by Marie Medina
She tensed again though when Hera came forward and hugged her.
“This is better. We of all people should be friends.” She released her. “All will be right with the world once you make my son happy.”
Aphrodite was barely aware of what she replied or what else Hera said. She couldn’t stop thinking about how much Hephaestus’ happiness depended on her.
Chapter Five
Harmonia wanted to pay attention to her book, but she couldn’t. After rereading a paragraph twice, she put it down. She looked across the park. Two teenagers were chatting on the edge of the fountain, and a mother was shaking a toy at her little girl on a bench close by.
She wanted to be furious with Aphrodite. How could she say something like that? Harmonia knew she loved Apollo. Aphrodite had to know he and Daphne were not meant to be, so why wouldn’t she help her to give Apollo what he needed most? Harmonia knew she could persuade Zeus to look the other way if Aphrodite would only agree to help. He would understand how much it meant to her. She’d never been around him that much, but he was very kind to her whenever they did meet. Daphne couldn’t be happy if Apollo kept chasing her around like a lovesick puppy. He seemed to still love her, but he had admitted to being a bit confused. He’d been falling for her when that arrow lodged in his heart. His feelings had come to maturity too early. Perhaps the effects would wear off. Maybe hundreds of years of living without her and going on with his life would sink in now the spell was broken. He would find he didn’t love her, didn’t need her.
She sighed. She hadn’t seen Apollo since that night. She’d felt so certain he would be intrigued and come seek her out. She couldn’t understand what was keeping him away. She’d been tempted to eavesdrop on him and Daphne, but had decided against it. Now she wished she had. Had Daphne said or done something to give him hope? Could Hypnos have rejected her or hurt her in some way? Everyone knew about that now. Daphne loved Hypnos. Some believed it, but others said it would wear off. Since no one knew how Harmonia felt about Apollo, they speculated freely in front of her. No one knew that she’d found Apollo in that bar and taken him home, that she’d come on to him at the worst time ever.
She flipped through her book again. A werewolf was in love with a human but afraid of infecting her. She thought he was a jerk because he gave her mixed signals, kissing her on one page and running away two pages later. To Harmonia, it didn’t sound that complicated. She only had fifty more pages, but she knew the author would get them together in a nice and neat way, even if the book had been on the seventy-five percent off table. She looked at the author’s photo inside the back cover. He looked happy, a genuine smile on his face.
She watched the mother stand up and walk away pushing her little girl in her stroller. The teenagers were still talking. She needed to talk to Apollo. She wanted to apologize, to get to know him. She still didn’t believe Aphrodite was right, but if anything could ever happen between her and Apollo, they had to be friends. He had to know who she was. He would need to see her as more than the flirty girl who dragged him home because she was infatuated. She felt almost certain that was what he thought of her. He’d found her attractive and interesting, but he’d probably dismissed her.
She needed to use her brains instead of her looks to show him why he shouldn’t.
* * * *
Hypnos had not planned on trying to see Daphne, but Zeus refused to leave him alone. The king of the gods was not angry about what had happened, much to Hypnos’ surprise. However, he wanted Hypnos to come out of the Underworld and face what was happening. Hypnos hadn’t told Zeus why he was so reluctant to do so.
The more he was around Daphne, the more likely he was to tell her he was in love with her. He also knew it was even more probable she’d get him into her bed. Ever since they’d met, Hypnos had never been able to resist trying to make Daphne happy. He’d kept her safe from any outside influences. Had that been wrong? She could have had other friends, but if she’d been known to anyone in the Elysian Fields, or elsewhere in the Underworld, Hades would have found out. He would have come to Hypnos demanding to know how someone who wasn’t dead had come to be in his domain.
When she’d been close to a breakdown from the mental anguish her memories brought her, he’d let her drink water from the Lethe, the river of forgetfulness, without Hades’ permission. So far, the lord of the Underworld hadn’t said anything about that. Had that been the right thing to do? It had complicated everything when she was released from her spell and made it necessary for them to be alone. Then the real complications had come. If Daphne didn’t love Apollo, no one could blame her, but everyone would blame Hypnos if he were the reason she didn’t want to see Apollo. Zeus said she had been to see Apollo, but she hadn’t told anyone what happened apparently. Apollo was keeping to himself as well.
