Fallen (Dark God Saga)

by Dubrinsky, Violette; Flowers, Renee

  “Damn, Sims, he blew your back out, huh?”

  Another glare was earned.

  ***

  It had been almost two weeks. His powers were fully restored. Death had returned in all his former glory. Hera had gone off her hunt for his head—the upper and lower ones—after realizing she wouldn’t win unless she wanted to start a war between the dark gods and the Olympians. It seemed his parents, his siblings, even a few aunts and uncles, were threatening hell, literally, if Hera continued on her war path to destroy him. She’d also been concerned as to his feelings for Simone, and after asking many questions, seemed satisfied that his intentions were good. Who would have thought Hera the fairy godmother?

  Everything was going smoothly once more. Except for one thing. Simone Randall plagued his every thought. He couldn’t see her because he and Hera had come to a mutual agreement that as long as she didn’t care to see any of them, they would keep their distances. He should not have agreed, but in the end, it was for the best. Simone was terrified of him, of them, and he didn’t want her fear. He wanted her to be happy, even if he wasn’t.

  He felt Aphrodite’s presence in his chambers before she actually appeared. Not in the mood to deal with her, he immediately said, “I still don’t want you, Appy.”

  She snapped her teeth together. “I don’t want you either, you big, conceited ass.”

  “That’s good, Appy. It’s only taken you centuries.”

  “Stop whining, Death. Most gods would kill to have me—.”

  Aphrodite gasped when she found herself slammed into the wall, Thanatos’s hand wrapped around her pretty little neck. A jolt of dark pleasure flashed through him in that moment, and the call for vengeance was so strong that he had to bite his cheek to retain control, to keep his other self at bay.

  “Do you think I’ve forgotten it was you who sent Prescipita to me? Or that you tried to kill me on numerous occasions when I was human?”

  Aphrodite’s eyes widened, but she shook her head.

  “Good. Now give me one reason, one good reason, why I shouldn’t wring your neck, and see to it Death takes your soul before the day is done?”

  She blanched and then rushed out, “Because I have something that you want.”

  Thanatos lifted a brow. “Really, Appy? And please be original because if you’re referring to sex, you know as well as I do the thought is unappealing to me.”

  “Simone.”

  His eyes narrowed, and his fingers tightened around her neck.

  “Thanatos! Stop it! You’re hurting me. I came to tell you that she’s in my temple—in Athens. She’s been there daily, begging me to send you to her.”

  He released her neck, but watched her with a hawk’s gaze.

  “If you’re lying—.”

  “Why would I lie about this?” She put distance between them immediately before continuing. “I’d intended to tell you nothing, to let you both suffer, but she’s become irritating. Coupled with Eros’s incessant nagging about true love, and her crying over you, I’ve practically—.”

  “She wants me?” Thanatos asked, almost incredulously.

  Aphrodite’s lips curled up in a snarl. “Yes, though I don’t know why. You’re an insufferable, arrogant, bastard of a god—.”

  She blinked once, and he was gone. Shaking her head, Aphrodite continued mumbling curses upon Thanatos’s dark and beautiful head as she flashed herself to Mount Olympus.

  ***

  “I know you can hear me, Aphrodite,” she whispered to the old statue in the temple. “Damn it, if Zeus exists then you should too.” She sighed. “Please tell him. I just want to speak with him.”

  Simone had no idea if it would work, but after a week of wishing hard that Thanatos would just show up in her bedroom and take her into his arms, she’d decided to reach out to him in his temple. Because wasn’t that what the Greeks had done when they wanted to speak to the gods? So, she’d done some research, had found out her lover was Death, which terrified her some, and he didn’t have a standing temple. Aphrodite and Hera did. There was no way in hell she was going to appeal to the murdering goddess, so Aphrodite it was. That was why she’d booked a ticked to Greece, where the remaining temples to the goddess were, and here she was.

