Elysian Dreams (8 page)

* * * *

Daphne sat alone in her bedroom. Her father had spent an hour trying to calm her down. She’d finally stopped crying, and she had assured him he shouldn’t worry. She was terrified though. What was going to happen to Hypnos?

After listening to Hera, some of her anger had dissipated. Zeus had been wrong to interfere, but Ares couldn’t be blamed for defending his brother. However, she still felt everyone was against her and Hypnos being together. Zeus could have done more. Maybe she was no match for any of the primal gods, but Zeus stood the best chance. If he wanted to protect everyone, why not her and Hypnos? Zeus would be the first to point out that Hypnos had gone of his own free will if she tried to persuade him to take action. She knew Hypnos had done that to end the conflict. Maybe she didn’t know what Hypnos had once been like or what Thanatos had done while he existed, but she knew the man she’d fallen in love with. He was still there, and he was good.

Daphne stretched across her bed and thought of Apollo again. She still remembered how it had felt to see him sitting there with Harmonia. Hypnos had told her Harmonia was Aphrodite’s daughter. It figured. She had no choice but to believe what Apollo had said, but that didn’t mean he hadn’t had other plans in the back of his mind. Being “just friends” with such a beautiful woman would be something to fall back on, and he had obviously suspected Daphne would choose Hypnos over him.

Nyx disliked her, and Helios wanted her for Apollo, though he’d probably deny that. Helios’ reprimand had hurt the most, proving he was like all the others. He might have said he wanted her to “think,” but he had really meant he wanted her to submit. She’d spent her whole life being told that because she was “only a nymph” she wasn’t important. The will of the gods took precedence. If Nyx had her way, Hypnos wouldn’t want Daphne at all when he returned.

Nyx had been right about one thing. Daphne had very few powers. She did have some though. The gods wanted her to love Apollo. They were going to get what they wanted, but they weren’t going to like it.

* * * *

Apollo finished drying off and threw the towel over the shower rail.
The cool air in his bedroom felt bracing as he stepped into it, but he stopped after only a few feet.

Daphne sat on his bed, a seductive smile on her face and nothing on her body.

With a thought he was dressed, but his nakedness wasn’t the biggest concern. “Daphne, whatever you’re doing, please don’t.”

“What do you think I’m doing? Maybe I only want to be comforted.”

“Then go talk to your father, or your friends. Don’t sleep with someone you don’t care about. Watch mortals for a few weeks and you’ll see what a bad idea it is.” He turned his gaze away. “I’d call someone, but that wouldn’t be very gentleman-like behavior.”

“And you’re such an expert? I know what you’re an expert of. How many women have you fucked? Mortal, immortal, before and after me, what’s the grand total?”

He knew the number, and telling her would hurt her, no matter how little she felt for him. His only option was silence.

“Tell me.” She walked behind him and ran her hands over his shoulders. Her touch was tentative and unsure, showing her lack of experience. All the more reason to stop her.

“One hundred forty-seven.”

He felt her flinch. Then her arms went around his waist, but her touch felt even less like seduction than before. She was shaking, and she probably needed to hold on to him to stand up. He cursed himself silently.

“If you wanted all of them, why don’t you want me?” she asked.

“Wanting someone and wanting to fuck someone are different. At least slightly. Even if you really want to fuck me right now, which I doubt, Hypnos is the man you want.” He touched her hands gently and pulled her off him. “Does that make sense?”

She came around to face him and ran her hands up his chest and around his neck. “Make it all go away. Please. If you love me so much fix it. Protect me and take care of me.”

He wanted to hold her, but she would misunderstand his intentions. He put his hands behind his back and took a deep breath. “Daphne, that was a spell. I don’t love you any more than you love me. I cared for you and desired you very much before the spell made me love you. All of that is in the past now. I will help you, but this won’t help anyone. Both of us would regret it.”

“Do you love Harmonia?” Daphne asked, frowning but not letting go of him.

“I barely know her. My feelings for her are no stronger than my real feelings for you ever were, but there is one difference.”

She hesitated, but then asked, “What?”

“She wants to help me. Maybe her motives are selfish, but she genuinely likes me. I have the feeling you don’t. She wouldn’t hurt me to get what she wants. I’m thinking you want revenge.” He unclasped her hands and tilted her head up. “If that’s what you want, it’s what you’ll get.” He kissed her deeply and crushed her body against his.

He’d expected her to fight him or recoil, but instead she responded by kissing him back and running her hands through his hair. He realized exactly how much he’d miscalculated when she rubbed her leg against his cock.

He broke the kiss. “Daphne, no. This is wrong.”

She refused to release him. “I bet you’re good, after fucking that many women.” She ran her hand over his cock. “We have to do this. It won’t be over until we do.”

