Hard as Stone

by Cynthia Sax

  “She is to be traded, brother.” Glacial blue eyes narrowed.

  “She is to be cherished.” Acon placed a reassuring hand on her hip. Kyma relaxed into him. He wouldn’t let her be taken.

  “Have her remove her cape.” Merc bounced forward, his expression animated. “Once he sees her, Acon, he will understand.”

  “Understand what?” The bigger mountain god glanced between the three of them. “What do I not know? Aconcagua?”

  Kyma felt the force of Acon’s sigh against her cape. “Any god shorter than I am must turn away.”

  “But Acon,” Merc protested.

  “Do it!” both Acon and Everest ordered in unison. Merc’s lower lip protruded as he spun around, his arms crossed, in a huff. Other mountains gods did the same without as much drama.

  “Kyma.” Acon reached into the sanctity of her hood and stroked her chin. He looked troubled. “They need to understand, beautiful, if we are to have a future. These are my brothers.”

  They were to have a future. This was his family. He wished to introduce her to his family, the people he loved. “For you, I will do this.” She would be stared at like the monster she was but it would be worth it. He loved her. He had to. Her fingers fumbled with the ties.

  “Only your face.” He stopped her, pressing his lips against her fingers. “Save the rest for me.”

  “I will.” She beamed up at him, dropping her hood. Wind whistled as the mountain gods collectively gulped deep breaths. Were they horrified? She squeezed Acon’s hand tightly, gathering needed reassurance before she confronted them. She blinked. They stared at her, their mouths twisted in giddy grins, their eyes round. Spasms seized some gods. Everest twitched, the muscles in his chest rippling. “What is happening, Acon?”

  “You radiate minerals.” He chuckled, shaking his head. “It affects us like a drug. When Merc saw you, he near overdosed.”

  She affected him like a drug? She stared up at Acon. “None of it was real.” He didn’t love her. He loved how she made him feel. She pulled her hood over her face. “I am leaving.” She clutched her cape and her dignity around her and walked away.

  “You are not leaving.” Everest strode toward them.

  “You are not touching her.” Acon stood in front of the retreating gorgon. Whatever had happened to anger Kyma, it had nothing to do with Everest.

  “You cannot stop me, little brother.” He’d never seen Everest like this. His blue eyes glowed unnaturally. “I have need of her. She is the solution to my problems.”

  This was the first he’d heard of Everest having problems. He never showed weakness. “She is not a solution.” Acon crossed his arms. “She is my one true companion, and I will protect her.” As he spoke the words, he felt their truth.

  “You will protect her?” Everest scoffed. “How? You do not have the size to keep her safe. Look at the mountains you have around you. Farmers scale their peaks.” Acon winced. A farmer had become lost on his ridges and died the winter past. “I am surrounded by the tallest mountains in the world.” Everest’s men stood behind him. They were a hard-hearted range. Only the most foolish of humans braved their slopes. “Let me have the gorgon.” Everest pushed him backward.

  A red haze fell over Acon’s eyes. “Her” -- he struck his brother’s shoulder -- “name” -- he landed a blow to Everest’s stomach. The god flinched -- “is Kyma.” Everest reared back to avoid the punch to his chin.

  They glared at each other, two immovable forces of nature. Acon would protect Kyma. He would not allow Everest by. A deep rumble originating in his brother’s chest warned of the impending attack.

  Stone grated against stone as they connected. Everest’s big fists pounded Acon’s shoulders. He grunted under the weight but his legs held. He threw his hands upward to break Everest’s grip. The other mountain gods circled them, limiting the room to maneuver.

  Acon tucked his chin into his neck, lowered his head, and barreled into Everest’s chest. The god was caught unaware. He flew back, landing on his ass. Acon was unrelenting, approaching his brother with hands clenched. Everest kicked him in the stomach. He went down hard on his backbone, crushing the pebbles beneath him to dust. The crowd groaned.

  “Had enough, little brother?” Everest mocked.

  “She is mine, Everest.” Acon shook his head to clear it, staggering to his feet. They were evenly matched. Everest had the size and power but Acon had the passion. He loved Kyma. He would defeat his rival, and he knew how to do so. Acon launched himself forward, peppering Everest with a barrage of punches to the face. Everest defended himself, pulverizing Acon’s flesh.