  She’d done this for four days straight already and there had been no sign of anything. Today was her last day. If nothing happened, she’d take it as a sign, and move on. At least, that’s what she told herself.

  “Thanatos...please. I need to speak with you.”

  Hands were suddenly pulling her up, and Simone screeched for a moment thinking someone was about to rob her or worse, before she was pulled into a tight hug. As soon as she inhaled, she knew it was him. He smelled dark, and spicy, wicked. She loved it. Loved him.

  “I missed you,” he said against her hair.

  Simone nodded, shocked. She didn’t really believe it. It had worked. He was here with her.

  He pulled back, and looked down at her. Her eyes were puffy and red, as if she’d been crying a lot, her clothes rumpled and smudged. Had she been lying on the ground?

  “Why did you leave?” she asked when she felt she had a good enough grasp of her emotions.

  He looked taken aback, and then he answered, “You were overwrought. You wanted us gone—you wanted me gone.”

  “No, Thanatos, I didn’t want you gone. Not really. I was terrified. Hera, my mother, my aunt, you—it was too much.”

  “I know.” He understood. It was hard enough to tell humans the gods existed, but to tell them they were personally involved in their lives as well was a lot to take in.

  “Thanatos, I know I’ve just met you, and I don’t really know you, but I...I think I need you in my life.”

  The words were soft, so soft they might not have been heard by human ears, but Thanatos heard them. He heard them and released a breath he didn’t know he was holding.

  Pulling her tighter against him, he murmured, “I need you more, agapetos.”

  “Agapetos?”

  He brushed his lips against her brow and murmured, “Beloved.”

  Simone clutched at the silk shirt on his back as warmth seemed to pulse through and around her body. “Good. It’s good to know I’m not alone in that area.” They remained entwined for long minutes, until finally, Simone asked with a quirked brow, “Do you like cats?”

  Thanatos chuckled, remembering that she’d mentioned having a cat by the name of Misty. “Only cats named Misty.”

  She smiled. “That’s good. I only have a Misty.”

  “I’m going to take you home now, Simone. Nothing and no one will ever hurt you again.”

  “Wait, Thanatos. You’re Death, so if I go with you, will I die?” Not that she wouldn’t, but she wanted to be fully aware of what she was getting into. If she was to die, she’d have to make plans for Misty, and Janet of course.

  “No, agapetos. Because your mother was a handmaiden, so are you.” When he and Hera had had their “discussion” he’d learned Simone was a handmaiden living a human life. After her birth, Hera had given her mother the choice of raising Simone human or sending her to Mount Olympus to be raised as a handmaiden. Hyacinth wanted her child, and so Hera bestowed upon the child the semblance of humanity, for her own protection. It was why she appeared human, although she wasn’t. He’d also realized his curse had been broken because Simone, one of Hera’s sacred handmaidens, had given herself willingly to him. There was always a loop-hole to a curse, a way to break it that had nothing to do with the curser. “You can survive in any of the domains ruled by gods.”

  “And if I wish to leave—?”

  “I will never keep you from leaving, agapetos.”

  “Okay.”

  He closed his eyes, preparing to take them both to Tartarus, but she halted him by saying softly, “Thanatos?”

  He opened his eyes. “Yes?”

  She smiled up at him. “I always thought Death was scary.” Especially as she’d seen firsthand what it could do to a b
ody, her mother’s.

  With his powers back, Thanatos saw the memories she kept of her ailing mother, saw the fear she had for death.

  Wanting to make her smile, he asked in an offended tone of voice, “You don’t find me scary?”

  Pushing onto her toes, Simone kissed him. When she would have pulled away, he deepened the kiss, reminding himself that if he took her in Aphrodite’s temple, the goddess would probably bitch for another century or two. And he didn’t even want to think about what Hera would attempt to do to him.

  He called upon willpower to release her, and she leaned her head against his chest.

  “You don’t scare me, Thanatos. You’re handsome, and gentle, and caring.” He felt her smile, rather than saw it. “You’re practically a softie.”

