A life alone in a cage of your own making,
Bring down the walls.
To serve another, a lesson learned
And the gift of humanity.
To allow another in and forsaking yourself,
A sacrifice only you can make.
Blood of your blood,
A life you cannot see,
A selfless act will set you free.
That was just about the stupidest curse she had ever heard. It didn’t even rhyme. Everyone else had a curse that rhymed. Her life sucked.
“Athena,” Ares said, snapping his fingers in front of her face. “Where’d ya go?”
“I’m sorry,” she said, shaking her head. “Are you going to call Thanatos?”
“I already did,” he told her. “He’ll be here in just a minute.”
“I’m already here,” Thanatos said, ghosting onto the porch. “How’s Emma handling this?”
Ares must have called him while she was lost in her own head. “And just how did you get free?” she asked him.
“Sharalyn,” he grinned.
“Emma doesn’t exactly know yet,” Ares admitted. “Just keep her safe until I get back.”
“Can do,” Thanatos promised. “What about Miss Diva pants here?” he asked, pointing at Athena.
“Don’t make me smite you,” Athena growled. “I came here to help.”
“Oh, I see. Good. You can go now.”
“I’ll take you to your apartment,” Ares offered.
“I can take myself,” she argued. “I am still a goddess.”
“Yes, but the more you use your power the less power you have,” Ares reminded her. “Do you still have a place here?”
Athena nodded. She had purchased her condo while she had been working for the government the first time she and Ares escaped from Olympus. She hadn't been there in well over a year, but it was hers. It was likely covered in a mile of dust, but she was sure it was still there. Without waiting for her brother to offer his help again, which she did not need, she ghosted herself to her old condo.
She had been right. Everything was covered in a thick layer of dust and dirt. She walked through her home, and it was her home, feeling better than she had in months. Funny, she thought, how a millennium could pass in the blink of an eye, but the last year had crawled by at a snail’s pace. Hell, snails moved faster than her days and nights did.
She went to her kitchen to get something to clean up with only to realize that she had no cleaning supplies. “I need a maid,” she said aloud. “I need to call someone. Wait, I don’t have a phone. Ares does. No wait, I don’t need him.”
Looking around her home, Athena knew that there was no way she was going to be able to sleep with all of that dirt hanging around. She could just will it away, but that would be a waste of precious power she didn’t have to spare. A dust bunny rolled out from under her sofa as she walked over to it. She couldn’t even sit down! The goddess in her couldn’t stand it and her stubbornness wouldn’t allow her to seek help.
“Oh, to hell with it, it’s worth it,” she said, snapping her fingers and willing all of the dirt away.
Chapter Seven
Athena was walking through the gardens on Olympus near the orchard when she heard footsteps behind her. How had she gotten back there? This wasn’t right. She had escaped!
She turned around and when she looked at the orchard, she saw him. Thor was on her mountain. The hows and whys of being back on Olympus were forgotten as she ground her teeth together and marched directly toward him. She was going to teach that Norseman a thing or two.
Just as she approached him, Athena noticed that Thor was injured. Blood was trickling from his temple and he was walking with a limp.
“What happened?” she asked, suddenly feeling more concern than she was comfortable with.
Thor shook his head. “I don’t remember,” he told her.
Athena ducked under one of his arms and allowed him to rest his weight on her shoulders. “Come on, let’s find you somewhere to sit down,” she said.
They walked together until they found an intricately carved bench that was large enough for the both of them to sit on. Athena helped Thor lower himself to a sitting position and then inspected his body.
There were no mortal wounds that she could find. He’d suffered a hard knock to the head and a twisted ankle, but otherwise he appeared to be unharmed. Suspicion rose in her chest and she glared at him.
“You’re not hurt,” she accused.
“But I am,” he told her. “My heart is broken.” He took her hand and placed it on his bare chest. “It feels heavy and empty at the same time.”
Athena felt the heat of his skin under her palm and couldn’t resist touching him with her other hand as well.
