Chasing Terpsichore (Muses Across Time) (12 page)

She didn’t want him that way. “No. Absolutely not. I want him to want me of his own free will. Don’t you dare do anything, Father.”

“I can always get Eros—”

Corey moved at lightning speed to be toe to toe with her father and spoke through clenched teeth. “No. No. No.”

Zeus backtracked. “As you wish, my daughter. You have changed. You would not have cared this much in the past.”

“I was a selfish, self-centred bitch. I am ashamed of how I was.”

“You are entitled to get your own way. You are a goddess.”

“But what is the point of having power and fame if you use them for the wrong reasons?”

Zeus smiled. “I think I like this James more and more.”

“It was not only James who changed my way of thinking—it was also living among mortals, and learning to fend for myself. I like looking after myself—I could never go back to the old ways.”

“So, what you are saying is that you wish to return to this Sydney place?”

“Yes, I am, Father. But only if James wants me there. I couldn’t bear it if he moved on with his life without me. Please, Father, may I have your permission to return to Olympus if I wish?”

“You always had that, my daughter.”

“But I was stuck there.”

Zeus opened his arms and hugged Corey to his chest. “You only have to ask and I will return you. The power is within your heart. All I ask is that you spend some time here with your mother and me first.”

“Of course, Father. I long to see my mother again. Does that mean I could have returned at any time? Eros was right?”

“You have to really want it, and I have a feeling you wanted to stay there for a time. In future, you will be aware of your feelings and will come for visits.”

She threw her arms around him and hugged tightly. “Thank you, Father. You don’t know how much your support means to me.”

Zeus patted his daughter’s back. “Oh, I think I do, my dear. I love your mother, remember?”

* * * *

James’ gut was in knots as the servant showed him into a large chamber. He thought the room he’d been using was luxurious, but this room was a few levels higher than palatial. The transparent walls and ceiling gave the impression that they floated above the universe, which, considering who he was meeting, wasn’t such a stretch. He hoped Corey would be there because he was scared stiff. It wasn’t every day a guy got to meet the father of a girl he’d slept with, let alone cared about. It was something else to discover that her father was the
King of the Ancient Universe
. Just one look at her mischievous grin and he would relax. He rubbed his sweaty palms against his jeans and took an extra-deep breath. What he wouldn’t give to be anywhere else right now. He stopped walking at the raised platform where the majestic figure sat on a large throne. Zeus was certainly an imposing figure. He was tall with mountainous shoulders, his hair the flowing white of the myths. If not for the lines on his face, he could easily be mistaken for a man in his forties—a very formidable man indeed.

His booming voice filled the large space like a megaphone. “Come.” He must have been pretty scary to watch when Corey was growing up.

What the heck do you do when you meet a god?
Bow? Get down on your knees?
Who the hell knew?

“Do not worry, mortal. I do not expect you to bow down before me. This is not your world.” He gestured for James to sit in one of the smaller seats next to the throne.

James lowered himself into the plush, cushioned seat.
He doesn’t sound so scary
. “Thank you…sir. I am honoured to meet you.” Going for broke, he held out his hand to Zeus. “You are very famous in my world.”

Ignoring the outstretched hand, Zeus roared with laughter. “I believe I am also a myth. As you can see, I am very much alive and definitely not a figment of anyone’s imagination.”

He smiled back. “I am having a hard time taking it in, but it’s getting easier every minute I spend in this magnificent place.”

Zeus moved forward, staring intently, his voice hushed. “You like it here? Do you wish to stay here?”

“Much as I think this place is so beautiful, I would not know how to fit in here. For starters, I have no powers.”

“I can fix that with a wave of the hand.”

“No. I mean—no thanks. That’s not the life that I know. I need my own time and place.”

Zeus frowned at him. “You are sure of that?”

He nodded. “I appreciate the gesture, but I can’t see myself living here. I must work to support myself and I enjoy helping people. It’s who I am. I couldn’t cope with all this luxury if I had it all the time.”

Zeus stood up, all seven feet of power and intimidation. “What? You think us soft and selfish?”

