by Nicole Fox
“Yes, I am.”
“Being married isn’t too bad.”
“You’d better enjoy it!”
“I have you, and my life is complete.” Tatum snuggled in Keir’s arms.
Chapter Thirteen
“It’s too sweet.”
“Drink it… you have to ensure our bond and gain immortality. I don’t know why we keep repeating this conversation.”
Tatum’s hand swirled her goblet around causing the pink frothy drink to slip over her fingers.
“It’s sticky too.”
“Drink it.”
Tatum frowned as she placed the cool goblet against her mouth. Ambrosia slipped down her throat as she gulped the sweet mixture. Frowning, she placed the goblet on an end table. She hated the feeling in her stomach.
Kei smirked at his wife as her face twisted in distaste. Stepping towards her, he reached out a hand and brushed away a loose strand of hair. “You’re immortal now. Safe from harm. One thing can kill you.”
Her eyes flew opened in dismay. “I thought it was life with you.”
Keir shook his dark head. “My father’s blade can kill any immortal including him. But his blood is poison to us. He yields it as justice for crimes against humanity or the gods.”
“I won’t piss him off.”
“He likes you. Get dressed, we have one thing to do during over this last day. I want to show you something special.”
“Sharing your secrets.”
"No, it’s a house.”
“A house?”
“My mother’s house, she never used her temple.”
Chapter Fourteen
Keir loved his mother’s old home. It was surrounded by trees with large wildflower-valleys. He knew that she would love so many flowers. As a boy, he would sneak out of his room at night and soak in a hot spring. Murale rarely accompanied him on such trips; he went with Langston and numerous attendants. The house was made from gleaming white stone like Silke’s temple. Huge stained-glass windows told stories about Oceanus's past. Keir felt alive in this often-forgotten home. He couldn't wait to share his past with Tatum.
Keir helped Tatum from her horse. He passed the reigns to a stable boy.
"Tatum, this is our summer home, my mom’s home. It doesn't get used very much.” His fingers slipped around Tatum's. With a small child's excitement, Keir guided Tatum around her new home. She squealed in delight over colorful flowers. She eyed a pool of steaming hot springs with discontent. She preferred her baths in a tub, privately. Keir showed her a rope swing from his childhood, and an old wooden swing that his mother used in her youth.
Tatum yawned. Keir knew that she needed rest. His large hands ushered her body up a flight of stairs. He helped her undress. Her eyes were closed before her dark head touched a pillow. Elation surged in his veins when he slipped in beside her.
Spring was beautiful in the valley. Keir held Tatum's hand tightly as they walked in the woods. He pointed to an ancient owl nest. He captured butterflies with his hands. He let them go after Tatum fawned over them. He laid on a blanket as he fed his wife bites of cheese and soft meats with her daily goblet of Ambrosia. Tatum was perfectly happy with Keir. Everything was slowly returning to before. Contentment filled her as she laid on Keir's chest listening to his steady heartbeat.
Keir's eyes popped open when Tatum shook his shoulder.
“Keir, I had a thought."
“Yes,” he replied lazily.
"We haven't."
"We haven't... what?”
"We made love today."
"Not here," Keir protested. "It’s my mother’s house; we can’t..."
"Afraid we might ruin your childhood bed?”
Keir grinned. “Yes, I need to pay attention to my wife who won’t drink her ambrosia."
"Drink of the Gods… it’s gross.”
“Don't worry, my love. It’s almost over."
~~~
Tatum watched Keir splashing around in his blasted hot spring. He spent most of his day swimming and splashing, Keir swam before and after every meal. He made such a fuss like it was so very delightful. Tatum shook her dark head and refused to join him. He swam backwards, spitting water from his mouth.
"Not very godly," Tatum yelled to her husband.
Keir shrugged and paddled away.
Tatum was bored; she wanted to speak with Keir. Sighing, she raced from her chamber. She removed her slippers as she left their home. Cool night grass cushioned her feet. Keir beamed when Tatum approached in one of her new lavender dresses. He had to whine to get her to wear lavender again. It was a full out-pouting session.
“I'm not removing my clothing. I'll soak my feet."