Hypnos had no idea what to expect when he knocked on Daphne’s door.
Peneus answered and smiled politely. He actually bowed slightly as he said, “Hypnos. I’ll go get Daphne.” He shut the door after ushering Hypnos in and went upstairs.
Hypnos remembered Daphne describing her father as old-fashioned, but he also sensed Peneus was nervous about having the god of death in his house. Hypnos had been forced to get used to that reaction again. Daphne came down by herself and smiled at him.
“Hello,” she said.
“Hello.” What was he supposed to say? He didn’t want to tell her Zeus had persuaded him to come so they could talk.
“So who sent you?” she asked.
He should have known he couldn’t fool her for long. “Zeus, actually. He wants us to talk because he thinks nothing can move forward until we do.”
“I agree. Can we go outside?”
“Yes.” He didn’t resist when she reached for his hand and led him out through the kitchen and into the garden. She moved to a bench and sat down. He did the same.
After taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, she smiled and said, “I’ve already told you how I feel. Those feelings are very real and not just something I was clinging to when I didn’t have all my memories. I’m sure Apollo is wonderful, and I want to make things up to him, but I won’t sacrifice my own happiness for that. I intend to fight to make you give us a chance.”
“But what will Apollo say?”
“Who cares what he says or thinks? I’m not going to lie to anyone.”
“I meant what might he say to persuade you to give him a chance? He leads a more normal life, if you can say any of us do. He doesn’t have powers you would ever have to be afraid of. He doesn’t live in the Underworld.”
“The Underworld was the only home I knew for a very long time. I could live there happily once Zeus and Hades gave their permission. Isn’t that right? If Hades escorts me in, I can enter and stay there? If we marry, I’ll have to live with you there, right? Like Hades and Persephone?”
“You’re most likely right about all of it. I haven’t given it much thought.” He had, but he didn’t want to just say yes because that would lead her to asking him why they didn’t move forward with their relationship. She obviously didn’t care, or simply hadn’t given any thought to, how most of the inhabitants of Olympus were going to react to every move either of them made.
“Well, I always paid attention when you talked about things like that, and I’ve done some research too. There are no special rules to keep you from loving me or marrying me. You’re compelled to return to the Underworld for a short time each day, but nothing keeps you trapped there. I could be granted the same status as Persephone. You have the same right to happiness Hades does, and you are just as free to exercise it. I doubt Hades or Zeus would deny us this.”
“I know. I want to be sure I do what’s right.”
“Because you’ve done so much wrong? I’ve heard about all of it. I’m not worried you’re going to attempt to ravish virgins or turn into a power-hungry rebel again.”
He looked over at her sharply. Her smile faded as she met his gaze.
&
nbsp; “I didn’t mean that as an insult,” she said in a small voice.
He tried to control his temper. She hadn’t meant anything by it, but he didn’t like her poking around and talking about him with other people. “If you want to understand what happened to me and all I went through, then you need to ask me, all right?”
She nodded. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know what else to do when you didn’t come to see me.”
“I understand.” He took a breath and sat back. “And you need to understand that I have a temper. That’s something you’ve never seen before.”
She smiled nervously. “I haven’t. You’re right. You startled me.”
“I did? I’m sorry.”
She shrugged a little, looking down at the ground. “The look in your eyes…”
“Scared you.”
She nodded again. “For a moment.”
“It’s good you saw it then.” He stood up. “Daphne, I want you to be happy. I want you to think about what you really need. My temper isn’t the only dark thing inside of me.”
“How long do you want me to do that? I don’t feel like I need to think about it much at all.”
“I don’t know, but I want time to think about it too. I only came because Zeus wanted me to.”
“You didn’t want to?”