He swept her up into his arms and took her to the bed, but instead of climbing onto her, he put her under the covers and then got on top of her.

“What are you doing?” she asked. She didn’t struggled, but she looked at him like he’d lost his mind.

“A naked woman rubbing up against me is a bit distracting.”

She gave him a reproachful look. “You kissed me.”

“You showed up naked in my house. I was trying to show you that you don’t really want this.”

She turned her face away and didn’t say anything.

“Daphne, you’re hurt and want to hurt the people you blame. I’m sorry. You’ll get hurt even more in the process if you go on like this.”

She looked back up at him, but he couldn’t tell what she was thinking.

“We can probably never be friends, but if we had sex it would be worse. Hypnos would hate me even more, and everyone would look at me as an even bigger jerk. They’d pity you even more, and something tells me you don’t like that.”

“What?”

She looked a little panicked, and he knew he’d hit a nerve. “Everyone trying to comfort you, tiptoeing around you. Only a couple of weeks have passed, but you’re tired of it.”

“I want to be left alone. With Hypnos. My friends aren’t my friends anymore. They only wanted me to tell them everything so they could spread it around. Hera and Zeus just want me to behave.”

“That’s not true. They’re very worried about you.”

“They claim they want to help, but what are they doing?”

“I have no idea what she’s planning, but I doubt Nyx will hurt her son. She abandoned him long ago, and this gesture tells me she wants to make everything right. I think you need to be patient and wait to see what she actually does.”

She struggled a little. “I’m dressed now. Let me up.”

He did so, after checking to make sure she indeed was clothed, and she sat up and moved to the edge of the bed. He sat beside her.

“Will you tell anyone?” she asked.

“No. This is personal. You were upset and made a rash decision.”

“You could have had me. I came here to seduce you. I wouldn’t have told anyone afterwards. I would have admitted I’d been the aggressive one.”

“You’d have felt ashamed. You’d have regretted it.”

She shrugged. “I suppose so.”

“And so would I.”

She met his gaze. “I still need help though.” Tears fell from her eyes.

He put his arms around her and let her cry. He didn’t know what to say. After a few minutes, she pulled away and stood up.

“I want to believe it’s all going to work out, but I can’t make myself do that.”

“I’m sorry I can’t convince you. If you really love him, the Fates wouldn’t take that away. Not after what you’ve both been through.”

“If I forgive you will you forgive me? Everything?”

“There’s a lot to our ‘everything,’ but I would like that. Let’s call a truce. We’ve both been through enough.”

She reached for his hands and squeezed them. “Thank you. Hold me to it.”

He stood up. “I don’t think I’ll have to.”

She shook her head. “You proved tonight you’re stronger than me. Hold me to it. I’d rather trust you than anyone else while Hypnos is gone.”

“All right. I promise. Should I take you home?”

“I’ll be fine.” She released his hands. “Bye.”

“Bye.”

She disappeared.

He sat down on his bed. He wanted a very strong drink, but he decided to resist. He thought of Harmonia. It would be so nice to tell her all about this and then spend the night in her arms. Not having sex, but just being near her and holding her. However, he’d never show her she wasn’t a “rebound” girl if he did that. In two days, he would see her again. He did like her. They might not be destined for a great love story or a happy ending, but he felt she would soon be a regular part of his life.

Despite all the things pressing on his mind, the idea made him smile.

Chapter Seven

Harmonia read Apollo’s note again. It was very short, but it said a lot to her. He’d said he really wanted to see her because a couple of things that had happened had made him realize how much he wanted and needed a friend, someone to talk to.

She wanted to be friends too, though she wanted more as well. Was he apologizing for coming on to her? Was he trying to show he wouldn’t do it again? That wasn’t exactly what she wanted either. However, she had said she didn’t want to be a rebound girl, and this note implied he understood and would respect that. Being friends was a start, so she had to smile.

She’d been considering the note’s meaning ever since it had arrived the day before, and now it had been three days. She looked in the mirror quickly, but then turned away and told herself it didn’t matter. She and Apollo were going to talk, and she knew what she would say would depend on what he said. She hoped he would want to speak first. She felt more than a little silly obsessing over a three-sentence note, but she hadn’t been with anyone for a very long time. Honestly, she hadn’t wanted anyone for a very long time. No matter what Aphrodite said, she was going to try.

Harmonia transported herself to Apollo’s house and knocked on his door. It opened after about two seconds. She didn’t have time to conceal her surprise.

“Hi,” Apollo said.

“Hi. You were expecting me, after all.”

He smiled warmly. “I was.”

She swallowed, smiling back. He was definitely glad to see her. She wondered what she might be in for.

“Come on in,” he said.

She walked across the open foyer and stepped into the living room. He followed right behind her, and he actually bumped into her when she stopped in front of the couch.