“Okay."
Carefully, Tatum sat on the edge of the hot spring. Tatum gasped in surprise when she slipped her feet in the warm water. She waved her feet around creating huge puddles that rained across Keir's head. He brushed wet hair from his brow.
He swam over to his Tatum's kicking feet. Keir caught her ankles as she laughed and attempted to push him away. His large hands gently massaged her feet. Tatum ignored a rush of heat in her body. Keir didn't know what to say about the hold that Tatum had over him. Her touched burnt him like a torch.
“Perhaps... you might get in tomorrow."
"Perhaps."
Keir didn't want to return to his temple in the morning. They had a few more hours to themselves. He didn't have to attend meetings. He didn't lose his patience. He hadn't screamed at anyone. Chan would bring forth a brilliant sunrise, they would depart to their home. Keir frowned; never again would he have time with just Tatum. With watchful eyes, Keir pushed Tatum in his mother's swing. He loved the feel of her hair under his hands. She stuck out her legs as she soared high into the sky. Sometimes, Keir wondered if she would pass her trials and grasp his hands to signal their union. Her enchanting laughter filled the meadow. As night fell, Keir and Tatum snuggled in their bed.
Keir's dark head flung from his pillow. A hand searched for Tatum. He jumped from their empty bed, reaching for a sword. His brows knitted together when he heard splashing. He moved to a window; a large hand unlocked the glass fixture. Nodding his head, Keir beamed that Tatum took a chance. His sword clattered to the stone floor when Keir raced to join his wife.
"I thought it wasn't for you."
Tatum shrugged. "I took a chance."
Keir began to remove his night shirt. Tatum moved her head timidly to stop him.
"Why not?”
"I want to go upstairs."
"It's not too late. I would like to swim with you."
"Keir… I wanted to go upstairs."
"Why, we could have fun?"
"We can have fun upstairs. Well, maybe."
Keir's mouth dropped. "No… I couldn't."
Tatum stared into her husband's shocked blue eyes with her soft luminous brown eyes. "I'm ready to take a chance, and free you from guilt." She offered Keir her hand; Keir carefully gathered Tatum into his arms. Looking around, he grabbed her discarded nightgown.
~~~
Keir spread Tatum's hair across a white pillow. Moonlight caressed her face as her small hand reached for her husband. She shivered at the dark passion in Keir's eyes. His hand touched her cheek lightly. Cradling a trembling Tatum in his tight embrace, he carried her to their bedroom. Her fingers stroked his thumping heartbeat. His foot kicked opened a wooden door as he stepped into his enormous bedroom. He flicked his hand causing a candle to flicker to life. He laid Tatum on a white rose covered bed.
“I thought about red, then I wanted to see you surrounded in white… delicate and innocence,” he murmured as his eyes roamed over her body. His fingers brushed loose strands of her hair from her eyes. Tatum licked her lips nervously.
His fingers trailed over her cheekbones as they moved lower to trace her quivering lips. Leaning over, Keir placed a soft kiss on her lips. Tatum closed her eyes as her heart pumped erratically. His deft fingers untied the bows of her tunic. He pushed the gown from
her pale shoulders, revealing her soft breasts to his eyes. His thumbs caressed her pink nipples until they grew hard. Tatum bit her lip as sensations flooded her senses. A tiny grasp slipped from her lips when he sucked her nipple into his mouth. His tongue laved her nipple. Her fingers sank into his thick dark hair, pulling softly as her head pushed into her pillow. She opened her eyes when Keir moved away from her.
“Why?”
“I’m not leaving. I need to remove my clothes.”
Tatum watched Keir dropped his pants to the floor, shrugging his tunic over his broad shoulders. Her eyes marveled at his muscular frame. He pulled her tunic from her hips and flung across the room. He laid his body next to hers. His hands caressed her firm young body leaving a scorching path of desire. His hands pulled her thighs open. She cried out when her fingers grazed her clit; her hands clutched the cool sheets.
“So wet for me, darling.”
Tatum’s hips writhed as his fingers flicked across her moist center. Her eyes flew open when he inserted his fingers into her tight sheath. Her soft moans filled their bedroom.
