Destined. Part 13

My hands flopped to my sides. "What is it with you and rules? Can't I just eat?"

"Come here." He held out a darkened hand and I obeyed, bringing the plate of lamb. As I sank into the couch, he took the plate and guided me back until I was reclining again. "Only one rule, this time. You have to let me feed you."

"What?" I asked, trying to sit up. His hand caught my shoulder, pressing me softly back into the pillows.

"I learned something new last night: I love watching you eat. It's beautiful, the way you lick little crumbs away from the corner of your lip. The way your eyes roll back in pleasure when you bite into something you enjoy. Please," he asked, "let me give you that."

He plucked one of the lamb bites from the kabob. My lips parted and my teeth sank into the juicy meat. A dribble ran down my chin, but he wiped it away with a long caress of his finger. I couldn't get over the feeling of being watched while I chewed. Covering my mouth so I could talk with my mouth full, I asked, "Aren't you going to eat."

"Sure," he said. Plucking another lamb chunk from the kabob, he tossed it into the air and caught it with his mouth when it fell.

I gulped. "Show off."

"I'm just getting started," he answered. "I have better tricks than that." His eyes smoldered into mine and I couldn't look away. Leaning in, I could feel his warm breath as my own breathing hitched in my chest. His lips were nearly on mine when my stomach rumbled again. Loudly.

"Apparently one piece of lamb wasn't enough," I said, giving myself an embarra.s.sed pat on the belly.

"Hmm..." he grumbled as he backed away. "I guess I'm not doing such a good job feeding you then." He leaned over and pulled the tripod nearer. "Trust me?"

A smirk pulled at my lips. "Didn't we establish that last night?"

"Then close your eyes. It's better if it's a surprise." Obediently, I squeezed my eyes shut. "Okay, open up." A string of crunchy fried calamari wound into my mouth, the hint of seafood mixed with a smooth tomato puree.

"That's amazing," I said, looking up at him.

"Eyes closed, please." He pivoted away to block my view of the next plate.

"Sorry," I said with a swallow. Eyes closed, I asked, "Next?"

A burst of melon juice shot into my mouth as my teeth sank into the fresh fruit. Following the tangy calamari, the melon was all the more sweet. My tongue shot out to lick the juice from the corner of my lips. That's what he thinks is cute? I'd never even noticed I was doing it before.

"Now the grand finale," he promised. My mouth hinged open as I waited. His smooth fingers found my chin, pulling my mouth open wider. A mouthful of moist chocolate cake melted on my tongue. "Mmmm," I murmured, even as I felt my eyes rolling back into my head. I guess I really do that too. "You've got to try this," I said.

"I was just waiting for you to ask." His lips fell to mine. Food, even chocolate, was forgotten as he all but drank me in. His hand cradled my head as our kiss deepened. Slowly, his hand traced down my neck to my shoulder, pus.h.i.+ng aside the strap of my gown.

My heart jumped into my throat, racing like a rabbit. His lips pulled away with a reluctant tug. "Don't be nervous." He kissed my bare shoulder. "I just liked you too much without the straps." His eyes tunneled into mine. "Indulge me?"

I nodded and he slipped the other strap off. Fingers, soft as baby's flesh, traced the contours of my collar bone and shoulders. My chest rose under his touch, craving the gentle feel of his caress, chasing the movement of his fingertips.

"You are divine," he whispered into my neck before gifting it with more of his tender kisses. "But we really ought to go inside," he murmured.

My eyes fell closed from the sudden emptiness of losing his touch. When had I gotten so addicted to him? Two days ago he made my flesh crawl, now my skin was humming under his fingers. "Why?" I breathed.

"Because if I don't stop kissing you, I might never let you go."

I opened my mouth to protest, to tell him we could stay under the stars a bit longer, but he was right. As the rush of adrenaline coursed away, my courage went with it. What in Hades was I doing? And why was I liking it so much?

Chapter 25 - Psyche.

I stirred when I felt covers tucking in around me. Flitting my eyes open, I could tell dawn was just running her rosy fingers across the horizon, spreading a hint of light through my window.

"I have to leave," Aris whispered before sealing his lips against mine.

That's right. We do that now.

A flush raced across my body, leaving me hot and cold at the same time. If I hadn't been so exhausted, I might've pulled him back to me; refused to let him go. The touch of his lips against mine was an addiction I didn't want to kick.

His lips brushed my temple as he pushed the curls back from my face. "Sleep tight, Love. I'll see you tonight."

As I drifted back to sleep, replaying the past two blissful nights we'd shared, something he said jumped out at me. When I'd asked if he was really a harpy's child, he'd said "yes and no."

That meant something.

Then I thought back to the gardens and the way Alexa had said his mother was such a harpy. I'd thought that was a pretty dumb thing for her to say at the time. I mean, if he was a son-of-a-harpy then obviously his mom was a harpy.

But what if they were using harpy as a metaphor? What did that make him?

"So, Alexa," I asked when I finally pulled my tired carca.s.s out of bed and plodded to the dining room for breakfast, "I was wondering how your magic works. I mean, how come you can be invisible?"

"I don't know," she answered. "I just think it, and I am. Same with going visible. It's just a matter of intent."

"Would you be able to make just part of yourself visible?" I plopped onto a couch and grabbed a bowl of strawberries. "Like, if you wanted to show one of us mere mortals just your hair, could you think that too and make it happen?"