“Yes, touch me,” he breathed. “Your touch makes the ache lessen inside of me.”
Athena resigned to the fact that she’d lost her mind. But damn, it felt good to touch him. She grazed her fingertips over the broad expanse of his chest, tracing the outline of a tattoo. She didn’t miss the way his skin trembled as she touched it and how tiny goose bumps broke out all over him.
Thor leaned back on the bench and let his head fall back on his shoulders. “Yes,” he sighed.
Athena continued her exploration of his body, touching his stomach and then back up to his thick neck. Thor reached for her, lifting her by the hips, and settled her body on his lap.
“I need you,” he told her.
Athena nodded.
Thor raised his hands to cup both sides of her neck as he lifted his face to hers. His lips pressed gently against her own briefly, and then he kissed her. Really kissed her.
The feel of his mouth on her was too much to deny and Athena was lost to him. His arms wrapped around her as his hips moved beneath her.
Without a thought, their clothes disappeared and they were skin to skin. Athena let her head roll back and Thor kissed the side of her neck.
He worked his way down the side of her throat to her collar bone and then down the center of her chest. His body was everywhere, surrounding her, encasing her in a cocoon of warmth and protection.
She felt protected, which was silly because she was Athena. She didn’t need protection.
Thor’s lips burned a blazing path over the swell of her breast straight to her straining nipple. He flicked his tongue over it, then sealed his lips to her skin, drawing it into his mouth.
Lightning crashed within her body as Athena rocked against him, grinding herself against the erection that was pressed against her core. He showed the same attention to the other nipple and Athena knew she was going to explode, right then and there. Grasping his head, she could feel the short hair on his scalp on the palms of her hands as she held him to her body.
Thor released her breast and lifted Athena’s hips, angling himself to enter her and damn it, she was going to let him. He looked into her eyes and smiled. He was gorgeous when he smiled, she thought. “My woman,” he said as he began to push himself into her.
Athena jerked awake in her own bed, her heart pounding in her chest. Her skin was fevered and sensitive all over her body. She sat up and pushed the covers off and then shivered when the cool air kissed her skin.
What the hell kind of dream was that? She touched her hand to her forehead to see if she was sick. No, she wasn’t. Not like she would know because she’d never been sick. Goddesses didn’t get sick. But she was losing her power with each passing second…
She was sick all right, she decided as she threw her legs over the side of the bed. Sick in her head. Why else would she dream about touching that man? Her lips tingled and Athena touched her fingertips to them. She could still feel him there. It was as if he’d been right there with her, awakening the passion she’d thought long dead inside of her. And the things she’d done in the dream! Her body was still responding to the feel of his hands and him inside of her.
Well she wasn’t wasting that newfound passion on him. Nope. No sir
. That was not happening. She forced herself out of bed to get a drink of water. She needed a shower. Leave it to Thor to get her all hot and bothered and then skip out of her dream.
Images of Thor, naked and dripping wet under the spray played across her imagination and her nipples stood out like Pavlov’s dog salivated. Her body ached for his touch and she had only dreamed about him! Ugh. It was going to be a long night.
Chapter Eight
The following morning, Thor awoke with a start. His sleep had been fitful at best, filled with dreams of Athena and that damned pole. At this rate, he was going to need a larger pair of briefs to accommodate the chronic hard on he was having where that woman was concerned.
He looked around and didn’t recognize his surroundings. Where was he and how did he get there? He was cramped up on a small contraption and his neck felt as if he’d slept on Mjolnir. He looked around the small space and remembered his new friend, Cody, had agreed to help him with new garments and finding Athena. Yes, that was good, he thought. He would find Athena, and Cody could help him locate Ares as well.
Thor got up to relieve himself just as Cody opened the door to his bedroom. “Morning, I hope you slept okay. I know the couch is small,” he said yawning.
“It was fine, thank you,” Thor replied almost dancing to get to the bathroom.
Once the door was closed, Cody went into the living room to gather the blanket and pillow but saw a strange hammer lying next to the couch. “What the hell is this?” he whispered.
