by Unknown
“A little homophobic. Are we?” Trevor leaned forward and smiled wickedly at Re.
“Oh no,” I whispered. “Don't, Trev.”
“What?” He blinked innocently at me.
“They're not... they don't... do they?” Re looked in shock from Kirill to Trevor as Trevor laid his hand casually on Kirill's shoulder and then started to play with Kirill's hair.
“Nyet,” Kirill huffed as he pushed away Trevor's hand. “But he likes messing vith people. Don't encourage him.”
“Oh,” Re sighed and relaxed back.
“I told you,” I smirked at Re. “I don't share, not even with other men.”
“Greedy much?” Hekate mumbled.
“Thank you!” Re waved his hands expressively at Kate. “I mean really, shouldn't I at least be entitled... to...” he trailed off as he saw the nasty look Trevor, Kirill, and I were all sending him. “No, I guess I'm not. Alright, alright already. I'm drinking the Kool-Aid. She's worth it, I get it.”
“Thank you,” I beamed at him and slid my hand into his lap.
“Damn straight she is,” Trevor grumbled and put his hand on my thigh. “And you're lucky she even wants you.”
“Honey-Eyes,” I chided.
“Oh please, for the love of all the Egyptian gods, stop,” Horus begged. “I can't watch this.”
“Oh please don't stop,” Pan added with glee.
“Son of my blood,” Re spoke in a deeply serious tone as he leaned toward Horus. “You will cease this immaturity this very instant.”
We all went silent and watched Horus get lectured by his grandfather.
“Grandpa,” Horus whined.
“Enough!” Re slashed his hand through the air. “I give you my most heartfelt blessing on your union. I'm truly overjoyed that you have found happiness after all this time. Now I expect you to feel the same for me.”
“Of course I want you to be happy,” Horus sighed. “I know you haven't been.”
“For as long as you,” Re nodded. “Now here we are, both of us on the verge of finally being at peace, and you disparage my joy as well as belittle it. You try to turn it into something dirty or shameful but for me, it's miraculous.”
“I...” Horus' eyes started to shine as he swallowed hard. “My deepest apologies.”
“Accepted,” Re said immediately. He stood and went over to Horus, pulling him up into a hug. “I love you, you're more son to me than grandson, and I rejoice that you've finally cast aside the garments of mourning and embraced life again.”
“I'm happy for you too,” Horus said as Re pulled away. “I truly am, it's just been a bit of a shock.”
“There are times when your head will be at war with your heart,” Re said gently. “When you think one way is best but you feel like you should go in another direction. You'll have to choose what path to follow; that of reason or of love. I don't want to live without love anymore, so I'm choosing the path that my heart wants me to take.”
“Then I will support your decision,” Horus nodded and looked over to me. “Vervain is a good woman and she's become a dear friend to me. I wish you both the best.”
If we'd all been shocked before, now we were completely dumbfounded.
“Damn, Horus,” Pan spoke into the silence. “I thought I was your bestie.”
That broke through everyone's shock and we all started laughing. Re came back to sit beside me and took my hand. I smiled up at him like a teenager with her first crush. I knew he was more than a pretty face, I wouldn't be falling for him if he wasn't, but that speech, combined with his earlier confession, had revealed aspects of Re to me that I hadn't even suspected existed. Aspects which made him so much more beautiful.
“I knew you loved me, Bird-Man,” I finally transferred my attention back to Horus.
“Don't get too excited, Vervain,” Horus sniffed disdainfully. “I'm engaged, remember?”
“How will I ever survive?” I rolled my eyes.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
That night I went home with my husbands. I needed to spend some quality time with them and I wanted to give Re some space to adjust. It's easy to give in to your desires and make a rash decision you'll come to later regret. If I pushed things now, I might end up right back where we started and I didn't want to be Re's regret.