Oh hell. That didn’t come out well.
“No—not at all. What I meant is that I haven’t had the necessary training to deal with the responsibilities that come with having power and position in a house as prestigious as this.”

Zeus sat back down again, visibly relaxing. “Spoken like a true lawyer. I am impressed. My daughter was not lying when she said you are a good man.”

She said that?
Maybe there was some hope after all. He looked behind the throne to see if she was hiding behind her father. He wouldn’t put it past her. “I was hoping to see Corey here this evening. I want to see for myself that she’s okay.”

“Terpsichore has left us.”

“She’s gone?” No! She left without saying goodbye. He stumbled as the pain hit him in the solar plexus.

“She has duties here. She has been summoned by her mother.”

Another reason why it would never work.
There was no point in hanging around. “In that case could I possibly impose on you to return me to my home?”

“You do not wish to stay and visit a while longer?”

Not now that Corey has moved on
. “Thank you, but no. I too have duties and I have neglected them for too long.”

“As you wish.”

Zeus waved his hand and James found himself falling backwards, out of control. He thrust his hands behind him, hoping to break his fall…wherever he was falling to. Whirling colours surrounded him, hurting his eyes, so he closed them and waited. Within seconds he landed on some soft grass. Standing up, he opened one eye at a time, wary of what he might find.

He was in the park across the road from his apartment. He was home.
Thank God
. Although he should be happy, instead he felt numb. Hopefully, in a day or two, he’d get over it. A few days’ hard work should do it.

Who am I kidding?

Reaching his door, he shoved his hand in his pocket for his keys. They weren’t there. Remembering he’d left a spare set with the building supervisor, he turned for the stairs, stopping when he noticed a light under the door. What the—?

He pushed against the panels, opening the door. He hesitated at the threshold when the scent of vanilla filled his nostrils. Dozens of candles lit the room. An ice bucket, fully equipped with champagne, stood to the side of the couch. The orange label said ‘Verve Cliquot’, his favourite.

Corey. How did she know that?

Moving farther into the room, he looked around, puzzled. She had to be here somewhere. “Corey?”

A voice sounded from the bathroom. “James?”

She entered the room and he nearly swallowed his tongue. Her gorgeous body was draped in luminous, transparent gauze, leaving very little to the imagination.

“Corey…” he croaked.
Smooth, real smooth
. She smiled that wonderful smile at him. Her eyes sparkled and her skin glowed.

She was beautiful.

“I was trying to surprise you. I didn’t expect you so soon.”

“Oh, woman, I think I got here at just the right time.”

Her face lit up even more, it that were possible. “You don’t mind me being here then?”

He crossed the room and pulled her into his arms, kissing her forehead. “Are you kidding? I thought I’d never see you again.”

“So would you have missed me if I hadn’t returned?”

He tugged her closer against his body, showing her just how much he wanted her. “Does this answer your question?”

She rubbed against him, looking up into his face with a wicked smile. “I missed you too, James.” She flicked her tongue over her lips and he couldn’t wait any longer.

Their mouths met halfway in a meeting of souls that set off fireworks all around the room. He tasted her, drank in her essence and breathed her air. No one had ever made him feel like this—no one else ever would. The kiss went on for an eternity, but finished too soon.

“What—?”

Lifting his head, he stared into her passion-filled eyes. “Don’t be in too much of a hurry, my love.”

There was plenty of time and he intended to enjoy her for a long while yet. From her uninhibited response, she enjoyed the journey as much as he. Continuing the trail down her body, he devoured her skin. Corey grasped his shirt, tugging it out of his jeans, ripping the buttons as she smoothed her hands over his chest.

“I want you naked. Now.”

He grinned as he threw his shirt off his shoulders and unzipped his jeans.