  “Fuck, Aconcagua.” The larger mountain god fell back. “Did you break it?” He swiped the blood from his dripping nose. “Gods, you did.” He was vain about his appearance. “Why, brother? No woman is worth this. Not even a gorgon.”

  “Kyma is.” Acon glared.

  “Not my nose, my perfect nose.” Everest waved his big hands in the air, fanning his face. “Is it straight?” He felt along the bridge of his nose. “Gods, it is bent. She will mock me for this.” He grimaced as he pinched the cartilage. “Can you straighten it?”

  “I cannot.” He had a gorgon to soothe. “Mayhap Merc can. He straightened my nose. Think of it, Everest. If you are lucky, he may make you as pretty as I am.” Acon grinned with fierce satisfaction as the mountain god moaned.

  Chapter Six

  It didn’t take him long to find her. He felt her progress through the surrounding boulders. The rock wept with her pain. She hurt and it cut Acon to the bone.

  She sat on a grassy hill, surrounded by wildflowers. The sun bathed her with warmth; she was far from humans, yet her hood shadowed her beautiful face. He was responsible for that also.

  “I suppose you have come for healing.” Her words dripped with bitterness.

  “I have come for you.” He flopped down on the ground beside her, wincing at the pain in his chest. His energy was depleted from the fight. Plants and dirt covered the rock he needed for rebuilding. His spirit was bruised from her departure.

  “You won.” She didn’t sound impressed.

  He hadn’t been trying to impress her, he reminded himself. Yes, a part of him had hoped she’d notice. He wanted her to know he could defend her and he had, though not well. He touched his ribs. They throbbed with pain. “I broke his nose.” They were two rational mountain gods yet Acon’s first response was violence. It hadn’t been his proudest moment. “Everest will never forgive me.”

  “He loves you.” She fanned a flower’s petals. “He will forgive you. That is what love is.” She bent down to sniff its fragrance. Acon wanted to sniff her but his head spun. He didn’t feel well. “Love is not a heart beating high from some passion-inducing drug. Love is quiet. Love is --”

  “When you can close your eyes and listen to a voice forever.” He lay back in the grass. He didn’t feel well at all. “Love is when you can sleep because you know the person you love protects you.” The sun shone upon his closed eyelids. “She keeps you safe.”

  A deep raspy rumble rent the air. He slept. Kyma ground her teeth. She was angry, she was hurting, and he slept. She looked over at him and her rage grew. His bottom lip was split and bloody. His blunt chin was turning a deep shade of purple. He was the winner? “What did you do?” She punched his big chest.

  “Ribs.” He doubled up, coughing blood.

  “Lie back.” She pushed against his forehead. He complied. “Are you trying to kill yourself?” She pulled up his tunic and felt along his ribs. Two were broken.

  “Immortal,” he mumbled.

  He was immortal but he could hurt. He was in great pain and he had the instant remedy for that pain beside him. Why hadn’t he asked her? “Open your eyes, you idiot.” She removed her cape.

  “Tired.” He yawned. His tongue was red. His mouth was full of blood.

  She placed her hands on his cheeks. “That is a command, servant.” Kyma used her best doom voice, the one she used to scare off
intruders. “Look at me.”

  Their gazes met. “Good morn, beautiful.” He smiled. She smoothed her hands over his ribs, straightening them. “That feels good. You feel good.” His cock pressed against his breeches. He was broken and bruised and he was horny. Kyma rolled her eyes. “My lips hurt too.” He made a fish face, sucking in his cheeks, puckering his mouth. “Do not forget my lips.”

  “I should not care.” She brushed her mouth against his. “You do not.”

  He frowned. “I care, beautiful. I care. I fought my own brother for you. I would not do that unless --” He stopped short. His skin, that was not yet purple, flushed red.

  “Unless what?” She kissed the bruise on his chin, watching with satisfaction as the color receded.

  He coughed up more blood. “Gods, look at that.” He showed her his bloody hands. “I am bleeding on the inside, Kyma. They say there is only one cure for internal bleeding.” He looked suspiciously grave. “Yes, I must eat a gorgon’s pussy.”

