A Scent of Greek (Out of Olympus #2) E-Book

Tina Folsom

• Herausgeber: Tina Folsom
• Kategorie: Fantasy und Science-Fiction
• Serie: Out of Olympus
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 381

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2011

Beschreibung

Romantic Comedy about Greek Gods When the god of wine and ecstasy, Dionysus, callously dumps his latest conquest, the mortal Ariadne, the goddess Hera has had enough. She robs Dionysus of his memory to teach him a lesson in humility. Ariadne is deeply hurt after Dionysus dismisses their night of passion as "just sex" and doesn't want to see her anymore. When she finds him bloodied and beaten and suffering from amnesia, she quickly forms a plan to get back at him. As she pretends to be his fiancée, Ariadne makes Dionysus believe he loves her. But the longer the charade continues, the more difficult it becomes to really see who teaches whom a lesson. And what if Dionysus gains his memory back? Will there be hell to pay for her deception, or can a mortal woman truly win a god's love? "A Touch of Greek is a fun, blazing hot read that will have you asking, "Where's MY Greek God?" Tina Folsom's super sexy romances will be your favorite guilty pleasure!" --- Stephanie Bond, Author of the #1 Kindle bestselling romantic comedy Stop the Wedding! Out of Olympus Series (A romantic comedy series about Greek Gods): Book 1: A Touch of Greek Book 2: A Scent of Greek Book 3: A Taste of Greek Book 4: A Hush of Greek Scanguards Vampires Series: Book 1: Samson's Lovely Mortal Book 2: Amaury's Hellion Book 3: Gabriel's Mate Book 4: Yvette's Haven Book 5: Zane's Redemption Book 6: Quinn's Undying Rose Book 7: Oliver's Hunger Book 8: Thomas's Choice Book 8 1/2: Silent Bite (A Scanguards Wedding) Book 9: Cain's Identity Book 10: Luther's Return Novella: Mortal Wish Book 11: Blake's Pursuit (coming in 2016) Novella 11 1/2: Fateful Reunion Stealth Guardians #3: Warrior Unraveled (featuring Wesley, Scanguards' resident witch, as the hero) Book 12: John's Yearning Book 13: Ryder's Storm (Scanguards Hybrids #1) Book 14: Damian's Conquest (Scanguards Hybrids #2) Book 15: Grayson's Challenge (Scanguards Hybrids #3) pre-order Thriller (as T.R. Folsom) Eyewitness Stealth Guardians Lover Uncloaked (#1) Master Unchained (#2) Warrior Unraveled (#3) Guardian Undone (#4) Immortal Unveiled (#5) Protector Unmatched (#6) Demon Unleashed (#7) Code Name Stargate Ace on the Run (#1) Fox in plain Sight (#2) Yankee in the Wind (#3) Tiger on the Prowl (#4) Venice Vampyr Venice Vampyr (#1) Venice Vampyr (#2): Final Affair Venice Vampyr (#3): Sinful Treasure Venice Vampyr (#4): Sensual Danger The Hamptons Bachelor Club Teasing Enticing Beguiling Scorching Alluring Sizzling Short stories Steal Me The Wrong Suitor Time Quest - Reversal of Fate

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Table of Contents

A SCENT OF GREEK

Book Description

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Epilogue

Other Books by Tina

About the Author

Copyright

A SCENT OF GREEK

(OUT OF OLYMPUS #2)

BY

TINA FOLSOM

* * * * *

Copyright © 2011 by Tina Folsom

* * * * *

Book Description

When the god of wine and ecstasy, Dionysus, callously dumps his latest conquest, the mortal Ariadne, the goddess Hera has had enough. She robs Dionysus of his memory to teach him a lesson in humility.

Ariadne is deeply hurt after Dionysus dismisses their night of passion as "just sex" and doesn't want to see her anymore. When she finds him bloodied and beaten and suffering from amnesia, she quickly forms a plan to get back at him. As she pretends to be his fiancée, Ariadne makes Dionysus believe he loves her. But the longer the charade continues, the more difficult it becomes to really see who teaches whom a lesson.

And what if Dionysus gains his memory back? Will there be hell to pay for her deception, or can a mortal woman truly win a god’s love?

1

“You may kiss the bride!”

Dionysus watched as his best friend, Triton, the god of seafarers and sailors, drew the lovely Sophia into his embrace and kissed her for longer than was decent at a wedding, particularly one at which half of Olympus was assembled. If he held her any tighter, her white flowing gown of pure silk would wrinkle beyond repair and be ruined forever, but neither of the two newlyweds seemed to care or even notice.

Even Dio was taken in by the picture: Triton’s blond hair and sun-kissed skin contrasted against Sophia’s long, dark hair, and while the two lovers looked like opposites, Dio knew they complemented each other perfectly.

More than one throat cleared before Triton—rather reluctantly—removed his lips from his wife’s and winked at Dio. It appeared that despite the fact that his once-philandering friend was now one hundred percent monogamous, he hadn’t lost his sense of humor and his passion.

