“So was I,” I whispered as I stroked his sharply-angled cheek.
I couldn't understand how this man had only been a friend to me; there was so much passion between us. What happened to turn that passion into friendship? But as I focused on Blue and the feelings I had for him, I realized that Alaric was right; I just didn't feel as strongly for him as I did Re. And that ate at me. Because if Blue and I had been married once, I could have forgiven myself for betraying Re. But if we had only been friends, then not only had I cheated on Re, I had also cheated on those men who were my real husbands.
It was too much to deal with. So, I pushed it aside for the moment and made up my mind to roll with the decision I'd made. I didn't know those other men so the only man who I was truly concerned about hurting was Re. Re was a sensualist; I knew, in my heart, that he would understand. Would I be okay if the situation was reversed? Hell, no; and that really bothered me. But again, it wasn't something I could do anything about. What was done, was done.
Unless some time god screwed with me again.
Blue carried me out of the stone room and down a hallway. He took me into a luxurious bedroom done in shades of blood-red. His bed was enormous; with four posters and red velvet curtains. Across from it, there was a fireplace that seemed superfluous; what with the tropical environment we were in. But it was beautiful; as was everything else in the room. It felt very masculine despite all of the Gothic frills and wood carvings.
“Let me make it up to you,” Blue said as he gently laid me on the bed.
Blue climbed up beside me; sliding his body along mine. I rolled onto my side so I could lean over him and run my hand down the hard curves of his chest. Blue sighed in delight and started his own exploration of my body. But then I stopped myself; we needed to talk before we got distracted again.
“Wait.” I caught his hand and held it. “I need to tell you a few things.”
“This is strange; I know,” he said. “But in our world, things like this happen all the time. I think we should accept it as the gift it is, and not worry about the why or how.”
“That's the thing; I know the how and possibly the why.”
“You do?” Blue frowned and sat up. “Tell me.”
“This isn't the right time,” I started to explain.
“You just said that you wanted to talk about it,” he huffed.
“No; I mean this moment that we're in—it's been altered,” I fumbled for the words. “It's been revealed to me that my life was completely different, and in that different life, I did something to Zeus. His son, Aion, changed my past in retribution.”
“Someone changed history?” Blue frowned at me. “That can't be possible.”
“It is,” I assured him. “Think about our attraction for each other; you were about to kill me. What happened to change that?”
“I... you healed my magic somehow. I still don't understand how you were able to take it, but when I reclaimed it, it was whole again. And then there was your blood; it gave me visions,” he whispered. “I saw us together; we made love atop my pyramid in Mexico.”
“I saw us together on the pyramid too,” I said. “You did the same thing to me then that you did... with... you know.”
“When I drank from you as I pleasured you?” Blue smiled sensually. “Yes; the memory inspired that for me.”
“Memory; yes,” I latched onto the word. “Not a vision.”
“That actually feels correct,” he murmured. “I know you—I love you—and yet this is the first time we've met. I don't believe in love at first sight.”
“Neither do I,” I assured him. “I believe in many magical things, but not that.”
“So, our memories are coming back, despite the machinations of this god,” Blue mused.
“I believe so.”
“And you and I; we were lovers?”
I nodded. “I have more to tell you, and you're not going to like it.”
“All right.”
“I had multiple husbands in that other life,” I explained. “You're not the first one who I've met in this new time.”
“You're telling me that you're already married?” Blue's eyes flashed bright green.
“No, but I'm engaged,” I admitted. “I'm sorry; I should have stopped you. I feel as if I've betrayed you both.”
