by Mary Winter
“If I’m bored to tears, at least it’s with you.” Wrapping her arm in his, she steered him toward the colleagues he’d spoken to earlier.
True to his word Thanos introduced her. She smiled and nodded, recognizing a few of the names from charity functions around the city. In person, the men spoke kindly to her, and soon caught Thanos up in a conversation about the board at the hospital. Like he said, the conversation bored her to tears.
She kept a smile on her face until she could gracefully slip away under the guise of answering the call of nature. While the men’s wives tried to be sociable, she had seen the pity in their eyes and the speculation. Ari hurried into the ladies room intending to freshen up. She slipped into one of the stalls for privacy.
“Did you see her?” the whisper on the other side of the stall said.
“You mean the scarred woman in the red dress? Yeah. If I looked like that I wouldn’t allow myself out in public. Yikes!” a younger voice said a few stalls down.
Ari sat on the toilet, horrified. Quickly, she tucked her feet up, not wanting the women to know their private gossip session had been interrupted. Ari swallowed hard. She should stand up, announce that she was in here, but a morbid curiosity kept her quiet.
“She showed way too much skin for a handicapped person.”
“Yeah. I don’t know how Thanos could stand to be around her. He usually has better taste in women.”
Ari pressed her knuckles to her lips, holding back a choked-off sob. Thanos. He acted so nice, so supportive of her. Deep inside, did he want to find a more beautiful woman? Was he lying when he told her she was beautiful? Ari squeezed her eyes closed. A vise of pain constricted around her chest. She had to leave. Get out of here. Flee. She was stupid to think she could ever pass in such a crowd.
The toilets flushed in near-unison and the two women left. Water ran, and a few moments later she sat alone in the bathroom.
Ari sucked in a ragged breath. After the years of therapy, she supposed she should be used to the remarks. Instead, they cut just as the patronizing looks on the nurses’ faces had after her first surgery. Breathing deeply, Ari slid her feet down to the floor. She stood, wobbling on her high heels and stepped out of the stall. She hadn’t even needed to go in there, except to be alone. She should have sat on one of the couches outside. She hadn’t, and now she couldn’t pretend she hadn’t heard the hurtful remarks.
Luckily her makeup wasn’t damaged badly, and she fixed the tiny smudges in the mirror. Her heart slowed to a more normal pace, and the grief ebbed. Those women were catty and vindictive. They knew nothing. Thanos acted just like her dream man. Surely it was for a reason, and not to hurt her.
She laughed at her own foolishness. If she broke down when anyone said bad things about her scars, she’d spend her entire life crying. No, those women were stupid, and probably ugly. Thanos cared for her. His actions showed it, and they were just jealous. Filled with newfound courage, Ari walked out of the room and back into the party.
A waiter came by and she grabbed a second, and her last, flute of champagne. She sipped it, scanning the crowd for Thanos. The doctors seemed to have dissipated, though she hadn’t been gone long. She found two of the couples on the dance floor, the third chatting with someone by the dessert table. Again, she scanned the room for any sign of Thanos.
Movement in the corner, near two large potted palms caught her attention. Ari stared, horrified, as she watched Thanos whirl back toward a petite blonde in a killer dress. The woman’s pale breasts nearly spilled from the azure fabric, and the four-inch heels she wore had “fuck me” written all over them. Ari’s stomach flip-flopped.
Thanos grabbed the woman’s wrist. He pulled her to him.
Ari looked away. It was true. All the horrible things those women said. They were true. Her hand opened. The champagne flute fell to the floor. Ari whirled, knocking into a man and his companion on her way out. The French doors led outside, away from here. Glass shattered on the floor with a crash. The room quieted.
Ari fled.
* * * * *
Thanos fought to rein in his temper. “I’m not interested,” he snapped. He grabbed the woman’s wrist, intending to toss her ass onto the couch behind them. Horrified, he watched Ari’s face crumple. Her hand opened and the glass she held fell toward the ground.
Thanos yanked his sleeve out of the woman’s hand. “Excuse me,” he growled. One step, two, then he was free and racing across the floor. He had to get to Ari, had to tell her she hadn’t seen what she thought she had seen.