She placed a finger over his lips. “Shh…” Taking his hand in hers, Corey led him to the bed and dragged him down beside her. She placed her hands either side of his face and pulled him close. Kissing her was like heaven but it was time for him to take some control here. He slid his hand under the material over her breasts and tugged. The whole concoction slid away, baring the alabaster skin of her breasts to his touch. He skimmed the tip of her nipples with his hands and she moaned into his mouth. The rosy nubs became more erect under his attention as he circled them and teased them into life. Breaking away from her mouth he started a trail of wet, open-mouthed kisses from the corner of her mouth and downward, inch by inch, savouring the exotic taste of her skin as he made his way to her breasts.

The quiet sighing sounds coming from her slightly parted lips intoxicated his senses as he covered one nipple with his mouth and suckled. She arched into him and covered his other hand, encouraging him to squeeze harder on her nipple. His teeth nipped and bit lightly on the tip. She moaned. He used his free hand to slip the rest of the material away from her body. Using his index finger, he traced a light line from her breast across her belly and to the edge of her silky curls. Swirling his tongue around her nipple he ran his finger over her labia. Oh God, she was so wet already. He had to feel this, so he slipped his middle finger inside. Her warm heat welcomed him, sucking him in further as his thumb rubbed her clitoris.

“Oh, James. Don’t stop!”

Lifting his head he stared into her passion-filled eyes. “Not anytime soon, my love.”

“I want you inside me now, James. I can’t wait.”

His jeans landed on the floor and he returned to the bed, lying between her thighs. He almost came there and then. “I can’t wait either, Corey.”

“Then don’t.”

He surged forward and entered her in one sliding movement. She met him lunge for lunge, surge for surge, until their heartbeats and breathing were one, and they collapsed together in exhaustion.

* * * *

Corey awoke spooned against a warm body with strong arms around her middle. She smiled as she remembered the night before. After hours of amazing, wonderful, mind-blowing sex yet again, it seemed that James did want her, but for how long she wasn’t sure. It didn’t matter as long as she had a chance to work on him. Twisting in his arms, she turned to face him and found his beautiful eyes smiling back at her.

“You’re awake.”

He kissed her eyelids one by one, before brushing his lips over her mouth. “I’ve been enjoying holding you while I waited for you to wake up. I was giving you another minute before the fun started.”

She laughed. “You wish. Anyway, I have a few things to say and they can’t wait.”

He screwed up his face in a mock frown. “Such seriousness. We can’t have that… Out with it. What did you want to say?”

“I’m here for good, James.”

“I don’t understand. I thought you would live on Olympus from now on.”

“Do you want me to?”

“Hell no. Call me selfish, but I want you here.”

Utter joy filled her heart, but she dared not believe what she was hearing. James sat up and drew her back into his arms, and she rested her head on his shoulder. “I was going to ask you to come back with me from Olympus, but your father said you’d already gone away. That you had duties.”

“Oh he did, did he? That sneak. He knew I’d come back here. He sent me.”

“Then why did he lie to me?”

She smiled. “My guess is he was testing your feelings for me. What was your reaction?”

“I asked him to send me back here immediately.”

“Exactly.”

Hang on.
Something he’d just said came back to her. “What was that about asking me to come back with you?”

Cupping her face with each palm, he kissed her gently on the lips. “I care about you, Corey. When I found out you’d been kidnapped, I couldn’t stand the thought of not having you in my life. I don’t understand how I could have fallen for you after such a short time, but I’m not about to question it. So yes, Corey, I want you to stay. I can’t make any promises that life will be rosy, I just know I want to live my life here with you.”

Tears trickled down her cheeks and James wiped them away with his thumbs. “Don’t cry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“You… You didn’t,” she blubbered. “I’m just so…happy.”

“So what is your answer then? Do you want to stay with me and explore what we have together, or did I get it terribly wrong?”

“I want to stay with you. Why else do you think I was here last night when you returned?”

“Phew. I was worried there for a minute. I promise I’ll get used to your powers, and I’ll even visit your family if it means you’ll stay here with me.”

“There is no other place I want to be. You are my destiny, James, but I had to let you figure that one out by yourself.”

“Do you goddess types always work so fast?”

“Only when we meet uptight lawyers who need to lighten up.”

Smiling, he kissed her mouth once more. “That’s never going to be a problem again. You’ve turned me into a wild man.”