Greed: Goddess of Delphi (Goddesses of Delphi Book 3)

by Gemma Brocato

  His knees banged against the car when he stooped for better access to her neck. He nibbled his way down the slim column and continued to work on the buttons. Polly dragged the tails of his shirt free. She skated her fingers under the cotton up to his chest, his muscles twitching in the wake of her light touch. He rocked his hips against her when she flattened her palms over his pectorals.

  Finally, he managed to undo all of her buttons. He skimmed his hands over her ribs and around her back. He pinched the clasp of her bra and tugged it open. Pushing the straps and the linen shirt from her shoulders, he freed her breasts, making them readily available to his mouth.

  When he covered one taut peak and tongued it, Polly clutched her fingers on his head, drawing him closer. He used his lips and teeth, sucking her nipple deep in his mouth, circling the sensitive bud with his tongue. The seal between his mouth and her flesh popped wetly when he pulled away, ready to move to the other breast.

  A car passed his house on the quiet residential street. Polly tensed.

  “Ian, are we doing this here?” she asked, ending her words on a moan when he sucked her nipple into his mouth.

  They shouldn’t, but he couldn’t seem to stop himself. “Mm-hmm,” he mumbled. He licked her areola and then blew a breath over it, pleased with her resulting shiver. He reached for the door handle, grazing her hip. “I have a nice, big, bouncy back seat.” He punctuated each word with a kiss.

  She laughed when he jerked open the door. He twisted around, so his butt was aimed in the car, spinning her with him. As he slid across the seat, he kicked off his shoes. Polly followed, crawling in between his legs. She kneeled and swiftly unsnapped his jeans as he shoved his shirt over his head. His elbow cracked against the window but he ignored the burst of pain in favor of the shudders of pleasure speeding along his nerves.

  When she reached into his open waistband and grasped his swollen cock, he rocked his hips up. God, he’d found heaven in her hands. His balls tingled with need and the skin of his rod burned under her fingers.

  Polly released her grasp to pull his jeans down over his hips. His dick popped free and she paused a moment to stare. The crown was already angry red, and his shaft pointed to the roof of the car. She bent forward and licked away the drop of pre-come beading the top of the slit.

  The heat and texture of her tongue made him roll his eyes back and groan. “Aw, Jesus, Polly.”

  “Like that, do you? How about this?” She licked him again, laving her tongue around the tip.

  He tangled his hands in her hair, holding her head in place while she licked, nibbled, sucked and stroked his dick. Her mouth was magic, bringing him closer to the edge of reason. He squeezed his butt cheeks, clenching to hold off his need to shove into her mouth, to climax. In turn, she gripped the base in a tight fist, helping him stave off the ultimate pleasure. It would have worked better if she’d taken her mouth off him.

  He needed to be in her. Like right. This. Minute.

  He reached for the hem of her skirt, stretched tight across her thighs. She lifted her luscious ass a little, giving him an easier path under the material. He flattened his hands on her silky smooth legs and slid his fingers up to her hips, pushing the skirt higher, exposing her lace-clad buttocks. He probably should have closed the garage door before they’d crawled into the car, but there was no hope for it now.

  He tucked his hands in the waist of her panties and eased them lower on her hips, dipping his forefinger into the cleft between her cheeks as he pushed the material away. The lacy satin flowed down her legs like water from a faucet, easily baring her to him.

  Life paused for a moment when Polly’s knee connected with his sac as she shifted to toe off her shoes. He groaned, drawing his knees up. Her shoe clattered as it hit the cement floor of the garage, barely masking his groan.

  She released her grip on his shaft. “Oh goddess! I’m sorry, did I hurt you?”

  He puffed out a breath. “It was just a little unexpected pressure. I’m okay.” He kneaded her ass cheeks.

  “Okay, good.” Polly sat up, shimmied out of her panties, and hiked her skirt higher. Then she turned her attention to the jeans binding his thighs. “Let’s get these off you.”