Shocked faces surrounded him. He’d made a scene at the party and damn it, he didn’t care. Ahead of him, the doors slammed. Thanos increased his stride, wanting to catch up with her. His mortal form seemed limiting, and for one moment, he thought about abandoning it for his god form. After all, then he’d be all powerful, all knowing, and he could show her he was the man from her dream, the one meant to love her forever. His heart clenched. Dear gods above, what if he lost Ari?
* * * * *
The cool night air surrounded her in a comfortable embrace. Ari ended up in a garden. She stumbled, pitching herself against a marble bench. She caught herself, the stone edges of the bench biting into the palms of her hands. Her flesh stung, and she felt the first drops of blood welling in the cuts.
Ari sat long enough to yank her expensive heels from her feet. Chucking them into the bushes, she rose to her feet and hurried down the smooth, flagstone path away from the house. Tears ran unchecked down her cheeks. With the back of her hand, she wiped them away, furious at herself for crying. Now in addition to being scarred she had raccoon eyes. At last she sank down onto a bench and buried her head in her hands. High bushes surrounded her, shielding her from view. Back toward the way she’d come, she heard a door slam. Thanos, she wondered, then shook her head. He wouldn’t come for her. He was too busy with that floozy.
How long she sat there, tears running unchecked down her cheeks she didn’t know. Five minutes? Ten? An eternity, it seemed, before a strong arm curved around her shoulders. Thanos’s scent surrounded her, and Ari leaned into it. He wrapped his arms around her, one hand flat against the back of her head, the other on her bare back. Slowly, he stroked her, caressed her, until she snuggled against his broad chest. “I’m sorry, baby. That wasn’t what you think,” he said.
Ari nodded against his chest. How gullible would she be, she wondered, if she simply believed him? She’d only seen a few seconds of interaction between him and the blonde. She had nothing to base her accusations on, except the cruel words of two women in the bathroom and her own insecurities. Ari sniffed. She started to pull away, aware she’d probably smudged his tuxedo with her makeup.
Thanos kept her pressed close to him. He shifted so his body cradled hers. All his strength, his will, all of it transferred to her. Leaning against him, Ari wondered how she could be so foolish as to doubt him. Still, the dress, the party, it wasn’t her scene. She swallowed hard and licked her lips. “Take me home, Thanos. I don’t belong in your world.”
“Oh, Ari. I’m so sorry,” he whispered against her hair. “You belong here as much as anyone.”
“But I made a scene and broke a glass.”
Thanos’s harsh bark of laughter hardly reassured her. “There’s been worse done at these parties and worse may happen tonight. I’m sorry you had to witness what you did. That was Amber, the hostess’s daughter. I was trying to disentangle her from me when you walked back into the room. She’s a…”
“Bitch?” Ari offered in a tiny voice.
“Yeah, she’s a bitch.” Against her hair, she felt his smile. “You know I’d never do anything to hurt you.”
The women’s words haunted her. “Not when you usually come to these parties with more beautiful women than me? Not when you could have anyone?” Ari sighed and leaned away. Reluctantly, he let her go, his fingers skimming over her exposed flesh. She shivered and hoped he thought it only from a chill breeze. It would be best if she stepped aw
ay from him, quietly, and with dignity. She’d seen what could happen. If she kept comparing herself to all the other women who might throw themselves at him, Thanos could be a white knight, and she’d still get hurt. She ached to put some space between them.
“Who has been feeding you tales?” Lightly he caressed her chin, running the pad of his thumb over her lower lip.
Ari ached to touch it with the tip of her tongue and draw it into her mouth, suckling gently. “I heard.” She turned away, not wanting to meet his searching gaze.
“From who? I want to know, Ari. If anyone said anything to hurt you, I want to know about it. Because whatever they said, it’s wrong.” An aura of controlled power surrounded him, of an anger that she didn’t want to provoke.
