“That’s the best use of magic I’ve seen,” she says with a gasp as my lips land on her beautiful, hard nipples.
I’m too busy sucking and worshipping these gorgeous globes to respond. Her words turn to incoherent sounds as I continue to use my tongue to lick and touch every inch of them. I release her hands to cup her breasts, weighing them, then pushing them together so I can more easily reach them with my tongue.
Nails lightly score my back as she kneads the muscles, and the slight pain brings me closer to the edge.
Fuck, I need to be inside her.
Abandoning her breasts, I skim my hands down her athletic body and tap the button of her trousers with a little magic. They disappear, leaving the rest of her to my gaze. I groan. Gorgeous. I drop to my knees before her and nibble my way down her smooth skin until I get to the heart of her.
Her hands slip into my hair and cup my head. I look up, wanting to see her thoughts. Blue eyes, glazed with desire, stare down at me. A light blush of heat covers her chest and cheeks. She licks her swollen lips, and it’s all I can do not to stand and kiss the hell out of her while I take her, fast and furious.
Instead, I slide my hand behind her knee and spread her legs, then drop my gaze to the sight in front of me—smooth skin and delicate pink folds glistening wet in the soft light. I hum at the delicious bounty, then circle my tongue around her clit, drawing it into my mouth. She moans, and my dick twitches at the sound.
Wanting to be inside her, I insert a finger into her wet heat, stroking in and out as my mouth brings her closer to the edge. Whimpering, she tightens her grip on my head.
“Jamison,” she calls out breathlessly, and I pause for a second. I’d been so certain I’d never hear my name on her lips that way again.
I’m a fool, but a damn lucky one.
Her body quivers, and I add another finger. Gasps and heavy breathing fill the space around us. When her hips begin to rock, I increase my speed until I feel her body clenching and on the verge of coming.
“I want you inside me. Now.”
Shedding the rest of our clothes with a flick of a wrist, I don’t even think twice. I pick her up and press her against the door. Long, sleek legs wrap tightly around me as I sheath myself inside her.
Damn. I think I’m harder than I’ve ever been in my life.
I slide in and out, trying to take it slow, but it’s been too long since I feltheraround me. Already on edge, I’m barely holding on. I slide my hand between us to circle her clit, and when she begins to move, so do I, steadily increasing the pace. My lips find hers, and I do what I wanted to do a minute ago and kiss thebloody hell out of her. Her response is electric as she meets my lips with wild passion.
Unable to hold back any longer, I thrust hard and fast. Her breath catches, then her body tightens, milking mine. I ride her through the storm exploding inside her, then find my own release seconds later.
Chest heaving, I gasp for air while she strokes soft hands down my back. Then I bury my face in her sweet neck and breathe in her unique scent, something I’ve missed so very much.
A few minutes later, I lift my head to stare into her satisfied blue eyes. This is the woman I’ll fight the gods themselves to keep safe. She’s mine. Ours.
I lift my head to tell her, but her smile stops me in my tracks. Smoothing back her damp hair, I slide out of her and use a little magic to dress us both.
“Thank you. For forgiving me. For helping with my father. For being ours.” I give her one last, lingering kiss, then slide her hand into mine. “Let’s go find a bed and do this again. Slower this time.”
22
PHAEDRA
“Damn it,” I curse, throwing my pen down on the desk. Shoulders tight from hunching over the computer for hours, I realize I’ve reached another dead end. Ares is the Greek god of war, but he’s also the son of Zeus and Hera. How does he not have more than one temple? Our history is littered with wars. Not even the Spartans worshipped him. Honored, yes, but not enough to build him a place for his followers to worship. The Thracians did, but the temple they built is long gone. And the only one known today is rubble. I should have searched it when I went to Athens, but I was so focused on Athena and missing them, I didn’t think about it.
Strong hands settle on my shoulders, and I drop my head back to stare up at Hawthorne, who’s also wearing a look of frustration.
“I wish I could help you, but my search also turned up nothing.”
“Mm, at this moment, you’re helping,” I assure him as he kneads the knots in my shoulders. “The only temple dedicated to Ares around today is the one in the Ancient Agora of Athens. It’s a pile of rocks, but we’ll have to visit it. My gut says the panel isn’t there, though. It just doesn’t fit with what we know of Ares.”
“We can leave in the morning,” he offers. His hands slow, and I can tell he’s thinking about something. “I need to pick up a couple of books while I’m there.”
I narrow my eyes. “You’ve been secretive lately. What are you working on?”
He flicks a glance at me, then bends down to take my lips in a slow kiss that makes me melt into a puddle, his masculine scent invading my senses. “Maybe we can find information on Hera’s scepter.” His lips travel down my neck as if he can’t stop after one kiss. “Ready for a break?”
I spear my hand into his mahogany hair and lightly pull his head back. “Don’t think I didn’t notice that you completely evaded my question, but you’re right. Maybe I can do a little digging the old-fashioned way.”