  Their hands tangled as they both worked to remove his pants. The dome light clicked on when Polly hit it with her head. She released a tiny grunt, followed by a muffled curse. Even that was sexy, flaming a path of pure lust to his brain.

  After pulling the jeans free of his legs, she dropped them to the floorboard and quickly straddled him. Blood raced through his veins when she rubbed her hot, wet slit over his cock, her cool fingers caressing the top. His chest heaved under her hand when she leaned forward and claimed his lips. She darted her tongue in and out of his mouth, driving him closer, and he wasn’t even inside her yet. Hips rocking up toward her, she matched his motion with a roll of her own pelvis.

  Balls drawing tight to his groin, he knew he’d lose it if he didn’t bury himself within her slick heat soon.

  He pressed his fingers into her flanks and tore his mouth from hers. “Polly, can immortals get pregnant? Should we use protection?”

  She struggled upward and pinned him with a sultry look. “I can only get pregnant if I want to.” Stroking a hand down the center of his chest, she dipped a fingertip into his navel. “And immortals don’t get sick. So I’m clean.”

  He pulled her head down and licked her lips. “I’m clean, too.”

  A smile stretched her lips under his. “Immortal, remember? Can’t get sick even if you did have an STD.” She rolled her hips and rubbed her breasts up his rib cage to his chest. “So what are you waiting for?”

  “Not a blessed thing.” He urged her upward until his dick prodded her opening.

  Polly lowered herself slowly, surrounding him with sweet, silky pleasure, her muscles gripping his cock, welcoming him as he moved home within her. Her sigh mingled with his groan. A curtain of hair fell over her shoulders, brushing his ears as she braced her hands on his chest.

  Although it nearly killed him, he let her set the pace. Muscles moved sensuously under her flesh as she bounced up and down. Each time she rose, he tried to chase after her. His foot slipped off the edge of the bench seat, interrupting their rhythm. But Polly just laughed, adjusted her knees around his waist and leaned onto his chest, hips pistoning to pick up the tempo. Her entire body rocked against his, each glide pushing him to the edge.

  Ian gritted his teeth in the face of his rising orgasm, every nerve in his body fighting for release. The ridged muscles surrounding him rippled and flowed. Polly ground her hips down against him and arched back, drawing his dick farther inside of her. Kneading her breasts, Ian thumbed the tight nipples and watched as passion claimed her face. Her mouth dropped open, her brow creased in concentration, and a rosy glow climbed her neck and cheeks. God she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.

  The clamp and roll of her sheath milked him to a climax. He couldn’t hold back his roar as it claimed him. He continued to rock into her until she shrieked as her entire body tensed and she joined him in the fall into ecstasy.

  A chuckle escaped her lips as she collapsed on him. Wrapping his arms around her, he held her close as her chest rose and fell. After-spasms pulsed around his cock, each one gripping him, rippling through his body. God, if making love with her would always going to be like this, he’d die a happy man. He stiffened under her as he tracked his thoughts.

  He’d die. She never would.

  She pushed up on her elbows and brushed the hair from her eyes. “Now you’re thinking. It’s too soon for you to do that. You were supposed to be rendered incapable of thought by my sexual prowess.” She softened her words with a smile.

  “You do have some prowess for sure.” He skimmed his fingers up her arm then wrapped his hand around her neck. “I was just thinking…”

  When he didn’t continue, Polly tipped her head to one side, brow furrowed. “You were thinking…” She lifted off him, then swiped h
is shirt from the back of the front seat. She pulled it on, and then struggled to yank her skirt a little lower.

  It was a sin to cover that sexy ass up, but he got that baring it in semi-public might be embarrassing. He pushed up to a seated position, and scooted to the edge of the bench, making room for Polly to curl in next to him. His ass made that awful sucking noise as he rubbed across the top of the green vinyl upholstery. The bench dipped as he reached over the side for his jeans. He draped them over his lap, as long as they were being modest. Then he slipped his arm around Polly’s shoulders, drawing her near.

  He gazed into her eyes and drew deep from within him, his heart pounding for a different reason altogether. “Polly, how does your immortality work? Do I grow older while you stay the same hot, young woman?”