"How naive do you think I am, Psyche?"

"What?" I bit into the strawberry and widened my eyes, trying to look innocent.

She heaved a heavy sigh. "I cannot tell you anything that would give away his ident.i.ty." She recited the words in monotone as if it was some credo she'd been forced to memorize.

"Oh come on," I said, biting into another berry. "You can't blame me for being curious. I mean, if you were interested in someone, wouldn't you want to know everything about him?"

"You have got to be the most stubborn person I've ever met."

"Well, wouldn't you?" I insisted.

I heard Alexa drift over to the window. "Sure I would. But that doesn't mean I'm going to tell you anything."

"Just some clue. Give me something," I said, setting the strawberries aside and moving over to her. "All I'm really asking about is what powers a nymph has, right? You should be able to tell me about yourself."

"No," she said.

"No?"

"No, I can't just show part of myself. I'm either all the way visible or not."

Feeling around for Alexa's shoulders, I gave her a quick hug. "See, that wasn't so hard." She snorted. "Okay then," I continued, "could a demi-G.o.d be partly invisible if he wanted to?"

"I don't know, you'd have to ask one," she said. "Go eat your eggs before they get cold."

Not a chance. I had too much new information to digest to want food.

"I'll come in for a snack in a bit," I said. "I want to visit the gardens before it gets too late." I practically ran away from Alexa.

Plucking a hibiscus flower, I twirled its little stem between my fingers. The soft pink blended into a muted blur as the petals spun as fast as my thoughts. Working with my new information and some pretty solid a.s.sumptions, I was narrowing down the list of possible ident.i.ties.

I crossed G.o.ds off the list - the only one I knew of with wings detested the sight of me. And the feeling had pretty much been mutual. No way my mystery guy was Eros.

It seemed unlikely that Aris was a demi-G.o.d since Alexa had answered my question about whether they could be partly visible: "I don't know, you'd have to ask one," she'd said. I didn't think she'd lie to me, and her answer implied she didn't know any demi-G.o.ds, which would include Aris.

I abandoned my initial theory that he might be a hero since I'd never heard of a hero who had wings, or could create palaces, or disguise himself.

Which left nymphs. Wouldn't it make sense for a nymph to have another nymph in his employ? And I now knew they couldn't be only partly visible, which explained why he had to hide the rest of himself under a cloud to show his eyes.

Of course, I could still be falling for a monster, but I didn't think so. Not anymore. Not after feeling those lips...

Sinking onto a bench with a sigh, I brushed the flower under my chin. d.a.m.n, I wish I knew more about nymphs. Could one be mischievous enough to frighten the G.o.ds? Was there some metaphor there that I was missing? Not like the Oracle was known for clarity, but still. I felt like I was so close to something and still missing it.

And I was also bothered by the fact that I'd never seen Alexa create anything. She had amazing hearing, but I hadn't noticed any other powers. Was she hiding those too? Or maybe there was some super-nymph that I'd never heard of. Like a nymph prince who was more powerful than the others.

"Ugh," I tossed the flower into a manicured hedge and lay back across the bench, folding my arms over my eyes. Now I was inventing nymph royalty. Very productive.

Chapter 26 - Eros.

Eros and Hermes sat by the river, watching a group of water nymphs splash and frolic. "So they don't interest you?" Hermes asked, nodding to the girls.

"Nope." Eros leaned back and rested on his elbows.

"Still not gonna undo the arrow then?"

"Why would I?" Eros asked.

Hermes looked at the nymphs again and wagged his eyebrows. Eros winced. "Them? They're nothing."

"Guess things are going good then." Hermes said. "You take my advice and use your arrows on her?"

"Nah. She deserves better."

Hermes shrugged. "Yeah, well, not all of us can score with whatever girl looks our way."

Eros barked out a laugh. "Right, like you've ever had problems."

"I'm just saying."

Eros sat back up and stared at the river. "Actually, she can't see me."

"What?" Hermes's eyebrows shot to the top of his head. "Is she blind or something?"

Eros brushed his palms together to wipe away some dirt. "No. I just a I can't take a chance, you know? My mom would..." Eros's voice trailed off.

"Kill her," Hermes filled in. "Yeah, that pretty much sums it up."

The G.o.ds sat in silence for a moment as the nymphs' light laughter played across the water. Finally, Hermes shook his head. "Man, I can't believe you're going the invisible route after what the Oracle told her."

Eros looked down at his feet. "I'm not exactly invisible either."

"How's that?"

"I created a shroud." He shook his head. "More like a black cloud really, nothing you can touch. It covers everything but my eyes. She can reach through it, but she can't see through it."

Hermes scowled. "That's just weird."

"What?" Eros asked with a shrug.

"She's gonna see a black cloud with eyes staring at her and freak."

"Well, it's working, okay?" Eros snapped.

"Whatever," Hermes shrugged. "Just don't blame me when she finally comes to her senses."

"Not gonna happen," Eros said as he hopped to his feet. "I can feel it."

Chapter 27 - Psyche.

To my great disappointment, dinner returned to the dining room and Aris was very late. Slumped face down across the bed, I'd started drifting off to sleep when I finally felt his gentle touch across my shoulders.

My heavy eyelids pulled open. "You're late."

"I had something I had to take care of." His hands ma.s.saged into my shoulders and ran down my shoulder blades. "Trust me, I would've much rather been with you."