Azrael stayed out with his buddies so Trevor and Kirill snuggled up with me after some mind-blowing love making. They were good together. Sometimes there were awkward moments when I had more than one man in my bed but Trevor and Kirill knew each other so well, it was seamless with them. They moved almost as one person, sensing each other's intentions and working with them as if they were their own. Together, we let go of the trauma of battle and found solace in passion and then sleep.
The next day Re began an aggressive plan of seduction. He took me out everyday and kept me in every night. It got to the point where my husbands started complaining and I had to make a schedule to be home at least two nights a week to give them some attention.
Re was relentless, taking me all over the world for endless romantic interludes and lavishing expensive gifts on me. It was wonderful of course but a little overwhelming. The moments I treasured most were the ones we spent lying together, talking about things that didn't really matter. You know, the normal way people get comfortable with each other and truly get to know one another. Funny how it really isn't about knowing all the details of a person's life or their family, it's the small things. Like if they prefer coffee or tea and how they take it. Do they snore? Do they have to make the bed in the morning or do they not see the point? Things like that help us acclimate to each other. And they matter more than we think. They help us to fall in love.
Falling in love with Re was like diving into a cold lake on a hot day. At first, it's shocking but the more you languish in it, the more comfortable it gets. I simply woke up one morning and found the water to be the perfect temperature. I rolled over and saw Re's face pressed into the pillow beside me, one arm slung carelessly over me, his cheek squished up endearingly, and just felt pure love for him.
He opened his eyes and smiled softly, as if he could feel the shift in me. A hand stroking my hair and a gentle kiss on my lips; it was the way I wanted to start each day. I sighed into Re's kiss and when he pulled back, he shifted up, pulling me into his chest.
“You called my name in your sleep,” he said in concern.
“Did I?” I whispered.
“Is everything alright?”
“It's too right,” I sighed. “I never want to leave this bed.”
“I'd be okay with that,” he smiled wickedly.
“I love you,” I said without meaning to. The words just slipped out. His eyes widened and I tensed. Maybe it was too soon. Maybe I should laugh and take it back.
“I love you too, Lala,” then he kissed me and my heart relaxed into the love.
“Being with you is unlike anything I've ever known,” I confessed. “You're arrogant and then humble, wild and then sweet, careless and then profound. Make up your damn mind,” I teased.
“I think I have,” he pulled me from bed and spun me around. I couldn't help giggling. “I want this,” he said as he lowered me down. “I want us, forever.”
“Take a little more time to be sure,” I said gently. “When you are, you can spend the night at Pride Palace.”
“To let the lioness magic take care of my jealousy?” Re went serious.
“It sounds horrid but it will make things easier on you,” I watched him carefully. “You don't have to do it if you don't want to. It's your choice.”
“Is it?” He frowned.
“Re?” I asked, immediately wary.
“I want you to do something for me,” he set glowing gold eyes on me. “Before I make this decision, I need one more thing from you.”
“What?” I pulled out of his arms.
“Your trust,” he took my hand and led me back to bed. “I want you to let me try something new with you.”
�
�What do you want to try?” I was instantly wary.
“Nothing painful or disgusting,” he held up his hands and laughed. “But I want you to trust me enough to just say yes without knowing.”
“No chains?” I asked.
“Do you trust me?” He shot back.
“Yes,” I whispered.
He smiled and went to the alcove. I swallowed hard as he opened a box but then gave a relieved sigh when he pulled out a length of black silk. He strode over to me but and lifted the silk to my face. I started to stop him but he gave me a stern look and I dropped my hands.
“I want you to focus on feeling,” he whispered into my ear as he tied the silk over my eyes. “What do you feel?”
“Nervous,” I admitted.
“And now?” He laughed a little as he started to slide my panties down.
“The tug of fabric,” I swallowed hard.
“And now?” His breath rasped over my thighs as he stood, his fingers gliding lightly over my skin.
“Fingertips on flesh,” I whispered.