  Laughter rumbled in his chest. Most people wouldn’t call him that, especially those who’d had encounters with him, living and non-living. Better yet, the fact that he found it amusing showed just how deeply he’d fallen for this woman. Maybe the host of the Monster’s Ball was really onto something with his idea of uniting mates at the event.

  “Only with you, Simone.”

  With that he flashed them to the large castle-like home that was his domain in Tartarus, single-mindedly marching her through the halls and rooms to his chambers. He’d been too long without her, and knew he’d be unable to think straight unless he took her.

  Simone was very aware of where they were going. She was anticipating getting there, and so was her body. Her nipples had peaked, her panties soaked through, and her clothes felt too heavy against her skin.

  When they entered the massive bedroom, she smiled, taking in the reds, the blacks, the huge, canopied bed. It was gorgeous, so very much him.

  “I’d like an official tour—.”

  His mouth cut her off, and then they were in his bed, completely naked with Thanatos above her, his tongue seeking entrance to her mouth.

  Simone tugged her lips away, looking up at his dome-shaped ceiling in wide-eyed astonishment. “Wait—what just happened?”

  Thanatos looked apologetic immediately. “Sorry, Agapetos, I need you too much. I used my powers.”

  She leaned up and stroked his lips with her tongue. He stared down at her in lust and amazement.

  “I like your powers, Thanatos, very much.”

  “I like you, Simone Randall, very much.”

  Reaching between their bodies, his fingers found her moist slit, parted it, and found her wet to the touch. A little whimper escaped her lips and he grinned wickedly.

  She wanted him as much as he wanted her. He’d enjoy the games that they’d play at later times, but for right now, he just wanted to be inside her.

  Lining up with her entrance, he rocked his hips forward, careful to take his time. She was still tight and he didn’t want to hurt her. They both released simultaneous groans as his cock slid into her wet heat.

  Tilting her hips upward, Simone took him a few inches deeper, smiling when his eyes widened at her bold behavior. A wicked smile curved his lips a second later, and then he brought his mouth down to hers. Parting her lips, she welcomed his kiss, welcomed his body thrusting into hers. Her nails raked his back as she felt her orgasm build, her legs tightened around his waist, and she tugged her lips from his to breath as shudders racked her body.

  Thanatos slowed his movements, waiting for her to come back to herself so that he could send her over again.

  When she opened her eyes again, she smiled briefly before a little frown marred her brow.

  “You haven’t—.” The blush that stained her cheeks made him laugh, and in a fluid movement, he slipped from her body and maneuvered her unto her belly. Propping her onto her hands and knees, he kissed her neck, sucked at it, before replying in a low, hot voice, “Come?”

  An involuntary shiver ran along her spine and she nodded jerkily. His hand slipped between her legs, parting her soft lips and finding her clit.

  “Oh,” she cried out, moaning as he began to deftly circle the hardened nub. “Thanatos—ahh!”

  He moved his finger back until his palm was cupping her sex and the finger was pressed at her weeping opening.

  “You’re wet, agapetos.”

  “Yes—yes,” she murmured desperately, pressing back against his seeking finger. “Please.” She broke off and whined when he removed his hand completely, but sighed once more when she felt it seeking again. He’d only repositioned his hand for better access.

  When his long, thick finger sank into her, Simone sighed. It wasn’t long before she was panting, crying out, begging him to let her come.

  She was close when he removed his finger and replaced it with his aching cock. As her heat closed around him, he groaned and gripped her hips, watching the erotic sight they made as his tanned cock slipped into her darker folds. His thrusts were slow at first, but the sight and feel of her drove him wild, making his thrusts harder.

  Simone screamed, and he quickly accessed her mind to be certain that it was pleasure. It was. Lowering his hands to the bed, he kissed her nape and the side of her neck as his body loved hers. His name burst from her lips as she came again, and he groaned, feeling his seed shoot into her waiting body. They both collapsed into boneless heaps after that, both shocked at the intensity of the orgasm.