At least Dionysus could be sure that his friend would be happy, despite the golden cage he’d just allowed the mortal priest to lock him into. By the looks of it, Triton didn’t mind one bit. Dio shook his head and glanced at the guests, who now filed past the couple one by one to express their well-wishes. As Best Man, he remained standing next to Triton, in equal parts happy and sad—happy to know that his friend had found true love, yet sad for himself to have lost his position as best friend. Sophia was Triton’s best friend now.

Sophia’s mansion had been decked out for the wedding; no expense had been spared. Not even on Olympus could the event have been any more extravagant. The opulent house she’d inherited from her aunt and turned into a B&B to pay the federal estate taxes lent itself to affairs like this. The dining room with its fourteen foot ceiling had been cleared to accommodate the many guests present for the ceremony. The adjoining living area, which was as large as a ballroom, stood waiting with a most sumptuous buffet of the finest delicacies, and some even more enticing waitresses. Flowers adorned the entire house, inside and out, and the scent of roses and jasmine permeated throughout the building.

Dio watched patiently as Poseidon and Amphitrite, Triton’s parents, hugged their son and new daughter-in-law, both of them fairly beaming with pride. Even Orion, Triton’s half-brother behaved in a civil way, shaking hands rather amicably. It appeared that now that Triton didn’t represent competition for female attention anymore, Orion felt no animosity toward his sibling.

When Zeus approached, Dionysus stiffened in concert with Triton. In his designer tuxedo, diamond-studded cufflinks, and Italian dress shoes, Zeus looked like a playboy ripped from the pages of GQ Magazine: smoldering hot, powerful, and looking not a day over thirty-five. His five o’clock shadow added an air of danger, one every woman of the wedding party should heed, but wouldn’t, because of his overwhelming charm.

The god of gods congratulated the young couple and kissed Sophia on the cheek. Triton’s tension radiated outward like an ocean wave, making Dio physically aware of his friend’s possessiveness. It could be endearing at times, but at this moment, it wouldn’t be prudent to act upon. Dio put a hand on his friend’s arm, cautioning him not to do anything rash, even though he understood him only too well: Dio’s no-good father was well known for his love of beautiful women, and not even the presence of Hera, his head-strong wife, assured that Zeus kept his paws to himself. But Dio hoped Zeus had enough sense not to make a pass at a new bride.

However, just to make sure, Dio felt the need to steer Zeus’s attention in another direction. “Zeus.” He nodded curtly when he caught his father’s eye. “I see you brought your wife. How nice of you.”

The narrowing of Zeus’s eyes confirmed that he didn’t like to be reminded of Hera. “Your stepmother has a way of wringing invitations out of unsuspecting people.” He shot a glance at Sophia, who had the good sense to smile, a charming, sweet smile not even Zeus seemed to have any defense against.

“I thought it only appropriate to invite her. She seems to be such a nice woman. And after all, we’re all related,” Sophia chirped good-naturedly.

Dio refrained from rolling his eyes and noticed that the cords in his father’s neck bulged, attesting to the restraint it took him not to blow up and unleash his vile temper.

“Indeed, my dear Sophia,” Zeus ground out instead.

The knowledge that Hera’s presence at the wedding cramped Zeus’s style made Dio feel almost giddy. Anything or anybody who pissed his father off was welcome. And that included his wicked stepmother.

“One big, happy family!” Dio grinned back at Sophia before he caught a movement in the corner of his eye and turned. “Ah, if that’s not the person we’re talking about.” Just because he was glad that Hera’s presence annoyed Zeus, however, didn’t mean that he wanted to spend any time with her. If anybody had a chance at ranking higher on Dio’s shit-o-meter than his father, Hera sure was in the running.

Dressed in a figure-hugging long, red dress, her long, dark hair draped high on her head, Hera arched an eyebrow before she nudged Zeus aside and hugged Sophia. She was beautiful. Dio had to grant his father that concession. But even Dio, who was no more interested in love and affection than a street vendor was in a thunderstorm raining down on his goods, liked beauty with a hint of warmth. Yet, Hera’s beauty was all ice: cold—with a chance of hail.

“Congratulations, my dear. You could have done much worse than Triton.” Hera made a pause, tossing Dio a sideways glance, a sure indication that a wicked remark was in the making. “Be glad you didn’t fall for Dionysus.”

Before Dio could muster a comeback, Triton took Hera’s hand and kissed the back of it. “I’m pleased you approve.” The twinkle in his eyes couldn’t be denied, proving that his friend was too deliriously happy to have noticed Hera’s backhanded stab at Dio.

“Of your bride, I approve,” she answered pointedly. “Your choice of Best Man leaves much to be desired. Defeats the purpose of best, doesn’t it? Best at philandering maybe, even though I believe that title belongs to his father.”

“Ouch, you wound me, Hera,” Dio countered, clutching his hand to his chest as if suffering a heart attack. Not that she was too far off the mark. He wasn’t any better when it came to relationships than Zeus. Cut from the same bone—thigh bone to be precise. But he needed no reminder of who or what he was. “Will you excuse me? It appears I need to practice, since my qualifications as the number-one philanderer are being put into question.”

