“You know, you could have knocked, boy. I don't like being surprised, and change your damn eyes!” I guess I was still feeling the pain from yesterday's events, but then again, it could have been him. Yeah, I was in denial big time and instead of taking responsibility for the fact that I really had been the first domino to fall and create this mess, I went on the defensive.
He raised a sleek, black brow, his lips twitching in amusement.
This only made me more annoyed. Growling, I moved between him and my brother's ‘gift’, and crossed my arms, hoping my stern look gave away how I was feeling about his intrusion. It didn't.
“Hephaestus, really? You know my eyes only take on the color of that in which the beholder loves. So, back to my original question. What went down with you and pops at the cafe?”
“We had a bit of a disagreement. Nothing new between us.”
“I hear it's over a woman. I can make her desire you uncle, and all you have to do is ask. I mean, I understand that it may be hard for someone well— like you.” He pointedly stared at my lame leg, the source of my mistreatment in Olympus.
As if on cue, it started to burn, the aching reminder that I was not perfect like Ares. That even without the bet, I probably lacked any chance with Vanessa. I didn't think I could accept that kind of rejection and suddenly, my idea to get back at the War God now seemed idiotic and pointless.
Himeros approached me then, placing a hand on my shoulder and giving it a gentle squeeze. It was uncharacteristic of him, to show any emotion other than lust and as I looked up into his eyes, I saw their true hue, and I wish I could describe it. All I can say is that it was perfection.
However, when he spoke, his voice belied their glow. “There is hope for you, Uncle. I believe Eros is right and you must have faith that all will work in your favor.” His words were heavy with longing and despair and I couldn't help but wonder if he felt more for the mortal, who he almost said the name of? Did my nephew, Himeros, love Willa? I was certain that was another story to be told.
“I did not mean for my question to make you feel ashamed of your appearance, Uncle. It is never my intention to hurt. I only meant to help, but interfering in this would probably do more harm than good. I give you my blessing in this endeavor of yours, Hephaestus. May the gods shine down on you this time.” In a flurry of wings and darkness, my nephew dispersed. Vanishing, while he left a scent of cologne and heady eroticism.
Sadly for me, I had dropped my shield during my negative musings and was bombarded by the urgent need to find release. Damn the young god! The fever of desire came upon me quickly, leaving me shaky and hot, so my first thought was to try a cold shower. Turning on the water to the coldest I could stand, I didn't waste time undressing. I flashed out of my clothing into the icy spray and gasped as the initial shock sent a shiver down my spine. I braced myself against the tiles, eyes closed and tried to imagine the many times I caught Ares with Aphrodite, in hopes that my painful erection would fade away in the frigid waters.
When I mentally flipped through all the instances of infidelity my ex-wife's remorseless face melted and was replaced with the beautiful features of Vanessa, my object of affection. She was staring at me, her multi-colored eyes wide and stunned. Like me, her body was slick and wet with water and I couldn't stop my hands from gliding over her delicious curves. Overcome with hunger, I captured her lips, devouring them as though they were the only food to keep me among the living.
At first, she pushed at my arms, but I didn't let her go, her weak struggles fueling an already raging fire. Finally, Vanessa pressed against me, moaning into my mouth while my tongue plundered inside hers. I caressed every inch of skin she possessed, while her own nimble fingers trailed a fiery path down my stomach, etching out each tense muscle before disappearing into the hair above my dripping, needy member.
This was turning out to be the best day dream ever, or so I thought until she squeezed my erection to the point of pleasure and pain. I pulled back to stare down at her.
She was flushed, her cheeks mottled with red, her lips swollen while desire clouded her eyes.
I had to move back more when she tried to lean up for another kiss. “Vanessa? How---” I didn't have a chance to finish my query, all coherency shattering when she gave my cock a long, slow stroke.
She repeated the action, teasing me into a fury of arousal and I had to bang my head against her shower wall to keep from embarrassing myself. It was the first time she had touched me, her hands small and soft while they pumped me, and as much as I wanted to let her have her way, I knew she wasn't in the right place for that. I could never take advantage of her, even if my body believed otherwise.
Luckily, when I felt her free hand move lower, just above the start of my jagged scar that decorated my leg, I was jolted back to reality. Reluctantly, I unwrapped her fingers from me, thinking that if my cock could speak, it would be cussing me out something fierce. I focused, until I was back in my own bathroom. The cold water no longer helped, so I turned it off and stepped out, wrapping my towel around me. I cringed as the rough fabric grazed against my sensitive tip.
Attempting to get a grip over my powers, I ran my hand over my face to clear my mind and reached for my jeans, the doorbell rang. With a resigned sigh, I donned my robe and headed down to answer it, hoping that my scowl would scare the person away. Of course, my mood went from annoyed to shock when I opened the door and peered down at the eyes that haunted my dreams. They were full of emotions, seeking, questioning. Why did she have to come to me when my heart was still not quite prepared?
“Why did you leave?”
Was she serious?
“I don't know what you mean I haven't been near you recently. Well, other than at the cafe.”
“No, you were in my shower. I saw you. I
felt
you. I don't understand it, but I know it.” Vanessa pressed the heel of her hand against her eyes as though she were suffering from a headache.
I wondered if she was having a moment of clarity. With Ares gone for the moment, it wouldn't be unusual for the withdrawal affects of his touch to start dissipating.
