Chapter 257 - The Importance of Aftercare (2/2)

She shook her head, her breath breaking as she exhaled. ”No... I was being irrational and childish...” She forced an awkward smile. ”Cuddles and conversation?”

He nodded. ”That would be nice.” He carried her over and set her on the edge of the bed before stepping away again.

She tilted her head as she watched his glutes flex with each step. ”What are you doing now?” She asked as he bent by his bags.

He glanced up at her over his shoulder. ”I figured with the current atmosphere between us, it would be best to dress at least partially.” He tugged out a white tee and a pair of gym shorts. He stood and walked back to the bed not bothering to put the shorts on first. ”Here lift your arms.” He said as he tossed the shorts over his shoulder and lifted the shirt.

Jos frowned as her eyes moved from the clothes to his magnificent n.a.k.e.d body. ”If I promise to be good, can we cuddle without those?” She quickly added, ”I mean it's good to have them by the bed in case anyone knocks or something but... are they really necessary?”

He let out a breath, mild frustration reflecting in his tone. ”I don't think it's fair of me to keep doing these things to you. You've made it clear it's not enough and causes you more pain than me keeping things causal in all regards.” When she still didn't move he tossed the shirt to the bed before flopping down beside her himself. He balanced his elbows against his knees as he ran his hands through his hair. ”I'm not sure what to do here, Jos. It seems no matter what steps I try to take forward they only end up knocking us back five.” He turned his head to hold her gaze. ”There is no way in this world you're truly ready to move forward with me as you want. It's been over 500 years since we last spoke until here recently, and though a lot of things are still the same... so much has changed. I want to know this person sitting with me here right now. I want to know about everything about how you grew into this amazing person.” He sat back up and c.a.r.e.s.sed her cheek in one large palm as he searched her pensive stair. ”Has the little you've learned about me been enough?”

She pressed her lips together as her brows knotted. ”No... there are still tons I'd like to learn. I look forward to reading your journals once we break this Fern thing... I just assumed that it could all come at the same time. We could be physical and still build on all the other things as we go.” She shrugged. ”I imagined we could have conversations about the time we've been apart and the people we've grown into as we soaked in the tub or held each other after a long night of lovemaking... Arei... we only ever made love those few times, all in the span of less than a day...” She reached out and placed her hand on his c.h.e.s.t over the tattooed brand. ”Getting those memories back allowed me to discover a side of you I didn't realize I'd lost. Realizing that that sweet, caring man was still beside me trying his best to protect me and give me all the things I could ever ask for... plus some... There isn't anything left that I need to know, nothing that I could possibly discover that would change my feelings for you... my gratitude for all you've done.”

He placed his hands over hers, cupping them tightly to his c.h.e.s.t. ”I see... but I don't want you to feel like you owe me your body out of gratitude or as a form of payment or reward for anything I've done. I want your body as an extension of you as a whole, as an added bonus... something extra but not needed, for the whole person who loves me, for me and not because I'm a nice ride in the sack...”

Jos furrowed her brow. ”Arei, I'd never look at you that way. To be perfectly honest, the thought of having all of you inside me still scares the hell out of me... I wanted the physical connection because I felt like that was all that was missing... You already have all my heart, all my soul... You've had it this entire time, we were both just blinded to it. I'm more than ready to be more than this awkward... whatever it is we are... I'm ready to put a name to it...”

A smile curved one side of his lips as he huffed out an amused chuckle. ”You're ready to name it? What would you name it?” He released one hand from hers and brought it to her face. Stroking her cheek with the pad of his thumb he said. ”There are so many different names you could give this... soulmates, lovers... you seemed to like that one last time... Fiance...”

Her cheeks heated. ”I'm not sure I'm ready to pick up exactly where we left off all that time ago, but... together... a couple, boyfriend... If you're willing to carry the title...”

Arei smiled warmly down at her, tugging her closer and pressing his lips to hers. He leaned back, his eyes sparkling down at hers. ”I'd love that title.”

***

Zeus chuckled as he closed out the app connected to Jos's wristwatch. The heart rate alarm had gotten his attention earlier, but now he was losing interest. He tossed his phone to the side. ”It would appear I don't need to expend my efforts of keeping them apart. My bumbling nephew can do quite well on his own.”

Selena closed her computer that she'd been working on all this time. Folding her glasses and placing them on top of the closed laptop, she slowly turned to face him. ”I don't understand why you insist on interfering at all.”

Zeus frowned. ”For the same reasons I've always interfered with his siblings, they are too powerful. I can't risk another scheme to overthrow my power.”

Selena couldn't mask her full irritation as she struggled not to roll her eyes. ”Correct me if I'm mistaking, but your own wife headed that attempt joined by two of your children. Poseidon only helped them with no intention of taking power for himself, though you punished him anyway... still punishing him, really...”

His upper lip curled in anger at the mention of his own blood's turn against him. ”Even more reason to punish them, isn't it? Imagine had Orion and Artemis's relationship worked out and produced a child. I can't have that any more than I can have Areion and Jos producing.” He glared toward the window. ”No, as long as they are together, I will work to destroy them... Just as I did Triton, Polyphemus, Orion, Charybdis, and the others...”