He ignored Hera’s thinned lips and wasn’t even remotely interested in Zeus’s reaction. He simply shrugged when Triton shook his head.

Yet Sophia gave him a charming smile. “The bar is open,” she hinted.

Bless her for her understanding, because as sure as the sun rose every day, two minutes in the presence of his father and his stepmother dried out his throat like a sandstorm in the Sahara.

Dio headed for the living room, where a bar had been set up at one end, and ignored the buffet tables on which deliciously looking hors d’oeuvres played neighbor to lavish flower arrangements. Soon, the guests would descend on the food like locusts onto a field of corn, albeit with less grace and manners. He gestured to the bartender to pour him a glass of Zin. He wasn’t the god of wine for nothing. Because if Dio knew one thing, it was his wine.

He took the proffered glass and swallowed away the remnants of his conversation with Hera and his father.

“Who’s pissed into your wine?” Eros asked, slapping him on the back of his expensive three-piece Armani suit, most likely imprinting a permanent crease with his powerful hand.

Dionysus swiveled and glared at the god of love. Just the person he wanted to see right now—not! At least Eros had had the decency to leave his bow and quiver at home. He looked almost at ease in his elegant grey suit. Zeus had warned that whoever gave any indication to the assembled mortals that half the guests were gods and other immortal creatures, would be punished severely. And his father knew something about punishment.

“Piss off!”

Another slap on his shoulder announced the arrival of Hermes, the messenger god. “Envious?” he prompted, pointing in Triton’s direction.

Dio jerked his gaze toward Hermes. “Of a golden cage? Think again.”

“Triton doesn’t see it as a cage.” Eros had the audacity to exchange a smirk with Hermes.

“He looks positively happy,” Hermes added. “Whereas you look like you’re drinking vinegar.” He waved to the bartender. “A glass of red, just not the same as he’s having.”

“The wine is perfectly fine. It’s the company that stinks.”

Eros took a step closer. “You wouldn’t be talking about your two best friends here, would you now? Or are you in the mood for a fight?”

Maybe that was what he needed, a good bar brawl to feel like himself again. The last few weeks, helping Triton and Sophia with the arrangements for their wedding, had taken their toll. But as Best Man, he’d felt obligated to chip in and take certain errands off Triton’s hands—such as handling the guest list for the immortals and smoothing over bruised egos. But not even he had been able to prevent Sophia’s invitation from reaching Hera.

As the mother goddess, Hera had a special connection to all women. She could hear their pleas even if they weren’t addressed at her personally.

“If I knew you’d be fighting fair, I’d love a quick hand-to-hand.”

Eros lifted his hands in a show of surrender. “Moi? Not fighting fair?” Then he looked at Hermes. “Have you ever heard of such a thing?”

Despite himself, Dio had to grin. Hermes joined in laughter a second later. And just like that, Dio’s bad mood was gone. His friends could do that to him. That’s why he loved them. It was just a shame that they’d see so much less of Triton now that he resided in the—admittedly very charming—city of Charleston. Even Dio had a little bachelor pad here that he used on occasion, that’s how much he liked the city and the many bars. It wouldn’t be too much of a hardship to visit Triton from time to time. So, maybe very little would change after all.

“Did you notice the lovely redhead in the crowd?” Hermes asked.

“Francesca? She’s Sophia’s best friend. But don’t bother.” Dio took a big gulp of his wine.

“You think I have no chance?”

“Depends on the competition.” Dio loved needling his half-brother.

Hermes grinned. “If you’re the competition, then I’m home free.”

Eros laughed. “I’m happy to play umpire.”

Dio waved his friends off. “I’m not interested in her, but you go right ahead and compete with Zeus.”

Hermes deflated as if somebody had stuck a pin into a balloon. “That’s just so unfair. Why does he always get first dibs?”

“He doesn’t always,” Dio interrupted and smiled to himself. The delectable morsel he’d chosen for himself hadn’t entered Zeus periphery yet, and if Dio could help it, his father would never set eyes on her, at least not until Dio was done with her.

“Which means exactly what?” Hermes challenged.

Eros graced him with a knowing glance. “It appears our dear friend has found a victim that has so far escaped Zeus’s eye.”

For certain, the beauty Dio was talking about would attract Zeus’s attention instantly.

Dio winked at the god of love. “And that’s all I’m saying.”

“Who is she? Is she here?” Hermes asked, eagerly craning his neck to survey the guests who had already poured into the living room and were now jostling for position in the buffet line.

“Do I look stupid enough to choose somebody from the wedding party when I know for certain Zeus will lay claim to her as soon as he sees her?”

“Ah, so maybe one of the waitresses?” Eros interjected.

“Same difference. Once Zeus lays eyes on her, not even Francesca’s beauty can keep him from going for my girl.” Not that she was his girl yet. The lovely Ariadne had so far resisted his advances and only allowed a few chaste kisses, claiming she wanted to get to know him first. Just like Dio wanted to know her—in a biblical kind of way.

“Your girl? Dio, you wouldn’t by any chance have given up your one-night-only rule?” Hermes gave him a you’re-shitting-me look.