“Sorry,” he said as he quickly moved around the coffee table to the other side of her. They sat down at the same time.

“I’m making you nervous,” she began.

“I’m doing it to myself, though I don’t say that to steal credit from you.”

She giggled. “I promise it doesn’t offend me.”

After a moment of silence, he seemed calmer. “I have a couple of things to tell you. I want to tell you one right now, but I really need to tell you the other first.”

“Whatever you think best. Does it matter that much?”

“Yes. It would probably be bad to tell you what I’m thinking first. I want to tell you what happened first.”

Harmonia started to doubt she’d like what had happened, but she was going to keep an open mind. He had no choice but to be honest, so she knew she’d be able to believe whatever he told her, even if she didn’t like it. “Then tell me that.”

“Do you want a drink?”

She held out her hand and a martini appeared. “I don’t want you to suffer any longer. Would you like something?”

“A beer? Something dark?”

She looked at the table and a tall glass full of chocolate-colored ale appeared. He took one sip and nodded approval. “Very nice.” He took a longer sip.

“Ready when you are.”

He set the glass down. “You heard about Hypnos attacking me?”

“Yes.”

“He’s gone with his mother, so none of us know what will happen next. Daphne was very upset.”

“I imagine she was.” If he said they’d slept together, she’d give him up completely. Even though he’d never have Daphne, it would prove he didn’t want her. She braced herself so she’d have the strength to start getting over him as soon as he said the words.

“She came here very confused. She thinks all the primal deities are against her. She thinks Nyx and Helios are conspiring together to basically give her to me. If only she knew how silly that sounds. Yet she believes it. She thinks Zeus and Hera do nothing because they don’t care. She thinks everyone wants her to submit and live out a fairy tale with me.”

“And what did she propose to do? Run away or run to you?”

“Run to me. She showed up in my bedroom right as I got out of the shower. She was after a revenge fuck. Show the gods she was more than just a nymph. Make a fool of me to show them how wrong they were.”

Her heart raced. Daphne had offered herself to him. How could he resist? Yet he sounded bitter and obviously thought her actions both wrong and misguided. Did that mean he’d turned her down or he’d accepted and woken up disappointed? Even such an experienced man could probably feel the token morning after regret of a bad sexual decision.

“She was all over me. I had to throw a blanket over her and hold her down to get her to listen to reason. She finally admitted us having sex would be a mistake, but then she started to cry and I don’t know if I really helped with what I said. She loves Hypnos, and I hope I said the right things. No one can promise her everything will work out, but I did anyway. We parted agreeing to make peace with each other. Not exactly friends, but I’m sure we’ll be civil if we ever have to be around each other.”

Harmonia hadn’t touched her drink yet. She took two big gulps and set it aside.

“I know that’s a lot to absorb, but what do you think?”

“You’ve wanted her for centuries. She throws herself into your arms, and you turn her down. That doesn’t sound like the Apollo of local legend.”

“No, it doesn’t, but he’s very real. I told her something else.” He paused. “The number of women I’ve fucked.”

“That probably upset her.”

He met her gaze. “Would it upset you?”

“Were you fucking them or making love to them?”

“Do women really care about that? That’s an honest question.”

“Any man who can tell the difference cares too.”

He smiled. “I’ve slept with one hundred and forty-seven women. I made love to one. I didn’t love her, but I was different with her. Helping her pain helped mine, and giving her release gave me some relief many nights.”

“Alala?”

He nodded. “She always closed her eyes and thought of Ares. I usually thought of Daphne, but some nights I just stared at her. I loved seeing the pleasure on her face. I wanted Daphne to want and need me the way Alala wanted and desperately needed Ares.”

“Can I ask you something?”

“Yes.”

“Ares is your brother. All that time, couldn’t you have told him?”

“He’d have killed me. You heard all that happened.”

“But doesn’t he understand now? He saved you from Hypnos. Hasn’t he forgiven you?”

“Now he has. You think I was wrong?”

“Yes. If nothing else you should have convinced Alala to tell him.”

Apollo picked up his beer and finished it off in one gulp. She refilled it, and he nodded his thanks before taking another sip. “I couldn’t face her. I was a coward. The look on her face…”

“When she found you fucking Aphrodite.”

“Exactly.” He stared at her a long time. “Can I ask you something now?”

“Okay.”

“You really don’t care?”

“That you and Aphrodite had a quickie? No.”

“Really? But you were bothered by my attraction to Eris.”

“Because your interest was more genuine. She’d never looked at you and you knew she’d never give in. Deep down, you knew. You didn’t just want to have her. You liked her.”

“That’s over now. I like you.”

“I like you too, but you already knew that.”

He sat back and looked down into his drink. “This conversation is going places I didn’t plan.”

“I don’t mind.”

He laughed. “You really must like me.”

