“But you must. Because you're hurting me again.”
“No,” he growled. “You owe me a chance, Lomasi. You owe me this!”
“What chance?”
“A chance to win you back.”
He lifted me to straddle his lap, my knees going to either side of him on the bed. His cock speared at my sex, then slid up to nestle against my belly. A tingle of lust shivered down my spine. I didn't want to feel aroused by Hermes. It felt like a betrayal of my men. But I also knew it would be far easier on me if I enjoyed what happened next instead of fighting it.
“Make love with me,” Hermes said. “Let me remind you of what we have.”
“And if I still want them afterward?”
His face twitched.
“Hermes, I know you don't want to force me.”
“Fuck,” he growled and pushed me off his lap, onto the bed. He speared his hands through his hair. “Fuck!”
“Hermes.” I knelt behind him and hugged him. “You have so many others now. I know you do. I have no one. No man has been willing to stay after learning about you. Please, give me this. Let's move on.”
“I can't,” he whispered.
If there had been no one else, Hermes would have wound me around his heart again. I would have given in. But there was someone else. Three of them.
“Then you don't really love me,” I said.
Hermes went rigid. “I don't love you? You dare to question what I feel for you?!”
I had made a mistake, pushed too far. I knew it when Hermes spun toward me, his expression enraged. I cried out as he shoved me down, his body pinning mine to the bed. His hips split my thighs and his cock sought entrance. But I kept my pelvis angled down, making it difficult for him.
“Stop!” I shouted and pushed at him. “Hermes, I don't want this. Stop! I'm saying no!”
Hermes roared—a broken sound of anguish and frustration. He pounded the bed to either side of me. “I am Hermes! The god who made you immortal! The man who has loved you for centuries. Once you give yourself to a god, it's final. You belong to me, Lomasi. You cannot deny me.”
I let out a long breath, my muscles going limp. “All right, Hermes. Do it. I won't fight you. But I won't make love to you either. Because it is not that for me anymore.”
He grabbed my hips and angled me up to receive him. I hardened myself. Prepared for whatever trauma this would heap on me. It was just sex. I would be fine. But when the tip of him split me and started to enter, I saw Rune's face. I felt his touch. Then Braxen came to me. And Merrick.
I began to cry.
Hermes jerked back, cool air suddenly hitting my flushed skin. I opened my eyes, only realizing then that I had squeezed them shut. Hermes stood at the foot of the bed, his cock still reaching for me, but his expression horrified. He stared at my sprawled body as a wounded sound came from him. Then he spun and fled the room, leaving his clothes behind.
I brushed away my tears and sat up to stare at the door. My racing heart slowed down and hope started to bloom. But I poisoned the flower of hope before it could fully open. Hermes may not want to rape me, but he didn't want to release me either. Possessions could be kept on a shelf, giving their owners pleasure by their mere presence. I had a feeling that I was about to be put on a shelf, untouched forever.
Chapter Thirty-Five
That night, Hermes returned. It was late, and I was in bed. He stripped and climbed in beside me. I stiffened, but he only nestled in against my back and pulled me close. After a few minutes, he went to sleep, a peaceful expression on his face.
It took me much longer to fall asleep. Having him there made me nervous. Men did things in their sleep. Would Hermes try to have sex with me while he was dreaming? I told myself I would wake before he penetrated me, and that thought gave me a little comfort. I finally managed to get some rest.
In the morning, I woke to Hermes kissing my neck. I flinched and tried to pull away.
“Relax,” Hermes said. “It's only me.”
“I know it's you,” I said stiffly. “I still don't want to have sex with you, Hermes.”
He growled and nuzzled my ear. “Fine. But youwillgive me a chance to rekindle your love.”