  “Who is they?” Her pussy moistened and her ass twitched.

  “They that know the ancient methods.” He licked the blood off his lips. “Only your pussy can save me, Kyma. Would you deny a god in pain? Could you be that cruel?”

  “I could be. I am a monster.” She brought her face close to his, her snakes drawn back and hissing. “I would only let the god I loved eat my pussy.”

  “We are alike.” He smiled slowly. “I would only let the gorgon I love blindfold me.” He slid a hand between her thighs. She squirmed as he stroked her wetness. “Let me love you, Kyma.”

  “Do you love me?” She allowed him to pull her forward. “Or do you think you love me?” He licked between her breasts. “Is it due to my face that you feel this way?” He swirled his tongue in her belly button.

  “I am not looking at your face right now.” He drew her up so she straddled his head. “I am looking at your gorgeous pussy, and I plan to eat you.” He licked her from ass to clit. She quivered. “Mmm… you taste like the earth’s center.” He nibbled on her folds. “You have some iron.” He nipped her clit. She squeaked. “Some nickel.” His tongue slid over her. “And some unknown substance warranting deeper investigation.” He spread her with his fingers and buried his face deep inside her.

  “Acon.” She was melting down. All the moisture, all the heat in her body flowed to her pussy. She arched her back, squeezing her breasts together. “Eat me. Eat my pussy.” His tongue stroked her inner walls. His mouth pressed against her pussy lips. “Gods.” He gripped her ass hard. “Higher,” she instructed. He moved to her clit, her throbbing, needy clit. “Suck it. Yes, suck it.” He fluttered his tongue against it as he sucked. “Oh, oh, oh.” He tugged on her flesh and she exploded. “Acon.” She fell backward, arms outstretched. He sat up, catching her with his hands. “Your ribs --”

  “Are healed. Thanks be to you.” He laid her on her back, her snakes slithering in the grass. “I have another pain you can assist me with.” He pulled his breeches down and his tunic over his head. “It is in my cock.” He settled between the cradle of her thighs. “It aches for you, gorgon.” Their eyes met and held as he slid into her still humming pussy.

  Her breath caught in excitement. They were to fuck face to face. He thrust long and deep, his brown eyes darkening to black with passion. His cock filled her again and again, drawing tremors from her core. She touched his handsome face. His chest heaved as he labored over her, striving to please her. She loved him so much. She thrust up with her hips, meeting his thrusts. “Kyma,” he ground out. A vein in his neck plumped with blood. Moisture formed on his forehead. He was magnificent, his primitive strength focused on her.

  She arched, brushing her nipples against his chest. She was close. “Acon.” She hung onto his neck for support as the tremors increased in strength.

  “Gods.” He thrust hard and she broke, splintering into pieces, his cum bathing her womb. “I love you.” He lowered himself on top of her.

  “I love you too.” She held him, past caring if it was her face or her soul he loved. She loved all of him. That was enough.

  Chapter Seven

  “Are there children on your mountain?” Kyma lay on a rock, sunning herself. Her black skin glistened with moisture after her frolic in the cool water.

  “Not on the peak.” Acon stood watch. Since his brothers’ arrival, the humans had gone into hiding but the stream was a water source. She might be seen.

  “Good.” She stretched her long, lithe body out. Acon’s cock hardened. “Children are the worst. They haunt you.”

  They haunted her. Her brown eyes glistened with unshed tears. He could protect her from the other mountain gods but Everest was right, he couldn’t protect her completely. He couldn’t protect her from the pain. Acon remembered the lost farmer. It could have easily been a family.

  Everest was surrounded by large mountains. His climate was harsh and his ascent brutal. If Kyma lived there, she would never be caught unawares by a child.

  “We should join the others.” His brothers impatiently waited for them. Their mock battles shook the ground.

  “No more fighting.” Kyma slid her hand into his. He savored the touch of her soft skin.

  He gazed long into her beautiful face, committing it to memory, before pulling her hood up. “No more fighting.” His decision was made.