“Even they said you usually come to this kind of party with women far more beautiful than I. Come on, Thanos. You’re gorgeous. You’re a rich, handsome doctor, and you could have anyone, probably even supermodels. I don’t buy it. So you consulted on my case and now, months after my treatment ended, you came to meet me? You seduce me with beautiful words and beautiful flowers, even if I did arrange them myself, and I’m supposed to believe you.” Ari rose to her feet, suddenly wishing she hadn’t tossed away her shoes. “Things like that don’t happen to girls like me.”
Thanos stood beside her. “And what is supposed to happen to a ‘girl like you?” I can’t make you believe anything, but how I wish I could.” He expelled a harsh breath. “I’ll take you home, Ari, but this isn’t done. Not by a long shot.”
Ari wrapped her arms around herself, suddenly chilled by the night and his words.
Thanos took off his coat and wrapped it around her shoulders. “Come on.” He glanced down at her bare feet. “Where are your shoes?”
Ari pointed back toward the bushes near the house.
“Wait here. I’ll get them.” Without giving her a chance to say anything further he turned and went in search of her heels.
* * * * *
Thanos battled frustration as he scanned the hedges near the house for her red heels. As a god, he should be able to fix Ari, to make her believe he’d do nothing to hurt her. The fact she even thought he might have had a relationship with Amber sickened him. What kind of men was she used to? If he found them, he’d smite them, regardless of the rules against such blatant uses of power.
A flash of red caught his eye. He retrieved the shoes, brushing leaves and dirt from the expensive leather. Turning, he returned to Ari. The sight of her standing there in that scrumptious dress, her makeup running from her tears, tugged at his heart. If she wanted to go home he’d take her, but he’d be damned before he let her run out of his life. He loved her.
Thanos stopped. In all his years as a god, thousands of petitioners, goddesses and muses alike, and he’d finally found a woman to love ‑‑ a mortal woman. His breath left his lungs.
Ari turned to look at him. The defeat in her eyes tore at him like a knife to the gut. Walking forward, he held out her shoes. “Your shoes, my lady.” He knelt and offered them to her like the prince to Cinderella.
Tears welled in Ari’s eyes. She sat, then held out her foot. Her lower lip trembled, and he longed to kiss away the sorrow on her face.
Slowly, Thanos replaced her shoes, gently fastening the straps and buckles around her feet. He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her ankles, then rose to his feet and offered her his hand.
Ari wrapped her fingers around his, not saying a word. She walked beside him as he led her out to the valet for the car. Occasionally she’d sniff or hiccup, but all other traces of sadness, aside from her smeared makeup, were gone. A wall surrounded her. Thanos didn’t like it. He glanced at the starry sky above, wishing for a moment he could confide in his celestial family. However, whenever he came to the mortal plane he severed all ties with them.
If the valet noticed Ari’s smeared makeup or his early departure he said nothing. Instead, he had Thanos’s Mercedes brought around. Thanos helped Ari into the car, then walked around to the driver’s side. He generously tipped the man and drove away.
Ari remained mute. Risking a glance at her, Thanos wanted to say something, anything that would bring life back into her features. He hated her stony glare. She stared out the window, an air of despair surrounding her. For the first time in his immortal life, he didn’t know what to say. He would have barked laughter if he didn’t think it would further distance Ari from him. He, a healing god, had no idea how to cure Ari’s pain. With a heavy sigh he pulled in front of her house.
“We’re here.” He laid a hand on her shoulder. “I really would like to see you again.” He stroked her cheek, a gentle caress that had her turning into his touch. His heart leapt. She still wanted him. Her eyelids fluttered closed as he touched her, tracing the high cheekbones and down to her stubborn chin. She opened her eyes and gazed at him.
“I’ll ‑‑ I’ll call you.” Before he had a chance to respond, she opened the door, clutched her small purse, and hurried up to her house.
Thanos opened the door, his long strides carrying him across her yard. He stopped behind her, but she dashed inside, the door slamming in his face.
Thanos stood there in shock. He stared at the closed door, wishing he could see beyond it to the woman inside. Listening, he heard her walk away from the door, away from him. His heart clenched. Gods above, he loved her. Couldn’t she see that?
