“Stop thinking about it,” I said quickly. I cupped his face in my hands and drew him back to me with my sweetest kisses. “Think only of this. Of now. Of me.”
At this he smiled again, unable to resist me. “Very well, my naughty priestess.” He pinned me against the gazebo’s wall once more, lavishing me with affection.
“Aren’t you going to take me away?” I prompted breathlessly.
“You keep distracting me!” Thanatos laughed. “And there was something…” He stalled, flustered. “Oh, right. I remember.” He released me in order to retrieve a small vial which I hadn’t even noticed sitting on the center table. Dark pink liquid sloshed around inside as he offered it to me.
“No demigods, for one year,” he promised. Then his face reddened, and he fixed his eyes to a spot on the ground. “Do not ask me how I got it.”
Now that was a story Ineededto hear. When I opened my mouth to ask, though, he blushed harder and shook his head. Alright, alright, fine. I accepted the vial, pulled out the stopper, and downed its contents in one gulp. Fruity.
Well, how nice. Somehow I, a mortal woman, had now beentwicethe beneficiary of magic potions. With such treatment, how could I not feel spoiled? I would have to let Alex know that my mysterious lover had taken responsibility for procuring my herbs.
But then I registered the reason for his embarrassment, and a teasing grin spread wide across my face. I arched a brow. “You went to Olympus for this, didn’t you?” I guessed.
“You do not know the half of it,” Thanatos grumbled, flicking his wings with disdain. “I had to seeAphroditefor this.” Somehow he made a visit to the goddess of beauty sound about as pleasant as pulling teeth. Or plucking feathers.
“Was it really that bad?”
“It wasme,” he emphasized, as though incredulous that I could not conceive of the weight of his actions. “I was onOlympus. PetitioningAphroditefor a boon. I feel queasy even imagining the gossip that will ensue.”
“I see,” I said seriously, choking down a giggle at the mental image this evoked. “Well, then…thank you. I am glad that you cared for me enough to do it.” I tossed the empty vial aside. “You’re sure about this stuff, right?” I added.
“Oh, yes. You can stop eating your stolen plants. Now, let us enjoy the benefits of my ordeal.”
And he waited for no further questions before catching me in his kiss and wrapping his wings around us. I clung to him gladly, in agreement with his haste. I closed my eyes and lost myself in precious Death.
10
When I opened my eyes again, his wings parted to reveal our bedroom from the previous night. Thanatos cradled me reverently, one hand at my back, the other tugging at the gold ribbon tied around my waist. I had felt so packaged before, but I supposed I didn’t mind it now, when he was the one unwrapping me.
He broke away from my lips only to pull my dress off over my head. Before it hit the floor, he was kissing me again, slow and deep, his hands stroking lightly down the curves of my body. His thumbs hooked beneath the hem of my underwear, and with a measured tug it fell away to join my dress.
I trembled in his arms, overcome by the headiness of his allure: the heat of his body, the temptation of his scent, the strength underlying all of his gentle touches. I surrendered to my desire without a thought of resistance. All that mattered was that I was naked, and Thanatos was loving me, and all I wanted was for him to be naked, too.
I fumbled for the buttons that pinned his shirt together beneath his wings. There were two sets on each side, making the exercise a nontrivial one for my very distracted brain.
“These ones first,” he said, guiding my hands.
I followed his direction, and though my motions felt clumsy, I managed to pull his shirt off without catching its fabric on any of his feathers. I stroked my fingers across his bare chest. Soft hair, hard muscles, warm skin. My blush deepened as Idrank in the sight of him, sweeping my touches lower, down his stomach. By the time my hands settled on his waistband, I was certain I must be glowing crimson.
Undeterred, I gave the waistband a tug, and maneuvered it down until it fell to the floor. My breath caught, and the ache between my thighs intensified as I stared at him. Perfect.Wanting. I wanted to touch him, but perhaps I should wait until we had made it into bed.
Thanatos held me by my hips and walked me backward so that he could step out of his pants and shoes. Free at last, he traced my curves again from my hips to my breasts. “You look so…fascinated,” he observed.
“I am,” I admitted. I tore my gaze away from his cock, only to be struck with equal fascination by his ravishing face and body. I let out an accidental whimper. “Fuck,” I muttered. “Thanatos?”
“Yes?”
“Carry me?” I begged silkily.
He raised a brow, a smirk tugging at his lips. “To the bed that’s right over there?”
“Yes,” I said, unashamed. “Please? I liked it when you carried me yesterday.”
“As you desire,” he purred, and he scooped me into his arms without further hesitation.
The motion released me from my nervous restraint. I let out an undignified squeal and peppered his neck with kisses as he carried me the short distance across our room. When he set me down and joined me in bed, I didn’t relent. I held him as closely as I could, sharing his breath, wrapping my leg around his waist. Oh, naked Thanatos. I could never get enough of him, and now we were finally free to tangle our bodies together the way they so desperately craved.