“I did, but I wasn’t ready yet.” He had no idea how to explain it to her, but he didn’t want to leave her with the impression he was pushing her away. “Can’t you see I don’t want to be disappointed? I don’t want to get my hopes up.”
She stood up too. “I have no intention of disappointing you.” She put her hands on his arms and pulled herself onto her toes to kiss him. She wrapped her arms around his neck after a moment, and he couldn’t resist her sweet and insistent mouth. He pressed her soft body against his. He remembered how she’d felt, the sounds she’d made when she came, and most of all the way she’d been so sure that he was what she needed, that he was the only man she’d be happy giving her maidenhead to.
She pulled away and smiled up at him. Her eyes showed how aroused she was. “I promised Apollo I wouldn’t sleep with you until things were settled.”
“You told him? That’s good. You need to keep that promise. I’ll make sure you do.”
He started to back away, but she clung to him. “Hypnos, I love you. I want to hear you say it one day.”
He stroked her hair. He could say it, but he didn’t dare. She’d never turn back if he said it. She had to be sure, and he wouldn’t be satisfied she was until Apollo had actually tried to win her and failed. He wasn’t testing her, though he knew she’d see it that way. He didn’t want her to wake up one day and resent him or regret choosing him. Holding her at a distance was the only way he knew to make her sit back and think more carefully. He wasn’t going to mention their ability to kiss again. She seemed to have forgotten how surprised he’d been when his kiss hadn’t harmed her. If she knew she was the only woman he could kiss without putting her to sleep, she’d refuse to give Apollo another thought.
He kissed her forehead. “I’ll miss you until I see you again.”
She pulled away and seemed to accept his answer. “I will too.”
He turned away and walked out of the garden. His mind filled with visions of them making love. He wanted to take her properly, slowly. Their fevered coupling had been erotic, and his cock still responded to the memory, but he wanted more. He wanted to spend hours in her arms, but he wanted them both to be sure she’d never be as happy anywhere else.
* * * *
Apollo walked into his kitchen and stared at the stove. A roasting pan he knew was not his sat there, and two pots sat on the back burners, all covered. Something smelled amazing. He lifted all three lids and found a roasted chicken, steamed vegetables, and mashed potatoes that smelled richly of garlic. His small breakfast table was set, and a vase of flowers sat in the middle. He turned back again when he heard a bottle of wine being opened.
He saw Harmonia pulling the cork off the corkscrew. She smiled at him.
“This is to apologize for coming on so strong. And so inappropriately. Nothing romantic. A completely normal meal. I brought the wine simply because I love wine.”
Apollo had no objection to having dinner with her or talking with her, but he didn’t like this invasion of his home and his privacy. He’d come into the room to make a grilled cheese sandwich, so the chicken was no disappointment. He wished she’d asked though.
“You could have called me. I wasn’t doing anything tonight.”
“I wanted it to be a surprise. I thought it would be nice.”
“It is nice, but I’d have preferred it not be a surprise.”
She blushed, but she still smiled. “I’m sorry. Would you still like to have dinner?”
Apollo didn’t see any reason to say no. He wasn’t going to turn a beautiful and interesting woman away no matter what his situation, especially since she had just promised it would be ‘nothing romantic’.
“Yes, I would. I’d like not being alone.” He looked around. “Can I do anything?”
She shook her head. “Nope. Have a seat and I’ll bring it all to the table.”
He did so, watching her place the chicken on a platter and heap the sides into bowls. She wore a very becoming but modest light pink linen dress. He tore his gaze away when he realized he’d been watching her ass sway back and forth. Yes, she was hot, and yes she liked him, but how stupid would it be to come on to her after he’d been angry when she’d flirted so aggressively before?
Daphne had not given him an answer. He was focusing on that because most importantly it meant she hadn’t given him a no. Interesting as Harmonia was, and willing as she might be for anything from a one-time-only roll in the hay to being tumbled in his sheets every single night, he still wanted Daphne. He wanted to take her hunting. He remembered she’d liked that. Hopefully, he’d find out what else she liked soon enough.
