9

Jordan stretched out on the sofa in the office, reading the journal. She didn’t want to think about what the store looked like. After Zeus locked her in the office, there was a loud crash, like the front of the store was blown off. It’d been quiet since.

That was what? A few hours ago at least.

With nothing else to do, she read the journal. It was more like research notes. About the stone. Wow, she couldn’t believe her mom kept all of this from her.

If only she had told Jordan, maybe she’d still be alive.

A tear rolled down her cheek. She sniffed and wiped it away. “I will not let your death be in vain.”

A pounding on the wall startled her. She let out a squeak and froze in her spot on the sofa. Several moments went by before she heard Zeus’s voice.

“Open the door, Jordan.”

She scrambled to the door and paused. Even though it sounded like him, it didn’t mean it was. “How do I know it’s not a trick by that witch?”

“Ask me something.”

She smiled, then frowned. What did she ask a god? “What is your least favorite food?”

“Sushi.”

Her heart leapt, and the tension in her muscles eased. She lifted the spell and opened the door. One side of his mouth lifted, and he looped an arm around her, pulling her close. “Hi.”

She hugged him tightly, pressing her ear to his chest. “Hi.” She lifted her gaze to his. “Mom did a lot of research on the stone. She found the original owner.”

He pulled out of the embrace and took her hand. Silently he led her to the front of the store. She could read his emotions, but she picked up on something. Was it nervousness? No. He was Zeus. When they reached the front, he let go of her hand and stepped to the side.

The sight made her heart swallow and tears form. Everything was fixed. It was like nothing happened.

She whirled around and threw her arms around him, hugging him close. “Thank you.”

He lifted her chin with a finger. Swirls of silver danced in his blue eyes. “Let’s go home. I’ll run a hot bath while we go over the notes.”

A giddy laugh bubbled up inside her. The thought of a relaxing bath sounded like heaven. On the other hand, she wasn’t sure if he meant to be in it with her.

And why not? They were adults. He was sexy and a…well a god.

Zeus did intend to be in the bath with her. What a bath it was. The tub was sunken into the floor, or maybe the floor was raised to make it look like it was sunken. It was big enough for six people.

He wasn’t shy about stripping down. Then again, he had nothing to be ashamed of. Every ripped muscle rolled and flexed as if they were taunting her or daring her to touch.

Jordan, on the other hand, was not so confident. She gave him her back as she undressed. He moved past her to test the water.

“Modesty is a human fault.” He stood and faced her, naked as the day he was born...or created? “You shouldn’t hide your beauty.”

Her cheeks heated, and she sat on the edge of the tub, not bothering to hide her nudity. After all, they had sex. She was also drunk on desire and passion at the time.

Dipping her toes in, she sighed. The water was warmer than she usually had it but not too hot. She slid into the water.

Zeus followed suit, then held out a hand to her. “Come here.”

After a brief hesitation, she scooted closer to him. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to sit between his thighs with her back to his chest.

The moonstone around her neck warmed, bringing her thoughts back to Helena and Drakon and the stone. “Helena stole the stone from a harpy, who was the first guardian according to Mom’s notes, the stone holds the souls of the harpy elders.”

“Which explains why it’s called the Stone of Affliction. The person who possesses the stone could release the harpy spirits.” Zeus dipped a washcloth into the water, then squeezed it over her shoulder.

“And direct the spirits to afflict pain and destruction on the world.” Jordan thought about it some more. “That’s why it can’t be destroyed. The spirits would be let out to wreak havoc wherever they please.”

She couldn’t allow that to happen.

“The stone needs to be given to the harpies to protect.” Zeus’s tone was low and void of emotion.

Jordan nodded. “How will we do that? Wouldn’t Helena go after them to get it? Plus aren’t living harpies just as vicious as the ones in the stone?”

He tilted his head and stared at her as if thinking about her question. Did he not know? After a brief silence, he said, “They are, but my guess is the spirits trapped inside the stone want revenge. The ones alive want to be left alone. I’ll send word to the clan council. They will know what to do.”

She hoped so. She wanted the whole thing behind her. To get on with life.

Zeus kissed her shoulder. Warmth traveled through her and a groan escaped from her throat.

He slid his hand around her waist and further. Desire, mixed with nervousness swirled in her belly. Yet, she trusted him. Somehow, in the short few days she’d known him, he’d wiggled his way into her heart.

She’d learned not to question things that were fated. This…them felt too good to be anything but fate.

Pleasure rolled inside her, igniting every inch of her as he rubbed her clit. She rocked her hips in motion with him. When he slipped two fingers inside her, she gasped and dropped her head back on his shoulder. Tingles exploded along her skin, making her sensitive to every touch. Pleasure built and she wasn’t sure how much longer she could hold on.

“Let go, Jordan.” His husky whisper was her undoing.

Her orgasm slammed into her, and her body jerked as the pleasure released within.

Zeus picked her up and turned her so she straddled him. The blue in his eyes darkened, then shimmered. He was beautiful and handsome and all hers. At least for the night. She was going to take advantage of it.

Leaning in, she kissed him, thrusting her tongue past his lips. He groaned and gripped her hips. Slowly he lowered her onto his cock. Pleasure ignited again the deeper he went. He was killing her with the pace.

Unable to take it anymore, she wrapped her arms and legs around him, taking him fully inside her. They moaned at the same time as she rode him, intensifying the feeling all the more.

He broke the kiss and nipped at her throat as he thrust inside her, drawing another gasp from her. She fisted his hair and moved with him. Pleasure raced through her veins and straight to her core, building.

His body tensed just as she fell over the edge of another release. His orgasm followed.

After the last shudders left their bodies, Zeus teleported them to his bed, dried and clothed. She gaped at him, not used to the free use of magic. She had concealed hers all her life.

He cuddled her next to him, so her head rested on his chest. She snuggled into him. Her heart swelled. It was Zeus’s fault. He made it easy to fall in love with him.

“Go to sleep.” He massaged her scalp and kissed her forehead.

She nodded and closed her eyes, finally letting the exhaustion she’d felt the past few days take her.