When he tried to lift the metal hammer, it wouldn’t budge, not even an inch. Cody tried again with both hands this time.
It didn’t move.
He wondered how that man carried it on his hip as if it weighed nothing at all. Could he really be a mythological god as he proclaimed? No, Cody thought. That’s crazy talk. A glimmer caught his eye and Cody looked closer. There was an inscription on the hammer. He whoever wields this hammer shall possess the power of Thor. Well, that was interesting. One thing was certain. Cody didn’t possess the power of Thor because that thing wasn’t budging. He picked up the bedding and took it to his room just as Thor was leaving the bathroom. He couldn’t help the laugh that escaped him. The sweatshirt that he’d loaned him looked like a belly shirt barely covering his midriff and the pants came up to his calves, leaving nothing to the imagination.
“What is so funny?” Thor asked, scratching his head, his shirt rising even higher.
“Nothing at all," Cody replied with a tight smile. "Would you like some coffee before we go shopping?”
“Yes, that would be splendid.” Thor responded and walked toward the small dining room.
After they finished their coffee, Cody dressed himself in what Thor thought to be strange human clothing, but said nothing. He strapped on his leather battle boots and headed for the door, but not without his cape, holster and Mjolnir.
“Oh no. Back it up, Sunshine. We’re not doing the cape today,” Cody warned, shaking his finger in Thor’s face.
“But why?”
“Just no.”
Thor reluctantly removed his cape, but wasn’t willing to part with Mjolnir. He didn't understand humans or their strange ways, but he liked this man, Cody. Although he was a bit odd, he was the first human to help him on his quest to locate Athena. He offered assistance without reservations and he didn't have a conceal and carry.
Once outside the apartment, Cody hailed a cab and Thor's face was one of shock and confusion. "We're to ride in one of those transportation boxes?" He asked, pointing at the cab as it pulled up to the curb.
"It's a called a car or in this case, a cab. We pay a driver to take us where we want to go," Cody responded, opening the door for Thor to get in. Even though he was unsure about the safety of this machine, Thor climbed in. He would not be felled by something that mere humans placed themselves in every day. He went in head first, crawling over the backseat. Once his body was all the way inside, Thor was on all fours with his ass in the air, and his head against the far window. "This isn't right," he said, shifting his large body so that his feet were on the far floorboard. "No." Pushing himself over, Thor landed on his back. Now his feet were in an awkward position and his back was twisted. "By the gods," he grumbled, pulling his feet up. He kicked out with one leg, using the back of the passenger seat for leverage. He ignored the hysterical laughter from his new friend as his foot slipped and connected with the back window. It took several more tries before Thor was able to fold his huge body into the backseat of the cab, but when he finally sat upright, Cody filed in beside him. It was going to be a long day.
“This is a metal death contraption. I can barely move in this box,” Thor exclaimed and the driver looked back at him through the rearview mirror like he was on drugs. "Where are we going?"
"Well," Cody said, "You would look fabulous in Armani, but that's expensive."
Thor brushed it off. "Money is not a problem. I have all the money I need, when I need it." And he did. All he had to do was will the cash he needed and it would appear in his hand in whatever currency that was appropriate.
“Armani, Fifth Avenue,” Cody told the driver happily and ignoring Thor's comments about the death box. He knew it would do no good to entertain his musings about metal transportation boxes. He wasn’t about to get into that discussion.
Thor held on for dear life when the cab started weaving through traffic. Humans were honking and cursing at one another. He had never seen the likes of such and was truly baffled. As soon as he finished this war, he wanted nothing more than to leave Midgard and never return.
Thor was white as a ghost when the cab box arrived at its destination. He leapt from the door like his ass was on fire, thanking the driver from the open window. Cody was belly laughing from the other side and told Thor to get out of the street unless he wanted to be roadkill.
"Should I even ask? No. Let's buy new garments and be on our way," Thor told him walking toward the sidewalk.