Dio shook off the thought as if it were poisonous. “Don’t be ridiculous! Do you see me walking down the aisle anytime soon? As soon as I’ve had her, I’ll let her loose. My weeks of wining and dining her will pay off tonight.”

Eros laid his hand on Dio’s forearm. “Hold it. Are you telling me that you haven’t fucked her yet?”

Dio swallowed hard. Admitting to his friends that he hadn’t gotten a woman into his bed on the first try was like admitting to a monumental defeat. “I’m enjoying the chase.” Which wasn’t entirely untrue. Seducing Ariadne slowly had its charm. In fact, the thrill of a slow seduction was growing on him. And for some strange reason, he enjoyed this unfamiliar feeling.

Hermes broke out in hearty laughter. “Finally, a woman who doesn’t drop her panties the moment you crook your finger.”

Anger churned up in Dio. He felt compelled to defend his sexual prowess from Hermes’ attack. “Believe me, she will drop her panties tonight, or I’m through with her.”

“Sounds like a dare.” Eros lifted his glass in mock-toast.

“It’s a fact!” Tonight, Ariadne would surrender to him. He’d sink into her sweet heat and finally unleash his passion on her, take her to heights she’d never known before, and make her beg for more. And then he’d do it again until the sun rose. Because once the night was over, he’d leave, sated and done with the inexplicable draw she had on him. It was that draw that had compelled him to start dating her when he never dated. All he usually had were one-night-stands. It was different with Ariadne. For two weeks now, they’d played their little game, gone out for dinners and dances, yet she’d always stopped him when he wanted to go further. With any other woman, he would have stopped his pursuit and moved on to the next, not willing to waste his time any longer. But Ariadne held his attention.

He stared at his two friends. “Tonight, she’ll be mine. And tomorrow I’ll be moving on to the next one.” He raised his glass. “Mark my words.”

As he toasted to his friends, his gaze strayed into the distance and collided with Hera’s. The glower in her icy-blue eyes confirmed that she’d heard each and every word of his conversation with his friends. The mother goddess wasn’t pleased.

2

Ariadne twirled in front of the full-length mirror in her living room.

“You clean up great!”

She caught Natalie’s eye in the reflection and made a face at her friend’s casual compliment. “You sure?” Ariadne cast another critical eye over her outfit. Her flowery pastel blue and green summer dress was held up by spaghetti straps. The empire waist created a nice focal point for her average-sized breasts and made sure the soft material flowed effortlessly to her knees, taking the emphasis off her round hips. Childbearing, that’s what her mother always called her hips. Ariadne simply called them too wide.

“Or should I wear the red one?” Doubts bubbled up in her.

Natalie’s hand on her arm made Ari look back at her friend. “The red one screams ‘slut’. And I thought you wanted to make sure he knows you’re a good girl.”

She nodded. “You’re right.”

“Besides, once the two of you have been together for a while, you can always surprise him with that dress, and believe me, he’ll be all over you. And by that time, he knows you’re a keeper, and you won’t give him the wrong impression.”

Ariadne hugged her friend. What would she do without Natalie? Her friend had gotten her through the worst of times, and now she was there for what she hoped would become the best of times.

“Are you sure Dio will like it?”

Natalie winked. “He’ll be all over you. And isn’t that what you want tonight?”

She nodded, but the nervousness that had spread all day in anticipation of this evening wasn’t waning. “Maybe I should wait a little. It’s too early. We’ve only been dating for two weeks.”

Natalie tsked. “Wait any longer and he’ll lose interest. You’ve got to show him that you want him, or he’ll just think you don’t care about him. Men want a little show of affection. And if you don’t put out, he’ll go somewhere else. You’ve told me yourself how virile he is. Do you really think a man like that is going without sex for longer than a couple of weeks?”

The chastising look Natalie tossed her made Ariadne swallow away her fear. Not every man was like her ex-fiancé. Dio had to be different. Over the last two weeks, he’d been the most attentive man, showering her with flowers and expensive dinners. They’d taken romantic walks along the shore and slow danced to Burt Bacharach. She knew that at heart Dio was a romantic, and it was only natural that he wanted to sleep with her. And it was natural that she wanted the same.

“I know those frowns.”

At Natalie’s words, Ariadne lifted her head. “I’m sorry, I’m just scared. What if he does what Jeff—”

“Forget that asshole right now!” The sharp tone in Natalie’s voice made her jolt back. “I don’t want to hear that man’s name ever again. Do you understand? What Jeff did was despicable. It’s over. Time to move on. Dio is a good man. Now, get ready.” She peered at her watch. “Jesus, I’d better run or the chef is going to lay an egg. We have tons of reservations for tonight.”

Ariadne nodded. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have kept you for so long. You need to get back to work. Thanks for everything.”

Natalie smiled. “What are friends for?” Then she pulled her into another hug. “Now go get him, Ari. And tell me everything—and I mean, everything—tomorrow.”