“Keep feeling, Lala,” he said against my lips as he pulled up the snug tank top I slept in. He backed away as he tugged it over my head and there were a few panic-filled moments when I stood alone. Then warm skin pressed to mine.
I sighed as he just stood there, holding me gently and letting me feel him as he grew more and more excited. Then he lifted me and settled me back on the bed but this time, I noticed the smooth weave of the luxurious cotton sheets and the way it cooled my overheated flesh. The pillow cradled my head and the light scent of burning frankincense wafted up from it. I sighed and snuggled in.
But then Re took my wrist and began wrapping something around it. I shot up and grabbed at him.
“Relax,” he took my hands in his and held them still. “It's just the silk draperies around the bed. They're not chains. You can break them in an instant if you wanted to.”
“Then why use them on me?” I asked.
“Because I want you to willingly give up control,” his cheek slid against mine as he spoke. “I want you to believe in me and my desire for you. To know that everything I do with you will only bring us both pleasure.”
Well damn, what can a girl say to that?
I didn't say anything, just laid back down and let him have my wrist. He went back to wrapping it with silk. Snug but not tight. Then he did the same to the rest of my limbs. I was spread out across that round mattress, feeling like a virgin waiting for a dragon to eat her. Except I was the dragon, wasn't I? I suddenly relaxed, confident that nothing would happen that I didn't want to happen. If it did, I'd set Re's beautiful ass on fire.
The thought made me smile.
“That's better,” Re's hand trailed over my arm. “Enjoy this, just focus on the sensations.”
He continued to wrap the silk around each of my wrists and ankles. Circling the bed, he bound each one once before moving to the next. Over and over, until my body began to lift off the mattress. I frowned as it started to become uncomfortable. My back was drooping and my limbs straining with the weight. I also had to keep my head lifted, which was going to be an issue for my neck.
“Re,” I groaned.
“I know,” he squeezed my thigh. “Give me a moment.”
His hands went beneath me and I realized that he was tying even more lengths of silk under me; one group knotted beneath my lower back, one beneath my shoulder blades, and one under my waist. Then a final length was stretched beneath my neck gently, my hair pulled back to hang over it. I was suspended comfortably in the air and it felt amazing. I could grasp the silk in my hands and adjust my body, so I didn't feel constant pressure in any one place. And every time I moved, I'd swing gently.
“You look beautiful,” his voice was back in my ear, his hand on my waist. “Your hair is pooling on the sheets below you and your muscles are tightening and releasing in a symphony of seduction.”
I swallowed past the dryness in my throat.
“In fact, I think I want you to see this,” the tie around my face slid away and I got a full view of my body stretched out above Re's bed.
I looked up and saw the bed curtains strained tight in their gold hooks. The silk looked more like ribbons now and I was reminded briefly of those acrobats in Cirque du Soleil who dance around long swaths of cloth hanging from the ceiling. This was going to be a different type of dance.
“Just one more thing,” Re hurried back to the alcove and over to the ribbons which hung there.
He chose two of them and pulled them off their hooks. I saw that they had clips on the ends of them, like people use when they go mountain climbing. He fastened one of them onto one of the gold loops set into the sun beneath the bed. Then he tied the other end of the ribbon to my ankle, pulling it tight so that my leg stretched out to the side. My eyes went wide as he repeated the process on my other ankle.
“Perfect,” he said as he climbed up on the bed and settled himself on his knees between my widely stretched legs. “Now you'll see what giving me control will bring you,” he smiled wickedly and lowered his mouth to me.
In the hours of weightless pleasure that followed, I not only saw the light, as it were, but I literally saw Re light up with ecstasy. His sun magic brought forth my moon and we swung suspended in desire until the restraint became too much and I needed to touch him. I tore down the silk and we tangled ourselves in ribbons and love.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
“What should we do today?” Re asked as he pulled a torn piece of silk from my hair.
“I thought we could visit my house in Hawaii,” I offered and then chewed my lip. Would the great Sun God enjoy my tiny, three bedroom house?
