Part 3 (1/2)

Eros rose to his feet and walked slowly down the hall to Psyche's room. He stopped at the door and reached for the handle, but let his hand fall away. He leaned his forehead against the wood and closed his eyes.

His whisper awoke her.

”Don't open your eyes,” he said. His voice was so close, she knew he must be sitting on the edge of the bed. She lay on her side facing away from him, but she obeyed his request. In the warm, sleepy darkness, his voice made her s.h.i.+ver, but not unpleasantly. She bit her lip.

”Why were you out of your room this afternoon?” he asked. The question sounded tentative, and Psyche was surprised. She wasn't used to hearing hesitance in his voice, and she wanted to comfort him, to tell him everything would be all right.

”I was looking for you,” she murmured. ”I was going to use the scrying bowl.”

”Did you need something?” Now he sounded surprised.

Psyche opted for honesty. ”No. I . . . I missed you.”

”I should have thought you would be lonely.”

”No, that isn't it. I missed you.”

It was a moment before he responded. ”Why?”

”I don't really know,” Psyche admitted. ”I . . . just missed you.”

”Do you miss Mercury?”

”What?” she asked. ”I barely know the guy. Why would you think-Oh, Eros, no. I don't have feelings for him. I don't even really like him. Wait, I mean, I don't dislike him. I just don't know him enough to like him.” She forced herself to stop babbling.

Eros was silent for a long moment.

”That's not possible.”

”Apparently, it is,” she retorted.

”Perhaps you aren't aware of your feelings yet,” he said.

Psyche wanted to smack him. ”I think I'd know if I was in love with him. I'm not. Maybe your arrow was a dud.”

He laughed, a low, soft rumble that made her s.h.i.+ver again.

”It's not funny.”

He sobered. ”I did not mean to laugh at you. I was amused at the idea of one of my arrows being ineffective. That's never happened before.”

”Well, since it's not working, I can go home now.” Psyche's voice quavered and she bit her lip as tears stung her eyes. She should be happy about leaving, but the thought of never seeing Eros again . . .

”No,” he said. ”No. I'm sorry, but I can't-”

”It didn't work! There's no reason for me to stay here.”

”I can't let you go.” His voice was so low she could barely hear it, and she felt his hand brush over her hair.

”Why not?” she asked, her voice tight.

”Because I love you.”

Her breath caught in her throat.

He leaned over her, so close she could hear him breathe. She froze, waiting, hoping, and felt his lips brush along her cheekbone, as lightly as the touch of b.u.t.terfly wings. They left a tingle in their wake.

”I love you,” he whispered. ”And I cannot bear the thought of you being in love with another.”

”I'm not,” she said. She turned her head slightly, toward him, and held out her hands, blindly seeking until her fingertips found his face. ”Eros . . .”

He let out a soft groan and pulled her into his arms before lowering his warm lips to hers in a fiery kiss she felt to the depths of her being. She threaded her arms around his neck and tried to draw him closer, hold him tighter.

They fell together against the pillows, and Psyche whimpered softly as his hands traced along the sides of her neck to her shoulders, following the line of her collarbones down to her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. She sucked in a breath, and he quickly withdrew and began to sit up.

”No,” she said and tightened her arms around him. ”Please.”

For a moment, he did not move. She didn't think he even breathed. ”Are . . . Are you sure?”

”Yes,” she whispered, and saying the word was such a sweet relief, as though she had let go of a struggle she didn't know she was fighting, admitting a truth that could not be denied. With a m.u.f.fled groan, he returned his lips to hers and it was like coming home.

Their clothes vanished. She became aware of it when she felt his smooth, warm skin against her own, and she eagerly explored what she had not seen, learning the shapes and contours of his body through touch and taste and scent. He was perfect, but what else could be expected of a Greek G.o.d?

The rush of sensation was almost frightening in its intensity, and she wondered if the touch of an immortal being was somehow better than that of a human man. She had never felt anything like this-this burning, aching need, this sizzling pleasure that crackled along every nerve. She murmured his name as he explored her, too, learning what she liked from her sighs and soft cries.

His delicious weight settled over her and she sighed in bliss. These feelings, this sweet intimacy, was what had always been missing from her life. She wanted to look into Eros's eyes as he joined with her, but he laid his hand gently over her eyes. ”Don't,” he whispered. And then there was no more need for words.

Psyche woke in the pre-dawn hours and opened her eyes before she remembered. A male body lay next to her, his back to her, curled on his side as he slept. Psyche feasted on his form, awed by his perfection. Her fingertips ached to reach out and caress his sun-kissed golden skin, to trace the contours of his sleekly toned muscles. He had the most adorable dimple on his bottom.

With a sigh of contentment, she snuggled up to his back and drifted into sleep.

A few hours later Eros woke her with a kiss, and she opened her eyes without thinking. She saw nothing but darkness and reached up, disappointed to discover he had draped the blindfold over her eyes.

”Good morning,” Eros said.

”Mm.” Psyche stretched, savoring the small aches in her body. ”Good morning.”

”Feel up to a small trip?”

”Yeah, sure, let me get dressed.”

”Taken care of,” he said, and her body was immediately covered with cloth.

She blushed. ”I, um, I was going to get cleaned up first.” Maybe G.o.ds didn't need to bathe and brush their teeth, but human beings weren't so fortunate.

”Oh. I'll wait.”

She leaned over and kissed him. It landed on his jaw and she felt his cheek move beneath her lips in a smile. She removed the blindfold to find her way to the bathroom and re-donned it before she emerged and was folded into his arms.

”Hold on,” he said, and she felt that strange spinning sensation again. A rumble grew in her ears, and then she felt cool mist on her cheeks. ”Just a moment.” He drew her forward a few paces. ”Here we are.” He led her down to the ground, where she sat with her back to his chest. He untied her blindfold and she gasped in astonishment at the sight before her.