As he turned away, he debated about going back to the party. He could find Amber and tell her how she’d royally fucked things up this time with her antics. In the past, he’d dismissed her cloying tactics, usually by directing her to more eligible bachelors. He’d only held this mortal form for a couple of years, but his knowledge of such women went back centuries. And whoever’s vicious words Ari had heard, if he ever got his hands on them… Gritting his teeth, Thanos returned to his car. He slid behind the wheel, closed the door, and drove away into the night.
Somehow, someway, he’d find a way to breach Ari’s defenses and get her to admit she loved him.
* * * * *
Ari listened to the soft hum of the Mercedes as Thanos drove away and out of her life. That’s what she wanted, right? Then why did she have this dream he’d pound open the door, rush inside, and confess his undying love? Ari’s hoarse laughter filled the room. Yeah, after the way she’d treated him she’d be lucky if he answered the phone. If she called.
The tears she’d held at bay emerged in a flood. Reaching behind her, she unzipped her dress, banishing the thoughts she’d had earlier in the evening of Thanos doing it for her. She slid the straps off her shoulders and the dress fell in a puddle on the floor. She stepped out of it, then removed her shoes, tossing them away. She rushed into the bathroom where she scrubbed the makeup off her face. Now instead of raccoon-eyes, they were red from crying. She glanced down at the scars covering her skin, and a fresh round of tears filled her eyes. She was doing the right thing. Eventually Thanos would tire of her and end up with some beautiful woman who wasn’t afraid to show off her body. With a heavy sigh, she padded on stocking-clad feet into the bedroom. She fell into bed and wished it didn’t hurt so much.
Chapter Six
The next morning brought only a lingering headache from too much champagne and red, itchy eyes from crying too much. Ari sat up in bed and reached for the box of tissues on her nightstand. After blowing her nose, she stared out the window at the bright, sunshine-filled day. She only wished her inner world was as bright as the day outside. Pursing her lips, she released a huge sigh.
She rose to her feet and hobbled into the bathroom. Her ankles and hips hurt after wearing heels last night, and she vowed never to wear the torturing shoes again. A quick shower later, she dressed in her baggiest, ugliest sweats, and slumped on the couch. Nothing sparked her interest. Working in her flower gardens would only inflict more pain on her already strained muscles. Nothing on television looked remotely interesting, and the last thing she wanted to do was read a book full of happy endings she’d never
have.
Her eyes fell on a small personal altar containing photographs and some seashells she’d purchased in Greece. The happy memories of that time battled with the heartbreak of last night. Swallowing hard, she picked up the remote control for her stereo and turned it on. Immediately, the sound of waves crashing against the shore filled her living room. Leaning back on the couch, Ari closed her eyes and let the sounds wash over her.
The temple. Her dream. Deep in her heart, Ari knew if she hadn’t gone to Greece and fallen asleep in the temple, she wouldn’t have had the strength of will to go out with Thanos. She might have thanked him for the flowers, for his attention, then gently, but permanently extracted him from her life. It might have been easier.
Rising to her feet, she crossed the space between her and the altar to kneel before it. Ari picked up a tiny piece of pottery she’d purchased in the same city as the temple she’d visited. Rubbing her hands over the soft surface, she held it against her breast. She didn’t stop the tears filling her eyes.
“I should know better.” Ari hiccupped on a sob. “He was only a dream. A man like that can’t really exist. I was foolish to believe it might be more.”
Maybe he wasn’t a man. Maybe he was one of the Greek gods. Hysterical laughter bubbled up from her throat. She laughed so hard tears ran down her cheeks. The Greek gods were myths, legends, not beings come to life. Even though she dreamed about a Greek man seducing her didn’t mean he was a god, and most certainly didn’t mean it was Thanos.
She set the pottery back on the altar and curled up on the plush carpet. Emotional weariness tugged at her and pulled her into a deep sleep.
“My love, I’m sorry.” The Greek man from her dream appeared before her, looking more like Thanos than ever before. He sat on a bench, wearing a white toga belted at the waist with a gold cord. A crown of fig leaves sat in his hair like the ones she’d seen on statues of gods, and leather sandals covered his feet and laced up his calves. He reached for her, twining his fingers with hers, and pulled her down to the marble bench beside him. With his thumb, he brushed away a tear.