“I think I'd like that. I'll get to see how you lived before you became a goddess,” he kissed the tip of my nose.
“Before I became the Godhunter,” I laughed. “Yeah, it's not all that impressive but it would just be the two of us. I thought I could cook us dinner.”
“I'm even more intrigued,” he got up and headed for his closet.
Re had a closet just as big as mine. I had laughed in delight the first time he'd opened the nondescript door next to his naughty nook and led me into the lavish dressing room. It was so strange to find a guy who loved clothes as much as I did but who also happened to be straight. It seemed utterly impossible. But then, that was Re; utterly impossible.
I went into the closet after him. He had cleared a rack for me so I could bring some clothes over. We helped each other dress, getting those hard to reach closures it's always nice to have an extra pair of hands for. Then he brushed my hair; one of his favorite things to do in the morning, though it still felt strange to me.
My husbands brushed my hair all the time but not like Re. With them it was sexy and loving, a sweet gesture that I enjoyed. With Re, it was primping. He liked to see how shiny he could get my hair, how perfect he could make the curls; how beautiful he could make me. It was more about his pleasure than mine. I felt like his doll sometimes and at other times, I felt like I wasn't pretty enough for him. But I let him do as he liked; as we often do for those we love. It was just hair brushing after all.
When he had me presentable enough, we traced to my home in Hawaii and I drove us to the grocery store since my fridge was pretty bare. I visited Hawaii maybe once a month now, sometimes even less than that. I used to bring Nick, to give my tabby cat a chance to roam the human world for a little while. But ever since Azrael had started feeding Nick manna to prolong his life, it seemed like Nick was happier at Pride Palace. So I didn't bother bringing him anymore. The less he had to travel through the Aether, the better.
I was surprised to find that grocery shopping with Re was fun. It was such a mundane task but he made it into an adventure. Every aisle was an opportunity to find new flavors, every person who passed presented an chance to be adored. He was almost ridiculous in his appeal to both sexes and definitely ridiculous in the way he lapped it all up. I laughed at him, more than once, and he began to laugh at
himself.
“I'm glad you can finally see how silly you are,” I commented as I put a wedge of Brie into the cart.
“Silly?” He puffed out his chest and flicked back his hair. “I am glorious.”
“Vainglorious maybe,” I huffed.
“That too,” he grinned wider.
“Ta-da,” I mimicked Zariel and held my arms out to present him. “It's the Sun God, Re.”
“Yes, yes,” he smoothed the chocolate colored hair at his temples. “I am he.”
“You are full of it, is what you are,” I laughed.
“Excuse me?” A woman came up behind Re and tapped his shoulder.
“Yes?” He turned around with an expectant smile.
“Where did you get the gold shimmer dust?” She asked blandly.
“Excuse me?” His smile turned to confusion as I began to chuckle.
“The powder you've dusted yourself with,” she motioned to his shiny skin. “And do you do parties? A friend of mine is getting married and I have to find a dancer for the bachelorette party.”
“Pardon me?” He gaped at her and I lost it. I laughed so hard, I started to cry.
“Oh, I'm sorry,” she held up her hands. “I thought you had to be a stripper, guys don't usually coat themselves in glitter.”
“I know, right?” I commiserated with her. “I once asked him if he was the God of Chippendales.”
“Oh, thank goodness, I was about to be so embarrassed,” she giggled. “Here I was, thinking you're a stripper when you're just gay.”
I couldn't breathe for a few seconds, that's how funny Re's expression was.
“I am not, nor have I ever been, a lover of men,” Re said with great effrontery.
“There's nothing to be ashamed of,” the woman huffed. “I'm a lesbian. You should just come out of the closet. People are much more accepting these days.”
I doubled over with laughter.
“I am not gay!” Re shouted, earning everyone's attention.
“Methinks he protests too much,” I mumbled and then giggled some more.