Gently lifting her chin, I stared her down, and it was then, I saw the enormity of trauma Ares had caused. She appeared worse than when I had accidentally cursed her. Sunken and hallow, the unique coloring of her eyes was drowned out by the dark shadows beneath them. Unlike most of the women in our neighborhood, Vanessa's skin was as smooth and white as alabaster, but now its paleness was sickly and practically translucent, so much in fact, I could easily seen her blue veins pulsing.
Anger came to life inside of me at the sight of her tortured image and the fire in my loins died down some, not a lot, but enough that my lust filled insanity balanced into normalcy. Like a sneaky incubus, my brother's sexual appetite was killing her and my fear of rejection that kept me from going to her when she needed me most meant I carried just as much blame.
I pulled her inside and sat her at my dining room table, rushing to get a drink.
She took it in frail looking hands, sipping it gingerly.
I sat across from her and watched. Being so close, I could smell her sweet scent and had to adjust the robe belt to allow room for my reawakening pain in the groin. Distracted, it took me a moment to realize Vanessa had started speaking.
Her words were jumbled and coming out in a fast blur, tears streaking down her ashen face glittering like diamonds in the sand.
I reached out a finger, catching one before it could drop upon the table and palmed it for later. “Don't cry, Vanessa. It’ll all be okay.”
“You don't understand! I feel like I'm losing my mind. My sister is pissed at me, hell my parents are too! I vaguely remember what happened the other day, but it's like a broken film reel in my mind.”
Fidgeting, I wished I could ease her mind and tell her that it was a spell from Ares the God of War. That it only happened because of the curse I placed on her first. But her mind was still in a bad place, and any part of the truth might trigger a nervous breakdown. So, I did what my father taught me to do several centuries ago, when it came to upset women. I said nothing and just listened, holding her hand for support.
“And don't get me started on the dreams I've had of you. They’re so real I could swear that you were with me. That's why I thought you were in my shower with me today.”
“Um, dreams? About me?”
“I know, it's horrible. You barely know me. I mean, what happened in the back yard that was crazy, right? I've never felt such an instant attraction that way with any man. Even now as I sit here with you, I want you to just hold me—Forever.”
It was becoming more difficult to keep from blurting out everything and being honest with her. Not to mention, the steel hardness of my cock going from painful to excruciating. Swallowing hard past the lump in my throat, I nodded, keeping my eyes fixed on her face and not her heaving breasts.
“I'm doing things that aren't like me. I don't know if he told you, but I'm dating your brother—I think. But it's purely sexual.”
“You can leave him you know.”
“I want to, but just the thought of it gives me hives. When I'm with him, I feel like I'm ready to fight and fuck. That's it.” Vanessa’s eyes flashed with red as she spoke of Ares. “He's gone for now and it's stupid to even bother you with this. It's so wrong, but I feel like you're the only one I really want to see. As much as I crave him, I'm drawn to you alone.”
The desperation and hopelessness in her voice stabbed at me and my chest felt constricted.
“It's like I'm being pulled in two directions and yet, I am with the one I have nothing in common with. Heph, I feel like a puppet, a pawn in a cruel joke and I don't know how to make it end. Please, what's happening to me? I know something is wrong.”
Her pleading was enough to break the last wall of intelligence that was keeping me from giving her the truth. Her glistening, sad eyes stared at me with trust and need and all I could think about was making it right. Granted, there were the easy ways of fixing the pain I started, such as going back and changing the past, but then I would be without her and call me selfish, but I wasn't going to do that.
It was time to try and get Vanessa back and the only way was to tell her everything. Eros did say that true love was all about having faith. Well, I was about to take a plunge that was only second to when I fell from Olympus. Closing my eyes, I inhaled deeply, taking her cold hands into my warm ones. “Vanessa, you aren't wrong in your feelings. I have been with you and I was in your shower.”
She stared me, trying to read through the lie and when she saw none written on my face, her hands pulled from my grasp. Not a good start.
“Don't be scared, I could never hurt you. I mean, not intentionally. I don't even know where to begin, how to explain.”
“Just do it. What is going on, Heph?”
“Vanessa, my only love, you know how my full name is Hephaestus?”
“Yes.” She was still sitting, but had moved back a fraction more and I knew the pieces of the puzzle were coming together.
“Have you heard this name anywhere else in your life, perhaps in school or books?”
Her tongue darted out to lick her lips, while she wrung her hands nervously. When she started shaking her head, preparing to stand and possibly run, I knew she’d figured it out, but didn't want to believe it. “It's impossible. Those are myths, nothing more. You think I'm going to sit here and have you make me believe you are a fictional character? A God? Next, you'll say your brother, Ares, is the
real
God of War!”
I said nothing, only nodded and watched the emotions play on her face.
They went from bewildered to confused and then to disturbed in seconds. She stood up, frowning at me and opened her mouth to speak, but decided against it, turning to leave instead.
Damn if her ass didn't look sexy as she stormed away. I shook my head to clear those kinds of thoughts. I had to stop her, convince her and with a snap of my finger, I appeared in front of the door before she reached it, which caused her to scream. The sound was so piercing, I was sure my eardrums would be ringing for hours. Trying to pop them, I narrowly missed my lamp she tossed at me, as it came crashing next to my head and splintered against my door. Yeah, this was not going well at all. Thanks, Eros!
Vanessa had picked up a ceramic vase and held it up, preparing to launch it, so I did the only thing I could think of when dealing with a hysterical human. I made it disappear in her hand, and then pinned her down on my couch. I'm sure other gods have had to do this in times of panic. Finally, bound and unable to maim me anymore than I already was, I knelt before her, resting my hands on her thighs. “Vanessa, please don't be afraid. I told you I'd never hurt you.”