“I’ve slept with plenty of men myself. Would that bother you?”

“Of course not.”

“Your number being bigger doesn’t matter. I like who you are. Despite all that’s happened I’m still interested in what could happen.”

“I’m glad because I’m going to kiss you.” He put his glass down and pulled her to him for a long kiss.

His mouth was very strong and insistent. His hands didn’t wander. He held her close and explored her mouth thoroughly. His tongue danced against hers in a way that sent shivers down her spine. Desire coiled deep inside her, and she wanted him to touch her.

“I’d love to touch you,” he whispered huskily as he broke the kiss.

“Are we sure?”

“I want to make love with a woman who wants to make love with me.” He stroked her cheek and feathered kisses down her neck.

“You hardly know me.”

“I know enough to admire and respect you.”

“I throw myself at men apparently.” His hands had begun to roam, and his touch only made her want more.

“You’re brave enough to reach out to a man who’s always been a blind fool and offer him your love.”

My love? I never said that. How can he know that?
She let him capture her mouth again. He swept her up and carried her to his bedroom.

When he set her down, she said, “Aphrodite says I’m not in love with you yet. I thought I was.” She felt foolish for saying it, but something had compelled her. She didn’t want either of them to regret this.

“Is that what changed you? Is that what you’ve been worried about? It makes more sense now that you turned away from me three days ago.” He shook his head and pulled her against him. “It can only mean one thing.” He began unbuttoning her dress and it soon fell to the floor, leaving her in only her tiny pink panties.

“What?” she asked. She could hardly speak. His closeness completely stole her breath and her reason.

He looked at her a moment and was obviously pleased. “We’re meant to fall in love together.” He pulled his shirt over his head and pushed his jeans down, kicking them away. He swept her up again and tossed her onto the middle of the bed.

She couldn’t help giggling. “Seems I’m in for quite a tumbling tonight.”

He stretched next to her and looked at her seriously. “I want to make love to you the way you want me to. Open your mind to me. Show me your heart and how to please it.”

She couldn’t speak. She had to be dreaming. “I’m afraid to.”

He took her hand. “You’re as intelligent and clever as you are aggravating and fascinating. I want us together in this bed to be special. Let me in. Please.”

“We’ve had two nights to get to know each other. How can you say that?” Lowering her voice, she added, “Want that?”

“You underestimate yourself, and how much I can read into even one action. Being the god of truth has many advantages. I can see someone’s true motivations at times. I can see intent, and occasionally I can even tell when someone is lying without mind reading. I’ve seen a lot in two nights.”

“You’ll have to tell me in the morning what you see tonight.” She kissed him, completely overwhelmed by her feelings and need for him. She sank into his arms, and after a moment she opened to him.

He deepened the kiss as he felt her let go and submit. He touched her gently and cradled her close as his free hand explored. He ran his fingers over her thighs and then up to her core. He slid one finger into her wet folds, and she sighed at the contact.

He pulled back and looked into her eyes. His fingers played with her clit. He knew exactly how to rub, exactly where to rub. Her pussy trembled and grew wetter. The intense look in his eyes made her feel powerless to resist.

“You’re trembling,” he said.

“I know. Most women don’t get to live out their fantasies.”

He slid two fingers into her. “You’re like a fantasy. You feel perfect.” He ran his thumb over her clit, making her legs quiver. “I love how you respond to me.”

“It’s easy to respond to you.” She sighed and pulled him closer. “I need you.”

He smiled and leaned down to kiss her gently. She enjoyed how loving his touch was. She’d expected sex with him to be wild and exciting, but this was even better. The look in his eyes promised the passion and fire were soon to follow.

“I wanted to take you slowly the first time. I want you to know you’re different. It’s important to me,” he said. He kissed her forehead as his fingers probed deeper into her very wet center.

“You are inside my head, aren’t you?” It explained why she felt so close to him. It was exciting and scary all at once.

“Yes. I love what I’m finding.”

“I’m glad.”

“Are you ready? May I take you now?” he asked.

“Oh yes. I think you better.” She shifted against his hand. “Can’t you already tell how much I need you?”

“Oh yes.” He moved between her legs. He shifted her hips and moved his cock into her. He braced his hands beside her shoulders and gazed down at her. He moved slowly at first. She ran her hands up his forearms and caressed them as he thrust deeper.

He reached under her and raised her bottom, and his cock went farther. He was not wide or thick, but very long. She found the sensations delightfully surprising. He thrust with a swirling motion that made her need more desperate.

He settled on top of her and folded his arms around her head, his face very close to hers, only a breath away. “Most women close their eyes.”

“I don’t want to.”

He thrust faster. “This is all right?”

She opened her mind more, projecting her own feelings of pleasure. He stopped for a moment and gasped, but then he thrust with more vigor.