her. “You might need to sit down for this.”

“That bad, huh?”

“Well, it ain’t good.” He took a place next to her then turned to Zeus. “Tell her what you told me.”

“My mother is negotiating with another of the paraspecies to side with the Titans. I think she might be going for broke on this one.” He lifted his coffee and took a sip.

Lucilla glanced back at Jager for confirmation.

He gave a slight shrug. “We have to narrow down which group is politically motivated enough to want to see the Witches Council fall.”

Lucilla had no idea. The Council had always run the affairs of the Paras. Why did the others want to change the order of things? Not that the Witches Council had a corner on the market of government. There was enough room for all of them to have representatives.

“Do you think we should open negotiations and set up a multi-species consortium? Maybe Rhea just wants the Titan voices heard.” From what she knew of Rhea, that was as unlikely as a Para being allowed to run for president.

Zeus gave her a look as if to say “get a grip”. “My mother wants all or nothing, though I do like your idea.”

Jager turned to her. “You deal with the gamut of Parakind. Ever caught an undercurrent that would suggest one group might be inclined to go against the Council?”

“Well, if they were, they wouldn’t be likely to tell me.” She picked up one of the unopened coffees and lifted the lid. Black and hot. She needed to blond it up a bit or it would never be drinkable.

“Maybe they did and you just don’t remember. A gesture. A refusal to date someone different—”

Lucilla cut him off. “You’re the only one in the last six months who’s refused a date. Most of my clients are looking for a long-term commitment and are willing to give their dates a chance.”

A sensual gleam came into Jager’s eyes. “If you would have matched us from the beginning, I wouldn’t have refused you a thing.”

The blush started all the way down on her chest and swept upward. She rose to get milk and sugar for the coffee. Anything so she didn’t have to sit at the table bathed in memories of Jager making love to her while his son sat across from her with that stupid knowing grin on his face.

Jager let out a low sexually-charged laugh. “Don’t run from your feelings, Lucilla. I know you enjoyed yourself last night.”

He was shameless.

“I don’t remember running anywhere.” She grabbed the condiments and returned to the table. “Now, if we can get back to the discussion.”

Jager nodded. “I’ll look at it from a business perspective, Lucilla can take the social, and Zeus…” He stopped and made a motion with his hand. “Do whatever it is you do.”

“Spy,” Zeus provided. He rose from the table, Styrofoam cup in hand. “I’ll leave you two lovebirds alone. If I hear anything else, I’ll let you know.”

He started to go out the back door, but stopped and looked at his father with a wicked gleam in his cool gray eyes. “Keep it safe.”

Lucilla’s face became endangered of combusting. When the door closed behind him, Lucilla slapped her palm on the table. “He’s awful.”

Jager shrugged. “I wasn’t much different at his age. Though I don’t think I was near as arrogant.”

Lucilla thought perhaps Jager had been more arrogant, but was humbled at his downfall. She chose not to mention that particular point.

She took a few steps, coming close enough to him to cup his face in her hand. “You’re a good man now and that’s all that matters.”

His eyes went molten. “We’re alone again.”

“I did notice that.”

Jager backed her up against the cabinet. He had a habit of trapping her against immovable objects for some reason. Like he thought she’d try to run away or something. Someday she might tell him she had no intention of going anywhere. But, for now, it was fun to keep him guessing.

“Are we going back to bed?”

He shook his head and lifted her up onto the countertop. “What’s wrong with here?”

Lucilla draped her arms around his neck. “Nothing, I suppose. But sex on a countertop does have that clichéd feel to it.”

“So does a bed, but you didn’t complain about that last night.” He began to kiss his way down her neck, pulling on the collar of her shirt for better access.

“Last night was our first time—”

“First of many.”

Lucilla gave a half laugh, half moan as he connected to a sensitive spot behind her ear. The man definitely knew how to turn her on at light speed. But then, he’d once been a god, surely he had intimate knowledge of what pleased a woman. At the moment she didn’t care, as long as she received all the benefits of his experience.

Jager raised his head from the hollow of her throat. “Where do you want to continue this?”

Two minutes later they were lying in the fallen leaves of the apple orchard, going at it like a couple of satyrs.

Though a light autumn breeze rustled the trees, at ground level it was a scorcher. How did Jager manage to put out so much body heat? The man must have been made out of muscles and flames. Everywhere he touched, he left burning pleasure in its wake.

A hard ball dug into her back, right above her tailbone.

“Mmm.” She arched her back, trying to get away from the pain.

Jager moved deeper, pinning her to the ground.

She twitched again. “Ow.”

He pulled away, his face awash in concern. “Sorry. Sorry.” He showered her face in kisses. The next thrust sent the object digging into her butt cheeks.

She put her hands on Jager’s chest and pushed. “Wait. Time out.”

He moved off her and sat back on his knees. “What’s wrong?”

Lucilla leaned forward, reaching behind her. Her hand connected with the remains of an apple, flattened from their ardent lovemaking. She threw the thing out of their range and held her arms out for him. “I’m good now.”

“You’re always good.” He met her halfway then reversed their positions. “I’ll protect you from violent fruit.”

Tenderness moved through her. There wasn’t anything about him she didn’t find attractive. He was gorgeous, smart, sexy and just plain fun. So much fun. Goddess, it was the most attractive attribute he possessed.

Everyone needed to experience the heady excitement of having fun with their lovers. If laughter was the best medicine, it also was the most potent aphrodisiac. At least for her.

Lucilla stretched out along his large body, loving the feel of him beneath her. Happiness sang in her veins.

Jager placed his hand on her neck, lifting her hair. “You should see yourself right now. You’re taking my breath away, you look so beautiful.”

“I was just thinking the same thing about you.”

He smiled knowingly.

It was hours before either of them uttered another word.