  “Is it always like this?” Simone asked when she could string together words in proper sentences.

  “With you? It will always be like this, sometimes better.”

  She laughed softly.

  He looked to her, nestled in the crook of his arm. Although he could easily enter her mind and find out what she was thinking, he wanted to hear her voice, so he asked her.

  “You still have to give me the tour of this place.”

  A crooked smile touched his lips and he cast out his free hand to indicate the bedroom. “This is my bedroom, the place you’ll become most familiar within the next days.”

  Simone snorted and chuckled. Thanatos laughed.

  “Don’t you want to become familiar with my bedroom?” he teased.

  “There has to be more to this place than your bedroom.”

  “Yes, but no other room is as interesting,” he countered, grey eyes sliding to her exposed breasts.

  He stared at them until the nipples pebbled before sending her a triumphant grin.

  “Your body agrees.”

  Thanatos lowered his head and took the buds into his mouth. Leaning back, Simone smiled and closed her eyes.

  “I still want my tour, Thanatos.”

  He released her nipple with a soft pop and said, “You’ll get it as soon as we’re finished with the tour of my bedroom.”

  And then he filled his mouth with the other.

  ***

  Simone eventually got her tour of his domain, even if it consisted of Thanatos bracing her against some form of wall or chair and teaching her the wicked pleasures of the flesh, and there were many. All in all, they seemed to christen every room, which turned out to be many. They were all beautiful. She thought so even when only barely concentrating on them as all of her attention was for the beautiful man, above, behind, sometimes on top, but always, inside of her. Even when she occasionally left his domain for Earth, he remained with her, inside her heart, and always in her soul.

  **Violette**

  Author Biography

  Legal analyst by day, and romance writer whenever the Muse calls, Violette Dubrinsky is the author of the Dark God Saga. She enjoys writing paranormal and fantasy romance stories with stubborn, at times, clashing characters, who eventually learn the error of their ways and sometimes grow to love each other. She is the youngest of three, and the only girl. As such, she was spoiled rotten (in her elaborate dreams), and always wished for a playmate closer to her age. At a young age, she began creating stories to fill in for the lack of creativity on the part of her two older jock brothers. She finally tried her hand at writing her freshman year of college. Since then, she’s written numerous manuscripts and is in the proces
s of publishing them. Violette resides in New York, and although she has no pets, is intent on getting a Malamute (since it is the closest she will ever be to a wolf and she is quite obsessed with werewolves) at some point in her life.

  She can be reached at violettedubrinsky.com or violettedubrinsky.wordpress.com, and is on Facebook and Twitter as well. Violette welcomes feedback and can be contacted directly at violettedubrinsky@gmail.colm

  Excerpt from Bound (Dark God Saga Book 2)

  He didn’t know how much time had passed since his last encounter with Marissa but the next time he became aware of voices, he was certain that none belonged to his captor.

  “Maybe we shouldn’t be doing this? What if she comes back and finds out we let him go? What if she tells him?” She was female and young. The voice sounded whiny and unsure.

  “I didn’t ask you to come with me. Go back if you’re scared.” This voice belonged to another female. Although it trembled slightly, it was still commanding.

  Fear was something he’d never felt in his centuries of living, and despite the fact that he was bound with Hephaestus’s chains and powerless, at the mercy of whoever, he still could not muster the emotion. If this was to be his end, then that was it. His parents and siblings—especially Thanatos, his twin and bringer of Death—would avenge him.

  Soft light hit his face and his retinas exploded in pain. Immediately, he closed his eyes. Marissa kept the room dark, and although he wanted to wrap his hands around the bitch’s neck more than he wanted his next breath, he was grateful for it.

  “Oh sweet gods!”

  Simultaneously, the younger one let out a high-pitched squeak that ripped at his eardrums, followed by, “Ohmigod! Ohmigod!” At this rate, he was going to be permanently deaf and blind if these two didn’t get on with whatever it was they were doing.