Ariadne felt herself blush at the thought of laying her sex life bare in front of her best friend. If everything went well tonight, and she and Dio really spent the night together in bed, then she wasn’t sure she wanted to share any of it with anybody, not even her best friend. If Dio’s kisses were anything to go by, they would burn up the sheets together once they got naked.

When the front door snapped in behind Natalie, Ari scrutinized her image in the mirror once more. Her dark blond hair billowed over her shoulders, and her green eyes were enhanced by the subtlest of make-up. Her lips were covered with the barest of lip color, merely a hint of transparent red. She hadn’t bothered with more, knowing that Dio would kiss her, wiping the lipstick off instantly.

Tonight, she’d take the first step toward restoring her faith in men. Dio had given her every indication that he was interested in her for more than a fling. The way he ran his eyes over her whenever they were together, and particularly when he thought she wasn’t watching, sent warmth through her body. There was so much affection and desire in his gaze that she just knew he was the man for her, a man who would cherish her. A man who would love her.

Tonight, she’d offer herself to him to show him that she was willing to give their relationship a fair shot. She would make the past vanish forever.

By the time the doorbell buzzed, announcing Dio’s arrival, the butterflies in her stomach had moved in permanently. Maybe Dio could evict those little buggers with his touch.

Ari pressed the buzzer to open the downstairs door and took a few steadying breaths before she opened the door to her apartment.

Dio looked amazing. His clothing was casual: faded jeans that hugged his thighs showing off each muscle in his toned body, a white shirt with the top two buttons open, revealing just a light dusting of dark hair on his chest. If anybody could make casual clothes look like a million bucks, it was Dio. His dark hair was longer than currently fashionable, but he carried it off with an air of ruggedness.

“You look stunning.” The words came from him, the sound of his voice huskier tonight than she’d ever heard him. He took her hand and guided it to his mouth, pressing a kiss into her palm. “I couldn’t wait to see you.” His blue eyes connected with her, the underlying promise evident in them.

“Dio.” Was her voice really this echo she heard in her head? Had she already lost all her senses just by ogling him?

Suddenly she was flush against his body without registering that he’d pulled her toward him. Or had she flung herself into his arms? Her breath caught in her chest as his lips hovered a mere inch above hers.

“Something is different tonight. Are you wearing a new perfume?”

Ari shook her head. “I’m not wearing anything.” She caught the flare in his eyes and felt a responding flame in her belly, only now realizing what she’d said. “I mean…”

“Yes, the fabric of your dress is so delicate, I can feel every outline of your body, every curve. Can you feel me?” He slid one hand down the curve of her backside and gently pressed her against him.

Her breath hitched as she felt the hard outline of his erection pressing into her stomach. In an attempt to stop herself from moaning, she pulled her lower lip between her teeth.

“I take that as a Yes,” Dio whispered into her ear and lowered his lips to her neck, planting open-mouthed kisses on her heated skin. “My sweet Ariadne, you are my greatest temptation, do you know that? When I’m near you, I can’t think of anything else.”

She tried to steady herself, putting her hands on his shoulders, but the heat under her palms made her feel dizzy. Was she panting already? “Dio.” This man reduced her to one-word sentences.

He didn’t lift his head but merely grunted and continued kissing her neck and stroking her backside with his hand.

“We have to… the reservation… the restaurant,” she managed to say, trying to gain back the control she’d lost the moment he’d pressed her against him.

Finally, he lifted his head and studied her, his eyes dark with passion. “I’m sorry. You’re right. We should go.” He cleared his throat as if he too was trying to wrestle back control. “I apologize for attacking you like this.”

It hadn’t felt like an attack. Far from it. It had been a sensual assault, one she didn’t think she could fight off next time it happened, one she didn’t think she would want to avoid. “Don’t apologize.”

He graced her with a wide smile and took her arm to lead her outside.

“Where are we going tonight?”

“A small bistro in the neighborhood. Nothing ostentatious, but it’s quiet and intimate.” He emphasized the last word and gave her a sideways glance. Then he shook his head. “By the gods, you’re beautiful.”

She chuckled nervously. While Dio was never shy with compliments, the way he lavished them on her tonight was different. Almost as if he’d only just realized that the lighthearted compliments he normally served had turned into absolute truths.

“You’re different tonight,” she said. Did he know that she had made the decision to sleep with him tonight if he made an attempt at intimacy? Was it written on her face?

“Different, how?”

“More intense.”

“Is that good?”

He led her hand to his lips and kissed it. “Yes.”

He suddenly stopped and turned, pressing her against the wall of a building. “Baby, I’m not sure I can make it through dinner tonight.”

Her chest heaved as she tried to get enough air to speak. “Aren’t you hungry?”

“Oh, I’m hungry.” His eyes told her of his hunger, the desire in them more intense than she’d ever seen it. “But not for food. I’m hungry for you. And I’m afraid of scaring you off with how much I want you right now.”

At his admission her heart made an excited somersault. She collected all her courage and stroked her hand against his cheek. “Would a kiss tide you over?”

“We could give it a try.”