  She shook her head, hair brushing sensuously across his pecs. “Doesn’t work that way. I live a normal mortal existence, just like you. I’ll age, and eventually reach the end of my life expectancy. Then I’ll die.” Her face sobered, and a shadow flitted through her eyes. “But when I’m reborn in the next era, I’ll come back with my complete memories from every lifetime.”

  “So we could grow old together?” He’d love to see her age with the same kind of grace she exhibited now.

  “Yep.” She touched her mouth to his, keeping her eyes open and trained on him. “I’ve only married one other male throughout all my lifetimes. When I was a lot younger.”

  Curiosity got the better of him. “I know I’m not supposed to ask this, but exactly how old are you?”

  Polly tucked his hair behind his ear. “My total years on Earth put me at six-thousand-seven-hundred twenty-eight. And a half.”

  Grinning, he said, “You look great for an old lady.” When she punched his shoulder the grin faded to a grimace. “Sorry.”

  Polly licked her lips, drawing his gaze. “Technically, in this lifetime I’m only twenty-eight.” She pushed up on her elbow. “Not so old after all.”

  “So, you only married one other guy? In all those years? Why?”

  “When I was reborn after my life with Lysander, I missed him too much. It took me several lifetimes to get over the fact he wasn’t living with me again. Since then, I’ve settled for just lovers, no husbands. No emotional entanglements meant I didn’t feel their loss.”

  Yeah, that didn’t bode so well for him. She’d never want to marry him, if that was the case. And…hold the phone! Why was he suddenly considering marriage? He pushed those random thoughts to the back of his mind. “Did he know about your immortality?”

  “No. The existence of immortals is a closely guarded secret. It’s how Zeus has wanted it all these years. In ancient Greece, when mortals believed in us, there was a lot of upheaval and distrust of the gods.” She stared out the front windshield. “They loved and feared us. Zeus decreed it was better if they totally lost interest in us. So he forbade the gods informing people about our true nature.”

  “So the only reason I know is because of this challenge.”

  “Yes. But Zeus bestowed an immortal power on you. He’s never done that before. Jax and Thomas didn’t get their immortal wings until after the challenge was completed.”

  “Wait, so Jax will live forever?” That would be weird, knowing his friend would never die.

  “Not exactly.” Polly pushed her legs over the edge of the bench, and then sat up. “Zeus bestowed the same pattern of immortality on him as what all the Muses have. A life cycle that includes birth and death. But now, Jax and Thomas will come back with all their memories. And they’ll find Clio and Nia and be together in the next rebirth. It’s the same with our partisans.”

  That perked him up as he wiggled back into his jeans. He pulled the zipper up, but left the snap open. “Is that what I can expect for helping you with this challenge?”

  “I don’t know.” Polly’s face held no guile. She honestly did not seem to know what his fate would be.

  He skimmed his knuckles along her cheek. “It’s okay. I’d help anyway, because it’s the right thing to do. But, know this—I wouldn’t be opposed to many more lifetimes with you.” I love you rested on the tip of his tongue, but something held him back. Was it knowing that the memory still pained her from the loss of another man she’d loved a thousand or more years ago? Could he lay that hesitation at the feet of his cheating ex-wife? He’d loved her to distraction and look where that got him. Or did he fear Polly didn’t reciprocate his feeling? He shook away the pussy emotions.

  “Noted. Now, how about if we begin your instruction on how to use the talent Zeus gave you for the power of good?” Polly moved to climb out of the back seat of the Rover.

  He traced his palm over the curve of her butt as he followed. The glance she tossed over her shoulder was heated, filled with promise.

  Ian laced his fingers through hers as he led her from the garage, toward the house. He was looking forward to the lesson on how to obtain information. Maybe, while he was at it, he’d learn how to influence Polly to fall in love with him.

  Chapter 14

  “Can you give me an update?”

  Callie’s demanding tone pissed her off. When the bitchy woman called this morning, she’d robbed Polly of the chance of a morning cuddle with Ian. He’d insisted that she stay overnight with him, which had been fine with her.