“Do you feel me, Tatum?” Keir whispered as his fingers moved rhythmically inside of her “So tight and hot around me.”
A faint sheen of sweat covered their tangled limbs as something tight formed in Tatum’s center and radiated into her limbs and mind. It was such a deep delightful tightness. Her nails dug into his forearm as her hips lay open trembling.
Keir waited until she almost reached her pinnacle and quickly removed his fingers. He wanted to be inside her, joined with her when she experienced her orgasm. He wanted to gaze into her eyes as she reached her pleasure.
His large hands pulled her legs apart. Placing his weight on his elbows, he settled his body over Tatum’s. He placed the tip of his cock at her wet opening. He smiled when Tatum had her hand across his face.
“Don’t close your eyes,” he whispered as he softly began to thrust into her trembling body. Tatum lost herself in his blue eyes as he pushed deep into her tight flesh, her nails scraped his shoulders as he settled deeply into her body. Keir captured her lips in a deep kiss. His tongue slipped into her mouth as she wriggled against his hard frame, attempting to adjust to his massive length. She gasped when his fingers traced her hard nipples. His lips kissed her neck. Tatum felt her passion rising as she could sense Keir attempting to control his passions.
Keir knew she was ready when she wrapped her legs around his waist. He thrust against her causing Tatum to gasp loudly. Keir caught her chin in his hand as he moved deeply in her pussy. He had never felt such pleasure as his cock delved in her tight depths. Tatum writhed and groaned under his steady thrusts. She screamed when she reached the height of her pleasure; he slammed rapidly against her as she arched into his thrusts. Keir captured her lips in a kiss as he poured his essence into her womb. Her fingers splayed across his back as he kissed her gently.
~~~
Tatum lay back against Keir’s hard chest, her hands resting on his thighs. Her curly head nestled under his chin. He traced small circles on her thigh.
“Why the cicada?”
Tatum smiled as she pressed a kiss on his chin. “I told you.”
“Liar, no, you didn’t.”
Tatum covered her face. “It’s silly.”
“Tell me,” Keir whispered against her hair. “Trust me.”
“You won’t laugh?”
“I promise.”
“Well, I’m clumsy.”
“I never noticed.”
“I couldn’t see things on tables as a child. I would hop around like a cricket. So, my mother called me Cricket. And, I chose it for her. Cicadas make music. My mom was a gifted harpist, she played for most of the gods.”
Her name, he should have asked before now. It was thoughtless.
Keir arms tightened around her. “Her melodies were beautiful.”
“Yes, she played for your father. That’s how she drew his attention.”
“Who?”
“Azael.”
“Did you hate him?”
“No, I felt nothing for him, not even hate. Something to use to control my mother; he would give me to one of his little minions. Sometimes, they were nice, and we went into the woods. Mostly, they locked me in a closet.”
“I don’t want to control you.”
“What do you want?”
“I want to hold you through the night and lose myself in your eyes. Like I have all winter, I want to believe that I’m not going to war in the morning. I want to wake up with you in my arms.”
“I can do that.”
Chapter Fifteen
Staring at red-tinged sky as Chan crossed the sky of Oceanus, Tatum wondered about what waited for them back at Keir’s temple. Her hand rested on a cool windowpane as she watched the sky thoughtfully. Keir silently padded across the cool stone floor to wrap an arm around his wife’s trim waist. Pulling her into his chest, Keir nestled her head under his chin.
“This is amazing. It’s rare to see such a brilliant red sunrise, usually just once a year.”
“Chan paints the sky red for Ruby, his youngest child. He’s happy that she’s been found, and safely reunited with her family and Cormac.”
“What did you think has happened since we left?”
“I’m hoping for a return to tranquility and peace. We can start our lives together.”
Keir’s hand slipped over to cup Tatum’s breasts; his thumb slipped across Tatum’s nipple, rubbing until it crested. Tatum closed her eyes, “No, we need to leave, and we’ve done that enough for a lifetime.”
Keir nuzzled her neck, “It will never be enough.”