And then his mouth was on hers, his lips nudging against her, his tongue licking at the seam of them, asking for entry. Without reservation, she opened up to him and allowed his invasion. Heat flooded her, and tendrils of fire licked up her body. His hands seemed to touch her everywhere as his tongue dueled with hers and stroked her in the most tantalizing rhythm, soft and strong at the same time.

Both tenderness and passion combined in his kiss, making for an irresistible cocktail of emotions. Her head swam with images of their lovemaking, of a relationship, a future together. And her body burned with desire for him, with lust she’d never felt before. As if he conjured up these feelings in her by the magic of his tongue exploring her, his lips nipping at her, and his body grinding against hers in a dance as old as time.

If she could get this hot with her clothes on, she could only imagine what would happen once she was alone with him in her apartment where they could tear each other’s clothes off. She could barely breathe now, her heart beating so fast she was afraid it could jump out of her chest and into his hand—the hand he’d just slipped onto her breast to knead it gently but with purpose. When he stroked over her nipple, turning it hard in an instant, she tore her mouth from his.

“We have to stop,” she whispered, catching her breath.

Dio breathed as hard as she did. He pressed his forehead to hers, his breath ghosting along her skin as he spoke. “I know. But later. Promise me… I need you, Ariadne.”

She gave an almost unperceivable nod. He needed her—how those words warmed her. “Yes.” Her heart still thundered into his hand, a hand he hadn’t yet removed from her breast. As she straightened, he seemed to realize it and dropped it.

“You rob me of my sanity.”

She lifted her head to read him and saw despair in his eyes.

3

Dionysus could barely make it through dinner. The kiss in the dark alley had made him even hornier than he’d been the moment he’d arrived at Ariadne’s doorstep. He’d promised himself to play it cool tonight, to shower her with compliments whether he meant them or not, and to play the suave seducer. But no, that plan wasn’t working out too well: he was behaving like a sixteen-year-old boy on his first date, prattling on about stupid things, uttering unsophisticated remarks, and kissing her like a man dying of thirst. Not much sophistication in that!

By the gods, what was happening to him? Was he turning into a complete idiot? He had to get a grip!

Dio tried to pull himself together and made an attempt at doing better during dinner, but instead of entertaining her with his usual man-of-the-world routine and impressing her with his knowledge about almost everything, he literally spoon-fed her part of his own meal and licked her fingers when a drop of grits landed on them. How pathetic was that! He was a god, yet he behaved like a pussy-whipped fool.

As he walked Ariadne to the front door of her apartment, his heart hammered into his chest. He hoped that she hadn’t changed her mind about the promise she’d made earlier, after realizing during dinner what a besotted idiot he was.

“Would you like to come in?” She sounded almost shy when she asked, but it put the hugest grin on his face that he could ever remember.

“Love to.”

The moment the door shut behind him, he pulled her into his arms.

“Can I offer you anything? Coffee… tea…”

“Yes, you can.” Yourself on a platter, came to mind. Instead, he said, “Another kiss.”

Her arms snaked around his neck as she pulled his head closer to hers. Dio appreciated her initiative. It appeared that Ariadne was finally warming to him.

“I want you,” she whispered.

Inside him, the man roared. On the outside, he kept his hard-won control. “Good, ‘cause I want you too.”

He lifted her into his arms and headed for her bedroom. It wasn’t hard to find. In addition to the open-plan living room with the kitchen, there were only two other doors: one led into the bathroom, the other into the bedroom.

“What are you doing?” she asked but smiled up at him, lacing her hands behind his neck.

Dio dipped his head to hers, placing a soft kiss on her tempting lips. “What I should have done the day I met you in your wine shop. I should have taken you into the back room and undressed you and then made love to you until you came. And then I should have done it again, just in case you passed out the first time.”

It had been fortunate meeting her. He’d stumbled upon the little wine shop and entered to order a case of his favorite wine before he’d even realized that the owner was the most enticing woman he’d met in a long time. She’d instantly stirred something in him, and as soon as he’d ordered his case of wine to be delivered to his bachelor pad, and engaged her in a long conversation about wine, he’d asked her out. She’d hesitated at first, but he’d coaxed her and claimed that she had nothing to lose, and a satisfied customer to gain. Satisfied being the point. Yes, he should have taken her right then.

“But don’t worry, I’ll rectify my oversight now.” He felt her heart beat faster at his words.

“God help me,” she muttered.

Indeed, a god would help her come: Dionysus would make it his pleasure. And he was back in control. The way Ariadne’s eyelids fluttered and her heartbeat reverberated through her body and echoed in his cemented the knowledge that she wanted him and would go all the way tonight. This time, she wouldn’t stop him and hold back. And this time, he wouldn’t have to go back home unsatisfied and find release at his own hand like he had the last two weeks.

Tonight, he’d take from her what he needed and then get on with his life. Even as the thought formed in his mind, something rebelled within him. It was a foreign emotion to be sure, so he pushed it back into the dark recesses of his mind. Nothing would cloud his enjoyment of the sweet and sensual woman in his arms tonight. This night was all about pleasure and passion, desire and lust. Nothing else mattered.