  The extreme irritability that seemed to be her sister’s hallmark lately was not what Polly wanted to deal with after the blissful night she’d had. Callie had insisted on a coffee date this morning. She suspected it was because Callie’s focus was split, creating a horrific case of writer’s block. Presently, they were seated on the gated-off outdoor patio of the Daily Grind.

  Digging for patience, Polly gritted her teeth and counted to ten in ancient Sumerian, a feat that required extreme concentration. “What do you need to know?”

  “Everything. What is going on with the challenge?”

  “For goddess’ sake, Callie. It’s my challenge. Can we just agree that I’ll keep everyone posted on the progress when I have something to report?”

  Callie’s shoulders sagged and she slumped against the back of the wrought iron chair. “I hate this. I hate the uncertainty. Not knowing when it’s my turn. Or whether I’ll even get a turn.” She fisted her hands on the table and continued. “If one of us fails, the remaining Muses don’t automatically forfeit our human forms. Those of us left will each have a shot at redemption. But what if more of us fail after the first? What then?”

  “Callie, none of us loves this contest but we’re stuck with it. We’ve been asking this question since it began. Pierus seems to hold all the cards. He’s doling out info on a need to know basis, and apparently, that’s something we don’t need to know.”

  “That sucks.”

  Polly’s laugh was bitter. “Tell me about it, big sister.”

  “I feel like my life is on hold until all nine of us have has a turn on the hot seat.”

  “And I feel like my life is out of control since the first moment Greed squawked overhead at the lake.” She’d been so enjoying the lighthearted banter she and Ian had shared while paddling around the lake. At least the set-back Greed prompted had been short-lived. Polly had fallen into a very sexy, very comfortable physical relationship with Ian.

  And, if she’d own the truth, the relationship was not just a hands-on affair. The level of emotional investment she felt was off the charts. The intensity, in the short time they’d been intimate, was downright thrilling.

  A corner of her mind pinched painfully. She’d lost her heart to Lysander and had suffered for it through the next three existences. Even now, sixty-five lifetimes later, she occasionally awoke, aching for his touch. One of the curses of being a Muse was the rebirth cycle where she had to adjust to the memories over and over again. If she still experienced loss over memories of Lysander, imagine how much more horrible it would be losing Ian. Her feelings for her long deceased husband paled in comparison to her reaction to the man who’d started as a friend and
become so much more.

  She booted those feeling to the darkest recess of her mind and focused on Callie. Might as well throw her older sister a bone. “Zeus, Mars and Sybil stepped out of the hollow right in front of Ian the other night.” And three, two—

  Callie sputtered over the sip of coffee she’d just taken. “What the Hades?” Polly couldn’t have timed her announcement any better.

  “Goddess, Callie.” Polly daubed at the coffee splattered on her dark navy top. At least the stains wouldn’t show. A damn good stroke of luck that she hadn’t scheduled any on-air interviews.

  “You should have waited until after I’d swallowed to make that announcement.”

  Polly shook her head when Callie offered another napkin.

  “What were they thinking? Did they know he was there?”

  “They knew. I believe Mars counseled Dad to make an exception in Ian’s case. They want someone on the inside at Eos, and Ian is the logical candidate.”

  “Will he help? Ian?”

  “He’s agreed. He doesn’t like what’s going on at Eos any more than we do.” Polly rested her hand on Callie’s arm before her sister could take another sip. “There’s one more bomb for you. Zeus endowed Ian with the power to nudge mortals.”

  “That’s… I’m shocked. I don’t remember him doing anything like that since before Christianity became accepted.”

  “I’ve always suspected he slipped Leonardo some extra powers. As a mortal, the man had many god-like abilities. But I never found any proof.” And instilling extra powers made that legend much easier to inspire. “I worked on teaching Ian how to focus his new gift. Mars’s team is creating a back door for Ian to get into restricted areas in the Eos database. Between those two things, we should start to get some good information today.”

  “So you are making progress. Have you seen much of Greed?”