Tatum wriggled out of his embrace, tethering her robe around her slender body. “I’ve bathed for the day, drank my so super-sweet pink frothy stuff, and my hair is done. I’m not sitting back down to be groomed by the attendants again today.”
“Why not… nice and clean is very appealing… you’re so really good like dahlias in spring. I just want to grab you and carry you back to bed, spending hours between your legs listening to you screaming in ecstasy.”
“Stop being fresh. I’m donning my new gowns delivered by the attendants,” Tatum muttered as she stepped behind a large floral changing board trimmed in gold. She wanted to smile when she spotted her new clothing. She willed her lips not to trembled in dismay. A dislike clouded her mind as she donned her goddess attire.
A leather corset with thick straps was paired with a long black leather skirt with a long slit along the side.
“What do you think of your attire?” Keir called.
“We’re married, not twins, Keir.”
“You said leather was better for daily attire.”
“If you’re going hunting, not walking during the day. I like my little chiffon gowns.”
“Well, you said leather, and you have to wear that as the attendants are gone. I can’t make clothing.”
“I’ll wear it alright,” Tatum muttered.
~~~
Tatum struggled to walk in her skin-fitting leather assemble paired with super high leather shoes. Keir beamed with pride when she stumbled to meet him before entering the window to return to his temple. His hand firmly guided her through the strange traveling portal. It was her second time, and still it made her stomach feel weak.
Their fingers entangled they walked down a marble hallway to loud shouts, a few women crying, and what appeared to be furniture being moved, loudly.
“It’s good to be home,” Keir muttered as he threw opened the doors to chaos unfolding before him. Ruby stood in a corner with her arms folded defensively over her chest. Cormac attempted to talk or reason with her as he waved his hands. Chan attempted to touch Luna's hand, but she yanked away from him as tears streamed down her face. Silke sat on a couch, pale and rumpled looking. She kept inching away from Blane as he attempted to talk to her. Various other gods yelled and pushed each other in the great hall. Tatum dropped Keir’s hand, and stepped away when she felt his anger r
ising.
“I didn’t think it would be this bad,” she replied softly. “I thought without you everyone would be happy and singing songs of sweetness and light.”
A dark eyebrow arched in her direction was countered with a bright smile and blown kiss in Keir’s direction.
“Okay, you’ve been good. Go be Dark Lord, I know you’ve been keeping it in.”
Keir nodded respectfully at his wife. Immensely happy that she wasn’t in the room, Tatum watched Keir stalking into the room like a hungry panther. His dark hair swished slightly as he moved; his back muscles rippled under his tight linen tunic. The noise was so loud, they couldn’t hear his boots tamping on the ground. Tatum noticed Silke‘s skin loses another shade of color, and her hand dropped protectively to cover her belly.
“What is going on in my home?” Keir’s voice boomed loudly. “I leave for three days, and I return to chaos. I only like chaos when I create it. I provide chaos, don’t bring it to me. Did you think that I went soft? I’m married, not cuckolded by my wife. What is this meaning of this? You’d better have a good explanation, and I want to hear it now.”
Silke refused to look at Keir as she rushed form the room with a hand covering her mouth. Keir instantly regretted causing Silke distress. Ruby‘s eyes dropped when she hurried after Silke. Tatum shrugged and followed in pursuit of her friends, leaving Keir to handle his business.
“Nothing to say,” Keir roared. “I’m waiting.”
Cormac shrugged. “Okay, I’m married to a spoiled child who claims that I was in love with Serena, the sea nymph, but she died when we were too young to have lovers.” Keir frowned at his friend. “Well, before some of us had lovers.”
Cormac ducked as a goblet moved rapidly in the direction of his head. “Red wine drained down a stone wall.”
“Cormac, perhaps my child is a bit overindulged. However, I praised the stars for her life. It’s is not her fault her father made deals with the original devil to endure the return of Serena by slipping her life force into my defenseless baby, Cormac,” Luna shrilled fiercely.
“So, Luna, you presented Ruby as a darling protected girl. Yet, she has the soul of a temptress that encouraged the affections of a cursed demon. Until, she died… it might be a bit too much to handle for the unsuspecting husband.”