Dio kicked the door of the bedroom shut with his foot and lowered Ariadne onto the queen-sized bed, which was covered with a pink duvet. Not exactly his choice of décor, but it suited her gentle sensibilities and the air of innocence that surrounded her. Maybe that was what had first attracted him to her: the feeling that she was an innocent at heart.

Not that she didn’t have an amazing body too—as he was just finding out. Already when he’d touched her earlier tonight and pressed her against him in the alley, he’d felt every curve yield to the hard planes of his body.

As he peeled her out of her dress, not only her cheeks colored prettily, but her entire body seemed to blush. “Gods, you’re beautiful.” And by Zeus, he meant it.

Her breasts were covered by the sheer material of her push-up bra. Not that she needed it: they’d felt firm and strong in his hand, and they were the perfect fit for his palms. He didn’t care for more than what Ariadne was endowed with. Her body was perfectly proportioned, her waist slim, but not spindly, her hips generous but not overly full. And the dark blond patch that shone through the gauzy fabric of her panties hinted at a neatly trimmed strip of curls that was just the place he was eager to explore.

Dio noticed a slight trembling of her body. But he knew it wasn’t for lack of heat. He, for one, found the warmth in the room stifling, and quickly tore at his shirt to rid himself of it.

With the frightened eyes of a doe, she watched him as he opened the top button of his jeans. He stopped in his movement to reassure her. “Baby, you have nothing to worry about. You just say the word, and I’ll give you all the pleasure in my power.” And those powers were supreme. As a god, his stamina was unparalleled, and he would prove it to her tonight.

Her lashes lowered slightly as if she was embarrassed to watch him undress. “I haven’t been with anybody in a long time.”

Why that admission pleased him, he didn’t understand. “I’ll do whatever you want, as slow and as gentle as it pleases you. I’m here to make you feel good.”

“You really mean that, don’t you?” Her gaze locked with his, and in it he recognized her vulnerability, her apprehension, and that pinch of fear she held so tightly to her chest. He promised himself right then to eradicate that fear once and for all.

Dio stepped out of his pants, keeping his boxer briefs hugging his erection, and lowered himself onto the bed, pulling her into his embrace. “I mean that. For a man to be able to give a woman the greatest pleasure is the biggest turn-on you can imagine.” Besides, most women were overly grateful once they had reached a monumental orgasm, and enthusiastic blowjobs often resulted from that kind of gratitude. His cock already strained against its confinement at the very thought of her sweet mouth around him.

With the pad of his thumb, he stroked along her lips, then down over her chin and neck. He paused briefly when he saw her swallow hard, then continued his path south, slipping his thumb under the fabric of her bra. The moment his finger connected with her nipple, her breath hitched.

“That’s right, baby, you just concentrate on your breathing. I’ll take care of the rest.”

The thought of guiding this sweet morsel in an exploration of sensuality and teaching her what pleasures her body was capable of made his cock swell even more. And by the way Ariadne’s heart beat against his palm, which now cupped her bra-covered breast, he figured that she experienced the same barely leashed excitement.

As he slowly lowered his head to her breasts and pushed the fabric aside to reveal her dark pink nipple, his body heated. He gulped down a breath of air and with it the scent of her arousal. And what a sweet scent it was: a mixture of jasmine, woman, and innocence. Not even as a god did he have sufficient powers to resist such a call.

Dio snaked his tongue out and licked across her hard little nub, wringing a strangled moan from her throat. “Baby, no holding back. If you want to scream, then scream.”

“Dio, you make me feel so… I can’t… it’s so…” Apparently forming a coherent sentence was too much for her.

He smiled to himself and closed his lips around the rosy peak, sucking it into his mouth while he continued lapping over her captured nipple. Never mind that she was writhing underneath him as if this little treat was already too much for her to bear. He wouldn’t stop until she came apart in his arms tonight. And even then…

Pressing her deeper into the sheets, he lavished all his attention on her breasts, first freeing one from the bra, then the other before discarding the undergarment and tossing it to the floor. If he had any say in the matter, she would never wear a bra. Now that he kneaded her breasts with his hands, he realized that his guess had been right: they were firm and sat high on her chest, attesting to her youth and her well-tended body. They didn’t need the support of a bra.

“I could lick your breasts all night long and never get tired of them,” he confessed between kisses and nibbles. “They feel perfect in my hands.”

Then he lifted his eyes toward her face and noticed Ariadne watch him. “Do you like it when I suck them?”

Her lips parted, her pink tongue snaking out and moistening her lower lip. More breath than moan, her answer came. “Yes. Do it again.”

Dio gave her his practiced roguish smile and dipped his head back to her twin swells. As he pressed the two peaks together and alternately sucked each nipple into his mouth, he shifted his position, lifting one leg over her thigh to push her legs apart. His cock pressed against her hip, the contact—even through the fabric of his boxer briefs—sending a shock as if coming from one of Zeus’s thunderbolts through his body.

“Fuck!” he ground out. If this indirect contact with her body sent him into such a spin, he’d last all of two seconds once he was inside her. That wouldn’t do, because what he really wanted with Ariadne was to stay inside her for as long as possible. Already now he knew that making love to her would be heaven.