As Harmonia set everything down, he searched for a distraction. He settled for talking about Daphne, hoping perhaps it would help maintain the “nothing romantic” atmosphere and help him out at the same time.
“Do you like hunting?” he asked.
“Artemis took me a few times. I don’t really like it.”
“Daphne used to like it a great deal. I’d like to take her. Do you think she’d like that?”
Harmonia focused on her plate for a few moments as she dished out some vegetables. “I don’t know. Her views on hunting may have changed.”
He didn’t follow her. He took a bite of mashed potatoes and that stopped his next question for a moment. “These are amazing.”
Harmonia seemed surprised. “Oh, thank you. I cook for myself a lot.”
“I can tell.” He tried the chicken, which had a sweet, bacony flavor in its glaze. “Wow. I’m impressed.”
She just smiled and blushed again.
He smiled too. He had to admit, whatever the context, he liked making women blush. He found it very becoming and thought it implied a strength of feeling, something else he liked in a woman. He stopped smiling. He needed to slow down. The last thing he needed was to start sweet-talking Harmonia.
“But why do you think she might not like hunting anymore?”
“She spent centuries as a tree,” Harmonia said in a tone that implied she was amazed he hadn’t considered this. “I think her feelings toward nature may have changed.”
“Oh.” She had a good point. “You might be right. Maybe I should tell her I want to spend some time with her and ask her what she’d like to do.”
“That sounds like a better idea.”
Harmonia seemed calm, aside from her blushes, but she probably wasn’t enjoying the conversation. Or was he being conceited? Was he only imagining she’d be more than happy for them to stop talking about Daphne? That she wanted something more to happen beyond talking tonight? He had to admit the idea had popped back into his mind when he noticed that her breasts looked fantastic, even though the ne
ckline of her dress was very modest.
He focused on his food. Why had he agreed to have dinner? He was frustrated about Daphne, which was making him horny. That made this the worst time to be anywhere near Harmonia. Part of his mind wondered if Aphrodite still had it out for him.
A knock at the back door made him sure she still was, no matter how many times she’d tried to apologize.
Daphne stood there looking through the small window at him and Harmonia having dinner and drinking wine.
Harmonia had the good manners to pale and look at him apologetically. “Sorry.”
“You couldn’t have known. It’s fine.”
He answered the door casually, trying to look pleased instead of nervous. “Hi. Come on in.”
“I seem to be interrupting something,” Daphne said. She looked at Harmonia pointedly.
“We’re just having dinner. That’s all,” Apollo said.
“So, she won’t mind if I do this?” Daphne pulled Apollo close and kissed him full on the mouth.
Apollo kissed her back. She tasted sweet and felt wonderful, but something wasn’t right. He pulled back. “I don’t think this is what you came here for.”
Daphne looked between the two of them. “No. I came to give you an answer.”
“Maybe we should go in the other room.”
“It won’t take long.”
Harmonia stood up. “I’ll go.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Daphne said. “I came to tell you I love Hypnos. That isn’t going to change. I wanted you to know. He wants me to keep thinking about it, but I don’t see the point. No one could change how I feel about him.”
“Then why did you kiss me just now? To be hurtful and cause someone else pain? You don’t want me, but you’re still going to get jealous?”
“Well, maybe not jealous, but how about angry? You’re supposedly waiting for me to make up my mind, but you’re finding ways to pass the time.”
Apollo knew how it looked, but he also knew he was innocent. Maybe his thoughts hadn’t been chaste or one hundred percent loyal, but he knew he hadn’t done anything wrong. “We’re having dinner, and that is all. You remember one of my other powers? I can’t lie. Some wouldn’t consider it a power, but I do. It’s the perfect defense. I think Harmonia is pretty and smart and very interesting. She’s also very sexy, but we haven’t done anything. She’s told me she’s attracted to me, but I haven’t made a move on her. She came here on her own to try to help me take my mind off things.”