  They walked in silence. Although they had an eternity of conversations to hold in these few short minutes, emotion choked his words. He breathed in her fragrance. When he saw wildflowers, he would think of her. He would think of her when he saw the blue sky and when it rained. He would think of her always.

  “What is it, love?” Kyma tugged his arm. “Do you harbor bad feelings toward your brother? It was not his fault. You said yourself. I am like a drug.”

  “Everest is the best of brothers.” He had to make her understand that. He wouldn’t give her to anyone else. “He appears cold at first but that is because he takes his role as the biggest seriously.” They exited the coverage of the forest, walking upon the beach. His brothers strolled to meet them. “He cares for all in his charge.”

  “As would you.” She threaded her fingers between his.

  “Aconcagua.” Everest stood before them, his nose plastered with red clay. “Gorgon.”

  “Her name is Kyma.” This was the most difficult thing he had ever done. “She is yours, brother. Take good care of her.”

  “I am not his.” The hiss of her snakes accentuated her words. She stepped back. “I am no prize to be shared amongst brothers. My love is for you only.”

  “Kyma.” He clasped her arm, his heart tearing into two. “It is for the best.”

  “For whom?” She shrugged off his touch. “Not for me, I can assure you. I am gorgon.” She dropped her cape, displaying her body in its full naked glory. The other mountain gods gasped. “A queen. I decide what is best for me.” Her snakes writhed in fury upon her head. “And this is not it.” Acon was pounded by minerals.

  “Turn… away!” he panted to the others. His body struggled to absorb her anger. What they felt before was her restraint. This was her full power. “Kyma… talk…” Rock formed around his mouth.

  “We will talk. All of us.” She yanked her cape back on, the seams ripping. Enough of her face was concealed that Acon recovered. “You will not assume you talk for me.”

  “Gods,” Everest rumbled. His normally expressionless face held concern.

  “Everest is a good being. He would never hurt you or anyone, unless they needed to be hurt.” Everest’s vengeance was swift and brutal. That information Acon kept to himself. “He would keep you safe. I am told he is handsome.” He scrunched up his face. Some human women had remarked upon Everest’s looks. “Though I do not see it.”

  “Thank you.” Everest’s words dripped ice.

  “He is the largest of us. He is taller than me.” Acon struggled for other attributes.

  “Is that all?” Kyma folded her arms, tapping her foot.

  “
I had a farmer,” he blurted out. The other gods sniggered. Acon’s face heated. “I mean, a farmer wandered over my peak. He was lost. If you had met with him…” She would have killed him. “That will never happen with Everest.”

  There was silence. “I see.” Acon relaxed. She must understand. Her voice was no longer tight with anger. “And you?” Kyma turned to Everest. “What do you have to say about this?”

  His brother looked at him. Acon tilted his head toward Kyma. Everest was a smooth talker, when he wanted to be. He would impress her. She’d fall in love with him. Gods, his heart hurt like Hades.

  “It is true what Aconcagua says. I am the biggest.” Everest flexed his large arms. “And I can keep you safe. I kill any climbers that near my peak.” Acon winced. Everest’s blood-thirst would not find favor with his softhearted Kyma. “I will protect you and I will please you. Very much.” The god’s chest puffed out. “Your bed will never be cold.” Acon curled his fingers into fists, his nails digging into his palms. “But I will never ever love you.”

  That was a lie. “Impossible,” Acon scoffed. “If you have not yet, you will fall in love with her. You cannot help it.” He’d fallen in love with her at first sight. She was all a companion should be.

  “I will not.” Everest looked toward his homeland. “I love another. Although we cannot be together, she has my heart for all eternity.” His mighty chest heaved in a sigh. “It is the way with mountain gods. We are not like the Olympians.” His lips twisted with derision. “Our bonds when formed are never severed.” There were murmurs of agreement between the brothers. “That is my offer.” He took a step back.

  Kyma appreciated Everest’s honesty and she applauded his loyalty to his foolish brother, the idiot god who loved her. “Acon claims you are handsome.”

  “Others claim he is handsome,” Acon muttered. “I do not see it at all.”

  Kyma ignored him. “Come closer.” She reached out her hand. “So I may examine you.”

  Acon rumbled with discontent.