With an irritable growl beneath my breath, I pushed away from the bars, stumbling over the sole remaining heel that sent me crashing to the floor. The sea of blankets and pillows on the floor cushioned my fall, but not my pride.
“Should have suffocated him with this,” I said as I picked up a small heart-shaped pillow made of velvet. I pulled it to my chest, squeezing it tight.
Sitting there with only small physical comforts, my mind wandered back to what had happened right before Eryx had left to answer the door.
Aphrodite’s sash: a bluff orthe real deal? I knew such a thing existed, but could he really have gotten his hands on it? Was I so weak that I could fall prey to its power?
Dammit.
I swallowed hard, a traitorous flush creepingup onto my cheeksatthe memory of how he tasted. The way I wanted to coax more of those gravelly sounds from him. His fingers threaded through my hair, and the primal way he chased his release.
It had been the closest thing I had ever felt to beingdesiredfor once. Yet that damn sash had me questioning if my own desire for him had been artificially induced.
You’re a downright mess, Charlee.
My self-chastising thoughts were interrupted as I heard footsteps approaching from down the hall. Too light topossibly beEryx’s heaping figure.
I sat up straighter, the stuffed heart falling from my grip. Was this help on the way or just false hope?
By the time I pushed myself up onto my feet, I heard the second set of footsteps. These were heavier, rushed.Likely Eryx, though I hardly imagined him being uncomposed enough to be sprinting anywhere.
Outside the door, I noticed the shadow of a pair of feet beneath the gap under the door.
“Let us see what’s behind door number one, shall we?” A female voice asked with an edge of something resembling amusement.
The handle turned silently, and the door opened to reveal a woman surrounded by an air of sophistication. Something else lingered on her, an applied chemical scent that reeked of regality. If one had ever smelled molten gold and frozen lilies, it bore a heady resemblance to that striking mixture. Quietly powerful and unrepentant.
She stepped into the room, approaching my cage with a silent stride like she walked onclouds. Stopping just out of reach beyond the door, a corner of her mouth quirked up.
“Oh my,” she purred at the sight of me locked behind the bars of the cage. Itwasn’tabject horror, but sheer fascination with Eryx’s dirty little secret.
Realization struck me that I was standing there in nothing but a scant set of lace lingerie. Leaning over, I fumbled for the first blanket that came to hand—aheavy quilt with patches of various crestsrepresentingtheclassifications of the gods.
It easily engulfed my body, restoring some modesty despite current circumstances being what they were.
Eryx’s heavy footfalls ceased in the doorway to the room, his hands gripping the frame tight enough to make the wood groan in protest.
“Pia, it’s not what it looks like.” A classic line from every man ever caught up in something heshouldn’tbe. “This is between Charlee and me.”
She waved a hand dismissively at him without ever breaking eye contact with me.
Finally, she perked up a brow with a wicked grin of recognition on her cherry lips. “Eros?”
My ancient name vibrated through my body like a brass bell being rung in defiance.
I lifted my chin,attemptingsome dignity. “They stopped callingme thatcenturies ago. Mortals found ‘Cupid’ less intimidating, prettier.” My voice came out steady but soft with grief of an era lost to time.
She clasped her hands together in front of her in delight, her face lighting up with excitement. Turning towards Eryx, who remained scowling in the doorway, she spoke with barelycontainedglee.
“This is ever the surprise, Eryx!” Her laughter that followed was lighthearted and infectious, embodying the sentiment of beingtickled pink.
Then, she was moving with purpose. Pia walked over to a small vanity and moved the prim ivory stool over to my cage. Tucking her dress underneath her as she lowered herself onto the seat, it was clear she had no plans of leaving this room anytime soon.
“Eryx, bring us the wine from that disastrous trip we took to Greece, New York.I’dlike to have a chat with Charlee,” Pia demanded, her tone suggesting shewouldn’ttolerate any argument over the matter.
“You can’t be serious,” Eryx muttered gruffly. His eyes met mine, dark withunspokenwarning. Though itremainedunclear who I should be more wary of, him or the woman with a sudden fascination with me.
Pia’s sharp glare sliced through the air when directed at my captor.It was enough that he raised both hands in placating surrender. He took a step back into the hallway, turning, but not before adding in a grumble, “Not worth the damn headache.”