Ariadne’s thighs spread farther, and she hooked one of her legs over his as if wanting to keep him there. Like he was going anywhere anytime soon! If she only knew that he had no intention of leaving her bed until they were both completely and utterly satisfied.

Slowly, he slid down her body, planting soft kisses along her abdomen, dipping his tongue into her navel, then moving south. Her appreciative moan only spurred him on further, giving him permission to explore her curves, her skin, and her flesh.

As he bumped up against the fabric barrier that still stood sentry guarding her sex, he playfully pulled at it with his teeth, eliciting a soft chuckle from her. He looked up to meet her gaze. Her eyes shone with delight.

“I hadn’t pegged you for being so… so…”

“… strong?” he helped her and received a soft laugh in response. “Wild?”

She shook her head.

“Hot?”

Another shake, but the more she put him in his place by refusing to acknowledge his physical prowess, the more he enjoyed the interaction.

He grinned and pulled on the fabric, tugging at it like a dog who didn’t want to let go of a bone. “Sexy?”

That made her laugh out loud. “I meant to say playful,” she choked out between laughs.

“Playful?” He gave her a mock-stern glare. “You do know that such disrespect will be punished, don’t you?”

Her body stilled. “How?” Her eyes suddenly gleamed with interest.

“Like this.” He pulled on the fabric, pushing it down a few inches, before he blew air against her sex. Her hitched breath confirmed her acquiescence to his punishment. “And like that.” Dio freed her from her panties completely and resettled himself between her spread thighs.

“And then, of course, like this.” He dipped his head to her glistening pussy and inhaled her arousal, wanting to savor this moment but was unable to hold back. His tongue emerged, and he lapped against her cleft, gathering up her juices.

“Oh, Dio!”

“Shh, baby, I’ll take care of you.” And then his mouth was back, his lips connecting with her wet heat, his tongue registering her flavors and cataloguing them for later exploration. He scooped his hands under her backside to get more of her. She was a sumptuous feast, more delicious than he’d expected. Her taste was as rich as wine aged in oak barrels for many years and as sweet as ambrosia. The combination made for a heady scent, one that was quickly making him drunk on her. Despite the fact that he’d had plenty of women, mortals and goddesses alike, he’d never been with one whose body had held such an allure, and whose taste whipped him to such heights. But Ariadne was special. Making love to her filled a need in him that he didn’t know he had.

Dio lifted his head for a moment and saw how she pressed her head into the pillow, arching her body in obvious ecstasy. “Gods, you’re a sight to behold.” When he lowered his mouth back to her, he sought out her clit and stroked his tongue over it. She almost lifted off the bed, releasing a moan at the same time. So he did it again, and alternately licked over the swollen bundle of flesh and then sucked it between his lips.

“Oh God!”

Holding her clit in his mouth, he swiped his tongue over it and pressed his lips together. A second later, he felt her explode and released the pressure. He let her ride out her orgasm as he enjoyed soaking up the spasms her body went through. Her muscles contracted, the resulting waves crashing against his mouth, sending ripples through his body. What hit him instantly was the knowledge of how pure she was: not a virgin, no, but a woman pure at heart, her reactions to him so honest, so open, he cherished the moment even more.

He scooted up, stripping himself of his boxer briefs in the process. His straining cock thanked him, and the air wafting against his skin felt like a release.

“Dio, you’re amazing,” Ariadne whispered and pulled him to her, her hand in his hair. Her lips parted in anticipation of his kiss, and the instant their lips touched, the fire in his gut spiraled higher.

He ripped his lips from her moments later, unable to take anymore of this sensual onslaught. “I need to be inside you.”

She nodded. “Yes.”

As he moved over her, a hand on his chest stopped him. Confused, he halted in his movement.

“Condom,” she said.

Fuck, he’d completely forgotten about that pesky annoyance. She had no idea that as a god, who could will his semen to be infertile if he didn’t want to impregnate a woman. Theoretically he didn’t need a condom, but not wanting to make her suspicious, he played along. “Where?” he searched the surface of the bedside table, but apart from a book and an alarm clock, it was empty.

“In the top drawer.”

Dio rolled over and opened the drawer. A small box of condoms greeted him. Regular it said. Regular? Not bloody likely. He wouldn’t even get that thing on, let alone keep it intact once he was inside her. This wouldn’t do.

“Found them?”

“Got ‘em.” With a quick flick of his wrist he used his godly power and exchanged the box for a different one. Now it said Magnum. He smiled to himself. Better. He opened one of the foil packets and sheathed himself before turning back to her, catching the moment Ariadne lowered her gaze to his groin. There was an almost unperceivable flinch when she perused his cock.

“You’re so big.” And her words weren’t meant as a compliment, not by the way she frowned.

Dio cupped her cheek and stroked his thumb over her skin. “Ariadne, you’ve nothing to worry about. I’ll be gentle. You’ll set the pace. Okay?” Why he offered her this concession when he could barely hold himself in check, he really didn’t want to examine. But it was important to him that she felt comfortable with him.

“Okay,” she whispered and drew him closer.