When the duo walked inside the huge clothing store, Thor didn't know what to think. There were garments in every shape and size and even a market to buy food. He felt Cody clutch his arm and drag him to a set of stairs that moved of their own accord. "What kind of magic is this?" Thor leaned down and whispered.
"This is called an escalator. It's much easier than taking the stairs one at a time. Hurry, just place your feet on the next step. There's a line forming behind us," Cody said, looking apologetically to the waiting patrons.
Once on the basement floor where more casual clothing was sold, Cody looked to Thor and said, "Okay, first you need the basics: underwear, T-shirts and jeans that will hug your body just right. We'll look for appropriate shoes after we're done here."
Cody perused several isles before finding five sets of what he knew would be the perfect jeans for a man such as Thor. He picked out simple V-neck T-shirts in a variety of colors to mix things up. After he was done with his first collection of items, he sent Thor to the dressing room.
"You only need to try on one of each. I made sure to get the same size," he remarked, standing just outside the dressing room door. Cody wanted to be nearby. He had no idea of what sort of catastrophe Thor might get himself into next. It was bad enough anyone and everyone was staring at him like he was crazy. Then again, he was definitely mental, but Cody was beginning to enjoy Thor’s company and his crazy quirks were funny as hell. Who didn't have at least one cray-cray friend?
Thor had no problem dressing himself in a pair of dark Armani jeans and a fitted red T-shirt. Cody's jaw dropped to the floor when he opened the door. "Wow honey, you look fine as hell. Good enough to eat," he said fanning himself, then continued, "Too bad you bat for the other team," he winked.
"I do not wish to be eaten and what batting team? Are you making jokes again?" Thor asked chuckling and checking himself out in the mirror.
"Yes, it was a joke. Ahh, you're learning. Mamma's so proud!"
Thor just shook his head with a small chuckle. Humans were indeed
strange, but he enjoyed spending time with Cody. He was learning a lot about this foreign Midgard from him. It was also nice having a new friend. Then Athena crossed his mind. He wondered if she would like how he looked in his human garments. He turned and looked at himself from every angle. "Yes, I look irresistible," he said under his breath, flexing his muscles and smiling at the thought of Athena. He would have her soon, then Ares' head on a platter.
Cody told Thor not to change; they would pay for the items at the counter once they were done shopping. He grabbed a few sets of underwear, socks and a pair of black boots Thor agreed on before heading upstairs to the more conservative section. Cody was making Thor buy a tailored suit.
"What's this? Why do I need such a garment?" Thor asked.
"You want to find your woman, right?"
"Yes, as soon as possible."
"Well, if anything will turn her head, it'll be an Armani suit."
"Very well then," Thor agreed. "Are you in need of new garments? Is there someone you would like to impress?"
"Um, I could always use new clothes, but I can't afford this place."
Thor conjured a wad of hundred-dollar bills and pulled it from his pocket. "Will this be enough to buy something?" he asked.
"Holy shit! Seriously? You'd do that for me, buy me clothes... from Armani?" Cody asked in awe.
"Of course. You are a good man and friend."
He took the stack of bills that Thor was offering and looked at him with new eyes. Thor might be bat shit crazy, but Cody was definitely helping him find his woman. No one had ever shown him such kindness.
He jumped up and hugged Thor. "Thanks man. My new BFF," he winked and began looking for something more his style.
Chapter Nine
"Now we are ready," Thor announced, puffing out his chest and holding his fists on his hips like the warrior he was. Even though he was dressed to the nines, Mjolnir was still secured to his belt. Although he wasn't keen on the idea, Cody had insisted that he keep it on the back of his belt under his suit jacket. Easy access, but still hidden. He was in a soft black suit, the likes of the material he had never seen before. It was soft on his skin, very lightweight, and easy to move in. He wasn't sure about the dark grey tie that was too snug around his neck like a noose, but Cody assured him that it was necessary. The shiny black shoes that peeked out from the bottom of the pants were surprisingly comfortable as well. The soft white shirt fit him like a lover's caress, barely fitting across his chest.
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